Club car ds BB cradle

[nitro1]

Hey guys working on a parts list for my club car ds big block swap and curious if I can use my stock cradle or do u guys buy them pre made ?

[ProjectClubCar]

Nitro,

There are many ways you can go, when it comes to the ds, Vegas carts sells an engine cradle for the ds(don't know if there back stock), CartPartsPlus has a turn key set up, which is one of the best setups on the market as far as plug and play.
The type of motor your will be running makes a difference too, it determines how much space you have to work with. such as the Vanguard 23hp is a lot smaller in size than a predator 670 which takes up a lot of room.
In my case I have both a Vanguard 23 and a 670, and both use the stock cradle, so far as the 2 engines go, the Predator is nice because of the price but took a lot of patience to make it work , but to me its worth the extra money that it costs to buy a Vanguard, just knowing things will go along smoother,
Hope this helps to get you were your going and I do have pictures of both setups if you need help along the way

[slonomo]

Originally Posted by ProjectClubCar

In my case I have both a Vanguard 23 and a 670, and both use the stock cradle, so far as the 2 engines go, the Predator is nice because of the price but took a lot of patience to make it work , but to me its worth the extra money that it costs to buy a Vanguard

This is great advice coming from a motor head with years of experience and someone who has used both the Predator 670 and the 23 Vanguard.

[nitro1]

That is great info ProjectClubCar, as for my set up I went with a 18hp vanguard thinking on just using the stock cradle and just making a drop bracket to lower it.

[ProjectClubCar]

Thanks slo
There are a few members here on the Forum that help me think outside the box, alot of the knowledge comes from being a member since 2011...

[ProjectClubCar]

Nitro

Is your cart lifted? If so, most people just flip the bracket itself over, and that gives the extra room needed... here is couple of pictures showing the bracket.....

[ProjectClubCar]

There's also a couple of places on the Cradle that you need to notch so you can get clearance for the oil cooler, and oil filter. I hope also widened the hole that is near the oil drain plug, So That i could use my Equus water temperature gauge, as an oil temperature gauge, which works awesome, I also have an oil pressure gauge hooked up as well, that is Equus, I use a equus 12 volt gauge, and tachometer...
all hooked up to the Vanguard...
that's a whole nother thread LOL.....
The satisfaction of making everything work, just priceless and worth more than any amount of money, that would be used paying somebody else do the work.
The money you save doing things yourself, can buy a whole lot of extra parts.....
my name is Project Club Car, it has been 3 days 8 hours and 47 minutes since I made my last golf cart part purchase......

[nitro1]

That’s awesome project club car as of now it’s not lifted just getting started. I first started with my engine just received my 2bbl intake and cheetah cam, debating if I want to get arc rods or spend that on a lift or on something else

[ProjectClubCar]

With the cheetah cam, hi rev kit, and some stiffer valve springs, that to me is the perfect setup for a Vanguard!!!
as far as carburetors go, there are 8 Jillian set ups, and all of them right. For me, i like the 2 barrel Nikki, there easy to setup and rebuild, with that said they are one of the most finicky carburetors out there, sucking a little bit of water, sucking a little bit of sand, and that carburetor starts running like crap!! I know I know I shouldn't be going in water that deep and I shouldn't be going where the Sugar Sand is 2 foot deep I know......
Wich is why I have 2 Nikkis..... get trash in 1 carb, grab the other one, 20 minutes later you're back up and running, like nothing ever happened!!!! And next time go around the mud hole and not through it!!!

[ProjectClubCar]

here is a video, of my cart in over 2 foot of water, coming all the way up to the floorboard, this is why I need a a spare carburetor for backup!!!

You Tube

You Tube