Max 8x8

[amphibious drew]

Looking good Mike, keep the momentum going.

[hydromike]

Thanks guys;

If the momentum didn't depend on input from other vendors/ parts sources, maintaing momentum would be very easy. I've had a Vanguard shipped to me twice in the mail, and twice it's been dropped by UPS and broken a mounting ear on the block. UPS denies the damage claim, and the seller isn't very anxious to help out. This has been going on since November. Getting the engine in-hand (and useable) would allow me close to 20 or 30 hours worth of fabricating work (tub molding, engine mount, exhaust, battery tray, wiring, belt guard, front seat frame, you get the idea), but dealing with this nonsense and not having the engine really slams shut the doors of productivity.

~m

[Noel Woods]

Mike: Excellent fab work on that frame. From what I can see the body work is coming along well too. Sorry to hear about the engine problems. Just a suggestion: why not utilize a small automobile engine? The Chevy Sprint/Geo Metro 1.0 or 1.3L would work very well. You've got plenty of room. If I had a machine that would support those or similar engines, I'd slap one in in a heartbeat. The 1.0L engine makes 48HP, the bigger motor around 70. The water cooled side can net you a nice heater as well. You could fit some bad boy ASX tires, or tracks as well, and still have power to spare. Even the Big block air cooled motors have to be tweaked to get that kind of power.

[hydromike]

Thanks Noel....

I like metal work. There's a sense of satisfaction I get from joining metal together with electricity. It's soothing to me, as weird as that sounds.

You know, I've been taking a closer look at the 1.0L Sprint motors more and more. There's decent support for them, and parts seem to be readily available. There have been a couple folks already thinking about just such a swap up here in NY. Mark M. and mad_max have both procured engines, but haven't gone past that step, I don't believe.

Going from memory, one issue that came up while speaking to 'max was that the starter on the 1.0L mounts to the bellhousing (or transmission bell if it's an automatic), and not the engine itself. Since I need to do away with the bellhousing to mount the stub shaft for the clutch, I'd have to make a plate to hold the starter in place. I don't know if this is an issue with all of the engines, but I suppose that's where my research should start. One thing I liked about the Vanguards and small diesel triples is that they're a very "clean" looking engine. Some of the Sprint and 'Met engines are TBI, which I'd actually like to avoid. I like the simplicity of a carbureted engine without the MAP, TPS, MAF etc.

I like the little 0.75L gas triple in Big 5; maybe all of the 8x8s in the fleet should be gas.

Ugh... more research!

~m

[lewis]

Mike is that a Bandolero engine you ordered or a regular ?----hp. If this goes on and i hope it dosen't i can bring a Bando to Busco for you from racing 600 and it will still have all parts intact. They are only 45 min. away. Looking good on the 8. Keep up the work. Oh! the bando i bought was less expensive than a factory 18hp.....but the bando was on sale too.

[hydromike]

Hey Lewis,

No, this was just a used, bone stock 16hp I picked up for $350. It shipped, was DESTROYED (broken mounting ear, broken oil pump, broken fuel pump, smashed fan shroud) by UPS, who denied the first damage claim. The guy I bought it from decided to help me out and threw all the parts onto a new shortblock for cheap. He shipped it again, and UPS must have dropped it again. Broken mounting ear.

At this point, a used or refurbished Bando would be great. I'm looking at Big Kohlers, too but the budget is tight since I apparently like to have about 20 different irons in the fire at once. I just need to get my money back from this guy and try to get the project rolling again.

~m

[6X6]

I like metal work. There's a sense of satisfaction I get from joining metal together with electricity. It's soothing to me, as weird as that sounds.

I have to agree with you there, although bending metal with the touch of a foot petal is almost as fun, and cutting with electricity is even more so

[AndyL]

How's the Max 8x8 coming along? Can't wait to see it running!

[Splat]

Well that's another consideration.. gun mount platforms, for potato gun warefare, or maybe just automatic paint gun weapons.

Yeah, I have been thinking about a mount for my M249SAW airsoft gun, just to keep folks honest....

[trebmaster]

wwith all the talk about max11 bigfoot i was wondering how max 8x8 was doing. any updates?

[MAX IV Mark]

I told myself I didn't need more than one 6x6 and stuck to my stance despite someone trying to get me to buy every amphibian that popped up (jpswift1). But this wasn't a 6x6, hence the loophole big enough to drive a MAX through. Since hydromikes projects were multiplying like rabbits and my MAX IV was an only child, I have adopted this one. So far I picked up a T20 and miscellaneous parts for it, pulled the engine from the donor vehicle and got it lined up. Looking at clutch options now and trying to figure out what I need to do.

[jpswift1]

I told myself I didn't need more than one 6x6 and stuck to my stance despite someone trying to get me to buy every amphibian that popped up (jpswift1). But this wasn't a 6x6, hence the loophole big enough to drive a MAX through.

I've been known to be a bad influence. That engine looks pretty BIG!

[Mike]

I got excited when I saw this thread pop back up. Congratulations on the Max. That is going to be a beast.

[amphibious drew]

I've been known to be a bad influence. That engine looks pretty BIG!

That you do. Someone tolde the best way to get an engine is to use a torch. I will post the video when I get a chance.

[George]

Very cool. I'm glad this project is moving along again.