If you asked anyone about a Kart with a fun factor of 8 or 9 to 10, they’d probably name Mario Kart. Well, The Racing Channel just uploaded a review on their YouTube channel of a Kart that’ll put to shame reputable Sports Cars on the drag strip. We are not talking about Luigi throwing bananas and turtles, but rather brute power, and nasty two-steps from a 800-hp street legal turbo go-kart, aka "Frankenkart."
“Thank you so much for bringing this out. What are we looking at here? This thing’s crazy looking. I know you guys break necks all the time driving down the road, so yeah, what are we looking at here?” Charles asked. “This is the Frankenkart, uh, I built this car myself 100 percent, from the ground up, basically started as nothing,” Craig answered.
The Frankenkart Runs An Iron-Block LS53 Engine
Craig and Cole from Deathbyboost have built a 800-hp street-legal turbo go-kart. Craig started the project from the stencil up. It took him one year, and he’s had it for six years. The Frankenkart has evolved, and it first started as a V6, then he put an Audi 1.8 in it, and finally the LS53 engine.
“I built the entire thing from the ground up, control arms, frame, all the aluminum I bent it myself. It’s got full interior, carpet seats, radio, heated seats,” Craig says.
The Frankenkart is perhaps the most luxurious go-kart Charles has seen. But, in contrast to other go-karts, Deathbyboost’s project is less complicated when it comes to functionality.
The iron-block LS53 is a truck engine fitted into a go-kart. It’s also got stock 706 heads on, running stock compression, forged pistons, H Beam rods, stage two Brian Thule Racing Cams, upgraded valve springs, Holley High ram, Audi A4 transaxle with a twin-disc clutch master cylinder to support the power.
“Right now, it’s running probably 700 to 800 horsepower, somewhere out there,” Craig reveals.
The LS53 engine is mated to a five-speed transmission. It’s also running a 76-millimeter precision turbo.
“I mean drifting throwing it through the dirt, going off-roading by accident, here and there off the tracks but, it’s still there,” Cole reveals. “Besides the Cam Lobe failure, that was the only problem I’ve ever had with this car,” Craig added.
Dramatic Performance With A Nasty Two-Step
Craig heads over to the car and fires it up. It has a thunderous roar and a nasty two-step that is so loud it hurt Charles’ ears. Soon after, Charles and Craig go for a test drive, and he’s mind blown by the Kart’s dramatic performance.
“On a scale of one to ten, how scary is this car compared to other cars you’ve been in?” Craig asks. “Scary? Five, it’s not too scary, in terms of fun factor? Like just sheer like smiles per gallon, like a solid eight or maybe a nine,” Charles responded.
The Racing Car Channel found Craig’s car at the Takeover. At the event, Craig only did the roll races since he had a pregnant wife at home.