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Christmas Pedal Car Stroller Build

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texag09

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EarlyBroncoGuy

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Very cool.

I never really understood the appeal of the "gasser" look, but I can appreciate the work.
 
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James-W

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Pretty slick. Where did you get the body from? I have considered for some time now to build a go-kart with the neighbor's son. He is only 5 years old and a bit too young to drive it, but I thought we could have the enjoyment of building it. When he is older he could drive it.

Having the car body would make building the frame for it a whole lot easier. I am not sure I could fabricate a car body from scratch. Not sure I would even want to. But if I had the car body I could build the frame to fit the body. Just a thought, not even sure the kid's mom would want me to build him a go-kart, she is pretty "protective" of him.
 
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texag09

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James-W said:
Pretty slick. Where did you get the body from? I have considered for some time now to build a go-kart with the neighbor's son. He is only 5 years old and a bit too young to drive it, but I thought we could have the enjoyment of building it. When he is older he could drive it.

Having the car body would make building the frame for it a whole lot easier. I am not sure I could fabricate a car body from scratch. Not sure I would even want to. But if I had the car body I could build the frame to fit the body. Just a thought, not even sure the kid's mom would want me to build him a go-kart, she is pretty "protective" of him.
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The body came from EBAY they are referred to as TRIMEX bodies (the company that used to make them in Mexico). I think a few people in the states now have molds and cast them. I will say this one is a little small to make a powered kart out of. I know that Sprint Industries sales a 1/4 scale T-Bucket body that might be the key for a powered kart, or I have seen quite a few people use a metal wheel barrow bucket for a roadster/tbucket style body.
 
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driftpin

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I like the gasser look, nothing I've ever-owned, but if you grew-up in the early/mid-1960's and were into building models, you probably saw plenty of those built by your friends, and probably yourself. All those Ed Roth characters, with eye-bulging, bloodshot monsters with snaggle teeth, grabbing a shifter sprouting up like a berserk sunflower chugging Rapid-Gro, velocity stacks shaking from the engine's push to redline, skinny front tires/wheels off the pavement, as the wrinkle-wall rear slicks distort into molten rubber ovoid eggs... and you can wear it on your t-shirt!

That kid doesn't know what he's got, but he's styling!

Guessing, would the period-correct block be a 390 FE or a 406 cu. inch?

https://superradnow.files.wordpress.com/2011/05/box_mrgasser.jpg?w=584

I have a collection of original pedal cars, but nothing as creative as that!
 
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James-W

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texag09 said:
The body came from EBAY they are referred to as TRIMEX bodies (the company that used to make them in Mexico). I think a few people in the states now have molds and cast them. I will say this one is a little small to make a powered kart out of. I know that Sprint Industries sales a 1/4 scale T-Bucket body that might be the key for a powered kart, or I have seen quite a few people use a metal wheel barrow bucket for a roadster/tbucket style body.
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Thanks for the info. I will have to check it out and see what I can come up with. I may have to wait until he is a little older, but I think this is something he would really enjoy doing, I know for a fact that I would enjoy it.
 
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texag09

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driftpin said:
Guessing, would the period-correct block be a 390 FE or a 406 cu. inch?
Click to expand...

I lettered it as the 430 which could of been purchased in the the TBird that year, However if I remember correctly less than 100 of those cars were ordered built. A few ran in NASCAR for the 59/60 seasons.

The 430 cu in (7.0 L) engine was produced from 1958 through 1965. It was the standard engine on all 1958 to 1960 Lincolns and Continentals. Power was 375 HP in 1958, 350 HP in 1959, 315 in 1960, 325 in 1961 and 340 in 1964. It was an optional engine on all Mercurys from 1958 to 1960 but Mercury models had a little less horsepower than the Lincolns and Continentals. The 430 was also an optional engine in 1959 and 1960 Ford Thunderbirds. It was commonly referred to[who?] as the "Bulldozer" of the MEL series engines. The 1958 Super Marauder version used three two-barrel carburetors to generate 400 horsepower, the first American production car to reach this figure. It was an option on all 430 equipped 1958 Mercurys and all 1958 Lincolns and Continentals. This engine featured the tripower intake manifold, which was cast for Ford by Moon products. Three Holley 2300 carburetors were used. The 430 had a 4.30 in (109.2 mm) bore (same as the 383) and shared the 3.7 in (94 mm) stroke of the 410.
 
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volksnick

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That's pretty slick!

I built my son a remote control stroller with a power wheels by putting a speed controller and an RC system on it. He was a hit at the car shows and even made the paper a time or two. We once received a flyer in the mail asking us to donate our old car for charity and there was a photo of our little guy in the ad! If you could make this remotely controllable, you wouldn't need a stroller (but you do need a lot of convincing for the wife the first time out).

The other thing I've seen is a kids car like this with a steering shaft coming out the back up to a full size steering wheel that the adult pushes and, when turned, turns the cars front wheels. Get a sweet period correct steering wheel and wire up the horn!

What is the receiver tube for on the back?
 
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rmalkow2

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Awesome job building this! I love the gasser look and love the idea of modifying pedal cars. Your build gives me good ideas for some of the left over pedal car bodies I see for sale occasionally. If just the shell is left this would be a cool way to recycle one rather than a full restoration.
Where did you find those correct miniature versions of gasser wheels and tires?
 
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rmalkow2

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texag09 said:
Wheels are for lawn mowers Arnold brand via Zoro.
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Thanks for that tip. I found them on Amazon too. I never would have guessed they would make those front spoke wheels like that which are a really good version of old drag wheels. Looks better the way you have them polished.
 
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