Mud racing:

[The_Sandman_454]

I haven't had any experience mud racing... I was wondering if anyone has some tips, and also, what kind of setups are usually considered "stock" class, and what ones I'd have to compete against some 800hp alcohol burning beast... [img]/wwwthreads_images/icons/crazy.gif[/img]

Tim
"The_Sandman_454"
[img]/wwwthreads_images/icons/cool.gif[/img] '79 Suburban 4x4 454, 6" lift, 35x12.5s & '85 GMC S15 4x4

[DRM]

I woulde LOVE to race mine at least once, maybe drop on some 33" swampers and race in some sort of stock or 4 popper class...

TEX? any thoughts?

<a href="http://www.tennessee4x4.com/toyota">

<font color=purple>Rules vary all over the place. What I've found is that typically the "bog" style events will be more concerned with tire sizes & the "drag" style events concentrate the rules more on motor mods. Most "bog" events that I've found do not have a dedicated 4&6 cylinder class, but some do. Most of the "drag" events DO have a 4&6 class. At my races, I handicap the V-8's by making them pull a minimum vacuum reading in my lowest "Drag" and "bog" class. For small motors & stock V-8's it's really important to have a tire you can turn - especially in the deeper mud. That generally rules out any kind of Bogger & the wider TSL's. Things like 32x9.50's, 34X9.50's, 33X12.50's work real well - as well as the P78 Buckshots. The vast majority of "bog" style events I've found will have either a 33" or 35" class as the lowest class. Normally, you have to run mufflers, gas only, max of one carb or factory injection, no NOS, & may be required to provide proof of registration. Depending on how lax the rest of the rules are, you could end up racing against some pretty hot competition. At our MMOR (Mid-Missouri Off-Roaders) events, we've had folks place in the top 4 with both 4 and 6 cylinder engines in the 33" class - even with as many as 45 entries in that class. To the best of my knowledge however, the winners have always had V-8's. At the two G.U.M.B.O. events I did last summer, the winner of the 35" class at the first event was a stock 4.0 Wrangler with 50% tread on his 34X9.50's. A guy with a 350 & 35" Boggers won that class at the second race, but he barely squeaked by on the 17" vacuum rule. This year, we upped it to 19" for V-8's & V-10's.

David, you might want to try the Indianapolis Jamboree Nationals the final weekend of September. That's not too awful far for you & their class I is a dedicated 4&6 cylinder class. Expect to see over 4,000 show trucks there & a TON of mud racers of all levels. There's no prize money in your class - just trophies for 1st through 5th.

Sandman, you might want to also look for a Jamboree in your area. Not sure what part of MI you're in, but I know there's an Upper Peninsula Mud Drag Association (there's a link to it on my page under the "sanctioning bodies" link). Can't remember any of their rules off-hand, but you might want to check out the link. If you tell me what class you want to run & what the rules are, I might be able to give you some helpful tips! </font color=purple>

TEX

[img]/wwwthreads_images/icons/wink.gif[/img] Got Mud?
G.U.M.B.O. Mud Racing

[The_Sandman_454]

<blockquote><font size=1>In reply to:</font><hr>

The vehicle must have complete O.E.M. body in appearance

<hr></blockquote>

What's that mean, TEX? Does that mean, I can't have any fender trimming to get some bigger tires under there without a lift bigger than 6 or 8"?

Tim
"The_Sandman_454"
[img]/wwwthreads_images/icons/cool.gif[/img] '79 Suburban 4x4 454, 6" lift, 35x12.5s & '85 GMC S15 4x4

<font color=purple>That's an interpretation that could change from tech inspector to tech inspector. My strict interpretation of that would be no trimming - or at the very least, no cutting of the bed/floor/etc. But, it could just mean that any fiberglass replacement parts must retain O.E.M. dimensions (meaning, no "floppy" front clips). I'd try to get in touch with someone in the group for a more specific answer.</font color=purple>

TEX

[img]/wwwthreads_images/icons/wink.gif[/img] Got Mud?
G.U.M.B.O. Mud Racing

<font color=purple>So Sandman, what are you planning to race? The 'burb, or the S truck?</font color=purple>

TEX

[img]/wwwthreads_images/icons/wink.gif[/img] Got Mud?
G.U.M.B.O. Mud Racing

[The_Sandman_454]

I'm not sure... I'd have to say the 'burban, because it's got a little more power than the tiny 2.8L in the S truck (before the massive swaps in the S truck begin hopefully sometime soon), and to run bigger tires on the S truck, i'd have to get it geared, and the front end is quite weak, from what I've been hearing, so I'd probably end up breaking it... I actually don't remember how much manifold vacuum it has at idle... I think it's right around 15", but I can't remember for sure... [img]/wwwthreads_images/icons/crazy.gif[/img] Before it races anywhere, it's still going to need tranny work, I haven't had a chance (or the spare cash) to take it out and get it rebuilt... Which truck would you race if you had my two choices, TEX? [img]/wwwthreads_images/icons/crazy.gif[/img]

Tim
"The_Sandman_454"
[img]/wwwthreads_images/icons/cool.gif[/img] '79 Suburban 4x4 454, 6" lift, 35x12.5s & '85 GMC S15 4x4

<font color=purple>Well, unless they had a dedicated 4&6 cylinder class that ran on pretty darn shallow mud, my vote would have to go to the 'burb.</font color=purple>

TEX

[img]/wwwthreads_images/icons/wink.gif[/img] Got Mud?
G.U.M.B.O. Mud Racing

I have raced my 86 toy here in FL before. What a blast! I have done both drags and bogs. The drags seem to be more sand and water than mud, and it is simple to get through. The bogs are MUD! I have never made it through the ones around here. if you are thinking of running it DRM keep the 35's on and forget the crawl ratio!! And bring waders.



Dave
86 w/33's
Stuck? I aint stuck!

[The_Sandman_454]

I kind of figured the 454 powered beast would be the more likely one... [img]/wwwthreads_images/icons/wink.gif[/img] [img]/wwwthreads_images/icons/crazy.gif[/img] The gearing is way too high (numerically low) in the 'burban now with the 35's... It'll go quite a bit over 100mph, only tried it once, just like most people do when they get a vehicle that's new to them, just to see what she'd do... [img]/wwwthreads_images/icons/crazy.gif[/img] I'm definitely going to need to change gearing in the diffs... When the time arrives to get either a set of Swampers, Boggers, or a mix of both, I'm going to want something in the 40" or so size area... The 14 bolt FF in the rear hangs down a bit so that I don't get as much ground clearance with the 35's that other axles get, and that gets a bit important for me sometimes... Hmmmm, what would make good gears for tires that size (keep in mind it'll still have the TH350 and N203 t-case)? How about lockers? [img]/wwwthreads_images/icons/crazy.gif[/img]

Tim
"The_Sandman_454"
[img]/wwwthreads_images/icons/cool.gif[/img] '79 Suburban 4x4 454, 6" lift, 35x12.5s & '85 GMC S15 4x4