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The GM52 Hustler clone conversion


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Great trip report. @Grease Monkey did you get use to the shifter?

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Great report. My car is probably heavier than yours by 1-200 pounds. I typically run 50-55 front. And 52-58 rear. That’s a sign of good balance!!

Edited by John@Outfront
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17 minutes ago, ROBERT L said:

Great trip report. @Grease Monkey did you get use to the shifter?

Oh yes the shifter. How could I have forgotten.

Yes I did. With so much newness it was a conscious effort the whole trip.  

I did however grab the turning break handle a time or two, or shall I say I had my hand on the turning brake and pulled it a few times to shift. That was disappointing haha.

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Great trip report GM.

Even though Funcos don't "come" with limit straps, I'd sooner do that than have the shock beat itself apart as the limiter.

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1 minute ago, Kraut_n_Rice said:

Great trip report GM.

Even though Funcos don't "come" with limit straps, I'd sooner do that than have the shock beat itself apart as the limiter.

Looked at it no doubt. Looked at moving the lower shock mount back two inches as well.  The new gen 6 arms have a spot for a sway bar link. Would be an easy mount location for the strap. Just need to figure out the upper location.

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Air pressures: the spring rate (or air pressure), along with weight balance, determines how much cornering load the wheel will carry. More spring rate on one end, and that end will carry more load and lose grip first (balance) since the front and rear of the car roll together. If the spring rate is higher in the rear, more of the force of body roll will go to the rear since the spring is resisting more.

Moving weight forward means you’ve gained some front bite (which can go too far like on a FWD car) and need less spring rate for the rear to slip. 

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:headbang:

 

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Love the report.. Glad you got some seat time you deserve it buddy

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So cool to watch this build! Excellent job, sounds like an absolute dune weapon! looks like one for sure. 
following to see more on Bag pressures. Also looking forward to seeing it in person sometime!

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Awesome Job GM. Peace

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Grant has some new King 5 tube 14 inch shocks getting blacked out. Should be all good sooner than anticipated.

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On 10/29/2021 at 10:34 AM, Grease Monkey said:

Another trip to Funco :makerain:

New Gen 6 rear arms. New Gen 6 midboard assemblies. New bearings and hardware to boot.

Not sure whats left on this car that will resemble or actually still be considered gen 4.

Steering rack is all I can think of. And with that mention its also at Funco for rebuild just because.

Should get the frame and bolt on items back from powder coating next week.

Jet Trim finished the seats. Thank you @Mac for picking them up and verifying conditions.

 

 

new seat.jpg

what is the difference between the gen 4 and gen 6 rear arms?

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5 hours ago, SandSickness said:

what is the difference between the gen 4 and gen 6 rear arms?

It's not the arms that have changed. It basically boils down to an order of events. It starts with the brake rotor. The gen4 Gen 5 brake rotor is 12 in in diameter. The Gen 6 brake rotor is 12 and 1/2 in in diameter. If you wanted new mid board assemblies for your Gen. 4 arms you could bolt them on, but the brake rotor won't work with your caliper. The gen4 caliber won't fit with the 12 and 1/2-in new rotor. So for all intensive purposes you can't just bolt on Gen 6 mid board assemblies with brakes onto gen 4 arms. If you want to use your existing brake caliper. The Gen 6 brake caliper does not just bolt onto a gen4arm without welding new ears. Thus buying new gen six arms was easier for me. So I could bolt on the new Gen 6 mid board assemblies. I had a bad deal with a mid board hub and it just drove me to buying all new. Grant. May be working on something to satisfy this issue. Future mid board assemblies might be ordered with 12-in rotors if he can get them machined.

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16 minutes ago, Grease Monkey said:

It's not the arms that have changed. It basically boils down to an order of events. It starts with the brake rotor. The gen4 Gen 5 brake rotor is 12 in in diameter. The Gen 6 brake rotor is 12 and 1/2 in in diameter. If you wanted new mid board assemblies for your Gen. 4 arms you could bolt them on, but the brake rotor won't work with your caliper. The gen4 caliber won't fit with the 12 and 1/2-in new rotor. So for all intensive purposes you can't just bolt on Gen 6 mid board assemblies with brakes onto gen 4 arms. If you want to use your existing brake caliper. The Gen 6 brake caliper does not just bolt onto a gen4arm without welding new ears. Thus buying new gen six arms was easier for me. So I could bolt on the new Gen 6 mid board assemblies. I had a bad deal with a mid board hub and it just drove me to buying all new. Grant. May be working on something to satisfy this issue. Future mid board assemblies might be ordered with 12-in rotors if he can get them machined.

Thank you for the info very helpful , your car look great man 👍🏼

Edited by SandSickness
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Thanks for the shake down report an awesome job, your car is a masterpiece for sure 👍

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..intents and ...

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12 hours ago, Kraut_n_Rice said:

..intents and ...

The grammar police have arrived! 

 

 

 

 

 

Hope I spelled that right :lol: 

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15 hours ago, Kraut_n_Rice said:

..intents and ...

Out here in the dunes. Enjoying my time answering questions while I'm not making a dime. If Google can't get my talk to text then f*** y'all and expect the rest because I ain't got time to f****** type and text. Y'all have fun. Peace out. There's 200,000 m************ people out here and if Google ain't got this s*** f****** straight f*** it

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2 hours ago, Grease Monkey said:

Out here in the dunes. Enjoying my time answering questions while I'm not making a dime. If Google can't get my talk to text then f*** y'all and expect the rest because I ain't got time to f****** type and text. Y'all have fun. Peace out. There's 200,000 m************ people out here and if Google ain't got this s*** f****** straight f*** it

Funny chit right thurrrr lol  enjoy the dunes man….no better place  🤙🏼

 

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23 hours ago, Grease Monkey said:

Out here in the dunes. Enjoying my time answering questions while I'm not making a dime. If Google can't get my talk to text then f*** y'all and expect the rest because I ain't got time to f****** type and text. Y'all have fun. Peace out. There's 200,000 m************ people out here and if Google ain't got this s*** f****** straight f*** it

Just a little rib'n big dog...  Tear it up!  LOL

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I saw this car in Person finally a few weeks ago out in the sand.. I must say the attention to detail and the machine Grease has is so very nice. Sometimes when dreams and goals take longer than expected it doesnt always workout but GM has come through making this a dream dune machine for sure.

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Thanks Wes,

Gotta let this out as its whats going on. Season is over for the GM52. That ole 3.0 just wont keep head gaskets in it.  The Sand Hawk car that is was, always had issues and I was told it was the nail in the coffin for Gary at CnG. My understanding is he wont touch one after this engine. Well all I can say is we tried. 

I built this car around the subi 6 and the specific weight it has. I've spent the last few weeks giving in and researching an LS option as its more attractive to the masses if I decide to sell in the future. I've discussed this with many off the boards and the purists all say Ive built the perfect duner, the LS will disrupt the balance.  Other say go LS and dont look back. Problem is Ive had both and in both wheel base Funcos.  The gen 6 cars have the appropriate wheel base and an LS is right for them.  This car being 120 inch WB will just be a wheelie mocheen and I dont want that.

John at Outfront and I have also been discussing...

The correct direction for me is to see this thru. Build the Subi and get some seat time.

John is putting together a new platform and we are excited to see it come together.  New 3.6/3.2 stroked 6 cylinder subi. Crank, rods, pistons, billet cams, ported heads, inconel valves, etc....All custom built.   I will be able to use my exhaust, turbo, intake, intercooler, flywheel and new clutch over.

Stump pulling torque with 650 hp on lower boost than before.  And I can keep it at that boost level without the worry of blowing head gaskets.

Build parts are being collected. Cars due back from storage at the end of the month. Ill pull the engine and things will start rolling.

Thats it for now. more to come as this thread continues.

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On 1/25/2022 at 11:31 AM, HP.Habits said:

So cool to watch this build! Excellent job, sounds like an absolute dune weapon! looks like one for sure. 
following to see more on Bag pressures. Also looking forward to seeing it in person sometime!

I was dropping pressures the last few trips as the sand conditions changed thanks to the W.

Last run I was at 42 front and 46 rear.

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Sucks to hear, I tried a VQ35 twin turbo a while back and it was nothing but problem after problem. I was 2-3X the cost of an LS before I threw in the towel and made the switch to an LS. I sold the car without ever driving it again. I then sold the whole VQ35 set up to a buddy for $5K. He took it to a different tuner and discovered the computer was the problem all along. He invested a small amount of time & money and the motors been ripping ever since. I think you are on the right path as hard as it is to keep going it'll pay off. You'll always have the "if only I just" in the back of your mind but the journey is going to bring you to a place you wouldn't have ended up at. That new Outfront motor is going to make it all worth while. 

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3 hours ago, Pennywise said:

Sucks to hear, I tried a VQ35 twin turbo a while back and it was nothing but problem after problem. I was 2-3X the cost of an LS before I threw in the towel and made the switch to an LS. I sold the car without ever driving it again. I then sold the whole VQ35 set up to a buddy for $5K. He took it to a different tuner and discovered the computer was the problem all along. He invested a small amount of time & money and the motors been ripping ever since. I think you are on the right path as hard as it is to keep going it'll pay off. You'll always have the "if only I just" in the back of your mind but the journey is going to bring you to a place you wouldn't have ended up at. That new Outfront motor is going to make it all worth while. 

Agreed and I know the new 3.2 will be worth it on this car.

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