Latest Sandrail-related news

Turbo-Engine project:

On a whim, I decided to spend a weekend turbocharging the stock VW engine on the manx. Here is a writeup.

Finished the manx project:

details to be filled in...

Started a Manx-Style Buggy project

I've picked up a new body for a new manx-style buggy. Here is a link to the info.

Broke the Throwout Bearing Cross Arm

This weekend's sandrail casualty was the throwout bearing cross arm (i.e. the little fork-shaped thing that holds the throwout bearing). It snapped right at the bottom where the throwout bearing rides in the arm. The good news is, that I've finally got to the point where I can get the engine pulled in less than two hours!

Okay purchased a new SCAT throwout bearing arm ("cross arm"), a new throwout bearing, new seals/bushings, put it all together, and still got noise from the tranny. Took it all back apart (for the second time in as many days), and found that the pilot bearing was shot. Not just shot.... really shot. Purchased a new one of those, threw it all back together and the problem is finally fixed!

Got a new trailer

The mazda sandrail gets a nice new Pace covered trailer. The old flatbed trailer was just a little insufficient for hauling around the sandrail now that it has the larget engine. Here's a picture of the sandrail in the new trailer:

Installed the holley carb

I installed a new holley carb on the mazda sandrail. Details are here.

Blew out reverse gear

This is something you really don't want to do! While backing up the rail onto it's old trailer, I heard a loud snap from the transaxle. After that, there was no reverse, or 1st 2nd 3rd or 4th. What it turned out to be was the shaft coupler/referse gear. This little piece mates the input shaft of the transaxle to the main shaft, and also mates to the reverse shaft. What it means is if you blow this particular reverse gear, then input shaft becomes uncoupled from the main shaft, and you lose all of the gears.

The repair is considered fairly minor, as far as transmission work goes. Unfortunately, it did require pulling the engine and transaxle, and then tearing off the axle tubes and side plates, pulling the diff, all to get into that one little part.