• RME Gear & Apparel

Bad Idea buggy

AaronPaige

AaronPaige

Well-Known Member
Location
Price ut
I'm thinking my big buggy is about done and im wanting to start a smaller buggy, I have a supercharged 3.8 fwd that I'm considering running sideways rear mount and on about 44s but I'm looking for some smaller portal or planetary axles, I'm looking to keep it very simple and light were I can, porbably single seat with rear steer, If you know we're some Carrero or military tug axles are please let me know...
image.jpg
My big buggy,54 on rocks,TPI 383,400,203/205lowmax
 
AaronPaige

AaronPaige

Well-Known Member
Location
Price ut
I have been eye balling my inlaws tractors axles, zf front axle small and narrow compared to rocks, any one got a way to get these with out the cost of new...
 
BCGPER

BCGPER

Starting Another Thread
Location
Sunny Arizona
The only thing I can think to add would be go for two seats, even if the passenger seat ends up being cooler storage. If you ever decide to sell it, single seaters are for a limited crowd.
 
Herzog

Herzog

somewhat damaged
Admin
Location
Wydaho
Smaller buggy w/ rockwells? Doesn't compute in my brain. :D

How much work do you want to do on the axles? With portals, you can seemingly get away with a smaller R&P. It would be pretty sweet to see some custom Ford 9s w/ portal ends. Or take the "easier" route and just find some unimog portals. Still not easy/cheap to source though.

My last buggy was only on D44's (but they were loaded w/ chromo's and ctms) and 38's. It was light, narrow and very nimble. The places I could drive that little thing and squeeze through were pretty amazing. It just wasn't good at vertical climbs, or I was too afraid of the go pedal & the smaller axles.
 
AaronPaige

AaronPaige

Well-Known Member
Location
Price ut
I want it to be original, but get in the small places I have trouble in the big one( sand hollow). I still want to have the confidence to gas it a not break.
 
sixstringsteve

sixstringsteve

Well-Known Member
Location
UT
I don't want to talk you out of what you want, it sounds like you have your mind made up. If I were to build a buggy, it'd be a lot like shane's. 40-42" tires, D60/14 bolt, light and nimble. That being said, I'm really easy on my rigs and I never really get on it, so perhaps tons and 40's wouldn't be strong enough for most people.
 
Herzog

Herzog

somewhat damaged
Admin
Location
Wydaho
AaronPaige said:
I want it to be original, but get in the small places I have trouble in the big one( sand hollow). I still want to have the confidence to gas it a not break.
Click to expand...

For sure... the confidence in the small axles was the worst thing about my last buggy... but it certainly went through some pretty crazy crap and never did let me down. I attribute most of that to how light it was.

What else you have in mind?
 
AaronPaige

AaronPaige

Well-Known Member
Location
Price ut
Not dead set on anything right now but small and wild, the big buggy is fun and gets me were I want to go but now I'm thinking about all the stupid stuff very few have made or even try, ill have my wife drive the big buggy to get me out of trouble but I want something that I can jump,flip,and roll more rock bouncer style... Rear steer isn't a must but sure helps on the big rocks around home, the engine I have is capable of at least 400hp but with out a t case I'm thinking planetary axles might be the best way to get my crawl ratio down, I haven't seen many fwd buggys, so I'd like to go that rout and it could help save a lot of lbs.
 
flexyfool

flexyfool

GDW
Location
Boise, Idaho
The FWD engine/trans-axle buggy is a cool idea. I think the lack of low end torque from the small engine and lack of a transfer case will limit the tire size and choice of axles.

Here is something I would consider: Fabricated axle housings with high quality Ford 9" centers. 40 spline rear. 35 spline front with Dana 60 outers. Gears all the way down to 7.40:1 are available. http://www.richmondgear.com/07pdfs/RG8.pdf Use a tire size in the 39-40 range. This seems like a light, strong, low-geared package without an astronomical price tag.

Use a higher stall torque converter. Use a chip that raises the 1st-2nd shift point or a manual valve body. This would help put the engine into its torque band. I'm not sure what is available for particular FWD auto trannies but assume something can be done along these lines.

Same for the engine. There is probably a good and a bad way to set it up for low RPM performance. A smaller diameter supercharger pulley? Retard the engine timing?

My guess is that with FWD, you will be right on that edge between a working rig and one that struggles except in certain situations.
 
mombobuggy

mombobuggy

Well-Known Member
Location
Highland
AaronPaige said:
I'm thinking my big buggy is about done and im wanting to start a smaller buggy, I have a supercharged 3.8 fwd that I'm considering running sideways rear mount and on about 44s but I'm looking for some smaller portal or planetary axles, I'm looking to keep it very simple and light were I can, porbably single seat with rear steer, If you know we're some Carrero or military tug axles are please let me know...
View attachment 82170
My big buggy,54 on rocks,TPI 383,400,203/205lowmax
Click to expand...
Whatever you build I am sure it will be amazing , love the concept of using portal axles. something I have always meant to do myself. and a blown 3.8 neat motor with a ton of torque. the portals may be your best option for reasons of brute strength. the only downside i can see would be if you had to use a 20 inch or larger wheel. the traction difference is very noticeable from what I have seen with a shorter sidewall on a 44 inch tire, Less sidewall equals less traction. perhaps if the axle is narrow you could run them outboard but the scrub radius may require three inch steering cylinders which is cool as long as you can get the g.p.m. pump to run them fast. I looked over your big buggy closely at w.o.r. and spoke to you briefly and I am very impressed with it. nice work sir.
 
AaronPaige

AaronPaige

Well-Known Member
Location
Price ut
I have been doing a lot of looking and really want some carraro backhoe axles, light strong and compact any ideas were to get some
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top