harpua

I was given this little hatch after it had been stripped and almost ran in a demolition derby. I need help with figuring out how to wire this thing the easiest way possible. Bare minimum, only the essentials to make it run. I think i understand most of what i need to do, but i need make sure i'm not missing something. Everything has been stripped out of it including wiring. I know i have to provide power to the coil, the fan, the fuel pump and the starter solenoid. here are some questions i have. Feel free to add anything you think my be useful in making this work. * Can i just run a hot wire to the + side of the coil and ground the negative side to the block as well as connecting the distributor to the coil? I will be putting a switch on the hot wire from the battery to the coil so i can cut power as needed. * I just need to provide power to the starter solenoid through a momentary switch to make it turn over right? * What do i need to do to get the alternator to work? I haven't even looked at it really to figure it out. I am going to go look at that next. i have the fuel pump and fan figured out. I can't think of anything i missed, but i am sure there is something. I am running low on time, I have to get this running by tomorrow, so any help is appreciated. Thanks in advance.

I think the new axial is going to very capable and pretty affordable for a motor on axle rig. I can't wait to get one I am doing pretty good. I deal with more pain than i thought i would, but i still can get out and play as hard as anyone...almost. How about you? life good?

I don't have many pics of mine, but here is a vid It is based on a HPI Wheely King. Lot's of custom work done to it. This thing does awesome. By far the funnest toy i have owned. Next on the list of mods is to re-do the weights in the tires and to redesign the motor placement in relation to the tranny and make a new chassis. Everything is way to tall right now. I also just got my boy a mini Losi crawler. Maybe we will go get some pics today of the both of them. Anyone excited about the new Axial? I think that thing is amazing http://www.axialracing.com/ftp/xr10/new/main.html

Thanks for the replies. I have been busy for the last couple of days, and finally got to tinker on the RX. I changed the filter. The old one drained out some pretty nasty, rusty looking fuel. I know the tank is pushing clean fuel into the fuel pump as i checked that when swapping in the new fuel pump. I went for a drive with the new filter and had the same result. Runs great before it warms up, but when it gets to running temp, she starts having issues. The new filter helps it run just a bit better. Didn't fix the problem. So what other ideas do you kids have? It isn't a clogged cat because i gutted that thing long ago. What tells the fuel pump how much fuel to pump and when to pump it? The ECU? I get the hunch that whatever controls the fuel pump is at fault somehow.

So here is a recent back story of what the RX has been through. About 2 years ago i was letting my little sister use my car to get around. She dodged a dog and ended up ripping the front passenger wheel off and breaking a few bits. I finally got around to fixing it up these last few weeks. Got the wheel/brake/axle issues sorted out and went to fire her up.....nothing. She would turn over fine and dandy, but no fire. I couldn't hear my fuel pump coming on, so i pulled it and found out it was dead. Got a new one installed and it fired up pretty quick. I took it out for a quick drive and it did fine(1 mile). The next day i drove it to town and filled up the gas(2 miles). I drove it around town and then picked up my buddy(2 miles). Drove up the canyon a bit (2 miles) and she started acting up. The first thing i noticed was the fuel pump making a whirring noise that would speed up and slow down a bit at idle. When trying to accelerate, the car would give out and start bucking at between 2500 and 3500 rpm. I could shift up and get power back if i did it just right, but speed would max out at about 40 mph using all my gears (yea, i had to limp it home) :note: car ran good for 7 miles warmed up before issue. I figured i got a junk fuel pump and brought it back to the parts house in exchange for another fuel pump. Put in the new pump. drove it for roughly 5 miles after i warmed it up only to get the same result. Anyone got a suggestion?

I own a copy of that footage. They were there for sure. I think i have the ability to copy it if it is ok with Zap.

Actually no...I have thought of that derby every single day since i drove in it. Now along with subie radar, i have a full size jeep radar going too. I have started learning everything there is to know about the big jeeps, and i think it has come to a point of obsession that is not healthy...but thats what boys do for fun right? I just can't wait to do it again. Change the things that didn't work well, use the strategies that presented themselves during the derby. I honestly don't know why demo derby isn't illegal yet...it is just that much fun. Someday i want to derby a Yota...i wonder if they would let such a little truck in with the full size guys. I know that one would do well...very well.

here is a low quality vid of most of the derby

Well, my classic is dead now... see thread http://www.ultimatesubaru.org/forum/showthread.php?p=659113#post659113 But don't worry, i have my eye on another Heep for next year

This is a cross post from a Jeep message board i found. It is the story about my latest demo derby. Enjoy... How is everyone. I am new to your board, but have been lurking for quite some time. I figured some of you may enjoy a story about my Jeep, so here i am to share. A little more than a year ago i found a 1972 j-4000 that was being given away on our local radio station. When i called on the jeep, there were already others in line for it, so i offered $50 to get in the front of the line, and came out with the truck. She didn't run very well, so i stored it for the winter and as soon as spring came, i jumped into making her run and drive. The fuel lines were shot, and there were some electrical issues that i took care of. I am into demolition derby, so to take care of the fuel issues, i just put in my demo derby gas tank and lines...did most of the electrical like I would for a demo derby car, and went out tromping through the woods. That little truck did great all spring and summer, keeping up with anything i could throw at it. Eventually with all the use i was giving her, the old carb came apart and ended up lighting the top of the motor on fire. With the help of some snow and dirt, i was able to save the truck from major damage. She sat for a month or so before i got motivated enough to get her running again....motivation came in the form of a truck demo derby. Now before you start freaking out you have to understand that i had basically nothing invested in this truck, and i didn't want to deal with the hassle of getting a title for it. (previous owner lost the title and didn't want to help getting a new one...i would have had to file for a title like the junkyard does...too much headache) So with a new carb, and all new rubber and wire under the hood, the little jeep was alive and running better than ever. I took her up to the spot where she had started on fire...and then 50 feet past that spot just to prove to the truck that it wasn't it's fault. After that little confidence booster, i started cutting and welding, setting the jeep up for the demo derby. It was a very easy build because there is basically nothing on those trucks to begin with. I was required to weld the bed to the cab, and i loved how the truck drove after doing such....it also took away 80% of the squeeks and rattles in the truck. We had to take out the front driveline to make the trucks rear wheel drive only. Also we had to put in a bar in the bed of the truck right against the cab for safety. The jeep did great in the derby. I took 2nd out of 12 trucks. I ended up breaking my steering wheel off with my bare hands at the end of the derby. I had a motor mount break which allowed my whole drivetrain to move back and to the left (drivers side), pulling my homemade shifter through the floor, and pulling my ground battery cable off of the battery. The passenger side framerail looked more like a snake than frame at the end of the derby. Also, the front leaf mount on the passenger side ended up turned 90 degrees with the leaf still attached, and unbroken. The steering box took a few strong hits, but it held in place...the front frame crossmember (right behind the bumper) bent around the steering box. I was really worried about how far forward the steering box was to begin with, but she held up. Well if you guys don't crusify me, feel free to ask questions and such. Here are some random pics of the jeep, and even a little video clip of a FSJ handing out some punishment. http://s132.photobucket.com/albums/q...t=derby060.flv

When did all the freaks from wyoming come out of the woodwork? Other than a couple way out east, i thought i was the only one...effin californians moving into my secret hide away.. :shotgun: :ammo: I have a '72 Jeep J-4000 (old school commanche...i.e. truck) that i wheel. I lit her on fire earlier this year, but it was just a gas fire on top of the motor. I stripped everything and set it up like one of my derby cars...which has led to me finding a truck demo derby that i will be driving it in. I know it is sad to kill a classic, but i don't really care. This derby will be a blast, and with any luck, i will be bringing her home after all is said and done, and i will still take her up into the woods. You got to love fully boxed frames for tuff factor. I also have a '79 Blazer that needs a motor. This truck will become my full time wheeler after the jeep. The blazer is way more comfortable than the jeep to drive. I want to find a big block power house for it, but i may have to settle with a chevy 350. hell...maybe i'll drop that amc 360 from the jeep into it...lol We need to get a Wyoming meet going on. Maybe go do some wheeling if you guys can get your rigs here. subynut...wyoming sucks...no one lives here, and the women out here have more chest hair than you ever thought possible. move here at your own risk. j/k man, come on out...bring your parka and snow shovel.

Hey zap, hows it going. My feet handled the derby pretty good, but the build is what hurt them. Way too many hours up on them leaning over a car made them scream in pain. Small price to pay i guess...or something like that.

Alright, here is your update... I painted my car flat black the morning of the derby in between rain storms. Tied up most of the loose ends that i had (yes, i forgot a couple of things) and transported my car to the fair grounds for the derby. I passed the inspection without too much hassle, and enjoyed the eye of the storm right before the derby for about an hour. The things i forgot to do were...i forgot to pick up a belt for my alternator, and forgot to fill the rea end with gear oil. Neither thing was a super big deal, just made it so i needed to charge my battery in between heats. There was still some gear oil in the rear end...enough to keep things lubed. Anyway, the derby started up and the first heat was an endurance run. The above mentioned rain and the cars mixing up the dirt turned the arena into a 6 to 8 inch deep mud soup pit. People were having issues with traction/speed/stopping, so the hits were weak. Everyone ended up lasting forever, and their wasn't a whole lot of nasty damage to their cars. Second heat was my heat. The moment i have been waiting for. I drove in and squared up against a late 60s buick (not a very strong car) As they started the heat, i thought to myself..."i'm not going to hit this guy hard, i'll save the mean hits for later" which was a mistake because with thinking this, i didn't jump off the line, just took my time. As this was going on, i saw the buick start to move...but he was going the wrong way. He had missed his gear, and started driving into the barrier instead of towards me. Had i jumped on him, i would have been able to push him out of the arena, putting him out of the derby. This was the worst possible thing to have happen to me, because i got mad at myself for missing a prime opportunity. I decided to not miss any more, and let loose. I ended up having better traction than most, so i used every bit of it. i started following people as they would get close to the barriers, then hammering down as they started to stop. Using their poor traction to their disadvantage, and pushing them out of the areana. This worked perfect to put out 3 other cars, but they let one of them back in for some reason. The action slowed down a bit towards the end of the heat until one of my buddies and i started ganging up on the others. It came down to the point of it being me, my buddy, and 2 other cars. We would take turns pinning them in, and holding them while the other made a strong hit on them. At this point, i kind of came out of my derby rage and realized that i was about to move on to the winners heat. This would be only my second time in the winners heat so far in my derby career. My friend and i made quick work of the last car so that only 3 of us were running...ending the heat. I drove up to my buddy and gave him the thumbs up, then motioned to spin some cookies. It was pretty cool, my buddy and I slinging mud over the field that we had just dominated...crowd going crazy, all on top of an excellent adrenaline high. Oh so sweet. My car was hardly damaged. The trunk was packng in just fine, and the front was bending up in the right spots. Things were going as expected. In the winners heat, i ended up stacked up against some fine cars. There were 12 cars in this heat (3 from each heat, and 3 from the loosers heat) Out of those 12 cars, 5 of them had once been owned by my older brother (he is way into this sport and had brought those cars into the valley from all over) The competition was steep to say the least. I ended up using my car alot more than the others. Ended up being by far the most agressive. I was able to push one more car out of the areana, and made some neck stretching full arean hits. My car started having some issues shifting between forward and reverse, and the motor started having issues making higher revs. Heat would end up killing me. I was able to stay in and make 5th place for the second year in a row. But i took out alot more people this year. Last minutes of the derby, the announcer piped up and told everyone that some local businesses had chipped in to double to pot for the winners. Instead of 900 for 1st, they would get $1,800. Not bad money for a stupid redneck race. Maybe i can get a peice of that next derby. My car is still in pretty good shape. I may be running it again this coming tuesday...but if not, i will run it the first part of september. Can't wait for that, it's going to be a blast. Oh yea...i am sore....very sore.

So i was able to get the motor swapped in and running by noon today. I welded about 3 miles, and got a bunch of other small things done. Have you ever been so tired that you couldn't feel your arms or legs? thats how i feel right now. I have a small list of things that i need to do in the morning, but they are pretty simple and will be over with quick. I should have no problem being ready for the 5 pm deadline...without cutting corners. Hondasucks...a car will run an entire heat in a derby without a radiator without too much trouble. Plus i bring spare radiators so i can swap them out in between heats if needed. Don't get me wrong, i will use the back of my car...just as much as the front. This is just the system that we have found to work the best...so we run with it. And unfortunatly, they won't let us move our radiators at all. I guess the crowd loves to see them pop and steam. Oh...my tractor exhaust went away with the other motor...now i have a full set of pipes coming straight up and out of the hood. This car is looking mighty mean now. More pics will be coming later on. Wish me luck...derby is at 7:00 tomorrow. Hopefully all of my hard work pay off....

So tonight sucked in a major way... I was doing the final touches on the motor, like organizing cables and hoses and making the car run smooth. I got all done and started her up. I reved it up to see how she was running, reved again, and BOOM!!! chunks of the block went flying out of the engine bay...belts jumped off of their tracks...car dies quickly. I don't know exactly what happened in the motor, but i do know that the crank is now in two peices, and there are golf ball size holes in the block..and a smaller hole in the oil pan. So i threw in the rag and went off to a friends house to drink beer. After a couple beers i calmed down and started to realize that i could still make the derby if i stopped crying about it. So i went back and yanked the motor out of the car while my brother went off to pick up another one of my derby cars that has an Olds 350 in it. I won't have the same power as before with the Pontiac 400, but it will still move my car in a fast manner. Tomorrow, i have to pull the Olds motor, and put it in the Pontiac. Still have lots of welding to do, and paint. Should be interesting to say the least... I hate the derby gremlin...he bit my rump roast hard this year. *goes to bed grumbling*