I have a sand rail that I have had for a few years and its been a blast. It has a 1600cc VW air cooled motor in it. The 4 speed tranny went out in it. So a buddy and I want to drop a b16 or a b18 Acura/Honda motor into in. The problem is that it is rear engined buggy. So I was wandering how would I go about a tranny set up? Would I need a reverse mounted tranny?
Honda powered sand rail questions
GOKUSXJ
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I have a sand rail that I have had for a few years and its been a blast. It has a 1600cc VW air cooled motor in it. The 4 speed tranny went out in it. So a buddy and I want to drop a b16 or a b18 Acura/Honda motor into in. The problem is that it is rear engined buggy. So I was wandering how would I go about a tranny set up? Would I need a reverse mounted tranny?
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Thats what I plan on doing just mounting it in the rear. So I guess all I have to do is move the motor/tranny straight back huh? I dont know why I was thinking everything would be reversed.
i would love an update on this thread...ive got a sandrail with a 1600 DP in it, and ive been thinking about a honda engine conversion for a couple years.
couple issues you will run into:
-the drive axles on the FWD hondas sit behind the motor/tranny, where as with the VW they sit in the front. so figuring out a way to mount the drivetrain far enough foward without interfering with the driver and passenger seat will be a problem (at least on mine)
-cooling....need to mount up a radiator
-ECU and engine harness. since the honda will be fuel injected. you need to mount it to where it wont be so open to the elements( like in a makeshift box or something)
-fabricating a way to reverse the shifter throw. just mounting the linkages up will have the shifter completely reversed from normal
-finding a way to keep the front end down...lol
couple issues you will run into:
-the drive axles on the FWD hondas sit behind the motor/tranny, where as with the VW they sit in the front. so figuring out a way to mount the drivetrain far enough foward without interfering with the driver and passenger seat will be a problem (at least on mine)
-cooling....need to mount up a radiator
-ECU and engine harness. since the honda will be fuel injected. you need to mount it to where it wont be so open to the elements( like in a makeshift box or something)
-fabricating a way to reverse the shifter throw. just mounting the linkages up will have the shifter completely reversed from normal
-finding a way to keep the front end down...lol
you could use an engine from an older 90-95 accord.should be about 130 whp/120tq at the wheels and the motors are a dime a dozen.they also have hydraulic clutches.the fuel injection stuff isnt to bad once you figure out what you dont need and what you do need.there was a guy in tampa that used to put acura legend motors in rails(think fwd v6).try google searching for him, i cant remember the name though.
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If your not sold on a Honda motor, Subaru adapters are plentiful.
I believe the Honda V6 rotates in the proper direction, the four will require a ring gear flip.
You will need to upgrade to a 3 rib bus transaxle at a minimum. A larger 5 would be better.
Might want to a search on the Samba for more information.
http://www.pacificcustoms.com/kephonda091-200.html
I believe the Honda V6 rotates in the proper direction, the four will require a ring gear flip.
You will need to upgrade to a 3 rib bus transaxle at a minimum. A larger 5 would be better.
Might want to a search on the Samba for more information.
http://www.pacificcustoms.com/kephonda091-200.html
I know this thread is 100 years old. So sorry.
But a friend just gave me a 95 Integra with the 4 cyl.
I've always been a VW rail fan and had many in the past.
BUT, I now have this Integra (4cyl) drivetrain and I see a used vDub rail frame in my area (for cheap).
I am trying to decide....whether to do this at all....and then how.
This rail comes with a tranny only, but that vw tranny is designed for what...40 HP?
Seems it better to drop the Integra engine and tranny as one into the rail.
I see that comment "go JDM on that". Jameson....what do you mean?
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dual port VW was 60 horse. And beating on them didn't hurt the tranny much, they wore out not break.
Not sure how many other transaxles can have the carrier flipped to reverse the drive, but most engines do turn in the same direction.
Not sure how many other transaxles can have the carrier flipped to reverse the drive, but most engines do turn in the same direction.
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I'd probably find a forum for sand rails and ask there instead of a jeep forum that not even jeepers go to anymore, reviving a thead that the last actual responce was a guy pointing out to the last person reviving it that the thead had been dead for years. The odds of finding relevant info here is fairly slim.
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