I had a sand eatin grin all weekend...It needs a little tweakin, but for a starter rail it sure was a blast 
Before pic
Full Version: 1st Rail Trip
Got a couple of good stories of the 1st rail trip....I've never driven a rail before last weekend I had a sand eatin grin all weekend...It needs a little tweakin, but for a starter rail it sure was a blast
Before pic
I had a sand eatin grin all weekend...It needs a little tweakin, but for a starter rail it sure was a blast Before pic
Trying to resize some pics...
I'm also gonna need motor and or trans help??? Its got a 73 Bus type 4 1700. Not sure of the gear ratio, but 2nd gear was all we could use on the hills. On the flats it gets it....c'mon up a hill its 2nd brrrrrr to 1st Wahhhhhh.....any suggestions besides a NEW motor???? thanx.......I feel upgrades c'mon quick
I'm also gonna need motor and or trans help??? Its got a 73 Bus type 4 1700. Not sure of the gear ratio, but 2nd gear was all we could use on the hills. On the flats it gets it....c'mon up a hill its 2nd brrrrrr to 1st Wahhhhhh.....any suggestions besides a NEW motor???? thanx.......I feel upgrades c'mon quick
That's about all you can do with that setup. Going to have to upgrade motor/trans to go up the hills in 2nd or 3rd.
is that a tool box behind the gas tank? 
I have the same frame but I still have my back seats & I chopped the top and moved it all forward. What size engine do you have?
I have the same frame but I still have my back seats & I chopped the top and moved it all forward. What size engine do you have?
Congratulations on your first trip. If you have your tranny gone through, any good tranny builder can help you out with the proper choice of R&P and gear set. Don't ever under estimate the ability of a small motor with the right gearing to surprise you in performance. You will sacrifice top end (4th gear) speed, but with a right choice of 1st-4th, you will be able to climb most anything without having to redline 1st gear.
that's what I have to do... 2nd is just too high... gonna get that fixed now that off season is upon us...
sweet deal on the first trip 
BTW, nice stinger/stack on that exhaust
BTW, nice stinger/stack on that exhaust
Congrats on the first trip! Looks like you were at Sand Mountain? I'll be up there this weekend. Give me a shout out next time you go!
Brett
Friends of Sand Mountain
Brett
Friends of Sand Mountain
welcome to the addictive world of sandrails...
Looks like you did a nice job bringing that one back to life..
Looks like you did a nice job bringing that one back to life..
I dig yer rail! I think im going to have to get one sorta like it.
Welcome to the addiction, it only gets better. Remember to tell the passengers to keep there hands insides at all times. Get in with a group of similar buggies and follow them, you'll pick it up in no time.
We've got a great group of buggy drivers, you're always welcome with us.
PS You might want to cover the Dodge, you might scare of potential passengers
We've got a great group of buggy drivers, you're always welcome with us.
PS You might want to cover the Dodge, you might scare of potential passengers
I had an old rail i thought was an 1835 for about 10 years turns out that it was a stock 1600, Anyways I put a 486 ring and pinion and close 2/3rd gears and left 4th stock. It did a great job out there. You will run around in 2nd and 3rd most of the time but when your on the flats it will still haul ass in 4th.
Good luck
Good luck
WELCOME TO THE SPORT?@!?!? Geez you guys, it's like having a c o c ktail reception at a crackhouse!!! 
Only difference is, after your hooked, instead of going around saying "got a rock, got a rock, c'mon man I'll suck your d*ck", you'll be saying "got some HP, got some torque, got some travel, c'mon man I"LL REFI MY HOUSSSE!!!!"
See thing is once this bug bites you, it ALWAYS gets infected!
Seriously, glad you had a great trip, soon you'll have more stories than a fisherman!
Only difference is, after your hooked, instead of going around saying "got a rock, got a rock, c'mon man I'll suck your d*ck", you'll be saying "got some HP, got some torque, got some travel, c'mon man I"LL REFI MY HOUSSSE!!!!"
See thing is once this bug bites you, it ALWAYS gets infected!
Seriously, glad you had a great trip, soon you'll have more stories than a fisherman!
Congrats! I am headed to the mountain after work!! Woo Hoo!!
QUOTE(Kat NDa Sand @ Mar 31 2005, 02:09 PM)
is that a tool box behind the gas tank? I have the same frame but I still have my back seats & I chopped the top and moved it all forward. What size engine do you have?
[right][snapback]927907[/snapback][/right]
I have the same frame but I still have my back seats & I chopped the top and moved it all forward. What size engine do you have?[right][snapback]927907[/snapback][/right]
Ya likey the sweeet tool box
Yallways need parts... definately gonna have to redo the gears....some mo travel....its no good in the woops 
need to add more speed(chrome) ......1st ride about 200 yrds from camp we lost 2 wheel studs 
found some more welded em back in and off we went....drove all day til the starter went out, also looks like I lost the motor mounts...all of them its no FAST GUY rider but I gots 11 gals of gas to Cruuuuz
that's true... you do always need tools, but I know my toolbox weights a ton... with my new engine maybe I should put one of those fine toolboxes at the front end... too bad I really don't have the room up there, barely have room for the ice chest!
too bad I really don't have the room up there, barely have room for the ice chest!
QUOTE(Kat NDa Sand @ Apr 1 2005, 01:00 PM)
that's true... you do always need tools, but I know my toolbox weights a ton... with my new engine maybe I should put one of those fine toolboxes at the front end... too bad I really don't have the room up there, barely have room for the ice chest!
[right][snapback]929656[/snapback][/right]
too bad I really don't have the room up there, barely have room for the ice chest![right][snapback]929656[/snapback][/right]
Put as much weight as you can in the back - makes it easier to wheelie. Oh wait, nevernind - that is unsafe
unsafe/unsmafe.... I'll handle it!
Nice litte rail. First you get it and love it, then in a season or two you find out you need more travel. 
thats what we say.
Oh and the faster you go through the whoops the better it soaks them up. My dad and I can go through the whoops in 3rd gear and it floats pretty good across them. But any slower and it bottoms out. We to have broken a crappy motor mount that has a crappy weld. The other one is about to go. Gonna pull the motor after the season and put a cage r around it and fix those mounts with new ones. We may just end up fixing it and getting a new car hopefully.
thats what we say.Oh and the faster you go through the whoops the better it soaks them up. My dad and I can go through the whoops in 3rd gear and it floats pretty good across them. But any slower and it bottoms out. We to have broken a crappy motor mount that has a crappy weld. The other one is about to go. Gonna pull the motor after the season and put a cage r around it and fix those mounts with new ones. We may just end up fixing it and getting a new car
hopefully.
I need more help??? I think I have a BUS tranny...its got 5 or 6 ribs on it..The motor I was told Is a 73 BUS 1700.....what gears/ring pinion should I be runnin??? What about the clutch,its hydrolic??? The motor is runnin with dual Weber 34 ict..009 Distributer, some fancy coil its got good plugs and wires...seems to run really strong, just need help with the gearing...Thanks Yall
Next I'll be asking about suspension/trailing arms, I beam etc.... ROCK ON MY BROTHER
Next I'll be asking about suspension/trailing arms, I beam etc....
ROCK ON MY BROTHER
QUOTE(LoosNut @ Apr 7 2005, 11:55 AM)
I need more help??? I think I have a BUS tranny...its got 5 or 6 ribs on it..The motor I was told Is a 73 BUS 1700.....what gears/ring pinion should I be runnin??? What about the clutch,its hydrolic??? The motor is runnin with dual Weber 34 ict..009 Distributer, some fancy coil its got good plugs and wires...seems to run really strong, just need help with the gearing...Thanks Yall
Next I'll be asking about suspension/trailing arms, I beam etc.... ROCK ON MY BROTHER
[right][snapback]937127[/snapback][/right]
Next I'll be asking about suspension/trailing arms, I beam etc....
ROCK ON MY BROTHER [right][snapback]937127[/snapback][/right]
type II motor, that would explain why it looks like a Corvair kind of. It might be an 002 bus trans, you can usually tell by reading the numbers on the case. As was stated earlier, stick with close 2/3 and you'll be fine. Actual ratios will depend on the type of driving you do, the weight of the car, power of the motor, etc. There are a couple of great trans builders on the site that could offer better info on that.
Just got a call 
The tranny should be at my door TODAY 
Im effen SHOCKED and stoked
The tranny should be at my door TODAY Im effen SHOCKED and stoked
Did you have the old one rebuilt? Because it sounds like you had bus trans (type 2) that one in the picture is a bug (type 1)
If it had 5 ribs it is a Pyramid case, not as strong as a 6 Rib which would have been an 091.
Congrats on getting the bug!!!!! It is all downhill for your checkbook from here!
Congrats on getting the bug!!!!! It is all downhill for your checkbook from here!
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