We Gambled on a $200 4 Cylinder Generator Engine from the Military Surplus Store + SUPERCHARGED IT!

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We bought a $200 engine from the military surplus store. This 32 cubic inch engine was designed as a generator engine for the US military. This 4 cylinder engine was built in 1976, but we bought it used this year for $200. We want to turn it into a go kart engine!
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[@CarsandCameras]

This video is sponsored by BRUNT: bruntworkwear.com/CARSCAMERAS10 . Use code "CARSCAMERAS10" for $10 off your first order of $60 or more!

[@itskarl79]

hey, where's the other guy? I haven't seen him in a while.

[@Just-InTimeRepairs]

I'll never buy another boot, my Brunts are amazingly comfortable out of the box. Even their socks are better than any others I've tried.

[@SharkysGarageRCandMore]

This video is awesome, can't wait for a new "Rat Rod" build. Miss the old rat rod....

[@MrPistola187]

@@itskarl79 moved away

[@MrPistola187]

dont over spin that charger them cheap ones have plastic internals and they tend to come apart they are however a copy of a real deal subaru k car bit of kit that wont fill your engine with plastic

[@danieljonhson6367]

I was a generator mechanic in the army and that engine was on the 4.2 kw generators i worked on you can run it wide open for days you should try to put it on the king midget.

[@xptics]

wait so wth even is it besides a genny motor

[@joelexz4982]

@@xptics s So was i in 1979 in the army

[@dyslexicredneck]

52d10. hell yeah brother.

[@justinswanson7582]

Second this being the engine for the king midget!

[@ThePete2432]

Thank you for your service

[@krisley5178]

The tin covers on that motor are to direct the air across the cooling fins and keep everything cool. If you're gonna run it without the tin, you may want to install one of those cyl head temp gauges that mount under the spark plug.

[@kevinsellsit5584]

I knew I forgot to mention a critical observation. Thanks Krisley.

[@keithhasafastcar]

Yeah but you have to imagine on a generator the motor will just be sitting there not moving. On a kart it's going to be moving 20+mph. Cooling shouldn't be an issue

[@kevinsellsit5584]

@@keithhasafastcar Heat of compression is a real thing but if sufficient airflow is available, and the blower only makes a few pounds of boost it should be fine. That being said, it could make a s#1t ton of power and melt itself into a puddle of aluminum quickly. Which could be fun to watch.

[@marcelpursche5339]

Like other comments suggested: you need to put the original tin back on because it directs the cooling air to the cylinders. Just modify it where it doesn't fit because of the new intake manifold. Make the tin as air-tight as possible to get the best cooling performance. This engine is pretty similar to an air-cooled beetle so you might want to add a small oil-cooler now that it is supercharged.

[@WhatsIncluded]

So if that matters I'm assuming on the generator was a fan? Otherwise why would it matter if it sat stationary vs them putting on a gokart?

[@marcelpursche5339]

​ @WhatsIncluded The fan is on the flywheel. You can see it in the video. Aircooled engines that use a fan usually have smaller cooling fins on the head and cylinder. So cooling only with the wind/ambient air might not be enough.

[@marcelpursche5339]

You can kind of see it at 29:12 there is a huge opening at the back of the engine so the air from the fan on the fly wheel gets directed forward. The tin would direct it around the cylinders and heads. You can also see part of the fan at 37:54

[@johnbarnhouse7331]

That sheet metal you removed might come in handy to keep it cool

[@Jay-in4fg]

Nope 🥶

[@aaron71]

Yeah I know with the Briggs opposed motors they'll cook without the tins. Might be there for a reason!

[@traviswilliams9455]

If it has a fan blowing down the inside over the fins through the tins then yes, they need to on.

[@leviwoodring6101]

I'll be fine if they keep on the move. Just like a motorcycle engine

[@liamsoons6986]

“That motor is ancient” “Thanks” (long pause) 😂

[@bryduhbikeguy]

I felt that in my bones as well...

[@minimotoheaven4584]

I would suggest mounting the supercharger pointing up and using a solex or a stromberg. You won’t have throttle sticking problems with a butterfly carb. And it would look cool in the front of the wheel barrel.

[@AsswipeGarage]

Wheel barrow.

[@DeaconXPS]

By far one of my most fave episodes to date! So glad you guys made it through the storm ok. Thanks for keeping it light for us here in the Carolinas as recovery efforts continue. Keep em coming boys. From a fellow 0876'r here, teach em before its forgotten. You guys do this so well. Appreciate the regular episodes of edumacation. Cannot wait to see more of this Frankenstein SC Motor in the future!!

[@16driver16]

Boots are great and all, but also using anti fatigue mats really really helps you feel better standing on concrete like that

[@RCMeniscus]

Absolutely love that you guys listen to the comments!! I don't comment often, but your efforts to revisit the military engine go kart, now with mods, is most appreciated!!! Thank you!

[@giggitygiggitygoofg6069]

Fairly amazing to think that out of all the you tubers that started off working out of a shed. They've all built themselves up into having nice workshops great tools & big channels which are out of most people's reach by far. John & Ike seem to be the only ones whose Fabrication skills have not grown out of control & are still within the reach of the average person. Everyone else is using Lathes, Bridgeport mills, CNC machines & thousands of dollars worth of plasma tables & 3D printers. I'm not trying to insult either John or Ike I'm merely trying to point out an observation that shows you don't need to be some amazing builder with a hundred grands worth of tools to succeed in building some pretty dam nice rides as well as have wot looks to be the best kind of Fun with your friends. Thanks both of you for wot you do your truly entertaining & well worth watching. . .

[@kevinsellsit5584]

So, a Blown Opposed 4cyl Top Fuel (eventually) Wheelbarrow. Everything is normal at CarsandCameras. I just love these little 4 bangers, and what a smokin' deal on the electronic ignition conversion kit for $50 bucks.

[@jonathononeal2570]

That thing needs to be in a micro car, mini jeep, or build a mini version of the old vw rail buggies. I love how it sounds alot like the old vw engins!

[@briangoodhuejr5710]

Put it under the hood of those mini jeeps you can get at things like blains or amazon, the 125cc ones

[@jackkeller48]

I have 15 of these engines, plus twin cylinder and single cylinder engines.Plus tons of new parts pistons,points, gasket sets distbutors with points, heads,fuel pumps.

[@uni-byte]

Only one cylinder will intake at a time. The port in the manifold does not have to be any bigger than the intake port on a single cylinder head. It just flows more continuously. It's all good. What would help is increasing the volume of teh plenum. That part of the manifold before it splits off to the separate cylinders. Older military engines were often rated in "nominal horsepower" which has no relationship to real, or "brake horsepower". The brake horse power could be as much as 2 to 7 times what the "nominal horsepower". The speed at which that heavy crankshaft with all 4 pistons in toe revs up - pre blower - that thing is putting out way more than 6 BHP.

[@whatsinanamethatthecaptive577]

In the early 1980's my brother and I were making home built shifter karts with motorcycle engines. We built one with a Honda Z 50cc engine on it which is a small engine for a go kart, but we installed a super charger on it. The super charger was made out of an automobile smog pump. The pumps were part of a vehicle emissions control strategy in the early 1970's called secondary air injection, which injects fresh air into the exhaust stream to improve combustion of exhaust gases. Perfect for small engine super chargers. Isaac, you probably have seen smog pumps on some of your old cars and know what I am talking about?

[@mfree80286]

Take a peek under the nose of the station wagon, should be a big honkin' thermactor style air pump plumbed to the exhaust.

[@AsswipeGarage]

@@whatsinanamethatthecaptive577 Yeah, that's a trick I learned reading Hot Rod magazine back in the 80s. Too small to provide much boost on a V8, but suitable for small engines.

[@mikebarriball]

MAN, SHE FIRED RIGHT UP AND IDLE AND ALL, AND THE RESPONSE WAS GREAT. SHE RUNS REALY GOOD. GREAT WORK YOU GUYS. 👍✌

[@liamwatts8597]

I would love to see a bang for buck challenge and see who can make the most horsepower for cheap! I reckon you guys will get real creative in your competition

[@AsswipeGarage]

2 strokes allowed?? A stock CR500 would destroy. But they're expensive.

[@jasons4622]

That is the 2nd best sounding engine you've ever built!!!!! Rail dragster pre turbo was just a bit sweeter .

[@pitbullaircooled6075]

it would be a good idea to make sure you put the cooling tin back on the engine .. great video fellers 👍

[@comrade7715]

its meant to be an immobile generator engine im pretty sure it'd be fine

[@wrenchg3954]

OMFG! That's no bullshit a 36 horse V-DUB! 😂 I Knight thee garage fab veterans best build C&C has ever dreamed up. I cannot wait for the next video

[@E-Wad]

"Scott isn't allowed to hold the camera anymore"

[@Turbohonda428]

facts lol

[@craigerickson6308]

They are great motors with a sweet sound. It would be a perfect fit for the mini car rather than just a kart.

[@testbenchdude]

TIL Ike is only 2 months-ish younger than I am. I knew he was around my age but I had no idea it was so close. Gen-X represent!

[@DeaconXPS]

August of '76 here myself. We hanging on and doing our part to show the young bucks whats up! Cargo shorts and all 😎

[@AbbStar1989]

I'm a '73 model and the young blokes love us.

[@TetraHydroCannabinolTHC]

Dude is almost 50 looking 30, go karts keep you young

[@jhoncho4x4]

June 76 - Bicentennial babies; my 17 year old mom won the county fair baby contest by dressing me as Uncle Sam.

[@sandmanbub]

My "It'll Be Fine" hat arrived early and was waiting for me when I returned from spending a week with mom. Wearing it now and it fits-n-looks great!

[@avocadoarms358]

We need more long form build videos like this on KZbin that don’t waffle on to get the time but actually just do the full builds

[@vancemacd6315]

Yall need to build a mini scooby doo hippy van with thst V-W sounding engine!!!! It would be such a sweet build.

[@TheUncleRuckus]

I can't believe how good it sounded with it first fired up! Literally sounded like it had a high end exhaust on it and it'd just open headers lol.

[@garchompy_1561]

there are some wild engines I think you should look in to to try and put on vehicles. I know in the hobby space for model RC aircraft you can get really small Turbo-prop engines (basically a jet engine with an output shaft, there have been racecars in the past that have used them with a CVT to drive wheels, Lotus even made an F1 and Indycar that was turbo-prop and AWD), or there are those small scale model engines like the 72cc (4.4 Cubic Inch?) V12s or similarly sized V8s. I would love to see one of these tiny V12s on a mini bike. Ive also seen even smaller 50cc V12 engines, could be really funny to do a comparison betwween a normal 50cc moped (usually with 1 cylinder) and one with the same displacement but 12 cylinders.

[@jeffmcelroy5364]

. "The SMALLER the better". Genius idea

[@DISCOSHOEBOX]

This is the first thing I have watched on this channel in what feels like quite a while , the content is good! I love unique engines and supercharging, that's 2 boxes ticked in a single episode. Keep up the great work.

[@burridge911]

Really liked Scott on those episode

[@AsswipeGarage]

@@burridge911 Except for the stache 🤣

[@VdubSPAZ]

As for your track idea avoid the skid steer just get a drag something that allows you to smooth the surface back out basically a change rag or a tire drag should do perfectly fine behind one of your creations

[@Gil-d5v]

A place called Extreme Motorworks put these on cub cadets. They are pretty cool

[@cambridgemart2075]

The shielding on the plug leads is for FFR applications (UK military terminology, Fitted For Radio), i.e. equipment used in conjunction with any system utilising a radio system.

[@GooseGosselin]

This project is gonna need a name.....Squealbarrow maybe?

[@looneylonzo28]

29:13 bingo you nailed it john because there’s four cylinders it does need to be larger but I’m pretty sure that engine fires to a time opposite one another so it needs a hole about twice that size I’m pretty sure those engines fire front on one side back on the other at one time and they just alternate so yes, it would definitely improve with a larger hole but since you’re putting a blower on it, I don’t think that’ll make much difference, except for possibly blowing out the rubber couplings

[@sleepervega71hill28]

Those motors were built. Duration/High torque. Great candidates.

[@sleepervega71hill28]

.......!!!!

[@DoneAcceptingStupid]

You guys put a BIS Kit on it! Back in the 80s I worked on the project to modify all generator engines over to a Breakerless Ignition System. Brings back memories!

[@looneylonzo28]

17:08 you guys need to bring Charles back for a build

[@dustinwarren395]

it would be neat to have a torque tube from the back of the engine to a "magic box" then from the "magic box" to a juggernaut. then you would have the centrifugal clutch like a gocart, and a torque tube like a corvette. back of the engine already has 4 bolts in the center to bolt to.

[@nonames101]

They use 400hz because they can use transformer to change voltage easily and cheaply. 400 hz is easily changed to DC and 60hz AC.

[@DFI429]

Lol no.. 400HZ is aircraft standard power, unless we're talking F-35 ;)

[@juhomaki-petaja]

Hz has nothing to do with easy transforming....

[@johncoops6897]

You CANNOT easily change 400Hz to 6Hz AC. And it's equally as easy to make DC from 60Hz or 400Hz. There are very slight efficiency advantages for transformers on 400Hz vs 60Hz (smaller core required), but that is not the reason that they make 400Hz. The main reason that it's 400Hz is because the generator and any motors (running off it) can be much smaller and lighter for a given amount of power. That's why 400Hz is the standard for Aviation applications.

[@waynerowlinson6177]

If you do nothing more than run that motor on a table, I still love it. I can't wait to see what you guys do with it!

[@castanza128]

It does look a lot cooler with all of the tin off. But... remember this is an air-cooled engine. That tin is also known as ducting. It keeps the air flowing over the fins. edit: Also, I just got an idea. Weld a schrader valve to the charge pipe, and you can use a tire gauge to see how much boost it's making.

[@Wazaarbazaar]

Or just use a normal boos gauge 😂😂😂

[@BucksSuperStereoWorld]

I can't help but to be excited for what y'all have planned for this engine! 6HP four cylinder turned into a supercharged 20-25HP beast!? I'm pumped!

[@RonaldMcNutt-gb9mp]

I should put that in his little blue car and see if they’ll pick up a lot more speed

[@brettc5386]

Ghetto american vw beetle. Lets go!

[@revodrvr]

Yall should really collab with this old tony and have him machine all billet parts for it. And send the rpms to them moon.

[@revodrvr]

Him or @johnnyq90

[@theupscriber65]

Get a short piece of pipe and mount a brake lever to it from a bike. Keep it around to hook up throttle cables to when testing. A lot easier to use than the bare cable.

[@ianellithorpe5918]

Sorry, gotta say it, that's right, Ike. You were alive.

[@ianellithorpe5918]

I can't wait to see this engine on something

[@joebruggman]

For everyone mentioning the cooling tin, these engines do not have a fan on the flywheel that would push air through the tins anyways, so having them on would do nothing but trap hot air around the cylinder heads..

[@lawrenwimberly7311]

specs... 6 HP at 1800 rpm... capable of 36 hp with mods... Governor keeps it at 6 hp I am VERY familiar with these engines from the 80's and 90's

[@mackelby1]

Is that the 084? I have seen them on homebuilt ultralights

[@jesses1589]

Go on...👀 What kinda mods?

[@99unclebob]

i miss this episode last week and watched the rat rod build tonight and had to go back and watch this one, the crazy off the wall freaky things you guys build is just epic, keep it flowing next video will be great, the supercharger is the icing on the cake and it works so good 👍

[@musicauthority674]

If John would have had a pair of those boots he would have saved himself a lot of misery also. I would really like to know what the HP increase is with the super charger.

[@gmo1515]

I'm thinking turn the intake so the supercharger and carburetor are vertical (when looking at the front) and put longitudinally in another slingshot-style dragster with some old style rear swept "weed burner" headers.

[@MrJRoc67]

That engine sounds great!!

[@jameshathaway5117]

30:52 I use the ford ranger spring loaded belt tensioners for any custom applications. Just needs a small plate with a bolt hole in the middle and a smaller hole for the peg that the tensioner pushes against. Also you can drill multiple holes in an arc and make it adjustable for tension pressure and belt wear/ stretch.

[@e.scottdaugherty8291]

A 400hz generator is for target acquisition radar. I was in the Corps and those were for that. Things got interesting when you hooked up a 400hz generator set for the base camp.

[@cambridgemart2075]

No, it's for any naval or airborne system, both of which use 400Hz

[@donanything6816]

“That motor is ancient” LOL!!! Your the same age as my son, he would have been 48 on October 11th. Old is a state of mind, If you think you are then . . . Thanks for the video.

[@carlbechler3646]

Need to put unequal length headers on it so it gets that Subaru burble.

[@lawrenwimberly7311]

MILLIONS of these engines were made

[@GetOutterMeHouse]

Cool 👍🏻 just like an m1903 still cool as hell

[@jestubbs69]

Ike I didn’t realize you’re a Gen-Xer. Lookin’ good my man. 👊🤙 Perhaps work with some of the Duromax engines. 713 V-twin accepts much kit from GPS & others cams etc. Potential bore/stroke 750 could make serious power. Perhaps a bigger road-cart or dune- buggy project with the 999cc V-twin. A real beast with serious power potential.

[@higamerXD]

This is low key my favorite small engine, cool wacky compact and way under rated

[@xpndblhero5170]

13:14 - This whole add was just an Ike special and I almost peed myself laughing when he almost blew up.... I was not prepared for that during the sponsored part but that's why we love him, he is Chaos incarnate. 🤣🤣❤️

[@Ozarkprepper643]

If not naturally aspirated I tend to used blowers rather than turbos. Besides less weight and more room you can use a electric clutch for disengaging. The trickiest blowers I ever set up is on a STOL bush plane. It has a stroked type 1 2300. It uses two AMR 500 superchargers. 1 per Bank. They are on elec clutches and I only used for high altitude or short takeoffs. Each feeds a 48 mm Arrow carb which has in cockpit mixture adjustment. Depending what the CHT and EGT are reading. Those carburetors are adaptable to other small engines. Specially nice if you're Wheeling in elevation and temperature changes. 🚜🤠🐂

[@michaelstarr5861]

The best all-around dirt tires for mini bikes are really the front tires of the Coleman c200 EX.

[@ehrenkrause9861]

27:08 looks built like an airplane engine. Overbuilt, oversized,and underpowered equals reliability. Pretty cool little engine.

[@musicauthority674]

My father has a tool for removing those spring clamps. it looks like a screw driver with a long flexible shaft. with two holes with one of them that is oblong. that goes on the ears of those clamps. and twist the handle and it squeezes the clamp.

[@B_dev]

havent seen yall for years! still just buying random crap and doing random mods lmao love it :)

[@nathanpope1508]

That look on your face when you stripped that bolt was priceless 😅

[@dianamruri]

My guys this is so cool, it would sound so good with an equal length header and cam

[@Raikon316]

Ah, Coleman’s Military Surplus Heard people talk about it, then went looked up few sites and came across to this. It made me laugh and love it.

[@musicauthority674]

Ike revved that thing up and freaked out Scott. that thing sounds like a Volkswagen. and it should become it's a boxer engine. that's a badass mini bike and should be a serious challenge in that race. definitely not the kind of mini bike you would put your children on.

[@mattsmith7007]

Put one of these on a three wheeled Harley golf cart. They also made a bigger version that's a 84 cubic inch instead of 32 also you can use a Mercedes starter motor on them it will fit.

[@sleepervega71hill28]

Hello guys. You read my mind/comments! Two of those motors would be great for the Opel... Together. Inline!

[@MeganFoxx426]

This engine sounds like a Volkswagen Baja Buggy. I want one, I'll love to build a road legal single seat car with one of these in it.

[@forsaken1776]

if you buy any more military things ask for the technical manual (TM). I just retired so i can't look it up any more.

[@NiTecIndustries]

Bro the combination of this engine on t-bucket rat rod wheelbarrow go kart makes my dream project come true!! Totally can’t wait!

[@ClayHarris-g4r]

Dude that's a fine Engine of they 1976 which makes me 48 yrs old ❤❤❤❤❤❤ love from Australia.Clay ❤❤😂🎉🎉🎉🎉😊

[@johnfitzpatrick2469]

G,day from Sydney Australia. I'll say it straight. That ex military four cylinder, bolted on a part 103 ultra light plane. Just find the weight restriction, and fuel tank size. 🌏🧑‍🔧

[@BucksSuperStereoWorld]

That engine sounds so good. I'd love to hear it with some individual pipes that run down the side of the wheel barrow build...two pipes on each side with a kickout would be awesome.

[@051570orion]

Rhink about rhe placement of the front wheels on that wheelbarrow kart , probably should be forward of the engine more because it will most likely push in turns like the wagon gokart if its even with or just in front of the engine . Just a thought , but rhat thing is going to be cool 👍

[@051570orion]

Dang it I really need to proof read . Lol think and the bot rink and rhe

[@051570orion]

Dang it did it again . Lol

[@Mike-u5o5k]

That kart is going to be epic boys that engine sounds punchy can't wait for this one

[@pepperfish_]

Coolest engine so far. It sounds so epic. Especially on the before and after, snappy and rough just like a rat rod should be.

[@mustangfoxbody4797]

I understand the tins are for cooling but that’s for a stationary piece of equipment. A kart will be moving, maybe you could run ducts to the fines like when cooling brakes.

[@SiteUnscene]

I probably stocked some of those parts when I worked in the 6101 repair parts storeroom at Naval Contruction Battalion Center Port Hueneme, Ca, during the early ‘90’s, during Operation Desert Storm.

[@lamarzimmermanmennonitefar5269]

Is this the Teledyene engine? Please take some time to tune it. It sounds promising ❤

[@isaacitllbefine7231]

It is

[@dekriecastle-cook327]

Dangit not we gotta wait to see it installed 😂😂 Great episode guys!

[@gilbertsprojects2954]

I hope you guys are all safe from the storms! Stay safe boys!! 👍🏼

[@JT-py9lv]

Would be cool to figure out the boost, then have a new custom made camshaft to utilize the most that this engine could do

[@jwoody8815]

Kohler made millions of these from the mid 40 to the 70s, many still in service today most likely. They were tuned for longetivety and low end torque. The parts arent too hard to find, my Uncle had several. Alwayse wanted one of these myself.

[@jsaiz681593]

Ike is pushing his 50’s?? I would’ve never known holy hell, he looks good for his age

[@isaacitllbefine7231]

Lol. Thanks

[@Buck1954]

The mini-bike run reminded me of my youthful days on a mini-bike blowing through the forest at full throttle. I ate a lot of dirt in those days and learned how to fall (land). Fun memories. I think that I would hurt myself now, but would be fun to try.

[@andresimons8553]

hi guys love to see you put this engine in the tiny bleu car ! have fun

[@chaddbag7828]

Much love for all the current and ex military people out there, truly love you guys.

[@JohnHill-jm7tm]

WOW. 2 am and this Old Man from Washington NC enjoying the video with my coffee ☕. Another great video 👍. Great start to my day 🛵🧔💝💝

[@timey1100]

Gidday' fellas, to help with slide control, try a couple or more 1/4" ball bearings inside the slide... Love what you blokes do...

[@lancebauer5010]

You should put that in like a little car or something like the Midget the King Midget that might make that thing just straight rock and roll

[@stevesargent8611]

Put the tinware back on as it is essential to cooling the engine. I'm a vw owner and it also essential on them as they are an aircooled engine.

[@Motorsandstuff]

Awesome vid yet again boys, the track should be faster after being broken in but those tire would be worse on half dirt half grass then on just grass or just dirt

[@worldrage619]

It would be so cool to see a boost gauge and even have this thing on a small engine dyno to see the actual gains. I understand that may not be convenient or realistic to just do whenever.

[@kennethmc2601]

120vAC 3 phase 400hz is standard across pretty much every aircraft. Though some small aircraft obv dont require AC. You should see what happens when you plug a vacuum cleaner into a 400hz outlet.