Manx Club

Hey All;

   Thanks to a bunch of buggy guys that I hooked up with this last summer, I fully embarrassed myself and the wife by getting REALLY stuck in one of the Coos Bay Dunes. I told them is was going to coast me some money to never get into that situation, and now the time has arrived. The first problem is that the Turista sits too close to the tires and I can't put paddle tires on cause there is no room, so I run my big street tires at low pressures. This has worked well in the past, but then I've never tried to keep up with the BIG GUYS. The second is that the 1600dp that I replaced the Dark-Side engine with just isn't hacking it. My plan is to start tearing down the Turista for it's 6-year rebuild and to get it ready for Moab. I'm going to put a 3" lift on it (thanks to TonyD for the beginning of the kit), and do what I need to do to get the backend ready for a 225hp Dark-Side engine. I have a 3-rib transaxle,  and the hard kit to install it (yes, I've heard the noise complaints about this kit, but I'm OK with it). I'm going to put the 3x3 trailing arms (not sure who's I'm going to use as yet). Going to try and put one of Pete's frontends on it, but that will be if I get around to it, as the frontend will be the last of my worries). The backend is what I want to concentrate on this time around. I see lots of the buggy guys with big engines and big suspension setups in the back of their buggys, sidestep their clutches in the rocks, rivers, and sand, but none on the street. With the engine I'm putting back in the Turista, I really want to be able to be at a stoplight, side-step the clutch, and see at least some of these rice rockets in my rear view mirror (oh, and give the wife a chuckle). So what do I need to build longevity in the backend of these buggys? Give me some hints...

A rice rocket killer and longevity are two completely different concepts. You can build in the power, but you sacrifice longevity. You can have dependability but no power. Oversized motors will always tear themselves apart at some point. It's finding the compromise that you are willing to live with that's the trick.

The engine isn't going to be the problem, it's the ability of a suspension/transaxle system that was built for a motor of 50 horses or so to be built with components that will be reliable with an engine that will be reliably  pumping out over 200hp. So, I'm looking for technical details that will allow that unless like you say it can't be done on the street reliably. I think others have used other than VW engines with higher than 200hp and they have built backend systems that will hold up to them. Would like some technical input from these folks if they are here (or if you can, point me to some other site where they hang out). Thanks in advance.

By saying "Darkside" engine, I assume you mean Subaru.  We are getting rid of the type 1 transaxle and replacing it with a Mendeola.  We considered a type 2 transaxle, but the gearing is not right for the amount of hyway cruising we do.  Mendeola can now make a 4 or 5 speed with 3.88 R & P & .70  final gear.  We will have the Outfront type 1/ Subaru adaptor parts for sale soon if you need those.  Tom

Hey Maniac;



Yep, it's the reverse-rotation Dark-Side engine. Got no room for radiators. Looks like I'm going to call Bill at Fibercraft in Reno and see what he recommends as a solution for this backend dilemma. The Mendeola is for high-powered Big HP stuff, but some of the Rancho stuff looks good. I still have FULSGLD (the ManxVair) that I could build an engine for, and since it has the corvair transaxle maybe it will be the way to go. I could then leave the wife's buggy alone. Naw, she wouldn't like that...

Sounds like a fun build.

If you're planning on 225 HP side stepping you may want to consider a built 091 Bus trans and 930 cv's.  Will cost a few pennies but not as much as a Mendeola.

Joe

Hey Joe;



That's what I'm thinking too. The 3-rib that I have isn't going to get it, so I'm looking for a newer VW bus up here that I can get cheap, then send it off for the rebuild, or swap for one of the Mendeola rebuilt 091s. Too much snow up here to go looking today.