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Going Solo - an X3 to race

The radiator mounts to the cage, right? First few pictures threw me off with it sitting on the bed

The lower chassis. Not the cage I set on. It’s in a cradle and is bolted to 2 brackets welded on the lower chassis. You can remove the upper cage and leave the rad in place, I did that last night actually.
 
See them here
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?
 
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Electric is 95% done.

siren
radio
intercom
rad fan
pumper

-all working.

one tree kickers is done
all the front plastic is on

time to move to the back
 
Got help pulling the back apart!
 
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Adding gussets to the trailing arms. I might add more. 1” angle to the bottom maybe or 1/8th strips. Not sure. The arms seem weak to me after having them off.
 
I’m getting close and just starting to get excited. My welds are way better than when I started. I’ve learned new skills and used little tapped knowledge I have. I would have done a better job in a number of places if I had to do it again. If it can’t keep up or has faults they are on me, just the way I like it.
 
Well the radiator is plumbed in. The kit from No limit was awesome and easy.

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I welded gussets on the rear frame portions that needed some help.

the spare tire carrier is on so from this point on it’s all bolt and go.

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I started putting the trailing arms on. After 20 minutes of frustration I realized I had the right on the left and that’s why the hub wouldn’t bolt up... after I wasted that time I got one side on.

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I greased the hubs and never seized the axle splines.

im hoping all the weight is on the wheels tomorrow night.

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So the rear suspension is all assembled. I grease the hubs, never seized the axle splines, and installed the Factory UTV Skids.

The trailing arm UHMW was formed perfectly but I welded gussets over the mounting points. I had to drill new holes, tap the arms in 3 places and run 1/4 20 bolts in. I hate it when different sized or head bolts are used. I had to do it because, like with all projects, its what I have here on hand. I might switch the philips heads out for hex, its going to bother me.

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It is now back on its wheels but I have the wrong lug nuts. I need specialty UTV lug nuts from wheel pros I guess. hand tight will work for sitting still, but its not driveable.

My next challenge is the intake. I'll share that later and try to figure it out.
 
Parts Counter goodies!!! Nice.

Baja Designs 30” Rear Light Bar!


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I took this pics because I was in the process of trying to figure out how to handle this. The read radiator mounts interfere with factory intake/ clutch cooling system. This box with the screen in it has 3 holes, 1 engine intake and 2 clutch circulating vents. As you can see I cannot put the radiator on and run the factory box.

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This is the factory box cover. Its huge and goes over the screened box in the above.
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another pic showing the issues. Rad sits in the cradle on the right.
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I once again asked the wife her opinion on the matter and she once again told me to call NoLimit R&D for advice. After a 14 second phone call I had my answer. they have really been good to me. If I got to KOH, they are building the car. Throw the huge top piece away and trim the bottom plastic. I was done and its ready to run in 5 min.
 
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I put the rear plastics back on to get a more factory look and it went on just fine. Then I added a number plate.

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I searched the shop for the rear tail lights for about 15 minuets. I was getting frusterated that I had thrown them out on accident or who knows. I started getting concerned so I decided to methodically go around the garage to inspect all my piles. Nothing. So I turned my attention to the exhaust only to notice the tail lights were bolted to the bed...:lmao:

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They go here,
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After some fiddling around I got them in and secured the lines.
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I the dremel became unplugged while I was running it. I set it on a tire, went to plug it back into the extension cord and it falls off the tire. Well smart me 2 IPA's in, plugs it back in. It was apparently laying on the cord I was plugging it into, all the way up.. I got lucky.

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I set all the panels on to take a look. they will all be oversprayed satin black later today.

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And here is whats left.

Drill the Dzus holes in the doors and paint.
mount the intercom and finish wiring it, I ran the wires and left them long when it had no plastic.
Mount the radio antenna
Simple stuff.

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Looking great! All these gold cart builds are making me want one.

I sometimes wonder if anyone looks at this thread.... no shit :grinpimp:

I am adding some text to the pics now.
 
I’m watching, don’t have much to add most times but I’m loving the progress. I don’t exactly have buyers remorse but sometimes I think I picked the wrong car to start with. Now I’m waiting to see how quickly you take on damage from racing. Every time I drive mine I have to come home and spend $1,000 bucks to fix it. Those thousands have added up to well over the cost difference between Polaris and a CanAm when I was making my decision.
 
I’m watching, don’t have much to add most times but I’m loving the progress. I don’t exactly have buyers remorse but sometimes I think I picked the wrong car to start with. Now I’m waiting to see how quickly you take on damage from racing. Every time I drive mine I have to come home and spend $1,000 bucks to fix it. Those thousands have added up to well over the cost difference between Polaris and a CanAm when I was making my decision.

I will keep it updated. $1000 a race is a lot for a sxs.

You should know I am in a similar boat as you. I am into this somewhere around $50,000+ , at $43,xxx, I decided I didn't care anyway so I stopped tracking. I could have bought the S3 'Balboa' full chassis race x3 for $40,000. Race prepped, only ran KOH once. 2019 Can-Am Maverick X3 X rc, "Balboa", S3 Racing / KOH - S3 Power Sports Its the one of the owners cars.

I could have had it, ran KOH this year, and by now be fully comfortable in a chassis car and had my touches on it. I am proud I built mine, but was it a good idea/financial move?
 
Car looks badass ! Keep plugging away, the end is near !
 
Done.

I’m excited. It’s not professional fabrication level but I’m not a fabricator. I had about a thousand what the hell, I’ll never make this drive again moments. It feels good now I just need to put some miles on.

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Glad to see it outside and you enjoying it ! :smokin:

Since this is such a nice build, get a proper Y strap for this spare, it looks all jankedy with the green 1" units :flipoff2:
 
Glad to see it outside and you enjoying it ! :smokin:

Since this is such a nice build, get a proper Y strap for this spare, it looks all jankedy with the green 1" units :flipoff2:

They are driving me nuts. I had red and green and used those to get the weight correct for testing. I also hate them!
 
I’ve done light riding but today is test n tune day number 1. Co dog is here at 10am to run a few sessions on my property. I’m hoping to get 30 miles in, hit left and right hot corners to feel how it reacts to breaking loose, and record my higher speed rough terrain runs so I can watch the tires later to see how the fox tune is working and what needs to be adjusted.
 
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