AmSnow.com is now SnoWest.com
Rob Butler is a performance fanatic. He started the company Refuze 2 Looz with the idea of turning snocross machines into trail sleds. Since his Pennsylvania company took hold less than 5 years ago, his custom machines have gotten stares at sled stops across the East. The big-bored, beautifully trimmed, big-mogul sleds were just the start. Now, the company offers a patented line of snocross gloves, weight-saving aluminum perforation tools and is working on more.
Rob sent us info on his most prized sled remake, his Polaris Storm Trooper. The sled started as a Polaris 440 racer, and was transformed into a Star Wars-like speeder-sled by Refuze 2 Looz. The Storm Trooper was built to be a hybrid machine capable of trail-running, ditch-banging and boondocking. It was a collaboration with several local partner companies including Holcombs Auto Body (paint), Prestige Powder (powder coating), Compusign (graphics) and Leroys Snowmobiles (all the original equipment components).
A build storyThe concept was to make a machine that would blend into its surroundings. A sketch was made and a component list assembled. Then, Rob completely disassembled the original sled.
First, the chassis/tunnel was lightened using a new Refuze 2 Looz perforation tool. The rear bumper was sectioned and narrowed to be mounted inside the tunnel for a streamlined look. The body also was modified to accept the side-exit exhaust.
The chassis and bodywork were sent to Holcombs Auto Body and painted DuPont pearl white. At the same time, the engine was being built by The Crank Shop and then painted flat black, right down to the spark plugs. The sled was accented with powder-coated components and stainless steel braided hoses.
The original 440 engine was replaced with a bored 910cc 187-horse engine that runs on pump gas and is oil injected. There's a custom set of twin pipes from The Crank Shop and then Rob modified the exhaust to have a side outlet to eliminate snow packing in deep powder.
Next, Prestige Powder coated over 80 pieces. Silver vein was the color choice, and every component on the machine is powder coated or painted to match. Even the handlebar pad matches!
Rob then began the reassembly by putting together the air-ride front end. The system uses Fox Float X Shocks tied into a 12v compressor. Using a check valve and 3-way valve, the rider is able to adjust the pressure in the shocks from the driver's seat. It's nice to have if you want to lower the front end for drag racing or raise it for ditch banging. And it's just plain cool if you want to drop the front end to the ground when you pull into a burger joint! The system has powder-coated A-arms, chrome steering knuckles and custom painted shocks.
All the bodywork was riveted in place, and all rivets were capped with black caps, giving the machine an aggressive bolted-together appearance.
The skid frame and rails were also polished and chrome plated. The remaining rear components were powder coated either silver vein or black. A set of white slides was added to match the skid frame to the machine's color.
Finishing touchesRob wanted a clean bar and control panel, not wanting to see all the wiring. He took the controls apart and ran the wiring THROUGH the handlebars down through the Grip N Rip Iso-Vibe riser. The result looks sharp. Rob then mounted the custom powder-coated handguard mounts and Power Madd handguards.
After final assembly, Compusign designed and installed the carbon fiber graphics and number plates, giving the snowmobile a tough look. It is a tall order to make an all white sled look aggressive, but with the addition of the black capped rivets and screws, the carbon fiber graphics and the black aluminum dress ring around the side-exit exhaust, Refuze 2 Looz was successful.
For more info on Refuze 2 Looz visit
www.r2lracestuff.com.
Storm Trooper specsEngine: 910cc Crank Shop engine (93 oct., oil injected), ported and polished, bored carbs, V-Force Reeds, K&N Filters, nitrous (option, bottle installed), flat black paint on block, powder-coated heads
(silver vein), chaincase powder coated (silver vein), braided stainless steel cooling lines, custom twin pipes and side-exit exhaust, 187 hp
Chassis: 2006 Polaris IQ 440 lightened, custom rear bumper (narrowed and flush mounted), painted bright pearl white, more than 80 pieces powder coated (silver vein), under hood light, 8.5 gal. tank, spare belt and spare spark plug holder, on board belt changing tool
Controls: Handlebar controls have the wiring running through the bars, Power Madd handguards (modified), handlebar pad painted to match, Grip N Rip Racing Iso-Vibe riser
Skid & Track: Rails chrome plated, all components powder coated (black and silver vein), involute/convolute drivers, 121-inch track with 1.75-inch lugs ported (saves 7 lbs.)
Front susp.: Air Ride, custom painted Fox Float X shocks, custom 12v compressor with valve, check valve and switch, powder-coated A-Arms (silver vein), Polaris pro skis
Bodywork: All painted DuPont bright pearl white, custom carbon fiber decals, custom carbon fiber number plates