Originally posted by Vonski
This kind of setup is simple, reliable, and keeps the "bugs" to a minimum. Dean's rig works well, but i even think his setup is more complex than it really NEEDS to be. Still, it's a simple rig.
Okay, say I approach this from the standpoint of buying a semi-built sami, and running the sami drivetrain as stated above(6:1 t-case gears, toys with 5.29's). I would have no problem running this set up to start off with, because it would get the vehicle rolling with a LOT less work, and it would allow me to experiment with what will and won't work for me, BEFORE building the vehicle as a finished product(well, you know what I mean by "finished"...).
My question is, will the Zuk motor cut it in the mean time?
If I'm just going to be swapping it out eventually, I'm not sure I would spring for EFI(unless cost wasn't that much different).
What I don't want to do is spend a few extra bucks for a good running Zuk motor in the vehicle, and then find out it won't do the job. If it will work okay, but leaves a little to be desired, that's one thing. But if just flat out won't cut it, well, I'd rather spring for the 1.6 right from the start. I guess the more I think about this, I kinda like the advantages of building this thing is stages, rather than all at once. That way I'm not doing things, and then REdoing things(at least no more than normal, LOL).
Originally posted by Vonski
I think the success of Mike Schaffer and his lightweight non-Jeep approach is fueling this thread. Well guys, a competition Jeep vs. Sami thread may give new direction to this. Or not...
Shaffer's and Dean's success definitely is proof positive that this approach can work. I really dig Shaffers vehicle, but I don't know that that's where I got the desire to go this route.
I've just spent a LOT of time thinking about what makes for success in competitive rockcrawling(or, shall we say, "racing"
).
At least from a vehicle standpoint-----lightweight, small body, not too wide, but wide enough to be stable, simple, etc...
That's where I get a picture of a Sami on Toy axles. Chris's vehicle is a narrowed EB on full width F150 axles. It's pretty stable and light, but too wide. The tip-toe-through-the-cones type stuff just kills us. So, if you can come up with a vehicle that has narrower axles, yet is still stable relative to the weight and size of the body, AND still has a good climbing wheelbase...
That's where I got the pic in my head of the Sami. Just a Jeep, Bronco, Cruiser, etc. on full-width axles, but mini-sized in an attempt to minimize cone and weight issues.
The other thing I notice, is that at Supercrawl, 1st through 4th places(Legend) were running full body(give or take) Jeeps on pretty stock width axles, some even daily driver's. If you can keep that axle width, but lose some of the body width and weight, all the better.
Now, this is ONLY for a Legend vehicle. From what I've seen, the Legend lines are much more drivable without risking breakage/rollover. If we were talking Unlimited, well, I have a whole different picture for that one...
Okay, now where was I...
Oh yes----
So, is the Zuk motor even worth starting with?
