can I make a RWD Honda dune-buggy?
 

I was thinking how awesome it would be to have one of those dune buggies or sandrail buggies with a Honda engine mounted in the rear. These can be made street legal in most states, and they're tons of fun because they weigh hardly anything. By being in the open air and all, it's like driving a four-wheel motorcycle. For those of you guys who actually know Honda tech really well, what would be some of the obstacles to this? Here are some possible conflicts I've thought of so far:

1) Shift linkage/change rod needs to be turned around the other direction, in order for the drive wheels to still turn the correct direction.

2) Drive axles (transaxle?) need to be adapted for rear wheels.

3) Accessory components need to be retained, such as battery, alternator, ECU, and fuel system. (power steering, A/C, power brakes would all be eliminated)

Any help on the technical aspects of this project would be greatly appreciated!

Re:can I make a RWD Honda dune-buggy?
 

try doing a search seems like i remember seeing some sorta sand rail some were that was running a b16.

Beau

Re:can I make a RWD Honda dune-buggy?
 

http://www.funco-motorsports.com/images/Honda_motor.jpg 400 hp 3.5L honda odyssey in a sandrail

Re:can I make a RWD Honda dune-buggy?
 

Okay so that looks real nice and purty but it doesn't look like the kind of hack-job I am used to at HMT. I don't want a refined beast like that... I was thinking more like a B18B turbo or something. But for what it's worth, I can see they used the FWD engine and tranny and installed it at a 90-degree rotation. Those axles look like they're pushed wayyyy forward from the rear wheels.

Re:can I make a RWD Honda dune-buggy?
 

Turbo would be the only way I would do that.With a stock one you would run into trouble couse of the low torque.The sand would kill it.That would be awsome.Post picts after your done.

Re:can I make a RWD Honda dune-buggy?
 

The shift linkage would be the only problem I could see. I'm sure something could be rigged up. A N/A Honda would get eaten alive in the sand. It would be sad. :'(
__________________
Best Car Insurance | Auto Protection Today | FREE Trade-In Quote

Re:can I make a RWD Honda dune-buggy?
 

I saw a b16 rail car when i lived in california it was pretty damn fast he never took it in the sand though he rode it in the altamont hills

Re:can I make a RWD Honda dune-buggy?
 

everybody's a critic

Re:can I make a RWD Honda dune-buggy?
 

a friend of mine wants to build a dune buggy using my old d15b2. I don't think he understands how much it's going to cost and how much work it's going to be, but we'll try anyways.

Re:can I make a RWD Honda dune-buggy?
 

me and a friend were thinking about it too. as lon as you have an engine, ecu, wiring harness, battery and a lot of welding. the rest, such as bearings, steering, wheels, etc. would be fairly simple, i think it wouldn't be that tough or expensive, just very time consuming to get it all worked out. you would have to build a custom frame, you won't just be able to throw it on your "go kart" frame.

Re:can I make a RWD Honda dune-buggy?
 

[url] https://www.homemadeturbo.com/forum/...threadid=13509

you stole my idea
j/k

Re:can I make a RWD Honda dune-buggy?
 

I don't actually want to make one for the sand, I want to make one so that I have a rear-engine toy for the street. That's why I wouldn't need much more than 200 HP to really have fun. And when it comes to building a custom frame... I was afraid that'd be the case. I was hoping to find an old sandrail frame with VW engine in it and do an extensive swap. I'm not doing this anytime soon, I was just curious...

Re:can I make a RWD Honda dune-buggy?
 

This is how they do it. You get the complete longblock put in and there's an offroad place that makes adapters to adapt a vw tranny to bolt up. My boss has a Toyota dual cam motor in his. With the adapter plate and a vw tranny. I could see of any other way of getting done easier.

Transmission adaptors:
http://www.pnc.com.au/~bill/Transmission.html

Re:can I make a RWD Honda dune-buggy?
 

stealthmode is the only one on the right track. use an early type-1 vw tranny and get an adapter plate. the onltproblem you will encounter by using the vw tranny is that the hondas crank is rotating the opposite direction of the vw. whatr i would do is build a complete rail but turn the vw tranny around so its sitting mid-engine. now your running the right diretion and you will have better handling because the weight will be centered more. I know from experience that a mid engine rail will perform better than a rear engine rail. I own a rear-engine vw powered rail making 200hp at the wheels, and my uncle has the same setup in a mid-engine rail and his handles soooooo much better than mine, plus mine wheelies to damn much. you can solve the problem by having a longer rail but then your rail become cumbersome.

Re:can I make a RWD Honda dune-buggy?
 

the hond motor turns the wrong way for the VW tranny and adapter plate, the only feasable way to do it is mount it mid engine style and leave everything like it was in a honda car except adapt the axles/hubs for RWD. then use an intricate shift linkage and a vw a-arm front end.