Seeking entries for the new Gallery section.

Posted on March 24, 2015 by Chad Erickson

I have been working on a gallery section for the past couple of months, but I need many more pictures and build info from you all.

If you have a Stroller or Radio flyer you built for a little one please send in pictures for the new gallery section. I’m hoping to collect a large amount of pictures for others to use in their builds.  So please include pictures of the Wagon tub, frame, suspension and wheel mounting points so others can see how your wagon steers or your stroller sits like it does.

Killer pedal cars

JDRF pedal cars

 

I actually have a jig for this Chassis made now.

I actually have a jig for this Chassis made now.

Posted in Radio flyer wagons, Strollers | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Why won’t my Custom wagon and/or stroller steer where I want it to? ie. What is Steering Ackerman?

Posted on July 31, 2013 by Chad Erickson

This is a question I have had many times. It usually comes in the form of a question about a problem with a custom Radio Flyer Wagon someone has built. and it goes like this…. “My wheels turn to far and seem to push when  turning, what can I do”.

Most of the time it will need a complete rebuild of the front pitman/steering knuckles.

Exploded view.

Exploded view of them main steering of a go kart.

 

Below exert taken from Wikipedia.

“Ackermann steering geometry is a geometric arrangement of linkages in the steering of a car or other vehicle designed to solve the problem of wheels on the inside and outside of a turn needing to trace out circles of different radius. It was invented by the German carriage builder Georg Lankensperger in Munich in 1817, then patented by his agent in England, Rudolph Ackermann (1764–1834) in 1818 for horse drawn carriages.”

 

So the outside wheels turn a larger radius than the inside wheels. The angle of the pitman arms shown below takes this into account. When turning the pitman arm angle pushes out the right side wheel less than the left side (when turning left in the example below). Note that all wheels point to the center of the turning angle.

Note both pitman arms are pointed to the center of the rear axle.

Note both pitman arms are pointed to the center of the rear axle.

As shown above the Pitman arms must(when wheels are pointed straight) be pointed at the center of the rear axle. When lining up your steering use a piece of string or dowel of wood to simulate the angles the pitman arms will be welded at.

This professionally made kart has the angles of the pitman arms perfect. They are angled toward the center of the rear axle.

This professionally made kart has the angles of the pitman arms perfect. They are angled toward the center of the rear axle.

It can get allot more complicated than what I have gone over here. A brief video about Ackerman steering can be found here.

Thanks, Chad

Posted in Pedal cars, Radio flyer wagons, Strollers, Tutorials | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

1/4 scale bodies for your next stroller build? Check out this Stadium truck to find out.

Posted on July 29, 2013 by Chad Erickson

Hey all,

My last update covered 1/4 scale R/C Bodies being used as a shell for your next stroller project. We looked at Brad’s killer 911 Porsche Cabrio he built for his son. Just like a real car guy, Brad’s son August needed a fun car and something extra  for the weekend. The 911 fits the bill for the fun daily(daily when you have a lifted Stadium truck for a weekend shooter).

1/4 scale Stadium truck again built by Brad.

1/4 scale Stadium truck again built by Brad.

This time around Brad has used a killer set of alloy kart wheels and rain tires. The Chassis is the same as the Porsche from last week and it does not turn. When you include the killer race seat and harness, I’m sure his son doesn’t mind the wheelies required to turn.

Love the light bar and stance of this Stadium truck.

Love the light bar and stance of this Stadium truck.

The chassis is the same as the Porsche just four inches higher.

The chassis is the same as the Porsche just four inches higher.

Here are some nice close up shots of the chassis Brad made for his stadium stroller. The shells look to be fiberglass and not lexan. So any mods you need to do to them can be sanded and smoothed before paint. Fiberglass should also last a heck of a lot longer than Lexan would.

Mounting tabs for chassis.

Mounting tabs for chassis.

Once mounted in the stroller even if Brad hits a few bumps it’s a smiles for his son.

 

Safe and sound.

Safe and sound.

The above picture really gives a good idea of the size of 1/4 scale cars. Perfect for a 5-6 month old all the way to 3-4 years old.

Chad

Posted in Strollers | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

1/4 scale R/C bodies are perfect for your next custom stroller build!

Posted on July 28, 2013 by Chad Erickson

Hey all,

I have had a few people send me pictures of their custom stroller builds over the past few months. These guys are using 1/4 Scale Remote control car bodies and build custom stroller frames underneath.

Bad made this killer stroller out of a 1/4 scale R/C body

Brad made this killer stroller out of a 1/4 scale R/C body

As you can see the chassis is pretty basic. You just lift the front end to steer it. This is exactly how my first stroller started out.

Basic chassis for this custom stroller!

Simple chassis for this custom stroller!

 

The bodies are available online. A simple Ebay search of 1/4 scale R/C bodies found a bunch of cars. http://tinyurl.com/oufp8fj

These cars are mostly 50’s and 60’s vintage stuff. With a couple of 30’s roadsters and trucks to even it out.

These 1/4 scale cars are available in many different styles across the pond. Yankee-legends has three to four pages of 1/4 scale bodies and parts. http://tinyurl.com/plcbhqo .

I believe this is where Brads 911 Porsche shell came from. At $230 before shipping you can bet it will be kept in its own parking spot!

Beautiful 911 Porsche stroller built by Brad for his son August. Lucky little boy.

Beautiful 911 Porsche stroller built by Brad for his son August. What a lucky little boy.

Finished just in time to steal the show at his Dads wedding.

Finished just in time to steal the show at his Dads wedding.

Should have some more info on Brads Stadium truck next time.

 

Thanks

Chad  Mycooldaddy.com

Posted in Strollers | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Steve’s Auto Restorations Pedal car for the Petersen museum auction.

Posted on February 26, 2013 by Chad Erickson
Steve’s Auto Restorations pedal car

Steve’s Auto Restorations pedal car

Steve Frisbie of Steve’s Auto Restorations built this pedal car for the Petersen museums auction. The car was finished last year in time to make it to the 2012 Grand National Roadster Show in January.

Steve's auto restorations

Steve’s auto restorations pedal car in Mock up mode.

As you can see in the top picture, this pedal car body is far from stock. The car was taken apart and completely rebuilt into what you see here for the auction. From custom leather interior, a stainless steel tube grille to chrome ”one-off” hubcaps this little car is full of all kinds of custom tricks.

I beam front with hairpins

I beam front with hairpins

I especially like the drilled  “I” beam front axle with hairpins. Take a close look at the mounts for the steering linkage. Those ball and socket couplers are super clean and look the biz. I will definitely be including those on my next build. It’s tricks like that make a project really look great. The guys at SAR really know how to build’em.

Front end in chrome

Front end in chrome by Steve’s auto restorations

With the exterior and suspension out of the way, they tackled the interior next. Tuck and roll leather door cards and seat fill out the interior and it looks great.

Tuck and roll interior by Steve's Auto restorations.

Tuck and roll interior by Steve’s Auto restorations.

The custom steering wheel and “mini” art deco 1920′s dash gauge cluster round out the interior mods.

Custom art deco dash and steering wheel by Steve's auto restorations.

Custom art deco dash and steering wheel by Steve’s auto restorations.

These headlights do not come with the pedal cars as shipped and are in fact “mini” Woodlites. They really dress up the front end and help finish it off perfectly.

Custom headlights and front end.

Custom headlights and front end.

All in all another great car for the Petersen museum auction. Hopefully you have been able to find some neat ideas for your pedal car project.

Chad E

Posted in Pedal cars | Leave a comment

Acquisition therapy or how buying new tools can make you happy!

Posted on February 23, 2013 by Chad Erickson

Hey all,

I know it has been a while since the last posting. But I have finally wrapped my head around how to find more time to write more. That said I haven’t stopped working on wagons and/or filling the shop with tools to make more wagons.

Latest purchase is this sweet 85 pound ACME anvil. I had been using a one foot long rail road section that I picked up, but this 85 pounder is awesome. I can’t wait to use it.

acme anvilLooks similar to the above anvil.

I was also able to finish the post hole mount for my bender and other large items(actually I did not finish this, a good friend did while I was out of the shop). I did this to be able to move these items out of the way when I’m finished using them.

floorYou can see the receiver hitch is just under the 1/4 inch steel plate. This will act as a solid surface for the stand to rest on. The hitch has re-bar welded to it and will no turn in the concrete form.

photo(10)

This is the post/stand I made. It is 5 inch square and stands around 3 1/2 feet tall. There is a receiver hitch in the top of it so I can just drop in any tool I make with a 2 inch box tube extension. See pic’s below to see what I mean.

metalfab

 

 

Posted in Tools and Equipment | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

Navarro Pedal Car built for the Petersen Automotive Museum

Posted on February 12, 2013 by Chad Erickson

H&H Mike Herman at H&H flat heads in California built this sweet pedal car for the Petersen museum last year. The money raised at auction for this creation was $4,025.00.

 

image003They decided to build the 1932 into a Navarro Lakester tribute car. A car which is located at the NHRA Museum. They begin with the metal work, cutting the louvers out of the top of the hood and welded them on the sides. They also welded a blister on the hood to match Barney Navarro’s car. image005

The Belly pan pan was hand formed along with the shop made custom exhaust pipes, a roll bar, side steering arm, radius rods, rear bumper and even the gas cap.

Hood blister primeredI especially love the side step for climbing into the lakester.Interior shot

Mike’s choice to stay with the stock pedal car wheels looks perfect and the subtle mods to ad a 5 bolt pattern to the wheels keeps it looking like it should. Side shot with paint

The money raised from this pedal cars sale went to the Petersen’s museum and their charity that funds busing and admission to the museum for inner city kids.

Happy dude

Below is a photo of Navarro on the salt. This pedal car is a great tribute to a killer car.

The actual car the pedal car was based on.

The actual car the pedal car was based on.

Posted in Pedal cars | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Custom axles for your Radio flyer wagon

Posted on August 12, 2012 by Chad Erickson

Hey all,

I had the first wagon I made apart the other day and thought I would get a few photos of the parts that make it happen. The axles are pretty basic and their parts are available from Home depot, Lowes type stores. The Local Northern tools has a metal section that houses everything I needed for this project.

 

The standard axles are the perfect height for racing kart wheels and tires. You will only need to modify the axle shaft to accommodate the Kart hubs. The Radio flyer standard axle is simply cut out of the old axle assembly and the new 3/4inch tube is welded in place.

Standard Radio flyer axle assembly.

Remove the steel rod(axle) from the assembly. With it removed, measure and cut the 3/4inch tubing to set your axles width.

Modified Radio flyer axle.

You will need to cut the length of the tube to match the spacing you want on your back wheels. Then take the 5/8th threaded rod and measure the length needed to clear your Kart hubs.

Quick and dirty axle assembly.

To keep the axle from sliding out of the tubing just drill two holes in the tubing on either side. With the threaded rod inserted to the length you need, weld the threaded rod to the tubing.

Weld spot here has been ground down. Spot weld in the center of the tubing to the threaded rod.

In this pic you can see how the tubing acts to set the spacing of the front or rear wheels.

lose up of the finished part. Note tube acting as a spacer to determine track width.

Close up of the finished part. Note tube acting as a spacer to determine track width.

 

Parts list for these custom axles.

  1. 3ft of  3/4 inch tubing from home depot, Lowes or same
  2. 3ft of  5/8th inch threaded rod from home depot, lowes or same
  3. Qty 4    5/8th nuts for the threaded rod
  4. Stock Radio Flyer axles to modify.

Hope this helps and be sure to send in picture of what you build for the new “Cooldaddy’s” section.

Posted in Radio flyer wagons | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

Peterson Museum “Deuce Week”

Posted on July 28, 2012 by Chad Erickson

They’re modifying pedal cars again for charity. This time for under privileged children. The idea is to set up a fund to help kids come to the Petersen automotive museum and help develop future gear heads.

Starting with the stock pedal car below.

 

9 builders around the country were asked to modify the ’32 Ford pedal cars they each received. Some left the bodies stock, some just used the pedals and wheels and fabbed everything else.

The completed pedal cars at the Petersen automotive museum.

Petersen Powerhouse Pedal Car Builders:

  • Mike Herman – H&H Flatheads; La Cresenta, CA
  • Pete Chapouris – So-Cal Speed Shop; Pomona, CA
  • Troy Ladd – Hollywood Hot Rods; Burbank, CA
  • Troy Trepanier – Rad Rides by Troy; Manteno, IL
  • Gene Winfield- Gene Winfield Rod & Custom; Mojave, CA
  • Dave Lane – Fastlane Rod Shop; Donahue, IA
  • Steve Frisbie – Steve’s Auto Restorations; Portland, OR
  • Ken Schmidt & Keith Cornell- Rolling Bones Hot Rod Shop; Greenfield Center, NY
  • Automotive Restoration Students- McPherson College; McPherson, KS

We here at Mycooldaddy are in the process of getting the story behind every car right from the builders. Hopefully with some more detailed photos of the car as they were built. For now check out these shots and let me know whose pedal car build you want to see next.

 

Posted in Pedal cars | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Not a Pedal car. Not a custom Radio flyer. Just plain awesome.

Posted on March 25, 2012 by Chad Erickson

Not quite sure where to place this, Not a wagon or pedal car. I know I will be talking to the owner this year about it. It looks to be Honda 450-750cc motorcycle motor built into the smallest trike I have ever seen.

Looks like trouble to me. This thing is crazy.

From what I could see at Cars and Cafe last year the trike has no gas tank. But other than that it appears to be functional. Chain drive on a solid shaft will be sketchy in turns to say the least… This however is not why you make something like this. You build stuff like this to… to…  well you built this just because it’s Awesome! You built it be cause you can and maybe to flex your fabricator muscle’s to a few friends.

You think you could ride this? Let me know.

As you can see in the background this garage’s owner has an affinity for transportation on the small side. BMW isetta’s and Mini’s abound in here. We actually found a couple of pedal cars in there the last time out.

Hows that for induction. I would hate to shift forward in the seat of this thing...

From the rear suspension under the seat to the sweet wheelie bar out back. This thing screams detail and I can guaranty this was no midnight build but a slow and methodical build. This is seriously one of my favorite bikes/trikes and is a a real crowd generator at the monthly get together at the Automotorplex.  Which by the way gets back to it in the Minneapolis area on the 7th of April.

Chad


Posted in Radio flyer wagons | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Doesn’t have to be a Radio Flyer Wagon to be cool.

Posted on March 10, 2012 by Chad Erickson

Another variant in the Pull wagon line. This one was built using Radio flyer parts and a US army Ammo can. The axles appear to stock RFW parts that have been modified with 5/8 axles/rods for the spindle mount hubs. The Kart tires all seem to be the same size(front Kart wheels).

Ammo can wagon

Love the tandem axle he used to make up for the long length of the Ammo can. From the printing on the side of the can it held 25mm rounds. I would love to find one of these 25mm Ammo cans but have never come across one at the local surplus stores. If any one finds some of these cans or knows where I could purchase a few, let me know via the Email box to the right.

Tandem axle ammo can wagon

Use the left over axles and steering gear from a Radio Flyer Wagon to make the construction of this wagon or wagons/tubs like it a simple task.

Tandem axle ammo can wagon with the lid on.

Posted in Radio flyer wagons | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

Troy Trepanier’s modified pedal car for the JDRF auction in 2007

Posted on March 4, 2012 by Chad Erickson

I was looking through an old hard drive and found these pics of one of my favorite cars that were built to raise money for the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation’s auction about five years ago.

Troy Trepanier's pedal for the JDRF auction in 2007

As you can see it was built to match the full size ’32 above. I especially love the custom motor that was painted on the side of the hood. Looking at this reminds me I need to find someone to airbrush the side of our ’32 stroller this spring.

Side view of the sweet airbrushed engine!

These pedal cars are great and I as have posted earlier they raised $150,650 for the JDRF. I was lucky enough to see the entire group of them at the SEMA show in 2007 in person. The best part about it was the fact that I had just started to build my boys first stroller with the same Ford pedal car.

Very clean pedal car by the guys at Rad rods by Troy.

 

 

Posted in Pedal cars | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment