Reece Pettersen
Well-known member
- May 6, 2021
- 322
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I love this car! Congrats and great buy.
Alumicraft.. what’s the story and the kinds?
- Thread starter HP.Habits
- Start date
SANDFORME
Active member
- May 7, 2021
- 112
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Yes they are Tatum wheels
SANDFORME
Active member
- May 7, 2021
- 112
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You are correctThe owner is on here @SANDFORME , I'm pretty sure they are Tatum's wheels.
FRONT TATUM WHEEL
Product Features: CALL TO ORDER 17" BILLET BEADLOCK TATUM WHEEL LIGHT WEIGHT 5 ON 205 VW BOLT PATTERN 6061-T6 HEAT TREATED. MANUFACTURED IN THE USA YOUR CHOICE OF 3 COLORS: POLISHED POLISHED w/ BLACK CENTER & BEADLOCK RING BLACK CONTRAST CUT 7" WIDE FRONT w/ 3.5" BACKSPACE PLEASE ALLOW 3-4...www.tatummotorsports.com
Pennywise
Well-known member
- May 5, 2021
- 420
- 538
I was looking at this too, great buy.
evantwheeler
Member
- Oct 3, 2025
- 24
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Nice! Does that car have a 4.3 V6 in it? What transaxle?
Reece Pettersen
Well-known member
- May 6, 2021
- 322
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V6 with 2d. It is a mini class 10 car with doors.
Kat-A-Tonic
Well-known member
- May 6, 2021
- 601
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That will change this offseason. Talked to Kevin about a S4 swap. Likely going turbo K24 for the engine.
Reece Pettersen
Well-known member
- May 6, 2021
- 322
- 415
K24 turbo is a great platform for this!
- Apr 29, 2021
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Can i talk ya into an S4 matched to a Subi 3.2L
Perfect car for this IMO
evantwheeler
Member
- Oct 3, 2025
- 24
- 52
That will be bitchin.
Reece, how close in dimensions do you think this mini class 10 car is to this older one built in early 2000's (I assume)? I've only seen this car out once, Zak said he looked at buying it from Steve Sourapas before he bought his 4 seater. It seem like a bitchin dune car. Turbo Acura V6 with a Fortin.
Toy Collector
Well-known member
- Aug 30, 2024
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The simplicity of that car is absolute beauty.
evantwheeler
Member
- Oct 3, 2025
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wesinls
Well-known member
- May 6, 2021
- 881
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Getting excited about my project - this is the same dash I have. If anyone has pics of how the steering is mounted it will be appreciated (with the dash off / how the steering shaft is welded to the frame)
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acefuture
Well-known member
- Jun 8, 2021
- 359
- 594
I think the last one I saw like that used one of these style brackets welded to the cross tube, then the steering shaft was mounted using two heims, so you could adjust the angle of the steering shaft/wheel
UMP Unique Metal Products Air Filter Canister Weld On Steel Mounting Brackets 4-1/4" Cntr to Cntr - Kartek Off-Road
UMP Unique Metal Products Air Filter Canister Weld On Steel Mounting Brackets 4-1/4" Cntr to Cntr for offroad racing in the King of the Hammers, New Zealand Taupo 1000, Dakar Rally, Tatts Finke Desert Race, Score International Baja 500 or Baja 1000, NORRA 500, NORRA Mexican 1000, Mint 400, Vegas...
www.kartek.com
Kat-A-Tonic
Well-known member
- May 6, 2021
- 601
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Sure looks like it.
If you like the Alumicraft check out Podium. Brain worked for Alumicraft for many years, and after John sold Alumicraft, Brian decided it was time to do his own thing. So he started Podium. He’s been doing upgrades and fab on Alumicrafts and just finished his own designed chassis & car. Podium P1. It’s a chassis & suspension that can be built as a sand car or class 10 car.
Reece Pettersen
Well-known member
- May 6, 2021
- 322
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Completely different vehicles. The mini has the newer style center mount front, different shock geometry, and is short- 118-120" wheelbase.
I love that Sourapas car. I tried to buy it years back from Steve, but we couldn't make a deal.
McDowel's car has a longer wheelbase than the mini. I don't have the exact numbers, but assume McDowel's is ~125".
- Thread starter
- #98
HP.Habits
Active member
- Jul 16, 2021
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Ive been waiting for someone to bring up Podium because I love there work but everytime i see their new car, I cant help but see an Alumicraft.... in almost every way... but i dont know enough about them yet. Thats great info to start with and makes sense.
I’m sure you will see Alumicraft in a Podium as Brian work their under John Cooley for along time. Just like early on, there was allot of Jimco in Alumicrafts, as John worked for Jimco for many, many years before starting Alumicraft, which was originally a company to build all the bodies and aluminum work for Jimco after Jack from Jacks Aluminum retired. Pretty much all the suspension design & geometry of an early Alumicraft was the same as a Jimco class 10 car. So close that it caused some issues between both parties.
But like anyone you take your knowledge you learn along the way and craft your own from it. I know Brian said there is quite a bit of difference in his suspension geometry. I think two Alumicraft Grands have come in Podiums shop and he’s revamped them with more of a TT front suspension & steering build & parts. Where the Grand was just oversized buggy suspension & parts.
Here is a video of the Alumicraft Grand before, during & after the Podium rebuild. The body & chassis lines are the same, but look at the front & rear suspension and it’s a totally different car.
