DIY childs car
#46
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.
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; 11-14-2006 at 09:47 PM.
#47
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!
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!
#48
#49
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!
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!
#51
#52
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: Marlboro Mental Hospital.
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#53
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
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
#54
Originally Posted by tjc transport
you are down to 1 month. how goes 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*.
#55
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: Marlboro Mental Hospital.
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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*.
#56
#58
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
#59
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: Marlboro Mental Hospital.
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#60