Barbie Corvette Transformation

MR_Pat · Post by **MR_Pat** » Tue May 17, 2016 7:18 pm

Well figured I'd start my own to follow the sweet Boss mustang post by Coopz.

Got the barbie corvette along with a couple of jeeps for the boys as cars for taking to powerwheels derby / race at demolition derby events. I 'll add some current pics tomorrow . Looking to upgrade the drive train to 24 V motors but hoping I can find something that still has enough out of the hole the kids can still "drift" them in the drive way like my youngest does with his mustang.

and the youngest one drifting his ebay upgrade powerwheels 21 T motors and gear boxs .
https://youtu.be/yJKcNEgcEG8

MR_Pat · Post by **MR_Pat** » Wed May 18, 2016 8:41 am

Ok so i didnt get pictures of it completly torn down but here is the car mostly painted. I still want to do a couple more coats of the graphite silver to even it out. In hind sight I probably should have sanded the body down . But for now it works.. Even let the kid drive it a little yesterday. all the wiring still needs to be redone but I wired a line for him to have fwd off the pedal for a little bit yesterday and let he and his brother race the mustang vs corvette around for a bit with 18V.

Roadmonkeytj · Post by **Roadmonkeytj** » Wed May 18, 2016 9:35 am

Some nice red pin striping would look good on that color

MR_Pat · Post by **MR_Pat** » Wed May 18, 2016 9:41 am

Actually have a blueish green color paint I am going to use for accents.. Youngest wants me to paint his mustang Green....... but the flake , metallic glitter in the Graphite is Blueish in color. Was debating a flame job on the front but I think I'm going to keep it simple for now.. Stock wheeels getting paint today. going to paint the wheels and rotors seperate colors and the calipers may stay black or go Red.

And I'm using the seats from the yellow one going to paint all but the black section the light tan color... the black and tan are the original pink seats that came out of the car that I painted just to make them look better than the pink. should work with the yellow car fine.

MR_Pat · Post by **MR_Pat** » Wed May 18, 2016 4:07 pm

Still have to do a couple more coats on the seats then remove the tape covering the black section that says corvette still.. and going to do some looking through old car stuff maybe dig into pocket bike gauges to redo the gauge cluster for the kid. and have to paint the rotors and lug nuts on the rims and re install the calipers on them. and take care of some other small touches like accents on the dash and both corvette emboss points on the bumpers. and waiting for the hood to arrive

MR_Pat · Post by **MR_Pat** » Wed May 18, 2016 8:22 pm

Bunch of LED's on the way going to wire a separate 12V system that runs LED, Radio accessory and such. and then mount 24V batt and system under seats curently trying to figure out what system is going to work best for the 6 year old as he's been jealous of brothers drift ability since we were able to 18 v the mustang but not his safety first vette.

MR_Pat · Post by **MR_Pat** » Thu May 19, 2016 9:08 pm

and here's where I left off today.. tried to paint the vette emboss on front and back but my hands aren't steady enough for that detail..... did finish the rims rotors and background color inside tire to make it kind of look like you could see through the rim to concrete behind and it doesn.t blob out the calipers.

MR_Pat · Post by **MR_Pat** » Sun May 22, 2016 3:15 pm

Wohooooo LED's for lighting showed up.. I'll be getting to work on those tomorrow night after work. still waiting on eagle eyes for head lights and the step down from 12 v for the led's as most are set up for 7 - 9 v .. The hood was supposed to have been to me already but nothing yet.. hoping it shows up monday so I can get it painted and Carbon Fiber wrapped, looking at the wiring mods to wire up Solenoids for the motors and I'll bypass the sound board from the yellow car so he can run this one at 18 V till i work out the 24 v conversion set up.

MR_Pat · Post by **MR_Pat** » Tue May 31, 2016 12:17 am

Hood Carbon Fiber Vinyl, LED Eagle eyes in tail and head lights, other led's started for tunr signals and what not, gotta work out relay wiring and get harness worked out. and work on the youngest ones mustang.. now that both big brothers corvette have lights he needed lights too... got headlights in for him.. the rest to follow once I work out the voltage step don to 7 v .

toycrusher · Post by **toycrusher** » Tue May 31, 2016 6:12 am

Nice work!

MR_Pat · Post by **MR_Pat** » Wed Jun 01, 2016 1:38 pm

Thankya sir. I'm getting ready to sit down with your wiring diagrams. I have to completely build a harness for the car from nothing.. and I have some 24 V scooter motors on the way. should make the vette an interesting ride.

MR_Pat · Post by **MR_Pat** » Sun Jun 05, 2016 8:59 pm

Got the motors and have brackets made to mount them on the aluminum channel im going to use for a rear subframe. I think I want to find a larger size sprocket for the motor but we'll see how the ones that came with the motors work out. I have a plate to mount the wheel sprocket to and add the original final gear from the plastic gearbox to it to engage the wheel. Forgot to get a shaft measurement so I know what size bearings im going to use.

MR_Pat · Post by **MR_Pat** » Wed Jun 29, 2016 1:21 pm

So finally got some more work done on this car ... life has been hectic and been kinda pulled away from the fun projects.. but got this the other day and it's wired into the car.. still working on rear subframe to hold the motors. also need relays and resistors . but the harness went right in the car and I can use the lighting wires to control his lights including blinkers.

6772owner · Post by **6772owner** » Wed Jun 29, 2016 5:37 pm

That is cool, so is that a system from a China scooter?

MR_Pat · Post by **MR_Pat** » Thu Jun 30, 2016 11:52 pm

I'll be honest I have no idea what it came out of .. my guess is yes a scooter as it has a twist throttle but what one I have no idea. picked it up from the facebook page from Andrew Hayden.

6772owner · Post by **6772owner** » Sun Jul 03, 2016 8:31 pm

Ok cool, thanks, I'll ask him about it.

MR_Pat · Post by **MR_Pat** » Mon Jul 04, 2016 12:31 pm

he just recently had a bunch of stuff up there on the modified powerwheels fb page

MR_Pat · Post by **MR_Pat** » Thu Jul 07, 2016 1:49 am

Hung the vette in the garage today to try and get an idea on the rear subframe for the motors. Since the wiring is in all i need to do is put the pedal in and wire the relays in and the resistors.

Excue the current upside down garage. Haven't gotten to get everything organized yet and wanting to pegboard walls so i can hang tools. and major electrical work to do in it.... house is a project in itself..

MR_Pat · Post by **MR_Pat** » Thu Aug 04, 2016 1:25 pm

ESC is in and set .. between the complete scooter harness i picked up from Mr Hayden on the FB page and some pieces from Wesley's kit. Let the oldest one run around with the stock PW motors for a couple days. Worked great till the youngest Lead foot jumped in..... PW motor gave up the magic smoke.. on to finishing the rear sub frame for the real scooter motors..

Suburbancharlie77 · Post by **Suburbancharlie77** » Thu Aug 04, 2016 2:39 pm

Bummer =(

MR_Pat · Post by **MR_Pat** » Thu Aug 04, 2016 10:24 pm

mehhh I knew it was only a matter of time putting those poor old motors up to 24v. looking forward to the scooter motors in it anyway.. i should be able to finish the rear subframe up this weekend.. I have to cut a couple pieces down to size yet and waiting on the go cart wheel adapters.

Suburbancharlie77 · Post by **Suburbancharlie77** » Thu Aug 04, 2016 11:55 pm

Hope you've got a good welder!
So you doin go kart slicks?
Yes, to have that kinda motors gotta be awesome!!! Just the difference between being ready to be having to do it, and the oh snap I gotta do it now.
HOW did you figure out the math for sprocket/tire size?
Is there a significant difference between a go kart sprocket and a bicycle sprocket? Just curious cuz there's a guy that's been spamming the heck out of Craigslist here with bike gears.
Think you can do a spool rear-end (single motor/solid axle)? I know that you are prepared to do dual motors.... what have you got in mind for brakes?
Brakes are one thing I still need to read up on for esc builds. All those kinda motors I'm familiar with are gonna coast for quite a distance!
No offense, not being rude... I'd love to be a fly on the wall during this build. I think it's the kind of thing that has got to be easier the first time after actually seeing one done or at least having put your hands on one first. On all these pictures I've been looking at, I'm constantly wishing there was a few more angles =(

MR_Pat · Post by **MR_Pat** » Mon Aug 08, 2016 10:57 pm

I'll see what i can do on the pictures. Probably going to be doing a solid axle as I have one and the pillow blocks to do it . and no welding required for the subframe I did.. I'll get some pics up tomorrow. currently sprockets im going to be using are whatever was on the motor I got from Mr. Hayden on the FB page and the ones that were on scooter tires i got from him as well .. Math for sprocket and tire size ummmm didnt do any im just shooting from the hip and hoping it works out lol. either it will be too slow, too fast , or just right .. I do have to make an adapter to go up from the 3/4 inch axle rod i have to the 1 1/4 inch go cart wheel hubs. wheels and tires not figured out just yet. i'm hoping i can figure out something to where i can put a PVC pipe over top on occasion to allow the kid to drift it as we are going away from the plastic tires. Also have to make an adapter to bolt the sprocket to that will be held on the axle as well .

Suburbancharlie77 · Post by **Suburbancharlie77** » Mon Aug 08, 2016 11:13 pm

Sounds like you have a plan.
Weldless sprocket, how about the set screw collars straddling gear and a woodruff key?
That drift idea....... priceless!

Coopz · Post by **Coopz** » Tue Aug 09, 2016 3:43 am

How's the build going?

MR_Pat · Post by **MR_Pat** » Tue Aug 09, 2016 11:16 am

finished up the rear sub- frame.. using the 80/20 aluminum channel. I still have to attach it to the car. the go cart hubs showed up yesterday. I still have to figure out a spacer for them as the axle i have is only 3/4 inch and the hubs are set up for 1.25 inch

Suburbancharlie77 · Post by **Suburbancharlie77** » Tue Aug 09, 2016 11:32 am

" I still have to figure out a spacer for them as the axle i have is only 3/4 inch and the hubs are set up for 1.25 inch "

Oilite sleeve bearing perhaps? I'm sure they have something 1/4" thick. And to get a "custom" length shouldn't be too costly of a stock thickness and width. I had called them direct for some help with some swing beam bearings for my fort in back. The lady was very helpful, and my bushing's turned out less than half what other places were talking, with shipping!

MR_Pat · Post by **MR_Pat** » Tue Aug 09, 2016 11:35 am

actually may have the machinest at work punch a piece of aluminum out and turn it on the lathe. he's helped me out with a couple odd projects that needed machinist touch.

MR_Pat · Post by **MR_Pat** » Mon Aug 29, 2016 11:24 pm

Finally some headway today.. The wheels with tires showed up today. over the weekend I turned some inserts on the lathe for both the front hubs as well as the rear set. Kind of bumming though as I can't take the wheels any closer inside because the axle is directly underneath the kid.. and i'd have to remove material from inside the cars cockpit for the tires to slide inside any more and get to the ride height i'd like ... So she's going to have a bit of a raised rearend...

So here's some quickie pics i did.. dont mind the mess.

Suburbancharlie77 · Post by **Suburbancharlie77** » Mon Aug 29, 2016 11:53 pm

What, no pushnuts?

MR_Pat · Post by **MR_Pat** » Tue Aug 30, 2016 12:47 am

LOL not on this car.. it even had threaded axles both front and rear from the start. on a side note the more i look at this car the more i realize i'm going to end up with my original idea of a full frame that this body sits on ... no clearance in the rear to bring the wheels up and in close... how ever the temporary sub frame i'm going to put in for now should work till i get the tube and a welder . then i'll build that frame and cut away what i dont need under this body.

Coopz · Post by **Coopz** » Tue Aug 30, 2016 5:09 am

Looking good mate,the kids are gonna love rally around the neighbourhood.

MR_Pat · Post by **MR_Pat** » Wed Aug 31, 2016 12:12 am

I sure hope so.. I still have to get some adapters to mount sprockets to as currently i only have the 2 X 100 W motors which i think im going to use for the lil Porsche. and the ???? motor that i need to find a mate for .. i think it's a 1016 motor but will look tomorrow . still not sure what it came out of but was part of the unit that the entire harness in the Vette came from. had headlights turn signals horn and even the dash... haven't had much lock figuring it out though.

MR_Pat · Post by **MR_Pat** » Tue Sep 06, 2016 12:50 am

Finally ... Sprocket adpaters made and sprockets mounted on the axle. Mount plate for the axle as well as backer plates to put inside the underseat compartment done . Definately going to end up welding an actual frame system up for this car once house situation is settled. Going to mount the axle and plates tomorrow while the kid is at school and hopefully get the motor in and figure out distance so i can run 2 of them . I wonder what would happen with a pair of 1000 w motors lol.

Suburbancharlie77 · Post by **Suburbancharlie77** » Tue Sep 06, 2016 1:25 am

A serious need for duct tape, zip ties, and velcro, along with a remote kill, and a seriously reliable governing potentiometer!

MR_Pat · Post by **MR_Pat** » Tue Sep 06, 2016 8:15 am

Duct tape already on hand, not currently used on the car YET. Zip ties a lot of them as i was bundling wires up into a nice clean harness till it came out near the back end of the car. I'll finish cleaning the harness up now that I am putting the electronics back under the seat. Velcro in use under batteries.. Remote kill hmmmmm not a bad idea. might have to add one . governer ??? now why would i do that :P

MR_Pat · Post by **MR_Pat** » Tue Sep 06, 2016 11:12 pm

Axle plate is in .. I have to cut the ones i made to go under the seat to sandwich the plastic as i neglected to remember the raised area that the old cars used for the axle to go through... And hey Charlie there's even a pic for you in the mess :P Now i didn't include the duct tape or the velcro yet.. but

This pic the motor will actually be up inside rear bumper area. the bar under it is the aluminum channel im going to use for a mount and slide set up.

Lowered front end

Rear needs lowered but wont be able to do it till i can make a frame for the car

This is why i can't lower the rear.. that mark is where the stock wheel was hitting occasionally (bad bushings) and well these wheels are a lot wider..

Suburbancharlie77 · Post by **Suburbancharlie77** » Tue Sep 06, 2016 11:20 pm

Can't you flip it, and have the pillow blocks above the plastic floor pan, raising the wheels as compared to the body, or just not enough room for the wheels then?
How much blood sweat and beers so far?

MR_Pat · Post by **MR_Pat** » Tue Sep 06, 2016 11:47 pm

No unfortunately the closest i can put the axle would be sitting against the plastic.. any further and i'd have to put in a wider axle and the tires would stick outside further than they do... at the point where the axle would be touching the floor pan underneath the seat the wheels have about 1/2 inch maybe of clearance .. maybe.. and i can't cut that section that the wheels would hit as it is the cockpit area... basically the kid sits right on top of the axle with this thing. . and beers none.. Rum we wont tell ...