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Mon Mar 02, 2009 7:58 pm

Hello Everbody.New to samba 1st post been reading for a few months.I`m builing my 2nd Rail its one of the last chenowith frams unless they open back up. looking for segestions comments so I hopefully make less misstakes .I would really like to know your thoughts on engines.I have avalibile to me a subaru 3.3 low mileage cheap from a freind but I`m concernd about weight and handeling I have 14"rear fox shocks 10"fronts so i`m looking for travel and handeling .:lol:Trying to add pics but not successfull Help please[/img]

Mon Mar 02, 2009 8:30 pm

The top of the off road forum has sticky's, the last one is "Information and references", go there, drop down to How to post..... Happy postng

Mon Mar 02, 2009 9:41 pm

Thanks I tryed that before I asked when I try to load pic it says pic to big or corrupted and I know the pics are good

Mon Mar 02, 2009 10:07 pm

When you select a pic in your computer's gallery you click on it to highlight/select, then right click, then click resize(this is your problem) select the 480Xwhatever size, they will upload to the Samba gallery after you resize.......once again enjoy

Tue Mar 03, 2009 6:45 pm

I think I have got how to a pics Thanks Ed

Wed Mar 04, 2009 2:14 am

That's a really nice frame, I'd run a T4 like a baja car, they can be built to push 150HP all day long and it's lightweight simple motor.

Be a pureist, get a nice T4 for that thing

Wed Mar 04, 2009 8:16 pm

Thanks Cris.You did a really nice job on your Explorer. I most say one of my favorits. Do you mind if use your great idea on the fuse panel box as mine will too be dual sport.And I like your idea on the T4 engine

Pre smog vin # no inspections

Sun Mar 29, 2009 1:26 pm

Update on progress and suggestions needed first new pics The red lines are cut off points and the green are the proposed new front end what do you guys think. With out making the changes to the front I would be limited to 6 to 8 in travel
with changes I should see 12 to 14

I have a freind that is a 30 year veteran off road racer fabracater.That has been retierd for some years now giving me Ideas and doing my tubing bending for me.So what do you think is he giving me good advise on front end.

Oh I almost forgot the rear travel is 15 to 16 in of travel @25deg in the 930 race prep cvs.But thats not were it will ride just full drop when off the ground Thanks Ed

Sun Mar 29, 2009 1:29 pm

I think your doing something wrong, A friend of mine has that same chassis and is pulling 14" in the front.

Sun Mar 29, 2009 1:45 pm

ok, how are you going to be limited with the way that front end is set up now? and why do you think what your proposing will give you more possible travel?

Sun Mar 29, 2009 2:17 pm

I thought it would easy to see it must be the angle of the photo but the bottom tube comes up 3" at the beam and before I get to full drop the sterring linkage hits the bottom tube

6" over beam 2.5 wider by 1" longer arms

bdkw1 chenowith made many differnt chassis this one was set up as a sandbuggy hints the low slung front

Sun Mar 29, 2009 2:30 pm

what kind of steering set up are you running?

Sun Mar 29, 2009 3:07 pm

Rake and pionion I was looking at a Saco rake

Sun Mar 29, 2009 3:29 pm

IMHO i would just strap it to prevent the tie rods from hitting, i mean how much travel is it going to limit? have you cycled from full compression to full droop where the tie rod hits?

if you can deal with a little bit of bump steer you might want to think about getting an end load rack and pinion instead of a center load Saco. it would help with the tie rod clearance a little bit.

Sun Mar 29, 2009 3:59 pm

Where I bought this 4lwd chenowith buggy They have one just like it biult on the same frame jig and it is limited to 6 to 8" of travel. They showed me where it would hit and why that I would never get more with out modifiying the chassis.
I would like to get as much travel as posible with 6" longer beam 2.5"wider 1"longer trailing arms 10"coil over fox shocks

Mon Mar 30, 2009 10:48 am

Hmmm, the frame looks the same as his. He is running 4" longer arms and I think a 10" beam. Do you have any pictures of the rack mount?

Mon Mar 30, 2009 12:38 pm

You may want to attach the spindles /arms and measure, My old Chenoweth has plenty of room with 5" wider beam, Wright place 1" longer arms and Woods combo spindles. I have 8.5 " between the upper and lower tubes where the tie rod passes through and 2" of clearance below it at full drop. Since the tie rods will travel through a shorter arc there will be more clearance due to the wider beam and arms.

Mon Mar 30, 2009 7:30 pm

Very sorry to all runslikeapenguin bdkw1 perrib.
I was going off what I was told from the buggy shop I bought it.

I cant believe they were that far off.

Came home from work and mocked it up. You were all right as it turns out I have 11.5"of travel.

Tue Mar 31, 2009 9:48 am

Now that looks more like it!

I would switch shops.........

Do your self a favor, when the suspension is fully drooped out, lean your shock forward till it the coils touche the beam, put your upper mount there. As it sits right now your geometry is so far off that when it's bottomed, your shock is doing almost nothing.

Tue Mar 31, 2009 4:49 pm

Thanks to all for the help. bdkw1 I will put the front shocks as far forward as possible thanks for the heads up on that one.Any thing else you guys see good or bad please tell me or any suggestions fire away.I will keep posting pics as progress go on.