DIY childs car

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Nov 14, 2006 | 09:39 PM

#46

frederic

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From: New Jersey

Updated the schematic.

Wired the under-car control panel:
http://frederic.midimonkey.com/booto...r/IM002113.JPG
http://frederic.midimonkey.com/booto...r/IM002114.JPG

You can see it working, slow, then fast:
http://frederic.midimonkey.com/booto...r/IM002112.AVI

And made the baby-sized throttle pedal assembly, minus the pedal. I'm going to use a piece of aluminum for the pedal, and drill lots of holes in it for the "import ricer look" just because

http://frederic.midimonkey.com/booto...r/IM002119.JPG

What's cool is the ignition switch underneath allows for motor only, motor and lights, and in the spring-loaded "start" positon, it also simulates pushing the throttle pedal down for testing purposes. Obviously not something useful for daily use, but if it's not working I can lift the back wheels off the ground with one hand, and turn the key to "start" with the other, and see if something happens. Much easier than trying to prop the back of the car off the ground on my foot, turn the key to "on", then push the pedal inside the car with my hand.

The terminal was there for "start" so I figured I might as well use it.

Last edited by frederic; Nov 14, 2006 at 09:47 PM.

Nov 15, 2006 | 09:30 PM

#47

frederic

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From: New Jersey

More progress. A little each day.

Mounted the upper steering column bearing block, bearing, and shaft collar:
http://frederic.midimonkey.com/booto...r/IM002120.JPG

Used scrap from the motor plate to make a lower bearing block support, then attached the bearing block, bearing, and shaft collar:
http://frederic.midimonkey.com/booto...r/IM002121.JPG

Installed the steering shaft between the two bearings and collars. Wow, it lined up perfectly. Not bad for tape measure alignment

http://frederic.midimonkey.com/booto...r/IM002122.JPG

Then removed the lower steering shaft support collar out of the bearing, and welded on the pitman arm:
http://frederic.midimonkey.com/booto...r/IM002124.JPG

If I can find a piece of 3/8-24 threaded rod tomorrow, I'll make the pitman to spindle linkage. All that is left (other than finishing the fiberglass work) is:

1. Pitman to spindle linkage.
2. Prime/paint chassis.
3. Tie electrical to chassis.
4. Make chain guard.
5. Make/Buy/Acquire steering wheel and make collar to attach steering wheel to steering shaft.

Not bad!

Nov 15, 2006 | 10:58 PM

#48

Torque1st

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Joined: Sep 2001

Posts: 30,255

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A little friction paddle applied to the rear tires by the brake pedal with an adjustable link may provide that last little amount of braking action you need and could serve as a park brake.

Nov 17, 2006 | 02:40 PM

#49

frederic

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From: New Jersey

Pitman arm Installed:
http://frederic.midimonkey.com/booto...r/IM002125.JPG

Steering mechanism complete, and reasonably aligned: http://frederic.midimonkey.com/booto...r/IM002129.JPG

Started making the steering wheel: http://frederic.midimonkey.com/booto...r/IM002131.JPG

Rusty brake rotors are useful!

Nov 18, 2006 | 12:33 PM

#50

houlster

Cross-Country

Joined: Jun 2005

Posts: 84

Likes: 26

Cool project..

Nov 18, 2006 | 04:16 PM

#51

Torque1st

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Likes: 37

Does that steering column have a crumple zone?

jk

According to the schematic battery current for the motor goes thru the ign switch. Wouldn't it be better to just have the motor current run thru K1?

Last edited by Torque1st; Nov 18, 2006 at 04:24 PM.

Nov 23, 2006 | 06:51 AM

#52

tjc transport

i ain't rite

Joined: Mar 2005

Posts: 65,514

Likes: 5,567

From: Marlboro Mental Hospital.

you are down to 1 month. how goes the fiberglass wars??

Nov 23, 2006 | 06:55 AM

#53

frederic

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From: New Jersey

It can have a crumplezone, I figured out how to do it, but honestly, I'm not going to. He'll have a 5-pt harness from a baby seat a neighbor tossed, so it's not overly necessary and more work than it's worth.

It *will* have a bolt-through roll bar however. Made the flanges already.

And the steel part of the steering column is complete:
http://frederic.midimonkey.com/booto...r/IM002147.JPG

The steering shaft is hollow tubing, so I can shove wires down the length of it from the not-made-yet hornpad and come out the bottom by the pitman arm, so I can wire up a switch or two on the steering wheel. Not because it's necessary, but because my son likes to beep horns

Will lathe out an aluminum horn button probably this weekend out of some scrap and see how that works out. I've already made the harness for the steering column, and there's 8 wires that go up the column, so I can down the road drive more things than just a horn. Not that he needs cruise, tilt, radio controls being that he's not even two yet. I was just thinking down the road when he's 7 or 8 and ready for a 3 HP B&S engine

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Nov 23, 2006 | 06:57 AM

#54

frederic

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From: New Jersey

Quote:

Originally Posted by tjc transport

you are down to 1 month. how goes the fiberglass wars??

It's cold, so I think I've lost the fiberglass wars

I think I'm going to head over to home depot this weekend and check out the "dollar a board" wood bin and pick up some thin stuff, dovetail and glue it together, and paint it. Probably a simpler shape like a jeep.

I took a break from the fiberglassing because I didn't want to make the nose, and have it interfere with the steering mechanism which wasn't complete at the time.

I should have started this last June, not last September. *sigh*.

Nov 23, 2006 | 08:59 AM

#55

tjc transport

i ain't rite

Joined: Mar 2005

Posts: 65,514

Likes: 5,567

From: Marlboro Mental Hospital.

Quote:

Originally Posted by frederic

It's cold, so I think I've lost the fiberglass wars

I should have started this last June, not last September. *sigh*.

true, but we were having more fun tearing washing machines apart in the driveway and dumping the 2 quarts of gearlube in them all over the place

Nov 23, 2006 | 09:03 AM

#56

frederic

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From: New Jersey

It's always fun tearing stuff apart!

And the oil came up easily enough, I just dumped some kitty litter and left it overnight, and the next morning shopvac'd it.

No biggie.

Nov 23, 2006 | 08:38 PM

#57

Torque1st

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The schemo still shows all the motor current running thru the ignition switch. Have you fixed that yet?

Nov 23, 2006 | 08:41 PM

#58

frederic

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From: New Jersey

Naaah, haven't updated the schematic or the wiring yet. You are correct, the motor does go through the ignition switch as it did previously. I did manage to get as far as digging out another ford relay with the same mounting method as the one's that there, but haven't rewired the connector, or welded the mounting tab on yet. It's sitting on my lathe at the moment as a reminder

Dec 25, 2006 | 11:12 AM

#59

tjc transport

i ain't rite

Joined: Mar 2005

Posts: 65,514

Likes: 5,567

From: Marlboro Mental Hospital.

merry christmas fred. did ya ever get the car finished???

Dec 25, 2006 | 11:56 AM

#60

"Beemer Nut"

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Joined: Dec 2003

Posts: 6,658

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From: "Islander"

I think Fred's in the slammer, he was doing doughnuts drunk in the
street last nignt, nothing on but a Santa hat. Na, just joking, hope he
got it done in time for the little one.
He better have a blue oval hood ornament on the front.

Hey Fred, Merry Christmas.

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