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Muscle in the mountainsAmerican Snowmobiler mountain mod ride
By Matt Allred
Here is an online XTRA dedicated to the mod sleds and their makers that were at our Mountain Mod Ride this year. Often times, many mountain muscle shops bring two snowmobiles for the
AmSnow Mountain Team to stuff down some mountain's throat. Below continues the briefing.
Outlaw Motor Sports - Yamaha ApexOutlaw Motor Sports brought us an Apex Mountain. The horsepower this Apex blew out its pipes was almost equal to two and a half stockers, or a couple of well tuned mods. But, this snowmobile was not only big in the horsepower arena, it carried a 174-inch track too. And it had 370 brassy horsepower.
The Outlaw gang is known in the West, and well deserved. This motor pulled hard. Outlaw installed Carrillo rods, JE 10.5:1 low comp pistons and made cam timing changes to meet the demands the turbo would place on the motor.
Externally, Outlaw bolted to the big 4-stroke 4-cylinder motor an intercooled Boondocker turbo system with side mount fresh air intake, blowoff valve upgrade and external boost controller. Boost level was held at 24 psi, which helped the motor build its Earth shaking 370 hp.
To keep the sled true in the powder and up the steep slopes, Outlaw modified the front suspension by installing Holz A-arms, giving the Apex a 41-inch ski stance and aluminum billett spindles. Knowing the studly Apex came with the best OEM powder ski to date, Outlaw held on to the stock skis.
For the rear skid, the stock Yamaha Pro-Mountain skid remained bolted to the tunnel, however, needed geometry changes were made to accommodate the long 174-inch track which included transfer rod changes, longer hyper fax and 8-inch rear axle wheels.
OK, you know the Apex churned a 174-inch track, so the Apex received a custom Van Amberg tunnel with runningboard coolers and a four-row tunnel cooler. To claim sweet weight transfer and flotation, Outlaw dropped and rolled the chaincase to flatten the approach angle. Also, the 16-inch wide track, with 2.5-inch lugs needed room to rotate, and the drop and roll accomplished that.
Further mods to the drivetrain include eight tooth, 3-inch pitch extrovert drivers. Gearing changes were obviously needed. The stock secondary set up was maintained, yet an adjustable helix was installed. Outlaw added a machined primary clutch with their own Outlaw clutch kit which included weights, springs and rollers.
The motor's fuel delivery system needed monitoring via a Pure Logic control box, high volume fuel pump and high pressure boost reference fuel regulator. The ignition system remained as is.
Outlaw told us "This sled is the ultimate deep and steep hill killer, the longer, the steeper and the deeper, the better this sled works."
It is hard to explain the feeling one has when letting 370 horsepower light up 174-inches of track in what is heralded as a lite snowmobile. This is ultimate. This is extreme.
Outlaw further adds, "We are currently working on the new Yamaha Nytro, we will have a complete turn key package available that will be sold in two forms, a trail/pump fuel system that will build around 220 hp on pump fuel, and a full race version that will, with engine mods, build 300+ hp. Our goal for this snowmobile in the chassis department is to bring it into the 475 lb. range dry, but still let you beat it up hard on the big drops with stock reliability."
More info: www.outlawmotorsportsinc.net, 541- 426-3491Pure Logic - Arctic Cat M1000Pure Logic's second snowmobile was not wild like its M8 with two turbos, but was a project sled that Pure Logic had to take full advantage of Cat's new big bore mill. The M1000 is my all time fave sled, and I jumped at a chance to ride a modified 1K.
Pure Logic began with a model year '07 Arctic Cat M1000, rotating a 153-inch track. Mounted to the motor's exhaust ports was a D&D Y (header) pipe. To this was a Bikeman pipe and canister. To push the horsepower curve up, a Holtzman nitrous system (
www.holtzmaneng.com) amped up the wow factor, being controlled by a Pure Logic control box. An SLP high flow intake kept the air moving toward the motor without hindrance. SLP side vents also helped manage under hood heat.
For the drive train, Ogden Valley Sports supplied the needed primary and driven clutch specs.
With all the above, Pure Logic, as well as Ogden Valley Sports, predict the 1000cc motor chucked out about 195 hp.
There was nothing fancy here, just simple horsepower built simply. This sled has the mods 90% of mountain riders want to install; it is within the common man's budget. Of course, we all want more, but hey, this sled is a bread and butter sled. The motor and pipe combo was awake at all times, clamoring up the sickest slopes with obnoxious trees in the way. It handled the technical climbs with little worry. The M1000 worked and worked hard. And, it was quiet.
More info: www.ogdenvalleysports.com, or Travis Baird at 801-940-777, or Garr Petersen at 801-791-0403Starting Line Products - Polaris 700 DragonStarting Line Products has a long history of meeting the competitor's needs. These needs grow from the fast snocrosser, to the grass dragger, to the ditch buster and finally to the mountain killer.
SLP's second snowmobile they showcased was a 2007 Polaris Dragon 700 with a 155-inch track. When the
AmSnow Mountain Team first rode Polaris' new 700 RMK Dragon in the mountains near Pinedale, Wyo., we knew the RMK R&D development crew built a sweet ride. So, what did SLP show off? Its single pipe and high flow intake kit. Not ultra high-dollar mods, but mods that make sense.
Under the hood, SLP bolted on a pair of its Powder Pro skis. No changes or add-ons were made to the rear suspension. Yet, to keep the track spinning with great ambition, and to take advantage of SLP's single tuned pipe, SLP added its MTX clutch weights (62 gram base weight with 3 gram rivet in outer hole) and its blue/yellow primary spring (140/310).
No changes were made to the 700's fuel delivery or ignition systems.
Estimated horsepower for this simple no-nonsense get-it-done Dragon is 145 with estimated torque at 92.1 foot-pounds.
According to SLP's general manager, Jerry Mathews, "Polaris hit a home run with this sled in stock form. We added some more horsepower and changed the skis out on it and found it to be a very good all-around sled. It works great in the mountains in deep snow conditions as well as on the trail in big bumps. The Walker Evans shock and the IQ chassis really soak up the bumps.
"For '08, we are offering a Performance Edition kit which entails porting and a special single pipe. It also requires the ECU to be re-flashed. This kit will come in at 152.3 hp and 98.1 ft.-lbs. of torque.
"Also for '08, we are offering a big bore for the Dragon. We call it our 777 kit (lucky 7's). It consists of new cylinders and cast pistons. Combined with a single pipe kit, it produces 159.9 hp and 101.8 ft.-lbs. of torque, and it is compatible with 91 octane pump fuel. Combine it with twin pipes, and you get 167.4 hp and 105.9 ft.-lbs. of torque, however, the twin pipe combination requires the use of 20% race/premium fuel blend."
More info: www.startinglineproducts.com, 208-529-0244Diamond S Manufacturing - Yamaha RX-1 MountainThat's right, not an Apex, but an RX-1 Mountain. Before you pull your Nextel Cup hat over your eyes and back stage this report in your Web browser, know the RX-1 Mountain is a highly sought mountain snowmobile, capable of slamming many a mountain when stripped of its heft, and when a turbo is hung on its powerplant.
To help the motor work with the turbo, 9:1 JE compression pistons replaced the OEM regulars. To that, the motor received Diamond S designed turbo, using Garrett turbo technology. Custom Diamond S fuel mods keep the fuel and O2 flowing to the motor to match demand.
Up front, Diamond S added titanium A-arms and springs and Simmons Generation II Flexi-Skis. Stuffed under the Diamond S titanium tube chassis is a complete Holz rear skid (
www.holzracingproducts.com) with Ti springs. To keep the machine moving forward, Diamond S lengthened the stock chaincase and added a Powerquest clutch kit.
With the turbocharger spooled up to between 15 and 24 psi, the motor will lay down 250 to 325 horsepower with an estimated 135 ft.-lbs. of torque.
This snowmobile is designed for the hardcore extreme mountain climber. Diamond S will be producing lightweight products for Yamaha's Phazer and Nytro, as well as turbo products.
The Ti chassis and side mount turbo look nasty and function well. This is a lightweight 4-cylinder monster sled that should be busted for acts unbecoming to a mountain snowmobile.
More info: diamondSmfg.com, 435-283-4535