What do you know about the Big Oly II

[Blanco]

http://www.supermotors.net/getfile/260755/fullsize/oooo.jpg

From what little I've learned it did'nt live up to the rep of the Original Big Oly. http://www.thewebwheeler.com/forums/images/smilies/shrug.gif

I notice in this Pic that Blancos Hood looks pretty much just like the BigOlyII hood. :)

[toddz69]

http://www.supermotors.net/getfile/260755/fullsize/oooo.jpg

From what little I've learned it did'nt live up to the rep of the Original Big Oly. http://www.thewebwheeler.com/forums/images/smilies/shrug.gif

I notice in this Pic that Blancos Hood looks pretty much just like the BigOlyII hood. :)

Well, let's see. First, no, it didn't live up to the rep of the original Big Oly. It was a vehicle built by the Garman brothers (Dennis and ?) in the 1987-88 time frame. Rick "Superhunky" Sieman was the editor of Off Road Magazine at the time and sorta "commissioned" it - he was the driver/owner, etc. I have most of the issues of Off Road that detailed the build process. I was just finishing high school/starting college at the time and I remember eagerly anticipating each new issue with more build info in them. It had a Mike Evans 351W in it with a C6 behind it. Dual coilovers and extended radius arms on each front wheel. The rear suspension was odd - it used a motorcycle type swingarm which didn't really allow the rear end to articulate at all. Consequently, it broke frequently due to the stresses on it. I don't remember if they eventually went to a conventional 4 link or not. The truck had the potential to dominate Class 3 for awhile as its main competition was Jeep CJ7s/Wranglers like Don Adams' truck and Mike Schwellinger's CJ. But it always seemed to have a multitude of teething problems that kept it from finishing. The Enduro Bronco came along and pretty much put the nails in its coffin as far as its racing career was concerned. A few years later it was advertised in Dusty Times for $20K. I have no idea where it ended up - I never saw it race again.

I'm sure there are others with more memories of it.

Todd Z.

[Blanco]

The rear suspension was odd - it used a motorcycle type swingarm which didn't really allow the rear end to articulate at all.

So SCORE's Class 3 rules were a bit different back then Huh? http://www.thewebwheeler.com/forums/images/smilies/6.gif

[toddz69]

So SCORE's Class 3 rules were a bit different back then Huh? http://www.thewebwheeler.com/forums/images/smilies/6.gif

Funny you should mention that - I'm not sure how they got around that...I looked in the oldest rulebook I have on my shelf here (91-92) and it seems to be the same as the current one in terms of rear suspension type.

Todd Z.

[151FAB]

You guys keep forgetting that just because its linked doesn't mean there's no leafs there too. Using links/link to locate the rear-end and a separate spring system to fight gravity should help the springs to survive because you've reduced the stresses on the springs to a simple linear (actually big radius) movement. No twist, torsion, etc. You also don't need expensive quarter ellipticals to do this. Sorry if I hyjacked.

[toddz69]

You guys keep forgetting that just because its linked doesn't mean there's no leafs there too. Using links/link to locate the rear-end and a separate spring system to fight gravity should help the springs to survive because you've reduced the stresses on the springs to a simple linear (actually big radius) movement. No twist, torsion, etc. You also don't need expensive quarter ellipticals to do this. Sorry if I hyjacked.

I didn't forget it - I just don't remember there being leafs on this truck. I'd have to go back and dig out the articles to see how they configured things. Maybe someone else remembers for sure....

There used to be quite a number of race trucks around that had the dual-shackled leafs with 4 links on them. In some ways, I think they have advantages over quarter ellipticals.

Todd Z.

[Moss2]

There definitely were no leafs on that truck. Double coilovers all around. There was some conflict/controversy with the rules but they let it run somehow. Baja 2000 a 79 Bronco entered with links and coilovers in the rear as well. Typically you have to be winning to be protested.

[kkspeedracer]

speaking of big oly 1...it was two wheel drive. i don't remember which class it even raced in.