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chopperhopper Samba Member
Joined: October 17, 2009 Posts: 89 Location: Clovis, NM
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Posted: Wed Apr 14, 2010 4:14 pm Post subject: Craigs Sandrail Rebuild (Pic heavy) |
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Well, it’s time to come out of the shadows and join in the discussions. A little background: I am in the Air Force, and while stationed at Kirtland AFB in Albuquerque, NM from ’99-‘05 I built a Berrien Warrior. By far one of the most rewarding things I have done. It was kind of a budget build, I was into 4-wheeling a lot and was excited to expand my welding and fabricating skills. So sandrail it was. I was lucky to find that Albuquerque was the right place to make this decision, with abundant supplies of knowledgeable people and parts availability. I bought my knockdown kit from Brandon Buckner of BuggyWorkz in Albuquerque. I then found a donor bug at a local junk yard and got to work. About 6 months later I had it street legal and driving. The off road adventures that followed were memories that I will not soon forget. In late ’04 I received orders to Eglin AFB, Florida and the sandrail sadly had to go. A wonderful family in Roswell, NM were the proud new owners, and off to Florida my family and I went. So, about 5 months ago I was digging through my old e-mail address and what did I find? The e-mail address of the family in Roswell with my beloved sandrail. I instantly desired a drive in the dirt behind the wheel and decided to send them a quick e-mail to see how it was doing. After I found out it had been sitting for quite a while, the urge to get it back and rebuild it was almost uncontrollable. About two weeks later, my son, brother, and I were on the road, trailer in tow, to Roswell to get my sandrail back. The family that had it was amazing and I was very grateful, and before I knew it, she was back in my garage just asking to be rebuilt. I was able to put about a month of work into it before I was sent where I currently am, deployed to Afghanistan. I don’t have much longer here, and I have a pile of new parts waiting for me when I get back. I have been gathering a lot of really good ideas from this website, and it’s members seem to have an amazing amount of knowledge. So I have attached some pictures of the original build from ’04 and some pictures of the current rebuild. Any tips or pointers are always welcomed.
The following pictures are all from '04-'05 when I first built it:
A test drive in the back yard before teardown and paint.
Wiring, yah!
Titled and street legal.
Off-Road show at Owl's Cafe, Albuquerque, NM
My inspiration: Brandon's Warrior
The following are from Roswell, NM:
And now the rebuild:
Making room for a new pedal assembly.
Engine resealed, carb rebuilt, all cleaned up and ready.
Wiring harness repaired
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nitrous nut Samba Member
Joined: November 11, 2009 Posts: 159 Location: west branch mi
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Posted: Wed Apr 14, 2010 5:25 pm Post subject: |
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sweet ride. |
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drmiller100 Samba Member
Joined: April 04, 2010 Posts: 384 Location: Boise Idaho
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Posted: Wed Apr 14, 2010 6:19 pm Post subject: |
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Thank you for you and your fellow workers.
If there is anything I can do, let me know. I am in Idaho..... |
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chopperhopper Samba Member
Joined: October 17, 2009 Posts: 89 Location: Clovis, NM
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Posted: Thu Apr 15, 2010 2:25 am Post subject: |
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Thanks for the kind words. Hopefully I will be back soon with the family and work on the rail can continue! |
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DirtGhost Samba Member
Joined: September 19, 2007 Posts: 547 Location: Greensboro,NC
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Mr. Unpopular Samba Member
Joined: September 20, 2005 Posts: 3715 Location: Tampa Florida
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Posted: Thu Apr 15, 2010 10:56 am Post subject: |
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Looks good. I also have a warrior I built myself in 2007. We use it regularly here in Florida.
How long will you be staying in Florida? I have a friend in Panama City that knows of a few places near him to ride. There is also the Ocala National Forest which isn't TOO far of a tow (beats going to Roswell )
If you want to ride in Ocala, send an email to [email protected] and I'll put you on the mailing list so you'll know when we're riding. _________________ "In any racing engine, the nearer you are to it disintegrating, the better it's performance will be"
-Keith Duckworth, creator of the Ford/Cosworth DFV |
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perrib Samba Member
Joined: September 14, 2004 Posts: 3402 Location: Chandler, Az
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Posted: Thu Apr 15, 2010 12:20 pm Post subject: |
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Great story and pictures. my sandrails been with me for 20 years. |
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ataim Samba Member
Joined: June 17, 2009 Posts: 219 Location: Fort Worth
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chopperhopper Samba Member
Joined: October 17, 2009 Posts: 89 Location: Clovis, NM
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Posted: Thu Apr 15, 2010 3:31 pm Post subject: |
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I have been in Niceville, FL for about 5 years now. There are some decent trails around here, but nothing much like I had in New Mexico. I would really like to find some scenic trail rides. I have a feeling its going to see more street time here.
Thanks for the link about frame bracing, I think I will see what I can do to mine to strenghten it. I have to admit though, I am usually pretty mild off-road, I try not to get into many situations that will cause a roll. But not too many people actually plan on rollovers, and you can never play it too safe! |
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ronholm Samba Member
Joined: March 19, 2010 Posts: 44 Location: Kansas City
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Posted: Fri Apr 16, 2010 7:23 am Post subject: |
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yeah.. "mild off road" those pictures of you almost yard darting, and the several others with the buggy airborne are the exception, right? Brace that thing up man... You know the drill...
Like your rail.. and the story.. that is a lot of fun... |
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chopperhopper Samba Member
Joined: October 17, 2009 Posts: 89 Location: Clovis, NM
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Posted: Fri Apr 16, 2010 2:22 pm Post subject: |
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It's funny you should say that, I was talking to a guy I used to 4-wheel with and he said the same thing. I guess I am not as mild as I thought! |
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ronholm Samba Member
Joined: March 19, 2010 Posts: 44 Location: Kansas City
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Posted: Fri Apr 16, 2010 3:18 pm Post subject: |
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Raising the bar on what is "mild" and what is not is always a good thing in my book.. Just don't forget where you put the bar.
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quadrazer Samba Member
Joined: April 11, 2010 Posts: 295 Location: Castalia, Ohio
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Posted: Sat Apr 17, 2010 6:36 pm Post subject: Nice |
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Very nice preface story before your pics! Getting your rail back is like being reunited with an old friend! Your rebuild looks good so far, and I wish you the best!
From one vet to another, be alert and come home safe! |
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chopperhopper Samba Member
Joined: October 17, 2009 Posts: 89 Location: Clovis, NM
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Posted: Sun May 30, 2010 11:11 pm Post subject: I'm Back! |
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And I have been busy this past week....
Blasted and ready for prep and paint.
Primed
Painted, went with Rustoleum Black Hammer Finish in the rattle cans, turned out pretty good, I am happy with it.
Close up of the hammer finish
Starter rebuilt, slave installed, tranny ready to go.
Suspension parts ready
Coming together
Not sure how I am going to run the throttle cable yet, I have a Morse Cable on my workbench but I am not sure how I am going to run it so that it is not right next to my foot. Any ideas or pics of yall's setup will be welcomed. |
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ralphk496 Samba Member
Joined: January 30, 2010 Posts: 90 Location: sedro-woolley, WA
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Posted: Mon May 31, 2010 11:43 am Post subject: |
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hey...where did you get that diamond plate toolbox?....I need one just like that ...like 34" wide |
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quadrazer Samba Member
Joined: April 11, 2010 Posts: 295 Location: Castalia, Ohio
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Posted: Mon May 31, 2010 11:48 am Post subject: |
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Looking really good Craig! I like the hydraulic clutch setup. I'd like to upgrade to one of those myself! _________________ I DID wash my hands....the rest is 'built-in' dirt!
My build: http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=409845 |
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chopperhopper Samba Member
Joined: October 17, 2009 Posts: 89 Location: Clovis, NM
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Posted: Sun Jun 06, 2010 6:46 pm Post subject: |
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ralphk496: If I remember right the toolbox was from Home Depot, but that was about 7 years ago!
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ralphk496 Samba Member
Joined: January 30, 2010 Posts: 90 Location: sedro-woolley, WA
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Posted: Mon Jun 07, 2010 7:49 pm Post subject: |
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ok thanks....x2 on the looking good...its great to be re-united with an old friend...just last week i got a honda aero 125 scooter that i bought from a swamp...restored the whole thing to like new...took to the state patrol for inspection...they said stolen in 1995 and keepted it...after some serching for owner?...i called after 10 months...and told my story and asked if i could buy it back..they said yes...and 400....i got it last week...i'm in it 700 totel....worth 1000...so i'm happy...better than losing the 300 i had in it |
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77charger Samba Member
Joined: November 12, 2005 Posts: 1492
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Posted: Mon Jun 07, 2010 8:09 pm Post subject: |
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nice job.
Even better on the jumping! _________________ Click to view image
Bugpack 4 seater rail
2275 built by me
Auto linea alm case,82 dpr crank wedgemated by DK machine
cb 5.4 h beams,12 pound DPR f/w,Slr xv294cam,cb straight cuts,hpmx 44s,40x35 heads ported by brothers machine |
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ZARJDR Samba Member
Joined: October 27, 2008 Posts: 1039 Location: Eureka, Ca
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Posted: Mon Jun 07, 2010 10:59 pm Post subject: |
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Don't have a picture handy, but I tan my Morse cable between my feet, and under a raised heel/footrest on/above the floor. I had to utilize one of the higher holes in my throttle arm to get full sweep for the throttle activation. _________________ 2006 RAM 1500 HEMI 4X4 92 LT250
06 Raptor DP1776 Sandrail
02 HONDA 400EX
03 YAMAHA WR450F 74 BAJA |
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