Custom Golf Cart with a V.W. Transmission and a Predator 420 cc Engine.

Here is my custom golf cart that I built with a V.W. transmission and a Predator 420 cc engine. The golf cart started life as a 2006 Ez-Go TXT 36 volt electric golf cart. I swapped out the electric motor for a Predator 420 cc gas motor. The transmission is from a 1964 V.W. Bug. I mated the motor to the transmission using a custom made adapter and flywheel. The transmission is mounted in the mid-engine configuration, so the motor is under the seat. The golf cart also has four wheel independent suspension and four wheel hydraulic disc brakes. The frame was cut and extended six inches. The steering column was flipped to accommodate a better driving position. The seat was lowered six inches to lower the center of gravity. The cart drives like a miniature car and is really fun to drive!

[@extraplain]

Man, you know you have to show us how you mated that engine to the transmission. Don't leave us hangin'!

[@PastorwithoutaPulpit]

Extremely cool and some serious engineering went into this, well done sir, well done indeed...

[@themellowmechanic]

Thanks!

[@silentmouse4084]

Yes indeed, this cart is absolutly bitchin'. Its got to be a beast around the property for limb removal and clean and what not.

[@ZombieSheeple]

@@themellowmechanic How much would you charge to do this for someone

[@clockguy2]

That shifter set-up is genius. I can't imagine the hours that went into figuring all that stuff out.

[@BubbaB43]

Freaking awesome! The alternator idea is genius, the shifter cable monstrosity is overwhelmingly genius and we won't even get into the Volkswagen tranny transaxle ordeal. I tip my hat to you sir

[@orvillenorth8815]

I’ve never wanted a golf cart so bad. That is absolutely sick! Pure genius!

[@jonathanjale5453]

Yes please can you make more videos on how you put it together. I think a lot of people would love to see how you did it. I know I would.

[@robertwilliams3457]

Definitely please make some more videos about all the amazing fabrication. That thing is a piece of art. Great job!!! I’ve watch the video 3 times and still just amazed on how beautiful that golf cart is. Thank for sharing…. Please do a full build if you can…. I submitted!!!

[@baysidetaxillctablet8840]

WOW!!! That’s absolutely amazing! Well done!

[@solomonkane223]

Absolutely genius. You just got yourself a subscriber. As a disabled Vet living in a small town, I use my golf cart a lot to do things around where I live. I go get mail, go to the IGA, the hardware store, get pizza to the park to walk on the trails with my service dog... grandkids to the splashpad yesterday. You have a flat out dream build good sir.

[@wadereuty1991]

This needs more views! Love the shifter idea! I agree with these other guys though, I'd love to see more on how the engine was mounted to the trans axle.

[@TORAH-613]

YES!!!! Go in depth on the build. This is crazy cool

[@MrMiller123]

This is probably the coolest golf cart I've seen on here, love the swing arms up front, looks so good

[@actionjoejackson9880]

Very nice golf cart and well put together make me wanting to take my late model atv apart and put it in my old electric club cart

[@61066clocks]

Excellent engineering on this Rig..The Shift cables is pure mechanical genius...Well Done..

[@themellowmechanic]

Thanks!

[@Theandrew189]

This is probably one of the baddest carts ive ever seen. It makes me want to build one!

[@superswamperboggers]

my hats off to you sir, for a job well done. you have inspired me to perform a similar build on my old yamaha g2. thank you for sharing this slice of engineering genius.

[@themellowmechanic]

Thanks!

[@kevinburgess6112]

very impressive my friend, you are quite the talented individual, well done, i agree , i would much prefer this over a lifted cart👍

[@dwight19463]

You did a great job on this project. I would like to see some of the build video's.

[@ruckus1009]

please more videos... you are an incredible mechanic. i work at a GC shop would love to learn more to attack some more custom work

[@EstablishedLowriders]

This is awesome, great craftsmanship!

[@tomstanley7772]

A clean job and very cool. Thanks for sharing.

[@floydwall888]

Wow man. Very impressive.

[@JgrahamPhoto]

Wow that's very impressive! Great job!

[@Watermelonpotato19]

That shifter linkage setup is awesome

[@timwegman5776]

Wow this was done extremely well and very professional. We see a lot of different Golf Cart builds on you tube but this one is completely different than any of the others and I love it. I would love to do something similar however since I would want to use it for rock hopping and even trail use the the transmission would be helpful to get those low gears but I would lift it and larger tires. I love how you stretched it and lowered the seat, I was looking at one right before I seen yours and it was lifted then seats sat on top of that battery box and it raised the seating and center of gravity way to high also another cool outcome of your design I like is by lowering the seat and the steering you change the front end look that sits up high in the front and makes the nose very short and will always look like a golf cart no matter what was done but with lower steering column it makes the front appear longer and one could change the hood or front cover to make it have a more rugged look. In all I absolutely love what you have done and even though my version would be a lifter 4x4 version you mailed it with yours.

[@irgendwerausbayern1999]

Nice! I want to drive a golf cart like this one day I'm in the USA. It looks like it's very much fun to drive it!

[@scottarmstrong1172]

That's about the slickest conversion I've seen. Nice work.

[@themellowmechanic]

Thanks!

[@oliverfoulkes]

Definitely need a close up of the rear swing arms and hubs , also I need to see how you mounted the engine and trans together, this is an awsome build

[@RkunsawGarage]

Nice! You did a awesome job! I'm fixing to start a project like this soon.

[@Josh-lq5rw]

Too cool! I love the shifter.

[@1620GarageAndFarm]

Totally RAD build man !! Inspiring for me to build a UTV farm rig.. That predator is a beast of a motor for short $$

[@johnkelley6216]

Got to love your shop.Grate Engineering.

[@diecast164andmore9]

Dove into golf carts very recently, got one for my daughter and going to pick up 4 more this weekend. Your cart is the coolest by far! Wish we were neighbors!! 😉🙂🇺🇸🇺🇸 really awesome cart my friend. 👍👍

[@themellowmechanic]

Thanks!

[@CartLifeTV]

Wow - really amazing setup - most impressive.

[@ricknrolling]

That’s really impressive! Love it .

[@OscarHernandez-zk2mm]

I love to see more videos specially the engine hooking up to the transaxle

[@floriduhman9520]

This guys day job must be like spaceshuttle engineer or something.

[@themellowmechanic]

Nope!

[@EstablishedLowriders]

Just pick one up and I need to get it going! Nice work

[@rcclassiccrawlers4368]

Very cool build!

[@agkracing140]

This is a very cool project. Very nicely executed!!

[@staticintent517]

NICE build!! Please share this on Buggies Gone Wild golf cart forum!

[@PaulThomas-qo9vy]

Way Cool & different! Well engineered, Nice!

[@DZCamaro-kz2vd]

this guys a GENIUS!

[@bigdaddydoitall]

Nice clean install. Well done

[@flydaddy55]

Nice build.. Nice fabbing. Well thought out..

[@curtishanlon1781]

You are a true engineer sir.

[@rod1695]

Very nice build, I want it!

[@vinces8974]

That is brilliant ,Well done

[@jakepalmer8089]

This is amazing congrats

[@christopherallen9615]

I was a big fan until I spotted that John Deere sticker LOL. Now you jinxed it to break down. Great craftsmanship on the real. You did a really great job. Now you're going to have to go on to a next project. When she stopped creating cool things hard to stop.

[@RaztechPowersports]

Dude love this build! Well done 🏁🤙🏻

[@MrDts2008]

Awesome build

[@wilburmassey2533]

My dream golf cart, All I would add is a custom Willys flat fender body. Great build, sir!

[@djflizo69]

Subscribed! Awesome video. It would be sweet if you made videos of everything you did, especially the brake system and suspension. Thanks for sharing!

[@themellowmechanic]

Thanks for the feedback! I will do additional videos on the golf cart.

[@chrislawrence6076]

That is one bad ass G~Cart. Excellent job

[@themellowmechanic]

Thanks!

[@roccomane1558]

Very nice job buddy very nice

[@fjs1111]

Best golf cart build on KZbin, the others are the bike engines but yours is superior to everything else love it

[@themellowmechanic]

I agree!

[@wesgraham9588]

Good Job ! 👍🏼

[@iplaymytele]

Sir this was brilliant….!!! I don’t know how you figure it out the shifter linkage….!!! Excellent job…..!

[@mackmandarb2424]

Nice cart

[@robertmdraper99]

Nice work

[@Skiridr22]

Vary creative setup 👍🏾👍🏾

[@tylerepps3915]

That is a neat idea to use a vw transmission in a golf cart.👍🤘✌😀

[@themellowmechanic]

Thanks, it amazing how well it fits in the golf cart.

[@stevewong4089]

Sure wish you had a video on how you connected the 420 Predator engine to the VW Transaxle. Pure genius, just wish there was a video...

[@mygt8a4re]

Damn this is really cool. Such engineering skills. Sub'd

[@tonyharlow630]

Unique vehicle & obviously one of a kind

[@j-rodsgarage9161]

Awesome job! Looks sweet

[@themellowmechanic]

Thanks!

[@CncObsession]

Great build. I have been wanting to lower my seating position very similar to yours. Nice on the lowering the steering too. Mine will be 72v Navitas AC powered

[@themellowmechanic]

Thanks, lowering the seat made a big difference in the way the cart handles. A 72 volt cart should be fun!

[@3doghaus]

That is so cool!

[@hearthstonelights5001]

that sir is bad ass! great work.

[@themellowmechanic]

Thanks!

[@thetruth9361]

Very nice job.

[@timothystacks2947]

Yes …. More videos!!! Very cool build! I’m glad this popped up on my suggestions! P.s. SUBSCRIBED !!

[@mancathumbsllc8430]

Holy cow this was really thought out!!!!!!!!!!!

[@jaimealvarado1384]

great cart and info on how you built it. thanks. I'm getting ideas as I'm going to do an engine swap on my ezgo

[@GearsAndTech]

Amazing job! Im very impressed

[@themellowmechanic]

Thanks!

[@j-hud8528]

Awesome workmanship. I’d love to see something about the pinion gear swap!

[@hijodelodi9489]

Man i would love this in my gem E4!!!! this is awesome man!

[@themellowmechanic]

Thanks!

[@venessariley3285]

This looks amazing, I wish I could get the same done on my golf cart got it from SWFL Golf Carts and although its amazing, I wish I can get something like this done to it

[@RANDALLOLOGY]

Great job !! 👍👍

[@themellowmechanic]

Thanks!

[@jimciancio9005]

Very very impressive and an awesome idea to see actually come to fruition! I've often wondered if it was feasible to do with not knowing the gear ratios of the VW Final drive! BUT it be pretty awesome to have a manual transaxle with reverse that could hold up to almost 90hp. I happen to have a highly modified 02 TXT with a 2 stroke in it at the moment, on the bench I have a fully custom build Briggs Vanguard 570cc all billet internals and head work, with a turbo system I'm building for it. I cut the crank to fit the standard 30mm 1-10:1 taper clutches all sleds and most carts utilize. So I was originally going to go with a set of high speed Ezgo gears like 6:1s to utilize the torque and power of this new beast I'm building. Otherwise the stock gearing won't put enough load on the engine to even make the turbo spool properly. It be pretty awesome to have a set of gears to run through being I hate automatic anythings! So thanks for posting your project and sweet cart, because you've answered a few good questions I've never been able to really find any answers to on the internet. Thanks again for the inspiration to move this project along maybe now in a much more satisfying direction for me, now I can see a predator 420 can make it not just move but haul some ass too for such a small engine especially in a heavy ass golf cart. I'm very impressed it goes as well as it does with a 420cc, but I've seen them moving full sized trucks for off road capabilities as well. Next project is to get my hands on a known good Beetle Transaxle! Now also knowing thanks to you that you can flip the ring gear around to change its setting location per engine rotation as well. Thank you Dearly for all this great information my Man. Hope you are still able to enjoy the golf cart and still have it I mean. But thank you again for all the new ideas you've now opened me up towards you

[@themellowmechanic]

You’re welcome! I’m glad to see some of my builds inspiring others. The gear ratio on the V.W. Trans works perfect on a golf cart. It helps to have smaller tires on it. I’m running 12” rims with low profile tires. The V.W. Trans also has a symmetrical bell housing making the conversion easier. That 570 build sounds cool! How much power will it make?

[@jimciancio9005]

@@themellowmechanic Oh that's awesome to know also! Thank you. I had a 66 Beetle I had restored and built the engine and drive system up in for a drag car many years back. Now I'm half crippled from age and autoimmune disease destroying my joints, I had to scale my projects back in size anymore lol. Plus we know, you can fit more smaller toys in the toy box than a couple larger ones wink, wink..... I've been playing with all kinds of ideas for a final drive system that would be as well built like a golf cart but better, I'm sure your aware just a set of gears for these things are sick money, and I've been trying as much information out about the different gear ratios and what other people think of them. But it's not easy coming across someone like you and myself who like to research thing's before just slapping shit together. I'm an engineer by trade, stated off as a small engine technician for my first half of my life. So nothing's new here, but also drag raced and built my own cars from the ground up. So now I'm too old to be laying on my back ripping transmissions out by myself anymore I've given up on the bigger vehicles and gone back to my roots, and wanted a sick golf cart without the easy shortcut of dropping in a bike engine. Believe me, I have a CB550 engine sitting in the garage Rt now. Was a fall back plan lol. BUT I'm choosing the hard way, converting a lawnmower engine basically into a nasty turbo charged cart engine. I should have gone blower, it be so much easier at this point, but lol it's funny you said you were running a outboard carb on your engine in yours....... I'm using a tillotson Mercury 115HP carb off an older outboard and making fully adjustable high and low speed by needle valves for ease of fine tuning it. I actually have have another O/B carb on the 2 stroke in the cart that's in it now for the same reasons. I hate slide carbs! They are just a royal pain in the ass to tune and jet..... they have their place and it's really not on my shit though LMAO. But definitely thank you for sharing this information, and yes your correct about the belhousings being symmetrical I do remember that with my 66 having the engine in and out quite a few times with the four bolts that hold the engine in the car to the transmission, the scariest thing I've ever seen when it comes to engineering, but I guess it works I've never had to dodge a VW engine on the highway or even race track LOL thanks again for your help and guidance. I'm waiting for a few more parts like my custom cam to arrive and I can start putting this together I have everything else though sitting here ready to go. From a custom 12 volt crank trigger ignition 2 a custom Turbo System designed around this engine, and the engine around the turbo so hopefully it will go together smoothly it's just keeping it together afterwards will be the fun part thanks again, Jim.

[@msvlole]

Outstanding!

[@MrGlidn07]

Very cool ideas

[@GunnyArtG]

Supercool!

[@davidrussell8918]

Very cool, Id like to see even just a drawing how did the flywheel/ clutch set up. I have a vw trike that Would like to mate up a modded 670 prowler to.

[@mulonru2965]

Simply genius amazing

[@socalcraigster]

I just got a complete ez go marathon 1985. I’d like to do this upgrade.

[@88silvergt]

That’s the cart I need!

[@thomasc.pellicer1879]

Yes i would like to see step by step part about the motor & VW trans marriage

[@kevinvoyer5053]

That my friend is the most amazing home modified cart I’ve ever seen on video! My first question, how fast does it go? In my youth I owned Corvair, I also helped friends who were VW air cooled fans get much more performance out of their Bugs, plus I had a Karman Ghia, a 1959 Karman Ghia back in the mid 70’s I built with a 110 hp Corvair engine, using a later model VW Bus transaxle, that incidentally we were required to flip the ring gear, because the Chevy engine rotated opposite the VW. I just got so tired of shifting the old, non synchronized 1st gear 59 VW, with only 35 hp! So I used a 110 hp Chevy Corvair engine to fix that problem, the next item that attracted my attention was brakes! I ended up using the disk brake front end from the same car I got the transaxle from! That Ghia really surprised a LOT of so called fast cars!

[@themellowmechanic]

Thanks! That Karman Ghia sounds cool!

[@blowme5150]

Pretty onnovative guy! I got the same cart with long travel I installed. Top heavy not a problem", looking to install that predator engine tho, or if I come across a snowmobile eng.

[@hoopoo3721]

I would love to see more :>)

[@ambersmith6517]

very good taste

[@IshYaBoiDre21]

Could really use help getting mines to that level. Videos on engine and transmission and mounting would be great. Also how to extent chassis and brake system. I'm curious to it all as I want to make one myself and create an enclosed body so I can use it year round.

[@adamroberts5876]

Thats awesome

[@crypto_creep8222]

Amazing ❤

[@robertkutz]

very cool.

[@gigglelo]

Wazzup Mellow ?!? I just spent a good amount stretching an ‘06 CC Precedent with a big boy lithium....and now all I can think about is your genius machine !!! Will you ever sell it - can you be contracted to build one ?? You’re killing’ me Smalls ! Beautiful Job Sir ! Luzine

[@sharptoothtrex4486]

This is what I call a great Learner's Permit starter car. Now this is something I want to drive instead. Better make backup ignition keys.

[@Another_Random_Dave]

I’m glad my sub got you to 1k 😎

[@themellowmechanic]

Woo! Hoo! Thanks! Never thought I’d get to 1k subs.

[@Allen811973]

With this idea be cool to what I wonted to do to a citiecar (its a electric motor and battery's) that be a cool upgrade to that because what I heard you can out a golfcart gas motor into it so this be a awesome idea