1980 Hustler/Sidewinder build

[turtlecrawler]

Hydromike.........The bottom is black....I had the same problem trying to remove paint on the bottom tub as well....I got as crazy to attack it with a wire wheel on a grinder.....So i went with the same type of primer I used on the top and painted it black.....If it gets to abused a least it will be easy to touch up....lol........Thanks for the camo comment...I was worried when I started out..

Trevorakm1....Thanks for the support.....I got the idea from my friend that just came back from his THIRD tour over seas...

I got busy last night and made the rear bumper....Today it will also get a winch.....Time to start the body band.....YEA..

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[turtlecrawler]

Well getting almost to the end of this building journey........Two or three more good solid days of work and it will be ready for the first test drive after the re-build........Here are some pics ....Let me know what ye-all think..

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[jpswift1]

Well getting almost to the end of this building journey........Two or three more good solid days of work and it will be ready for the first test drive after the re-build........Here are some pics ....Let me know what ye-all think..

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Looks great! The 24's fill up the wheel wells nicely. Glad to see another Sidewinder back up and running.

[zoood]

Very nice TC. They are a trip to drive! On your test run,... you gonna take it swimming? If so you'll want to turn those tires around.

[turtlecrawler]

Thats for the props guys........Zoood I don't plan to go swimming too often.....Most of it's life will be spent on hunting trails (mud and snow) will be it's playground...There are some beaver ponds where we hunt though.......Will it swim with the tires the way they are now? I know that they would be better it the mud the wat they are now....So much to still learn once I get it on the trails..

[zoood]

I hear you on the "learning part". On some of the atv's, I saw that they had atleast a pair of tire treads facing the other way. Those tires do look nice. Mine arent as pretty. But I have them covered with plastic tracks and though I'm doing some more work to my Hustler right now. I wish I wasn't! I cant believe how much fun these things are to drive and how serious they can be when needed to get through terrain that you would normally avoid when your on foot.

Thats for the props guys........Zoood I don't plan to go swimming too often.....Most of it's life will be spent on hunting trails (mud and snow) will be it's playground...There are some beaver ponds where we hunt though.......Will it swim with the tires the way they are now? I know that they would be better it the mud the wat they are now....So much to still learn once I get it on the trails..

[brushcutter]

Nice work TC, I really like your camo job. Hey, on the tires and swimming issue, try leaving the front 2 as they are in the pics but swap the back four to face the other way, so they will cup the water better. They should swim good enough for the occasional swim and leaving the front will work better for climbing out of the ponds. Most drivers have their own likes and this arrangement may not work for your machine, as each is different. Use a gps to check speed, it's the only way to be sure how fast you are actually moving. It may be necessary to try several different tire arrangements to get what really works best for your machine.

Sorry I can't give you a perfect 100 but since I think I see a tiny spot of black paint like really REALLY close to one of your black camo spots You can only get a 99.9.
Oh... wait... it was just a speck of something on my screen, so I guess you do get that 100 after all.

[turtlecrawler]

Brushcutter.............Thanks for the props on the camo job and the advice on tire position....Well i am almost done with the seats...I just have to cover the bottom of the front one... The 4in. memory foam should make it pretty comfy on the trails....here are some picks..

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[jpswift1]

Those seats look great! I never did the upholstery on the back seat of my Hustler......I probably should get to it one of these days. That memory foam sounds like a great idea.

[turtlecrawler]

Jpswift1.....Thanks for the compliments on the seats.....I decide to cover the rear seat because I thought it looked out of place not having upholstey on it......99% of the time I will be the only one in the rig...but on the off chance I have a passenger I thought a seat cushion would be nice......The memory foam I had lying around from an old bed roll I used when hunting.....

[zoood]

TC I dont know how you cut your foam for your seats. I just wanted to mention that if anyone else decides to cut foam. I recommend using an electric carving knife. They cut foam perfectly.

zoood

Brushcutter.............Thanks for the props on the camo job and the advice on tire position....Well i am almost done with the seats...I just have to cover the bottom of the front one... The 4in. memory foam should make it pretty comfy on the trails....here are some picks..

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[fmints]

Hey Turtlecrawler, I was shocked to see that you found a pair of brake shoes. Would you happen to have a website and part number where you got them from? JP was right, not many of Hustler owners have working brakes. Thanks a lot!!

[turtlecrawler]

fmints..............
I did not find these brake shoes....I re-surfaced the old ones along with having the brake disk turned down to remove the warping over the years....

Hey Turtlecrawler, I was shocked to see that you found a pair of brake shoes. Would you happen to have a website and part number where you got them from? JP was right, not many of Hustler owners have working brakes. Thanks a lot!!

[zoood]

I re-did the pads on mine as well. I did however find the problem that takes place with the braking discs. The spring that holds them apart. Gets weak or doesnt have the strength that they have when they are new. I stretched mine a bit and placed washers that fit nicely over the shaft at the ends of the spring. This prevents the ends of the spring from getting trapped. If you look closely you can see the washers.

[turtlecrawler]

Zoood....
Nice idea on the brake pad springs.....I might have to use this on my rig as well........................thanks for the tip....