Starting out

I guess the simple way to start is to find the right car first.
Figure out what sort of car would be best suited to your needs, probably something small and lightweight, but also consider if you need luggage space, passenger space, etc.

Have a look in the garage to see what conversions have been built on the same car and what sort of cost and performance is likely.

Also find out where you can get access to scrap fork lift trucks local to you, a breaker of repair works may be able to help but also look for non runners or faulty forklifts for sale locally. You can then buy the whole thing and remove the parts you want before selling the rest.

Do ask for opinions here before you commit your cash to a purchase.

A low budget doesn't exclude you from making a good conversion but it does mean more time spent searching for good budget parts.

There have been builds done for around $500.00.

Search for threads by Stunt Driver ?/ and vpoppov. Both names might need a little changing to be correct, but, you need to do some research, first.

These guys will be more than helpful, BUT, you have to read some threads, and have a better handle on what this involves.

Lots of guys come on here and ask to be spoon fed. When they are told what I just wrote to you, some get indignant. Others go off and never come back. The few that take advice, and read and search, all have successful builds.

I've been hanging around here, for over 2 years. Still don't have a build started, BUT, I'm getting closer.

Some guys start out with a motorcycle build. It's cheaper, a bit easier, and more affordable, buying used parts off the Internet or scrap yards. Basics are pretty much the same. Do your research, then, come on back and ask away.

Likewise I haven't much money and if you have a look at the two threads in my sig you will see what I am working with.

'Me Wee Beasty' is a tractor that I scratch built to learn about the process of using electric motors to drive stuff. I knew about as much as you when I joined the forum and had high ambitions. The ambitions are still there but tempered with a lot of learning and a little then a pinch of realism.
My Trike is the road going version I started because I found that I couldn't afford to convert a Toyota MR2. Well, I could afford to convert it but I couldn't afford the batteries to run it for my needs.

The trike is a cut down, light weight commuter that uses what I can get cheaply. I have an 11" motor for it because it will definately do the job, and some. I do have a 9" motor but as it was given to me to experiment with I may well pass it on to another more needy local to use.

My budget is zero. I scrounge, beg borrow and trade to get parts. As a part time trainee teacher my income is minimal but my hours long and trying. I still managed to scratch build a tractor pretty much from scrap metal yard finds and the Trike will be done the same way, slowly and cheaply.
Just about everything I have bought can be resold either as is or as scrap metal.

Now we know where you are based, someone else may be able to give you a pointer to a fork truck parts place. Keep an eye on Ebay too, fork lift motors, DC motors, EV motors, non runners, kit car projects, unfinished projects, etc and you may come across something that is useful.

The idea is to keep reading and keep looking. It often doesn't matter if you get a car or a motor first, or some other component. But do read, a lot!

BTW, I'm not awsome, the likes of major, jackbauer, Tesseract, Qer, Jimdear2, Toddshotrods, CroDriver, gottdi, just to name a few are awsome. I'm just stuck indoors today with a bug that I am hoping isn't more then just a cold.

Hunter,

Go here: http://www.evalbum.com/ and use the search function to have a look at all the cars that may be of interest. Far more at this site than in our garage. Cost of forklifts are dependent upon how savvy you are at finding them. By all means take good photos (not from your phone) and post them with questions about if it would be good to use. Basically you want a motor of 9" average size diameter and a shaft that is a keyed shaft for ease of conversion. It can have a dual ended shaft. Shafts with splines are not a deal killer. But keyed are easier to deal with. Be sure your motor has dual brushes per brush holder. It needs to be a series motor with 4 equal sized terminals coming from the motor. From there you want to have a look at the commutator. Good photos come in handy here. You don't want it tore up but smooth and dark is ok. But we don't want burnt either. Many large motors are good to use and will usually live up to 5000 rpm and up to 144 volts. If you go with 120 or more volts you should advance the motor. Some motors have built in ability to be advanced or retarded or neutral. Some don't. Not a deal killer but again makes it harder to deal with the fork motors for your conversion.

Choosing a vehicle is what do you want to drive. Not what is available. Drive what you like. I like the VW. My first was a Ghia and I am working on an MG and building a 67 VW Bus. So get what you want. Don't cut corners but be frugal and hunt for good deals and you can build a pretty nice vehicle. When you get your car, get one that is clean and not a rust bucket. In other words don't buy a POS that need thousands to restore just to daily driver status. Unless like me you want something that will require that if you can't afford the money up front. Costs of the vehicle will play a part in your total budget. Plan for it.

Pete