What's best option for engine upgrade from 18hp Briggs?

[Castro]

What's best option for engine upgrade from 18hp Briggs in an Argo Bigfoot? It must be able to float but I want easy instalation+ power+ reliability. Was thinking of the 23hp vanguard. Where is the best place to purchase? Thanks

[racerone3]

The Bandolero engines from 600Racing are built off the 18-20 block. They pack a nice punch and seem to be holding up well for everyone I know who is running them

[lewis]

Agree with Race! There are several in use and seem to be giving good results. They put them on sale some times.

[Castro]

600 racing?

[Mike]

600 Racing is a builder of legends, bandolero and thunder roadster series cars that are raced, starting at a young age in the Bandolero cars, throughout the US. They are located in Harrisburg, NC right outside of Charlotte. Here is a link to their site: U.S. Legend Cars International | Home and here is a link to the motor: 600 Racing Online Catalog

Several members, including the three people that have replied to this thread, use them because they are a relatively inexpensive motor that will produce around 28-30HP and regularly rev between 5000 & 6000 RPM without any problems. Racerone3's motors have been modified to produce close to 40HP so I don't want to completely group my measly 30HP motors into the same group.

[racerone3]

The engines in my Hustler and my wife's Max were built by the head builder at 600 racing, and as Mike stated, they are producing a bit more power than the Bandoleros. I didn't mention them in my initial post because they aren't quite as user friendly. Compression is a good bit higher so they are rather hard starting at times. The carbs are also a bit more picky with regard to jetting and keeping a SUPER CLEAN air filter in them. The bandolero engine in my racer will fire up and run well in about any weather conditions. The huge advantage to the Bandolero swap is that you can bolt it in and go. Exhaust will line up, motor mounts are the same....

[Castro]

So am I to understand you correctly that the 1600$ motor you linked can/will produce 28-30hp? How do they do in cold climates? Is the motor a built vanguard?

[lewis]

These engines have no choke on them since they are built for racing so according to your requirements you may need a choke, but mine has started every time without a choke and i have started my many times during the winter season. To the second part of your question, yes they produce 28-30 HP. They are capable of much more HP but as Race stated as your make more HP things change as far as the engines needing more maintenance. The standard out of the box Bando engine is a very reliable engine...point and shoot! Hope this helps. This has been my experience with the engines.

Lewis

[racerone3]

Lewis,
did you remove the choke when you went with the performance v-twins intake?? My Bandolero has the choke plate, but I have it safety wired open

[Mike]

I use the choke on both of mine. 6x6 World member "smog" lives in Montreal Canada and he has a Bandolero motor in his Max IV and he didn't mention having any cold weather problems.

[Castro]

Montreal is actually warmer than where I am in in Vermont. But i like what I hear. So the standard bandolero brain has no choke? It has same bolt pattern for instalation as the Briggs? I am about sold but Lewis winter in NC is nothing like vt. We spend 8 months of the year cold so choke is a must. What's this about vtwin intake?

[racerone3]

I might have mislead slightly on the drop in and go. the Bandolero does not have a governor, so the throttle and choke will hook up in different places on the engine. you might need a longer or shorter throttle and choke cable depending on the application. Lewis is running this air filter and adapter on his racer Performance V-Twins (from that link, click on "custom parts, then scroll down to "Eagle Pro Flow K&N Filter Kit") I think you would be better off to run the Bandolero engine as it comes from 600 Racing for what you are looking to do with the engine

[Castro]

If no gov then a tach is required.... Does it have an out put for this?

[racerone3]

Tach is not required, but a good idea. I don't have them on either of my "big" engines, but I do have one in the racer. Most of us running the bandolero are running the Equius 6068 Tach Amazon.com: Equus 6068 Black Tachometer - Measures 3 3/8-Inches: Automotive they use an inductive pickup and hook up directly to a plug wire. Some machines have an issue with the length of the wires on this Tach, but you should have nosuch problem in the Argo. If you get this Tach and It won't work correctly after following the directions, don't be scared to try flipping the inductive lead to the "wrong" direction. this is what it took to make the one on my racer work correctly

[Mike]

The motor does have a choke / butterfly from the factory, it is just hard wired open. You just cut the wire holding the choke lever in place and attach your choke cable. You will have to fab a bracket to cinch the choke cable to the motor but it's not a big deal. Here are a couple of pictures of what I did to one of mine:


Let me add to the tach discussion as well. I was really worried about over-revving the motor when I first got it, so on the Max IV, I installed the same tach that racerone3 referenced. After watching it closely, I quickly realized that the only time you have to worry about over-revving it is when you are approaching top speed. You can feel the powerband decrease before you get there and you know to back off. On my Max II, I don't run a tach and it hasn't been a big deal.