I too have regrets!

[300cpilot]

Hey, it is dang cold up here and I need a project. I want to build something from the ground up, so to speak. I want to find a buggy that is like the HH250, but put a Polaris 500 4 wheeler motor in it. Something with fuel injection and good seats. So if you had a $5000.00 budget what would you build? Just looking for Idea's. Looks like I am trading off the RZR for a jeep for my kid, so I have to start again.

[x-bird]

oh man, you just like torturing yourself, don't you ---true buggy sado-masochism!
I'd buy a barracuda plans, tubing bender, notcher, pile of tube, protodie components and a 750 gsx powerplant.

[bear]

Check out the Hammerlaris400 thread by G-Ray!!! on front page of forum!!!

[SLESTAK75]

Why not put a Pinto engine in it. Thats what my brother keeps saying I should do to mine.

[300cpilot]

Lol, Pinto engine! I like the barracuda a lot but I need a 2 seater. The Hammerlaris400 is one of the best backyard engineered machines I have seen and this is likely the way I would go. His project made mine look like crap! One other thing is that the RZR has made me want 4 wheel drive too.

[bear]

How about a quad 4x4 drive train on a buggy frame!? now that I'd like to see! any of you seriuos Dr. Frankenstiens up to it!?

[300cpilot]

A few years ago I tried to buy a Ridge Runner, it is factory made from a 4x4 Polaris quad. But Polaris sued them and they went out of business. They were really nice. Maybe over my head, though?

[Masteryota]

The 4wd part will be the hardest by far. In stock form almost all atv's break cv shafts, hub bearings, front diff's, etc.. when rode hard, and then to mod the driveline will make it worse. I too would like to see a 600cc 4wd buggy for under 10k, but man what an undertaking. Good luck sir, and I mean that, make it happen dude!

[bear]

Today's dreams, are tomarrows realities!!!

[the_law_man01]

Bear, you've been following my 'Regrets' thread so this will show you how desperately I've been dreaming up projects!

I've been thinking about a 2-4 seat buggy built with Polaris (made in the good ol' US of A) 600cc?? or bigger 4x4 quad suspension drive-train.

I think it's an awesome idea and VERY doable!

Lawman

[bear]

That is some serious brain storming!!! just to help, when you go to the Yakaz site, you just have to type in 150cc mini buggy in the search window! I'll check it out and let you know if anything is near you.

[SYCARMS]

There have been several who have repowered their 250 Joyners with Polaris 500 HO's. Easy swap for the engine almost a drop in.

[bear]

Nothing on yakaz lawman, sorry.

[Masteryota]

I was thinking about the 4wd option with our style buggies, and a light came on out of nowhere! I remember looking at a few quads at the local boneyard, and there was one of them that had a chain drive front differential, with IFS and cv axles. I can not remember for the life of me what make, model, size, or even color, but I remember thinking, "Thats interesting, thats a crude, albeit simple and effective front drive train". This would likely be the direction I would go if I were to take on a 4wd buggy build. The chain would be long, but oh so simple to incorporate into the chassis and make a true IFS 4wd buggy. You could even make it a different gear ratio like the mud trucks do, so when you get hung up, the front tires will crawl right through the muck and not drown you in the process. Just thought I'd share.

P.S. You could forgo searching for that particular quad, and just harvest a chain drive rear diff, and put it up front, it would likely already have a locker/LSD diff in it, so once locked in, you got a REAL 4wd.

[300cpilot]

Boy you would have to protect the occupatants from that chain.

[Masteryota]

Not really, unless you are building a buggy without a floor.... Double up some sheet metal, and you would need to make a frame for the idler sprockets and guides any how, I would use angle iron, heavy? yes. Strong? heck yes. Like I said, just thoughts, and trying to make a drive shaft do the same distance would incur the same dangers, and take up more room and money for carrier bearings and such.

[Masteryota]

LOL, just saw the pinto engine reference. I did see someone on another forum start a buggy engine swap with a Honda B16 and 5 speed manual trans. Stopped and looked up the specs for that 1.6L and it puts out well over 100hp and has V-TEC. Too bad he gave up and sold it for what the engine and trans was worth.

[x-bird]

someone on BN is doing a 3203/4x4 quad right now. a lot of hurdles to overcome on that deal. Not sure, but the kawasaki bayou 4x4 2/300cc range used chain to driveshaft. have a complete rear axle for one sitting in the garage. was going to do a 4-link rear with it, but the travel range is too limited.