Thread: Grandkids Coaster Car build.

Tweet

Looks great Mike, you certainly seem to draw a crowd out in the shop when you're working on it!!!!

The smiles say it all! Does Cade know we are all watching this??

Those will be treasured pictures for a lifetime.....

Great job!
Next, to figure out the brakes..
That is one lucky Grandson!

Love the way you are using old stuff and making it work on this project. You can't imagine how much of this learning experience will mold those kids later in life! One day one of em will need to cut something shorter, and they'll go hum, what did grandpa do to make this stronger, oh Yeah I remember, gussets!
Those seem like some very happy grandkids! I agree with Bob, those pictures will continue to keep this memory alive!.

After a couple of week break we were back on the car today. I spent some time explaining to Cade how we would make the steering work and what we would need for brackets and braces. Then it was removing the nose piece so we could get measurements for the brackets (Cade did all the measurements this time).



After we got measurements we went ahead and unbolted the body and got that out of the way so I could build the brackets during the week.

Austin’s getting more comfortable being out in the shop now too, and enjoys helping put Cade’s tool away at the end of the day.



Cade did say something today that did make me feel good. I have the head, igniter, and piston/rod sitting on the bench from the waterloo Boy engine I’m restoring and he asked me if they were the parts we took off last week or were new. I told him they were what we took off and he said they really look like new......I told him that’s some of the stuff I’m teaching him how to do and he just grinned.


.

glad you are back at it again. This is one of the threads that I specifically look for on Sunday night/Monday

Very nice work with your grandkids! Keep it up!

Sunday was building the steering. There was also a carnival in town so Grandpa was informed he wouldn’t get to monopolize all the kids time .

We’re keeping the steering as basic as possible; a simple bracket at the front of the car and a hole in the dash to hold the steering shaft, and an arm and tie rod connecting it to the steering arm on the front spindle.

The steering shaft we’re using is actually a Dodge truck steering shaft. It works out really well as it’s collapsible for length and with the right adaptor makes installing the steering wheel a snap.

We got as far as building and installing the front bracket before the kids had to go today.






I went ahead and kept at it a bit longer after the kids left, I wanted to build the tie rod so we can get the body back on next weekend to do the final test fitting before we start paint and body work.




Of course then it was time for the big test.......seeing if the darn thing actually worked. It did but it turned VERY hard, Cade could probably handle it but his sister definitely would not have been able to. The fix was pretty simple, an extension on the steering arm that effectively doubled its length (and leverage). When Cade comes over next weekend I’m going to take the extension off and have him try the steering then show him how much difference the extension makes.



Well that’s about it for this week, with any luck it think the kids will actually be able to push each other around in it next weekend and I’m really looking forward to that.




.

Cade's going to be one good smart cookie when he grows up, learning this stuff from you now!

I came across this on another site and thought it was kind of neat. At 20 MPH those little tires have got to be rally be spinning.



February 2, 1939. "Builds own Jalopy. Thirty dollars was all it cost Robert Preston, 16-year-old high school senior, to build this midget automobile. Weighing approximately 250 pounds, the 'jalopy' is powered with a washing machine motor of ¾ horsepower and has a maximum speed of 20 miles an hour. His license tags for this year will cost 32 cents."


.

neat old pic Mike!!! Pre-war and everything, some neat fabricating for the day! Hope he let Mom use the engine on clothes washing day!!!

Originally Posted by Dave Severson

neat old pic Mike!!! Pre-war and everything, some neat fabricating for the day! Hope he let Mom use the engine on clothes washing day!!!

LMAO

Shoulda searched for a bigger family as they might've had the Maytag twin cylinder! LOL...

Well, another Sunday. I had put the body back on during the week so we could finish up the steering. While I was at it I also cut the plywood that would form the seat area and eventually be upholstered.



After some test fitting, Cade moved on to installing the headlights.



After setting the nose piece back in it was time for the first big road tests. Cade let Elise and Austin have the first spin in it…….



and then it was his turn, of course besides Elise he also got a bit of Mom power.




If you notice Austin got the best job…..shotgun.

I think it’s safe to say we all had a ball today!!!!!


VID 20120923 100959 - YouTube

VID 20120923 100732 - YouTube


If the weather holds, next week is sandblast and body work and possibly upholstery.



.,