Building a Pit Cart

[DEllis]

Some more progress from today. It's ready for powder coat on Monday.

Here's the completed cart. Plywood for the bench is cut, but I need to run a router around the bottom side so it fits nicely in the rounded inside radius of the angle.

T-handle sitting on two pieces of scrap cold roll I think I'm going to use as a workbench top.

Small shelf that sits above the right rear tire. Decided not to build one on the other side. It bolts on, so if I need one it'll be easy to fabricate one later.

Picture of the vinyl runner I'll be using for the workbench. You can also see the aluminum trim. I've cut it to fit, and will drill all the rivet holes when the piece is out at powder coat.

Duncan

 

[DEllis]

Oh, and I'm looking for recommendations on the right adhesive to glue the bench top down. I have some 3M spray adhesive I'm thinking of trying.

Duncan

 

[raf0419]

Well done! Can't help on the adhesive. My stainless tops aren't holding with the stuff I used. Curious to see what others recommend.

 

[Ohmthis]

On the adhesive, I've used the 3m 90 (High strength) to glue conveyor belt patches in. If you follow the direction with time, procedure, and temp, it works very well. If you have some scrap plwood or the like. Clamp it down over the cover and let cure. The cart looks great and I can't wait to see the final results. You've thought about this for awhile and planned it to the T!!!

 

[pmason0]

Can't wait to see it finished.

 

[larry4406]

Nice build. Even with the wheels, how hard will this be to pull around? Maybe add a 12V battery to it and modify a HF winch motor to it to drive the wheels, put the remote on the handle....

 

[NUTTSGT]

I used some 3M trim adhesive (08088) to glue some automotive carpet in my tool box drawers. It's been alright for close to a year and hasn't come off.



Love the build by the way.

 

[kbs2244]

It looks nice.
I do expect you are going to want a longer handle.
I expect that one to have the cart nipping at your heels.
But it looks to be an easy fix.

 

[DEllis]

It looks nice.
I do expect you are going to want a longer handle.
I expect that one to have the cart nipping at your heels.
But it looks to be an easy fix.

I actually made two handles. The one in the picture and a long 55" one. I'm hoping the shorter one works okay because it will be easier to build a cover for the toolbox since it doesn't extend past the height of the backsplash on the workbench.

If not, as you said, it's an easy fix. I wheeled it around my driveway on Saturday and loaded it on the trailer a few times and didn't run myself over.

Duncan

 

[larry4406]

Make the handle telescoping with a hitch pin to lock it in short (stow mode) or extended (use) mode.

 

[DEllis]

Make the handle telescoping with a hitch pin to lock it in short (stow mode) or extended (use) mode.

It's a neat idea, but I think the short handle will be just fine. I dropped the cart off for powder coating this morning, and wheeled it around quite a bit between loading it on the back of my truck, and wheeling it into the shop. No ankle or feet injuries to speak of.

The cart rolls really well, although of course it's empty at the moment. 10 day turnaround on the powder coat. When it's gone I'm hoping to get the vinyl runner glued to the work bench, as well as maybe start work on the rotors.

I've been building up the little supplies (hardware, wiring stuff) to hopefully ease the final assembly when I get everything back.

Duncan

 

[DEllis]

Also, I moved the vinyl runner inside to the warm house in the hopes to get it to straighten out a little and make for an easier application to the plywood.

Duncan

 

[saceone]

this is still my favorite build on GJ, simple yet super cool . love it

 

[brawls43]

This is awesome. I spend too much time fixing a broken race car to have time to make fancy pit tools. Plus we don't have an enclosed trailer yet, so we lift tools in and out of our van. But man I want one of these some day!

 

[DEllis]

This is awesome. I spend too much time fixing a broken race car to have time to make fancy pit tools. Plus we don't have an enclosed trailer yet, so we lift tools in and out of our van. But man I want one of these some day!

Thanks! Switch over to Spec Miata. The car's so reliable you'll have tons of extra time for new projects.

Duncan

 

[raf0419]

Still looking great.

 

[amolaver]

Nice looking car, I'm actually building a 1999 spec miata myself this winter.
Really want to see how you end up skinning the pit cart.

You won't find a smarter/faster/nicer guy to answer questions than Duncan. Ask away - I need him to be distracted so I can beat him this year!

Seriously - both Duncan and I 'built' (such as it is to 'build' from a street car) our cars, and I've seen MANY - both home and pro - that are shamed by his attention to detail and quality. If you're not already a member, spend some time reading and searching mazdaracers.com and the now-defunct specmiata.com. Duncan pretty meticulously (and graciously) posted a thread documenting his build and it's worth finding/reading.

Not sure if Duncan did his own cage (i think so), but if you lack that skill, at least consider Mitch piper. Expensive, but the best in the business IMO. I walked away from a 100mph head on wall discussion with nothing more than a small bruise on each shoulder from the HANS. The trans tunnel was bent almost an inch. No financial interest. The replacement tub got another piper cage

And when it comes time for pro power, talk to Mike Rossini (rossiniracing.com). Straight up best you can buy and no BS. The definition of a class act. Satisfied customer and friend, but no special financial arrangement. Don't bother unless you're got serious competitive time in another class - IMO, it's a waste of money until the nut behind the wheel is sufficiently tight, which takes a while.

ahm

Ps - Duncan hit me up - need to square up on the parts you loaned me.

Pps - jealous as hell of the cart - quality work as always!

 

[pmason0]

Amolaver,
Don't want to distract from Duncan's great build but yes I have been a lurker over at mazdaracers.com for a while, my cage is done just putting the car back together now. I have raced a 968 with the PCA for the last 4 years, just not enough races in the last year or so, too far away as I can do with the SM with SCCA/NASA/MCSCC, hence building one. Pro motor will probably be a year or so away, I plan on building one myself just to see if I can do it.

 

[DEllis]

Ran a router around the plywood yesterday, and moved it indoors to warm up. I'll give the vinyl glue up a try this week, probably closer to the weekend.

Also started trying to sort out my mess of a tool collection. Might use the weekend without the pit cart to hoist that solid core door up onto the workbench and skin it with the cold roll 16gauge I have.

Duncan

 

[DEllis]

Glued the bench top on today with 3M 90 adhesive. I'm pleased with how it turned out, but obviously can't comment on how well it'll stay stuck.

Also hoisted the solid core door onto my old work bench. Going to skin it tomorrow with cold roll. Really just killing time until my cart comes back from powder coat.

Duncan

 

[sunsation288]

thanks for sharing !!! nice !!

 

[kgorman]

Looks awesome!

Storing Craftsman jacks vertically will eventually ruin the hydraulics. Ask me how I know

 

[DUK]

Looks awesome!

Storing Craftsman jacks vertically will eventually ruin the hydraulics. Ask me how I know

Was just getting ready to say the same thing. And you have to bleed the darn thing everytime you store it this way.

Ask me how I know.

 

[Dragoonmc]

Is that something specific to craftsman or hydraulic jacks in general?

 

[DEllis]

Interesting discussion about the jack. I know that storing it vertically will mean having to re-bleed, but had not heard of any hydraulic failures with this method of storage. Something to consider.

Very little pit cart progress this weekend as it's still out at powder coat. I did paint the backside of the plywood black, and also finished converting the solid core door into a new workbench top.

Hopefully I get the cart back from powder coat this Friday.

Duncan

 

[Strouty]

Patiently waiting, well maybe not patiently. Nice job so far, how much do you think it weighs?

 

[king nero]

What is the reason behind the regular (air) wheels, and not choosing for solid wheels?
I am not (at all) familiar with pit carts, so this is likely a dumb question...

It does look cool, though

 

[saceone]

I'm guessing grass, gravel, uneven terrain..

 

[A**holes Garage]

Nice, subd

 

[DEllis]

Back from powder coat.

Duncan

 

[saceone]

that thing looks bitchin' !


sweet trailer too

 

[Bunit98]

Damn! Can't wait till it's finished.

 

[gearhead1]

Nice work!

 

[Scuderia-F1]

Very cool project!

 

[DEllis]

Thanks.

Hooked up the winch last night and gave it an op test. I need to make a small Home Depot run for cable clamps and some wire for the electric.

Duncan

 

[alpinewhite]

How much of an incline does it take to make these things impossible to pull on the pavement?

 

[DEllis]

Patiently waiting, well maybe not patiently. Nice job so far, how much do you think it weighs?

No idea. I'll weigh it when I'm completed, and it's loaded with all my tools.
Right now, two people can comfortably lift it, and I can lift it off the ground on two wheels.

Duncan

 

[Strouty]

I bet you can't wait for the first scratch. It came out nice and you got it back early too.

 

[raf0419]

Looks fantastic!

 

[alpinewhite]

One sticker of your favorite brand is all you need. I don't like seeing toolboxes filled with stickers. One will draw the eyes to it. Anything more is just noise. Less is more, right?