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Old 08-19-2013, 11:42 AM   #5 (permalink)
BarelyAWake
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Sounds like a plan

All I've got to contribute is some experience with repurposeing front end assemblies, something you may well already have experience with... but I'll go ahead & babble anyway lol

A four wheeler front end, ie the a arms, shocks & mounts/section of chassis is a great way to go, provided you're in roughly the same weight range it's almost plug n'play. The snags are straightforward - you'll very much want to go with a dual a arm assembly despite the weight penalty as they'll not increase their negative camber angle under compression as singles do, which can lead to some handling issues with the greater speed & traction pavement provides.

You'll most likely want to construct/convert to spindles capable of accepting motorcycle wheels/rims with a reduced width as most four wheelers have a comparatively massive footprint, leading to part of the scrubbing Stilleto was referring to, where the tires are fighting each other and/or themselves, the inner & outer traveling at different rates & skidding a bit, much like a tight turn with a posi rear.

Then again, wheel width & size is often a matter of preference, so that's your call lol

The steering box ratio likely won't be what you'll want for street use (sensitive/twitchy) but there's a plethora of boxes & ratios to choose from, just be sure to not change the geometry of your tie rods as if it's not correct you'll get changes in steering under compression again, this time in toe (more scrubbing).

Other than any modification you may wish/need to do in wheelbase width (turn stability) the only other major point is altering your ackerman steering compensation to account for your new wheelbase length (scrubbing yet again heh), which admittedly if you've not dealt w/it before seems complicated - but really isn't as the pic illustrates;




This is what remains of a chopped & dropped 'Yerf Dog' go kart front end on my taddy for example;



Hope that was of some help, "recycling" a front end like this is defo the way to go as you can skip a lot of tricky math & experimentation & best yet, you'll have readily available replacement parts if/when you need 'em.
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