Hey guys, Im new to rails and need some advise. I've been shoping around for a rail and have come across a deal on a 2 seat Chain drive. It currently has a 4.3 V6 with a 6 rib, chain drive, 38" tires and air bags in the rear. Seems like it would be a cool buggy. But if I end up buying it I am seriously considering doing a 5.3 V8 swap. I know the chain drives are supposed to hold mega power but I will be around 285hP. Will the 6 rib and axles live? Will the extra lenght of the chain drive off set the weight or will it be hard to keep the front end down?
Pleas give me your expert opinions.

5.3 v8 no problem.
Wanna know about chaindrives ask Curt, here http://www.rail-buggy.com/forum.php

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A good friend will bail you out of jail. A best friend will be sitting next to you saying: "Damn that was fun!"



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A5wGMaUMXUQ

A 091 or six rib as they are commonly know will handle about 300 horse with a super diff. the weak link with the chain drive will be the 091 side gear with the torque multiplying effect of chain and sprocket. You can be just like the rest of us running on the edge of killing a transaxle. You can always undersize your clutch pressure plate and disk to build in a slip before you hear an expensive bang.

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Water Cooled Consortium, Chairman of the Build (Former AC purist)

whats ur local?? iis that buggy red? run on propane? i know of a chain drive floating around with the same motor, trans and tires...

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LEGALIZE BLUEGRASS!!!

Save a tree... eat a Beaver

I am in Glasgow Ky. This one is not on propane, orange and silver, and was built by the current owner.

Sorry to get off topic. My dad lives in BG. Was wandering were you guys ride.? Pops getting up ther in age would like to take him riding somewhere close to you. Thanx and if I were you I would take massive advice and get with curt. You said built by owner. More to this shit then just pretty welds. It takes a lot of trial and error to find what works and lasts. Take that thing out and trail test it hard.

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LET ER EAT !!! If you aint first, your LAST.!!.

Thanks for the advice, This chain drive was built around 6 years ago, but i will test it out pretty hard before I lay down any $$$. As far as where to ride, I am new to buggys, but have been on ATVs for years. The closest is in Camner Ky in Hart Co. A place called Fanchers. LMK if you come down and I can get you an address. It is 350 acres on Green river. Kinda small but lots of hills.
There is also Picket forest in Monicello (Wayne Co.) it is huge, better find a map on the net before you go. We rode 43 miles in 7 hrs there and only covered about 25%.
Also Turkey Bay OHV at land between the lake. It is a public park and not too far from BG.
http://www.lbl.org/OHV.html
There is also a place I just found out about called Gregory Lake in Morgantown Ky(very close to BG). Some buddys went on RZRs there last Sunday and said it was great. But I called them and they said they don't allow Rail buggys....I asked why and the lady said she didn't know. ATVs, dirt bikes, and sxs only. I told her that rails are not all that different from Rzrs and etc and she said she would talk to the owner and see if he would allow them and call me back. I hope they change their mind, Id love to have another place close to ride when I buy a rail. I think alot of it is there are very few rails around here. RZRs are way more popular. I just don't want one compared to the rails I have seen.

This is what I like to see .A feller giving advise about something he knows NOTHING about

285 HP from a v8 ? you can get that out of a sick ass 6 banger with all the weight.Put you a turbo on that 4.3 and it will blow your mind.

Can't even compare a LS-5.3 to a 4.3 turbo and the 5.3 is really light and will out last that 4.3 by years ...WHEN THEY ARE BOTH STOCK but do what ever works for you the 4.3 runs ok too

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get you some

The chaindrive takes away the load on the trans a 6 rib will hold up good and rock knows his chaindrive stuff I would listen to him

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