Furture Of cruiser rock rigs (1 Viewer)

[Radd Cruisers]

Been wathcing closely, do you guys think it will taper back from 44s or 49s to 37s and turbo four bangers at a fraction of the weight?

 

[Rascal]

In a word: Yes

 

[wngrog]

In a word: Yes

That is where I am headed.

49's and Rocks are just too heavy to climb well. Gravity rides everything.

I am not a fan of Turbocharers on engines that have no bottom end though. I have seen too many rigs that could not get the power they needed until the RPMs were in a dangerous place for rockcrawling/climbing.

As for 37's. When I was in the Hammers last year a ton of guys ran the hardest trails out there with 37s on Comp rigs. I was impressed, yet I still believe a 40" tire is the perfect balance on size and weight.

I may hate this 4cyl, but I am willing to give it a shot. I can always add HP, but taking weight off is a bitch.

 

[Rock Taxi]

All depends on where you intend to wheel the rig. Some places, narrow tires rock, others, wide ones, some places you can't get tall enough, others height is not a big deal.

I predict we will continue to see everything.

Ed

 

[LAME]

There will always be places for big dumb rigs....just not sure why.

 

[Mace]

A Cruiser rock rig kinda has to be at least part cruiser. So for the full figured among us the larger tires are helpfull.

If you are building a buggy, which is getting more and more common you do not need the HUGE tires. My 40 will always be my rock rig. So I'll just fall into the smaller category that has to do a bit more work to get through a trail.

Besides, I don't like the huge climbs that much. I am not unhappy on the end of a winch strap

 

[dacicci]

All depends on where you intend to wheel the rig. Some places, narrow tires rock, others, wide ones, some places you can't get tall enough, others height is not a big deal.

I predict we will continue to see everything.

Ed

i agree i think alot of rigs will still vary. but you can't deny people are starting to relize that thier is such a thing as toooo much lift. i run my junk pretty low on 39.5 and it does pretty well. and as for hp nothing a set of gears cant cure. slow and steady is my way. well when it dry that is.

 

[Medusa]

I think your question depends entirely on how you define "cruiser rock rig". If your definition extends as far as a tube buggy with a Cruiser hood and bezel, the answer is likely to be different that a more narrow definition. Personally, I don't include a buggy with a hood in my definition.

 

[gnx7]

A Buick Grand National engine (all iron 3.8i/231ci V6) fully dressed with headers/stock turbo/intercooler, a/c, p/s, alt, stall convertor, front pulleys, starter, engine wiring harness, ECM etc weighs 420lbs. An all aluminum LS1 fully dressed for reference is about 480lbs.

A lightweight starter is $89 and saves 12lbs, a/c compressor weighs about 20lbs.... so you could have a sub 400lb engine that makes 400ft/lbs tq+ at 2500rpm and makes peak hp about 5500rpm. An LS1 will make about 350lbs/tq at 2Krpm-6K. I'm sure on the trail the LS1 would be easier to keep cool.

I happen to have a freshly rebuilt one with zero miles for sale complete from intake oil pan/headers/intercooler etc. Only thing needed to make it work is a wiring harness ($150-225 used) and ECM ($60 used). Anyone want to try and make this work?

You could put either a BOP TH350 behind it or a TH700R4 with AA adapter plate to mate up to the BOP style block. They are reknown for being torque monsters.

 

[Mace]

A Buick Grand National engine (all iron 3.8i/231ci V6) fully dressed with headers/stock turbo/intercooler, a/c, p/s, alt, stall convertor, front pulleys, starter, engine wiring harness, ECM etc weighs 420lbs. An all aluminum LS1 fully dressed for reference is about 480lbs.

A lightweight starter is $89 and saves 12lbs, a/c compressor weighs about 20lbs.... so you could have a sub 400lb engine that makes 400ft/lbs tq+ at 2500rpm and makes peak hp about 5500rpm. An LS1 will make about 350lbs/tq at 2Krpm-6K. I'm sure on the trail the LS1 would be easier to keep cool.

I happen to have a freshly rebuilt one with zero miles for sale complete from intake oil pan/headers/intercooler etc. Only thing needed to make it work is a wiring harness ($150-225 used) and ECM ($60 used). Anyone want to try and make this work?

You could put either a BOP TH350 behind it or a TH700R4 with AA adapter plate to mate up to the BOP style block. They are reknown for being torque monsters.

Sure thing,
Give it to me and I'll make it work in a buggy

I'll even come up to SF to pick it up and save you shipping........

 

[gnx7]

send me the postage and I'll put it in an envelope... save you the trip

Some guys are running 4BT's with larger turbos and doing well. However those are rather portly like any diesel.

 

[Fullsizeyota]

As for 37's. When I was in the Hammers last year a ton of guys ran the hardest trails out there with 37s on Comp rigs. I was impressed, yet I still believe a 40" tire is the perfect balance on size and weight.

i agree... well i wasnt at the hammers, but it seems to me, that the 36-38" range is almost perfect... for rock wheelin.. granted there is an exception for everything.. huge climbs, huge drop offs, steep climbs etc

think about how much stress is saved on the drivetrain from a 37" to a 44" tire... i dont have numbers to back me up, but you get the idea....

you see plenty of comp rigs running insane lines on 37's....

i've been thinkin this for a while. a 37" tire will climb up about anything you can put infront of it. if you have a locker.

i'm not saying the bigger tires dont look cool, but may be unnecessary...

me? i just picked up 40" MTR's becuase i got a SMOKIN deal on them..

4 40" MTRs with 95% tread on 17x9 eagle alloy (micky II knock offs) for 1200 bucks

i dug the 37's i had, but they were shot, but i was totally happy with them

the smaller tires dont rub anything, keep you low(er) and give you that extra little margin of axle stress/breakage

we'll see how long the 44 hold up eh?

 

[Radd Cruisers]

Apples and oranges, ya it was a loaded question.

Not sure what the perfect balance is, but as far as my pocket book goes a smaller tubed buggy with mini parts would be doable.

As far as asthetics goes, I love rigs like Medusa, Kate, Proffit, Mace, Rock Taxi etc, they have really nice full figured rigs.

 

[Rock Taxi]

There will always be places for big dumb rigs....just not sure why.

'cuz there are big dumb people.

Duh.



Ed - a big dumb person with a big dumb rig that is a ton of fun to drive regardless of what anyone says.

 

[Niner]

There was a time when If you had 33" that was all you needed, and then it was 35". Now it seems to be going to 37". I think it is evolution

 

[White YJ]

There was a time when If you had 33" that was all you needed, and then it was 35". Now it seems to be going to 37". I think it is evolution

na the rocks are just growing up.

I sold my fodees and went with 37's

 

[Fullsizeyota]

na the rocks are just growing up.

I sold my fodees and went with 37's

how do you like them compared to each other??

i just went from 37's to 40's..... i have 101" WB. havent wheeled it yet and i'm hoping i'm not too short now

 

[White YJ]

how do you like them compared to each other??

i just went from 37's to 40's..... i have 101" WB. havent wheeled it yet and i'm hoping i'm not too short now

I went stock, 31's, 33's, 35's, 40's and now 37's

Bought my 40's when I was doing a major rebuild. Sold them after the first trip out because I got a killer deal on some 37 KRAWLERS. Going from 35's and sprung under to 40's and SOA it felt like I was cheating, but I liked it alot. Only really had the 37's out once so far but I really like them. Next time out will be in Moab in a few months.

 

[Radd Cruisers]

How small of a engine is feasable?

I remember Texican speaking of a couple minis doing a line on Moab that was killer and they made it look easy..

Rob

 

[wngrog]

How small of a engine is feasable?

I remember Texican speaking of a couple minis doing a line on Moab that was killer and they made it look easy..

Rob

I have seen stock sammi motors do amazing things.....