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Tue Sep 23, 2003 5:36 am

So, I was wondering; How well does a sand rail do at 70mph? I've seen people drag the hell outa them on the strip, but on the highway, will the things do a Corvair imitation?

Thu Oct 16, 2003 11:13 pm

70 on the highway you say? Sure, just depends on what kind of a setup you are talking about. This summer My Dad and I flew down to Miami Florida (we live in Soldotna Alaska) and drove a street legal long travel sand rail back up. (yes the sandrail, we did not pull it - it was driven all 7000 miles) Took us about 8 days driving time, and that was moteling it the whole way - and a few "offroad shortcuts" through canada. It cruised right along with stock bus (091 5 rib) gearing and 33" boggers. At about 110 the front end started getting way too light and I haven't had it higher than that on the highway...

After dialing the carbs in a little better - still far from perfect, I got a 0-90 mph time in about 11.8 sec. That's pretty good considering it's stock gearing and tall tires.

Go to - http://www.dune-buggy.com/gallery/ and click on "Florida to Alaska in a Sandrail in 8 days..." and it gives some information about the rail and a pic.

The rail handled like a sports car the whole way, never had a problem besides some toe in/out that we adjusted on the way. If you set everything up right, a buggy will make an awesome town cruiser.

-chris-

Wed Oct 22, 2003 5:21 pm

Crap, sorry it took me so long to check this post again.

Neat story, man, 7K miles crazy! I'll check out that site too, thanks!

Thu Dec 04, 2003 9:00 pm

70 is not bad in a rail i rode a bike so it about the samething its a bit more stable then a bike my rail will do it im sure and its a single seater 8)

Sun May 21, 2006 6:12 pm

You guys see this one. 110mph in a rail on the highway. Hmmmm :-k

Sun May 21, 2006 7:30 pm

rubbermunkey wrote: 70 on the highway you say? Sure, just depends on what kind of a setup you are talking about. This summer My Dad and I flew down to Miami Florida (we live in Soldotna Alaska) and drove a street legal long travel sand rail back up. (yes the sandrail, we did not pull it - it was driven all 7000 miles) Took us about 8 days driving time, and that was moteling it the whole way - and a few "offroad shortcuts" through canada. It cruised right along with stock bus (091 5 rib) gearing and 33" boggers. At about 110 the front end started getting way too light and I haven't had it higher than that on the highway...

After dialing the carbs in a little better - still far from perfect, I got a 0-90 mph time in about 11.8 sec. That's pretty good considering it's stock gearing and tall tires.

Go to - http://www.dune-buggy.com/gallery/ and click on "Florida to Alaska in a Sandrail in 8 days..." and it gives some information about the rail and a pic.

The rail handled like a sports car the whole way, never had a problem besides some toe in/out that we adjusted on the way. If you set everything up right, a buggy will make an awesome town cruiser.

-chris-
8 days from florida to alaska! wow you must have been going fast! it takes almost 2 days just from seattle to anchorage. thats where i was born. how did the alkan hwy. treat ya?
do you have any pics from the rear i dont know if i have ever seen 7x7 trailing arms. it didnt look that wide from the front it might be just the pic.
how long are your axles? and rear shocks? you should get WAY more then 18" with 7x7 i am getting almost 14" real travel! in the rear and i only have 3x3. with 14" fox coilovers. i would get way more if i had extreme axles, or like gear one 934cv's but i am poor :cry:

Sun May 21, 2006 8:25 pm

dkdemon wrote: 70 is not bad in a rail i rode a bike so it about the samething its a bit more stable then a bike my rail will do it im sure and its a single seater 8)
I dunno, he did say it was a long travel setup and that it must have been worth driving all the way home. I'm guessing it might have been a high dollar car.
I was at a car show yesterday and saw two Sand Cars Unlimited rails with turbo charged Honda V6s, Medeola gear boxes, loooong travel suspension and the works. They were the nicest rails I have ever seen. I bet those cars whould have no problem doing 110 with street tires.

Sun May 21, 2006 8:44 pm

I thought maybe, but he says "it cruised right along with stock bus (091 5 rib) gearing and 33" boggers. At about 110 the front end started getting way too light and I haven't had it higher than that on the highway..." Soooo, I don't doubt a rail could go that fast just the distance,time and speed gets me.

Sun May 21, 2006 8:46 pm

I have done 90 with out even getting into it on the freeway but it is harry with the off road tires.

Sun May 21, 2006 8:49 pm

Ya, but 110 is actually a whole different ball game compared to 90.

SHMO

Sun May 21, 2006 9:11 pm

Or like running on unleaded versus nitromethane. Oh wait, I hear they are almost the same now...haha

SHMO

Sun May 21, 2006 9:54 pm

wow thats a nice rail, i bet the windsheild helped alot

Sun May 21, 2006 10:00 pm

somebody post the pics on here please. I can't see them

SHMO

Mon May 22, 2006 6:06 am

Mon May 22, 2006 10:21 am

street legal? where are the blinkers, wipers, etc.?

Mon May 22, 2006 1:28 pm

They're mounted right there, by the street legal headlights :wink:

SHMO

Mon May 22, 2006 5:09 pm

Skidmark wrote:

Is this suppose to be the cross country record setting rail?

Mon May 22, 2006 5:17 pm

That was the only pic buried in the "Alaska in eight days" thread...

Mon May 22, 2006 5:31 pm

Using a gear ratio calculator, here is what I came up with with my 091 trans...

r&p 4.57 (stock)

1st 3.78 (stock)
2nd 2.06 (stock)
3rd 1.30 (lower than stock)
4th 1.00 (lower than stock)

MAX RPM = 7000 (Suby redlines at 6700 or so)
rear wheel diameter = 29.5" (measured - sidewall lists 31 x 10.5)

MPH at redline
1st....36 mph
2nd...65 mph
3rd...103 mph
4th...134 mph

I realize this is theoretical - does not factor in wind resistance, tire friction, grade of road, etc. But I believe with all of that taken in to consideration the car could reach 115-120 mph (if I was crazy enough to try that in a raised suspension baja, that is...)

Mon May 22, 2006 8:51 pm

anything over 100mph in that bad boy would be a wiggley son of a bitch drive! you wouldent even need seat belts. you would be so puckerd up you could hold on with your ass!