Just like your normal road car there are various custom upgrade parts that can be purchased and installed on your gas golf cart to improve engine performance. Engine upgrade parts will improve off the line acceleration and gas pedal response. Gear ratios can be changed to increase top speed and an LSD will improve corner handling, especially on loose or wet surfaces.
As an internal combustion engine powers the gas golf cart, many of the same tuning methods that work for road cars will apply to the golf car. Increased capacity, through different cranks, pistons and rods will provide the most power, but these performance parts will be very expensive to buy and install.
Many owners decide to swap the engine in their golf car completely for a larger capacity unit that develops more power. This is the most straightforward option, but brand new or reconditioned performance engines can be quite expensive to buy and install.
As with all petrol engines, the simplest way to improve power and torque is to increase the amount of fuel and air that goes into the combustion chamber. Replacing the standard air filter with a performance filter from a company such as K & N will allow a lot more air to enter the engine chamber. Combined with a replacement high flow fuel pump and filter, these modified parts will give an instant and noticeable power increase.
Advancing the ignition timing can also increase the horsepower of your gas golf cart engine, but may require a special key or tool. Upgrading the engine valve springs will increase the maximum RPMs that your engine can safely spin at, thus increasing power and top speed. However, this will require some mechanical knowledge to install inside the engine.
Replacing the restrictive stock exhaust system with a high flow exhaust and muffler combo will allow your engine to breath more easily, generating more top end horsepower and low down torque. Another added benefit is the race-car sound that will no doubt get the jealous attention of any onlookers.
Whenever engine upgrade parts are installed it is always prudent to fit an engine oil cooler to keep engine temperatures under control.
Most stock gas powered golf carts supplied by manufacturers are speed limited to around 15MPH. There are various governor methods that are employed to achieve this limit, each of which can be modified to increase the maximum allowable speed.
The most common gas golf cart governor type is mechanical spring loaded mechanism that works in conjunction with the golf car’s accelerator. This type of governor may be at the carburetor or attached to the differential. By varying the tension on this spring the top speed will either been increased or decreased.
The next most popular speed governor is the clutch/throttle cable type and by making the cable longer, you prevent the mechanism from from pulling back the throttle lever and limiting the top speed.
The most recent innovation by manufacturers in speed regulation is to cut the ignition spark, thus limiting the RPMs and reducing power, when the top speed is reached. This is an electronic device that acts as a simple rev limiter, just like in a normal car.
Various spring kits are available to change the response of your gas golf cart from standing starts and when at speed. These clutch kits improve acceleration and torque, which can help if you use your cart to carry heavy loads or towing.
Altering the differential gear ratio is a straightforward modification that can increase the top speed and torque of your gas golf cart quite noticeably. Most golf cars have a standard ratio of 12:1 and gear sets can be purchased to alter this ratio to 15:1.
Whilst you are taking the differential apart for the gear upgrade, consider fitting an LSD unit. This will improve your gas golf cart grip when setting off from loose surfaces and improve traction through the corners. If the main use of your gas golf cart is off-road then an LSD is vital to ensure good traction on all surfaces.
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