Offroad Racing a VX? Some part suggestions...

[REDLYNER]

So this could go two ways, I could get a great list of upgrades to make a Vehicross my class champion, or you guys could tell me I am completely nuts for even thinking this would work.


We have an offroad racing series down here (ECORS) that is really picking up steam. This year there were 6 events with the hopes of growing to 8 next year. We just got back from Harlan, KY's race, which was a qualifier for King of the Hammers (biggest race in the US). Think high speed desert racing with rocks and mud. Average speeds around 30mph with max around 65mph.... over rocks and through the mud.

We have 3 classes of rigs- A, B, and C.

I would be building an A class rig out of the Vehicross: No tunable shocks, maximum of 33"s with one locker, or 35"s with no locker, no power adders (turbos, S/Cs). Most A Class rigs are Jeep Cherokees, some Rodeos, and some Toyota trucks and truggies.

Races last up to 2 hours per class! So that is two solid hours of hammering on the VX offroad, at speed.

So with that info, I was thinking:

Torsion lift front
2"+ lift rear
33" M/Ts
Bushing upgrades
Airbumps (welded in)
Emulsion shocks w/resevoir (Fox maybe, perhaps Walker Evans)
Maybe an Aussie or an ARB


So with that knowledge, what else would you add to make this as bullet proof as possible?

The rig in question is a 2000 Ironman with 75,000 miles.


Thoughts?? Suggestions??

[Triathlete]

The other 'zu guys racing that series are on the planetisuzoo boards. Matt from indy4x is one of them and is a good source of info.
One ???
What shape is the VX in? If it is a beater I would say go for it. But since body damage is VERY probable don't destroy a good example of a rare machine...75k is fairly low miles.

[RamAirZ]

Check out Bansil's Amigo from the Planet:

http://forum.planetisuzoo.com/viewto...=232519#232519







I'd post this question over there and maybe PM him, he's built a few vehicles for that series and races it all the time, Joe Darlington over there does as well and a few others. You want to keep it as low as possible with the biggest tires possible, I'd say do some trimming, run 32's at the stock height or maybe add a 1" coil spacer, I'd do the Aussie up front myself, put that money toward other parts. I'd upgrade all the bushing, the sway bars included, you'd also be surprised as to what your stock shocks can handle but if you have the dough the Fox's would be awesome. I'd look into getting the Kilby skidplates or making your own. I've got an interesting design for tube fenders if your interested in going that far. Just a few suggestions

[ZEUS]

I think I would opt for hydraulic bump stops over the air which apparently fade during high speed dirt use but really don't have any experience with either. The links in the rear would need to be replaced with some beef. Skids for sure, sliders too. Trans cooler. Beefy tie rods. Braided brake lines.

I am sure they require a roll cage of some sort? The VX has low head room already... so exo?

[RamAirZ]

You could run the cage along the roofline where the oh-shiz handles are and have a "halo" up top, crossbar across the windshield and another one behind the drivers seat to tie it all in together and of course run the bars down through the dash to the floor. Be nice to tie into them through the firewall too and run a bar down to the front of the frame. I'd probably cut out the inner fenders too and build a guard for your alternator to keep as much mud/water out of it as possible.

[REDLYNER]

Joe Darlington over there does as well and a few others.
We raced against two of his Rodeos on Saturday- nice guy!

You want to keep it as low as possible with the biggest tires possible, I'd say do some trimming, run 32's at the stock height or maybe add a 1" coil spacer,
I am really wanting to run a bigger tire (33"s), but do agree about being low. So maybe more trimming?

I'd do the Aussie up front myself, put that money toward other parts.
Definitely want a locker.
Debating about the locker. I run ARBs in my TJ and love having them open on the street. Cost is about $500 more for the ARB, so I'll just have to see how that goes.

I'd upgrade all the bushing, the sway bars included, you'd also be surprised as to what your stock shocks can handle but if you have the dough the Fox's would be awesome.
That what I was thinking about the bushings. I know it comes with nice shocks, but the VX I was looking at is already at 75,000 miles, wouldn't that mean they wouldn't up to par for racing?

My theory is, the most abuse will happen on the attachments on the axles and the frame. So by upgrading shocks, bump stops, and air bumps (or maybe hydrolic) I think I will be limiting some of the major break points.

I'd look into getting the Kilby skidplates or making your own.
I will look into those!

I've got an interesting design for tube fenders if your interested in going that far. Just a few suggestions

Love to see them! I built several pieces for my wife's H3 and am always interested to see what other guys are creating

I think I would opt for hydraulic bump stops over the air which apparently fade during high speed dirt use but really don't have any experience with either. The links in the rear would need to be replaced with some beef. Skids for sure, sliders too. Trans cooler. Beefy tie rods. Braided brake lines.

I am sure they require a roll cage of some sort? The VX has low head room already... so exo?

So on top of my original list:

Rear end links
Skid plates
Sliders
Trans cooler
Tie rods
Brake lines


No roll cage required. However I was considering some form of Exo. The VX I am looking at unfortunately is mint condition, so it will get abused.


But overall, you guys think it won't blow up or completely fall apart during the race? I'm looking for a platform that no one is really running.

Thanks for the info!!

[RamAirZ]

As far as the aussie for the street, get yourself a set of manual hubs for the front and you won't have to worry about it And no, the VX won't completely fall apart lol, remember, it won the Dakar Rally.

[Triathlete]

But overall, you guys think it won't blow up or completely fall apart during the race? I'm looking for a platform that no one is really running.

Thanks for the info!!

The VX has won its class in the Dakar (as stated) which is arguably the most brutal/challenging test of an off road vehicle (5-12 hours/day of all out for days on end) and has been bashed upon on the rocks by many members here.

[ZEUS]

Check out this page from INDY4X

You might want to perform some scheduled maintenance before throwing your 75,000 mile VX right into a trail of Hell. Then I would say it probably wouldn't fall apart!

Bart made this nice how-to

I also understand 3.2's and 3.5's benefit from a valve job more than some other motors but can't back that up. Speaking of 3.5 woes and worries (for some) I would also try to add something to the crankcase to monitor oil level and temp perhaps. Use a high quality oil - I recommend Royal Purple personally.
Check out some discussion on an electric_fan

Since you want some go fast in your wheeling you really should gear down to compensate for the big heavy tires which also assists in your trans' survival - same holds true for go slow... go figure! Light weight forged rims should improve your times too.

Post some pics of this VX you want to thrash!

[RamAirZ]

4.56's should work on 32's just fine and be easy to find but if you can find some 4.77's go that route! And I wasn't even thinking about scheduled maintenance, figured that was a given lol

[ZEUS]

Sched-maint is rarely given enough!

[RamAirZ]

haha true

[Ldub]

So with that knowledge, what else would you add to make this as bullet proof as possible?


Thoughts?? Suggestions??

This won't make it bulletproof, but...
http://www.vehicross.info/forums/sho...93&postcount=6

I have no personal experience with an accumulator setup, it looked like a good idea though...

[RamAirZ]

accumulators are nice, especially in drag vehicles, you can "pre-oil" them before cranking over that high compression engine. The only down side to it in this application would be that if you lost enough pressure (i.e. your oil level some how got really low) and you didn't notice RIGHT AWAY it would only give you an extra minute or so of safety. In the drag racing world that's plenty long seeing as most cars that run this type of setup are only running for about 8 seconds or less at full throttle (haven't seen too many of these on "slower" cars but a few people still run them for insurance, even then your talking like 11 seconds or faster). Now if you could make the reserve a bit bigger and run an LED "shift" light that's bright enough to really warn you whenever the system had to be activated, that would work. I'd just be worried that your flying around the track, it goes off and you don't realize it in time so it doesn't really help.

[ZEUS]

Here is what the front wheelwell looks like ahead of the door without the liner:


Trimmed and hammered:


B&F:


Others have trimmed more of the cladding but I don't see it's needed if you keep your offset down.