Build 1988 Samurai Turned Buggy

Buddy hooked me up with a “new to me” M18 drill. Has a Hammer option, which my last tiny one did not.

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So just got done reinforcing the ram mount. This is overkill…but insurance, I guess. Added side to side gussets with DOM.

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Just chipping away as fast as I can at this point. Waiting on parts to show up to keep moving forward.
 
Mike Honcho said:
**** bags. Packouts are awesome! Mount them with some trick tabs and you can remove them if needed in seconds. Do a cooler behind the driver and a small tool box behind the passenger.
Click to expand...

This is the golden ticket here.

I can do a Packout behind each seat, run a bar across the back for the rear Packout mounts and use the space between to hang a cage mounted bag. :smokin:

Only sightline I lose is from the roof bar to the D pillar bar. I can still see under it all.
 
Love the ram mount. I just started chopping my old Artec mount off my trail rig today. So, If a similar one shows up on either of my builds I’ll tell everyone it was my idea.
 
Got the Packouts mounted. Made a little mount for my oil pressure and water temp gauges and room for two dummy lights if they drop off. The gauge mount might get re-done. Not super thrilled with it.

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EDIT: Yeah…made it a few hours and changed it.

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I came across a deal on FBMP this weekend. Local go kart company cycles out yellow top Optima batteries yearly. They’re selling them for $150 each and they have pics with test results to see they’re still 100% with good CCA.

However, they’re almost 50lbs.

Any reason why a SXS battery wouldn’t work? I’ve already been a bit leery of the transmission mounted battery set up I built with a 50lbs. battery on it. Biggest concern is a roll over and it coming loose or breaking the bolts out of the block/t-case.

This would be half the weight and much smaller. Any thoughts on running this? I did some hard pulls with my SXS on a 4500lbs. winch. It also had way more electronics than this buggy will.

www.odysseybattery.com

ODS-AGM28 - ODYSSEY Battery

Whether for everyday or emergency use, today's vehicles are loaded with more electronics than would have been imaginable just a few years ago. ODYSSEY batteries have been designed to keep up with the changes. Because their plates are made of pure virgin lead (unlike the lead alloy in most...
www.odysseybattery.com
 
The correct Odyssey battery is what you want. Its still rated what we need and they are super light. I've run them in a couple buggies with great results. Not 100% but the model maybe be PC900. I just spent way too long trying to see which model i used and still don't know. LOL
 
Blase said:
The correct Odyssey battery is what you want.
Click to expand...

This made me laugh. :laughing: Yeah…I know I want the correct one. :homer:

My max load on a battery can’t be that extensive. Worst case scenario would be a hard, long winch pull at night with a light running to see. Still not a lot and probably not a frequent occurrence.
 
FleshEater said:
This made me laugh. :laughing: Yeah…I know I want the correct one. :homer:

My max load on a battery can’t be that extensive. Worst case scenario would be a hard, long winch pull at night with a light running to see. Still not a lot and probably not a frequent occurrence.
Click to expand...
I can look one day this week. I have an old one in m storage shed somewhere that I use for mock up. PC900 is what I remember but I don't see that model listed so my memory is wrong. LOL :lmao:

Odyssey PC925 is what I've used in a couple buggies with very good results. 6.92LBS per the interweb. Kartek sells some VERY nice mounts for them too!
 
Blase said:
I can look one day this week. I have an old one in m storage shed somewhere that I use for mock up. PC900 is what I remember but I don't see that model listed so my memory is wrong. LOL :lmao:

Odyssey PC925 is what I've used in a couple buggies with very good results. 6.92LBS per the interweb. Kartek sells some VERY nice mounts for them too!
Click to expand...

I posted the PC925 and it’s 23.8lbs. What am I missing?
 
I've been running a side-by-side battery for over a year now even sitting for weeks at subfreezing temps it always turns over really good I can get the specs on it in a little bit when I get home

Edit: found my post about it.

The big battery that was in there was 48 lbs and this one is 24.8, so like 1% weight loss :laughing:

Double edit:

It's a Full throttle FT410

 
Last edited:
YotaAtieToo said:
I've been running a side-by-side battery for over a year now even sitting for weeks at subfreezing temps it always turns over really good I can get the specs on it in a little bit when I get home

Edit: found my post about it.

The big battery that was in there was 48 lbs and this one is 24.8, so like 1% weight loss :laughing:

Double edit:

It's a Full throttle FT410

Click to expand...

I think that was the site I was on today and they had a wild list of instructions for maintaining their batteries. So it’s impressive it’s surviving just fine with your neglect. :laughing:

Tonight the Optima battery box got cut off and I’m going to try and return it to Midnight 4x4. If not, sell it cheap here.

But a laundry list of stuff showed up today.
-PSC reservoir
-Coolant overflow tank
-Coolant hoses
-Lug nuts
-Throttle pedal (Joe’s Racing)
-Walbro fuel pump

So I’ll be busy this week. :smokin:

Throttle pedal is comfy.

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Mishimoto overflow tank is decent.

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The battery box.

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FleshEater said:
I posted the PC925 and it’s 23.8lbs. What am I missing?
Click to expand...

Looks like it's the exact same size as my ft410. Mine list a bit higher CCA's (330 vs 410) but the full throttle is made in China :homer:

Tydes has a good point though, regular battery is a lot easier to find and a bit more versatile. Maybe not the best place to save 20 lbs?

I did mine because I had it. Not sure I'd do it again for the same price as a fullsize battery.
 
YotaAtieToo said:
Looks like it's the exact same size as my ft410. Mine list a bit higher CCA's (330 vs 410) but the full throttle is made in China :homer:

Tydes has a good point though, regular battery is a lot easier to find and a bit more versatile. Maybe not the best place to save 20 lbs?

I did mine because I had it. Not sure I'd do it again for the same price as a fullsize battery.
Click to expand...

I mean, the Odyssey lasts about 10 years. I could rig up something strapped down to the floor if need be to make it through a trip, or strap it down to the existing battery box.

Might just leave a little more cable than fully necessary to compensate for that.
 
I think you’re making the right choice and toss a jump pack in your go bag if you wanted the insurance they don’t weigh much at all . I keep a little Gooloo in my truck , didn’t expect much from it coming from using a noco daily but it has surprised me .
 
FleshEater said:
I mean, the Odyssey lasts about 10 years. I could rig up something strapped down to the floor if need be to make it through a trip, or strap it down to the existing battery box.
Click to expand...
I run a PC925 in my buggy, it sits under my driver's seat.
Killed 2 of them in 7 years, but didn't use the maintainer.
Both of them didn't like the ignition being left on and draining completely. They both recovered and worked for another 6ish months, then wouldn't deliver enough to start the car after that.
 
Leadfoot21 said:
I think you’re making the right choice and toss a jump pack in your go bag if you wanted the insurance they don’t weigh much at all . I keep a little Gooloo in my truck , didn’t expect much from it coming from using a noco daily but it has surprised me .
Click to expand...

I mean, I’ve got a manual, so all I need is a push down a hill. :flipoff2:

Byro said:
That loud pedal is ****ing ***s on glass.
Click to expand...

I saw that on a buggy I saw on FBMP for sale and was like, that’s the ticket right there. Due to my exhaust being so close to my floor, I didn’t think a dash bar mounted pedal would work.

Opiebennett said:
I run a PC925 in my buggy, it sits under my driver's seat.
Killed 2 of them in 7 years, but didn't use the maintainer.
Both of them didn't like the ignition being left on and draining completely. They both recovered and worked for another 6ish months, then wouldn't deliver enough to start the car after that.
Click to expand...

Yeah, man, tenders are a must. But again, still impressive with the abuse.
 
Opiebennett said:
I run a PC925 in my buggy, it sits under my driver's seat.
Killed 2 of them in 7 years, but didn't use the maintainer.
Both of them didn't like the ignition being left on and draining completely. They both recovered and worked for another 6ish months, then wouldn't deliver enough to start the car after that.
Click to expand...
I can second that if you drain the PC925 too far down it doesn't recover.
 
This is what I'm talking about, if you want real wieght savings

antigravitybatteries.com

ATX20 Lithium Motorsports Battery

Hi-Power lightweight ATX20-RS lithium motorcycle/powersports battery with RE-START Technology (built-in jump-starting). Replace YTX-20, more. 680 CA.
antigravitybatteries.com antigravitybatteries.com

YTX20 case size: 6.89 x 3.4 x 5.12 inches (LxWxH)
680 Cranking Amps
20 Amp Hours (PbEq)/ 10Ah (Actual)/ 128Wh
3.8 lbs :eek:
 
Mounted my reservoir and coolant overflow tonight. Not really a fan of the coolant tank location. It’s a lot higher than my rad. It will probably be fine, but never seen an OEM set up this out if whack. :laughing:

Working on plumbing the rad now.

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You know those trick tabs can be welded anywhere right? Move that overflow down. Caps even ideally. I think. Or at least I have always done them that way.
 
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