Ed's 'StreetRunner' Quad Build

Much of my time is spent in mental minutia.
That is, dreaming, determining, designing, deciding, with the least amount of time devoted to actual fabrication.

I've been pondering numerous seating configurations and upholstery. I've come full circle back to my two kitchen chairs.
Today I uncovered the chairs and cut the frame apart. It needed tweaking to get it square.

Today's progress
The seat frame slides into the front brackets and is held in place via an attaching point in the rear of the uprights.
It was designed to enable easy removal, providing access to the components underneath.
The next step will be to square up the uprights and weld on plywood attaching points.
Also, there will be additional seat support at the rear curved part of the seats.

A storage box is planned for the area behind the seats.


 
No pics today but things went well until noonish, then the winds came.

I did get the bottom and back seat supports welded on. One seat frame squared and plywood brackets welded on.

Tomorrow more of the same and seat attaching tabs cut, drilled, bent, and welded on.
 
The second seat has been squared and braces welded on.
I still need to add support tabs at the base of the seat back and weld on attachment tabs mid-way up the back.
Seat bottoms come from kitchen chairs minus padding.

A power question for anyone who wants to join in the fun.
With (one) 1800-watt motor no longer usable, I am considering upgrading to (two) 48-volt 3000-watt motors and controllers. It did run on one 1800-watt motor for the backyard test run. How long that would last is yet to be determined.

Or replace the nonworking motor with a 3000 watt/controller and call it a day.
Result running with one 1800 and one 3000 motor????


 
Today's progress

Yesterday I/we placed the body back on the frame. I was able to see how much clearance was left after welding in the seat brace at the lower back. I ended up with about 1/4" between the brace and the drive chain. I will lift the body about an inch to regain the lost space. An additional benefit is, I can see further down the road.🤓

I've discarded the dual-seat idea in favor of a button-tufted bench and back.

Not much but it's a beginning.
As I stated previously, I have to spend considerable time visualizing the design and then how to make it work.
Anyway, the seat bottom board is cut and a foam board temple is ready for tracing onto a plywood seat back.

The weight keeps climbing, so I hope I'm getting near the top. The 'last?' heavy item, if I choose to use it, will be the rear wood insert. I'm seriously thinking of open or perforated metal.

 
Today I took a step backward and ground down/apart the seat/back supports. Why? you ask. Well, the answer my friend lies at the bottom under all the other brainy minutia.

I sat in the mock-up and decided I wasn't going to have room for my posterior and the elements of the design. Using the 'KISS method, I searched my stash of wood and other forgotten artifacts. Waste not - want not...right? Found some wood that will do the trick, and not waste a trip to the big box store. Basic modification entails lengthening the seat bottom and moving the backboard rearward about 3 inches. So goodbye to having access to a storage area behind the seats.

Tomorrow I will put tonight's brain-storming into effect and make new, lighter, better, stronger?, seat supports. As usual photographic evidence of the crime scene will follow.

A request of sorts

I want to attach carriage lights to the side of the body. So I'm on a quest to find a pair of lights no more than 12 inches long. Old vintage is best but finding the right style and price together is important. Priority is on style.

I'm scouring the internet and have found some, but they haven't been a pair, were way too expensive, or not suitable.
Maybe there is a source near someone reading this that would help locate such a treasure.

Examples below.
The slender style is what I'm most interested. (bottom URL) But anything longer than 12 inches (16,17, 18, etc) is too long.

Price ranges from about 0-$100 US dollars. Up to $150.00 only for pristine condition in the right style.

vintage carriage set lamps - Google Search
vintage carriage set lamps - Google Search
 
Hello from sunny California...NOT

It's story time. Grab a cup of Joe, sit back, and let me take you on a short journey of woe—gloom, a broom, and rid of a foe.

This early morn, we awaken to a little storm. It's wet, cloudy, and dark with gloom, yet I let that not dampen thoughts of what must be done this early morn.



First, we must pickup tools, and find where they room, then on to pushing a broom.



My shop must be a dust/dirt magnet. What you see is but a short few days since the last sweeping. I must close off the top skylight/vents, in hopes that will help. You can imagine what the rest of the shop is always like, dusty, gritty, not to mention how hard it is to keep the project clean-ish.

With the floor swept and the tools returned to their rightful spot, I had a thought about ‘that motor ’ that lay in wait, unsure of its fate. Time to unravel the mystery, so apart it came.

Those magnets have some grip, so there was a small battle trying to overpower the ‘force’. Finally, there was a success and a thorough magnified search for any telltale sign that would cause the motor not to run.

With no clear answer, and still a healthy-looking motor, I put it all back together. Though in my mind I thought it was easier to turn with just a finger grip. Wishful thinking? Maybe. Pictures were taken but there was really nothing to show. I removed the chain from the good motor and gave the shaft a few turns, and surprise, surprise, it turned the same as the (bad motor?).

Ok, here is where the story unfolds and the mystery is all but solved, if not by actual findings.

The motor purss like a kitten. It must be the magic in my fingers. But just in case it is more real world, here is my theory. When I took the motor apart I found nothing, no gouges, scratches, foreign matter, no abrasions, nada, zip. BUT, what I did find was the zip tie, was old and brittle and broke apart while I was trying to put the motor back together. So I removed the remaining pieces and closed up the motor.

Maybe, just maybe, a piece of that zip tie was already wedged inside and it fell out while I was dismantling the motor. And not being metal it didn’t leave any telltale sign.

So a good ending to this story. I won’t need to get another motor. At least in the near future.
 
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Letting the pictures tell the story
Both motors are reinstalled, chains snugged up, and ready to receive power.



A teaser shot.



Seat bottom and back moved to the rear about two inches



Redesign of the floorboard for additional foot resting area. (Template)
I will be relocating the hydraulic fluid cups to a more accessible spot. TBD
The soon-to-be-completed parking brake handle.

 
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stormbird said:
However I can't see any pictures ?

Paul
Click to expand...
Popshot said:
Not just you but mee too with no pictures.
Click to expand...

Ok guy's, I'm at my PC and all the pictures are currently showing. However, on my Android phone not so much.

There is a limit of 35 MB, for uploading, but it's never been a problem until now.

I've loaded three test pictures. Let me know if you can view them.





I just checked my phone and the pics came through.
 
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edspedalcars said:
Ok guy's, I'm at my PC and all the pictures are currently showing. However, on my Android phone not so much.

There is a limit of 35 MB, for uploading, but it's never been a problem until now.

I've loaded three test pictures. Let me know if you can view them.





I just checked my phone and the pics came through.
Click to expand...
 
You may be asking...why does he keep posting the same pics? Yes, they are very similar, but those who follow the minor changes will notice those changes.

Today's batch is a result of having to reinstall the body on the frame....solo I might add. A different rigging method and careful swing and sway and I managed to get it on.

After making the frame mods for the seat area, I needed to see how much room I gained. Not much, but a little more trimming and it will be good to go.

This pic gives us a great view of the front 'dashboard' and clearance for the carpet.
The carpet is the same as the final one except this one is a working tool and is dirty.
And what if any will be cosmetic issues where the body joins the frame (look near the tire)



Another view of depth clearance for the fresh carpet that will cover all the wood floorboard.



Easy access has been planned and seems to be OK.
However, I won't know about the dash panel once the switches, etc. are installed.
Wiring is only roughed in, so it is much tighter than the final result.



And now for the exciting pic. Is this thing looking cool or what?

 
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