car frame for Sand Rail

[GMC500]

hello,

does any one have pics of sand rails / buggies based on car frames ?

I am thinking to build a cheap 2WD sand rail using 1980s Chevy Caprice frame
nothing special and no need for crazy travel suspension, small block+th350+8.5" rear + something around 4.10 gears

I choose the Caprice because they are dime a dozen and available in every junkyard so if we break something we will replace it very cheap and easy

thanks,
Ahmed

 

[Big Blzn]

Don't know if the need for easily replaceable parts when jsut using a frame is necessary. If it is jsut a sanddrag car then maybe fine but having a sbc with all the accessories in the front of a sand car is the best way to go. It would be awfully front end heavy. Yo tend to catch a lot of air when in the sand and I'd bet your landings would be fairly harsh. If you want a cheap sandcar you should be able to find pleanty of bare sandrail frames only and build to your desires. or better yet just get an old Chenoworth (sp) that is ready to go for several grand.

 

[NorCal_Chris]

You would be better off making a frame and slappin the sbc in. Not only is that caprice frame going to weigh a ton, it is going to be ugly as sin.

Find a vw sandrail and grab a fwd v8 setup from an Eldorado or Rivera and slap that in the back. Or ditch the v8 idea for a stout v6.

 

[sponsoredbydad]

I would have to agree with both of the above replies. Besides there is nothing cheap when reinventing the wheel. You can pick up a good rail for cheap in this crappy economy.

 

[pauly383]

there is going to be a complete cage built anyway , why not start with either some prefabbed frame rails , or build some .

 

[GMC500]

I am from Saudi Arabia and we don't have any ready made sand rails or VW buggies here
I believe building a complete tube chassis sand rail will cost much more than using a car frame and chopping/modifying it to work

I know it will be ugly
but we can cover it with some light sheet metal like any other sand rail

 

[Big Blzn]

I am from Saudi Arabia and we don't have any ready made sand rails or VW buggies here
I believe building a complete tube chassis sand rail will cost much more than using a car frame and chopping/modifying it to work

I know it will be ugly
but we can cover it with some light sheet metal like any other sand rail

Well chit. If you are from SA, post up some pics of the local flavor of sandrails. We'd all like to see them.

 

[GMC500]

as I told you we don't have sand rails or buggies here

these pics & vids are from a dune contest that was held last week

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rlCKGTdSbso
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KPm9BWugUfc
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hjtQZ12ha6Y

 

[trailblazr81]

I just dont think that its a good setup with all the weight of the big V-8 and tranny in front and no weight on the drive wheels n back. Dune buggies and Baja Bugs work cuz they are light and the motor and trans are on top of the drive wheels. Tho I understand you dont have the pieces to build a sand rail or buggy in your area. My baja bug is around 1500 pounds, sand rails lighter.
I run a 1600cc motor with dual carbs putting out maybe 70 hp. 235/75/15 tires rear and 185/15 fronts. Just keep it light as possible and simple.

 

[Big Blzn]

as I told you we don't have sand rails or buggies here

these pics & vids are from a dune contest that was held last week

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rlCKGTdSbso
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KPm9BWugUfc
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hjtQZ12ha6Y

Awww, yeah. I have seen some of these vid on youtube before. not yours but others. You guys over there are some crazy fockers with some kickazz rigs. If you had your rigs in the states at say Glamis or in Michigan some of those things you have in SA would keep up with the best sand rails we have here in the hill climbs. YOu would deffinately turns some heads too. Now I understand what you are after.

 

[GMC500]

Awww, yeah. I have seen some of these vid on youtube before. not yours but others. You guys over there are some crazy fockers with some kickazz rigs. If you had your rigs in the states at say Glamis or in Michigan some of those things you have in SA would keep up with the best sand rails we have here in the hill climbs. YOu would deffinately turns some heads too. Now I understand what you are after.

yea if we can build something like this chopped Heep Cherokee it will be very nice in dune racing and sand drags

 

[Apocalypse]

just wanted to throw this out there. dirt track cars are pretty close to what you are talking about. Problem with them usually winds up being the limited lift and travel afforded from the front end when trying to use for offroading.

 

[Apocalypse]

Another thing. If you want the absolute cheapest possible but still functional sand buggie possible. then find a fwd car of some sort with a light weight engine that attaches to a subframe.

then cut out/graft the subframe to the rear of something like a 1980s s10 truck blazer or gmc jimmy. And please weld a cage in the thing. no frame will survive without the structural design of a cage

Add in a front skidplate such as this one and look into the s10 prerunner parts. you wont have the ground clerance but then again hardcore and cheap dont work in the same world

 

[GMC500]

Another thing. If you want the absolute cheapest possible but still functional sand buggie possible. then find a fwd car of some sort with a light weight engine that attaches to a subframe.

then cut out/graft the subframe to the rear of something like a 1980s s10 truck blazer or gmc jimmy. And please weld a cage in the thing. no frame will survive without the structural design of a cage

Add in a front skidplate such as this one and look into the s10 prerunner parts. you wont have the ground clerance but then again hardcore and cheap dont work in the same world

I like the FWD drivetrain idea
a VQ35 from 2002-2006 altima with 6MT will be very nice

 

[ktmoutfront]

Old school water pumper on Buick chassis.

http://sandrazor.com/thumbnails.php?albumID=1