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project escort go-cart

May 12, 2005
977
0
roanoke va
so, i had an 94 ford escort hatchback laying around that got totaled due to two small wrecks. basicly the front left and back right bumpers are messed up, everything else is golden. add to that that it would cost as much to tow it as the junkyard would pay for it. so.... sat night me and 3 friends stripped it down. we took off all the interior panaling, carpet and seats with a hammer, baseball bat, and one screw driver. we cut the exaust between the cat and the muffiler(soulds BAE, ghetto cat-back) and took out the left headlight + the bottom of the air filter box. we cut a scoop out of th hood and spun the top of the air filter box (with filter duct taped on) around so air has a clean shot from both the scoop and the hole where the headlight was. my guess is this thing came stock with 100ish HP and now has 120+ and we took off over 1/3 of the weight. we have acheived a go-cart power/weight ratio with out droping a dime!(found $2.45 in change) my question to yall is; what should we do to it next weekend? what else can we beat/cut/tear off to make it faster? air flow now is damn good, heck, it wasn't bad stock, and i think we've taken all the weight out we can. we're planning on spray painting it (to keep with the ghetto theme.) 2-tone. black on top and wheels and stock teal bottom with twin white racing stripes one the driver side. i'll post pic when i get home.
where do we go from here?
 

Ciaran

Fear my banana
Apr 5, 2004
9,841
15
So Cal
loco said:
Enjoy jail.
Nah. As long as he legally owns it all they'll likely do is tow the car, and give him quite a few tickets, mostly related to the missing equipment on the car.

Sounds like a really fun project but BE CAREFUL. Wear a helmet!!!! And try not to take it out on the city streets. The cops will be all over your ass. But if you can find someplace to drive it I bet it'll be a blast.
 
J

JRB

Guest
Welcome to the humorless vacuum of this thread. It sounds funny, so I interjected humor. Who knew this was to be taken so seriously??? Sheesh. Talk about sucking.
 
You can remove the fuel tank to save weight and use a plastic style outboard motor fuel tank(5gallon) mounted inside the car.
Car will handle better with a smaller fuel enclosure centrally mounted versus at the rear of the car.
Can also remove the charging system for "free horsepower" .
You will however have to charge the battery after every 1-2 hours of operation. Just have 2 batteries.
 

noskcaj

Monkey
Oct 24, 2005
106
0
Northford, CT
take out:

power steering pump (if it has it)
glass (heavy), use a flathead for windshield, try not to smash
wiper blades/motors
dash/interior
extra seats
hood (maybe)

i wouldnt mess with the fuel system, just dont fill the tank. Messing with fuel in a car like that is just asking for trouble.

if you are mechanically inclined, you can also cut the springs for some ghetto lowering and go cart like handling.
 
May 12, 2005
977
0
roanoke va
LOOnatic said:
You can remove the fuel tank to save weight and use a plastic style outboard motor fuel tank(5gallon) mounted inside the car.
Car will handle better with a smaller fuel enclosure centrally mounted versus at the rear of the car.
Can also remove the charging system for "free horsepower" .
You will however have to charge the battery after every 1-2 hours of operation. Just have 2 batteries.
the charger stuff sound like to much of a pain but how hard would it be to rig the fuel lines/sensors? and how much would a tank cost? less then $2.45?
 

Westy

the teste
Nov 22, 2002
54,518
20,323
Sleazattle
Remove side and rear windows. Windshield wipers, windsheild washer pump. Remove hood and quarter panels. Should be good for a few hundred pounds.
 
May 12, 2005
977
0
roanoke va
noskcaj said:
take out:

power steering pump (if it has it)
glass (heavy), use a flathead for windshield, try not to smash
wiper blades/motors
dash/interior
extra seats
hood (maybe)

i wouldnt mess with the fuel system, just dont fill the tank. Messing with fuel in a car like that is just asking for trouble.

if you are mechanically inclined, you can also cut the springs for some ghetto lowering and go cart like handling.
no power steering
windows are a good idea, but i might keep the windsheild.
wipers are a good idea to.
we've yet to get the dash but all the interior is out and only the driver seat is in.
might do the hood to. with the windows out we'll hav to put a tarp over it anyway..
thanks
 

Ciaran

Fear my banana
Apr 5, 2004
9,841
15
So Cal
spacemanspiff06 said:
no power steering
windows are a good idea, but i might keep the windsheild.
wipers are a good idea to.
we've yet to get the dash but all the interior is out and only the driver seat is in.
might do the hood to. with the windows out we'll hav to put a tarp over it anyway..
thanks
Replace the window with plexiglass (acrylic sheet) if you need a windshield.
 

jimmydean

The Official Meat of Ridemonkey
Sep 10, 2001
41,310
13,428
Portland, OR
The gas tank is a chunk of weight, but making something else work migh be more trouble than it's worth.

If you have a plastics shop, they might have a scrap of lexan for the windshield they will either give you or discount if it is scrached. If your removing the glass, hollow out the doors while your there and that will drop a little too.
 

justsomeguy

Monkey
Oct 3, 2005
723
0
Give up any hope of AutoXing it and start saving your pennies to buy a trailer if you're truly only going to drive it off-road.
 

Bicyclist

Turbo Monkey
Apr 4, 2004
10,152
2
SB
Have you guys ever picked up a gas tank? They're not that heavy at all. It's not worth the pain in the ass to replace IMO.

Post up some pics when you can, this sounds awesome.

I say cut the springs to lower it. That would be sick.
 
R

richcreek

Guest
just cut off the hole roof. that will save tike 100-200 pounds.
 

def

Monkey
Feb 12, 2003
520
0
knoxville, tn
remove the brakes, front and rear: this will save weight and make you a better driver.

remove the seats: sit on a milk crate and strap yourself down w/ bailing twine.

speed holes.

cut it in half and just drive the front half of the car. Either just skid along w/ wicked sparks flying or attach a couple of casters for a super tight turning radius. Thats how you can spend your $2 and change.

smoke some dope and use your imagination.