For a small summer project, I've decided to put together a dune buggy/sand rail with a volkswagon rearaxle, a kennedy adapter plater and some sort of Honda engine..the engine has to rotate opposite for the transmission, so the engine choices are basically-J-series V6, K-series, and F20c out of the S2k..Im assuming due to power/weight the K or F20c would be the best bet, but I havent decided..
Does anyone have an opinion on the best engine for a street legal dune buggy/rail?
My other question is most of the chassis you can find are made for the VW engine, so (aside from custom mounts), would an extended chassis be necessary for a K20 or F20 engine?
Thanks alot for any input here!
I've decided to ditch my civic build in favor of this

 

You can flip the ring gear and run any non conventional rotation honda motors as well. There are plenty of setups using all of the motors you have mentioned.

 

I believe H-T member "RedBoost" has a F20 powered rail, turbo'd too if I remember correctly. Hit him up.

 

"redboost10" is his name and he is running a fortin transmission. Big baller$$$$ That transmission costs as much as an s2000

 

Hmmm..anymore info on this or a reference site? I'm very unfamiliar with all of this, currently. Just flip the ring gear on the trans and it'll remedy the rotation issue?


I looked through a ton of RedBoost10's threads and was unsuccessful in finding even a single one about his buggy/rail..plus if he's using a $15k+ trans, he's playing in a whole different league than me.

d16sandrail - do you have any pics of your setup or car to explain how you have it? I'm assuming by your name you do have a d16 sandrail..lol..I saw a build thread where someone had used a stock z6 and trans, mounted it in the buggy and made a custom shifter and stabilizer bar for the trans. Is yours setup like that or with the stock VW trans?

Thanks again for all input!

 

When I asked Kennedy Engineering about this, their response was
but supposedly I can just flip the ring gear and be good to go? Is this a lot bigger job than I'm picturing it to be I guess?

 

we have a turbocharged s2000 long travel sand buggy with fortin tranny, i love it. it is only on 14 psi and it is a two seater, but it still moves fairly well. we built the whole chromoly chassis ourselves so built it around the s2000 longblock/fortin tranny, which it think is best if you are going to use something other than a vw powerplant

 

^^^^ pics are required please.

 

i've seen a k20 power sandrail at a car show down here in miami it was flat black with purple hks coilovers! very sexy but i think with a little much power lol

 

Move over **** and scoob, this guy has the new mystery machine :-) I have never seen pics of said sandrail either...would sure love to....pics or BAN!!!! :-)

 

im moving to the NW in a week and I have been thinking about building a sandrail (oregon dunes look AWESOME), why not use a transverse engine setup? seems like it would be cheaper?

 

I'd go with a j-series as a mid-engine/rwd sandrail. You can get manual & lsd, and it should handle a 1200lb sand rail since it normally moves 3000lb car with traction. Worst-case you spend a grand getting a custom F-D made to make it work with the big tires.

For a summer project you don't need top shelf. Instead I recommend top ramen when it's a first-time hobby project.

 

Take a look at my thread. it may give you some ideas.

https://honda-tech.com/forums/welding-fabrication-53/d16z9-sand-rail-build-2762637/

 

I did a 2 seater with a b-series in it.

https://honda-tech.com/forums/showth...1006776&page=3

Let me know if you need any help, I can point you in the right direction.