suspension upgrade

disfunctionals · Post by **disfunctionals** » Tue Sep 12, 2006 9:17 am

i would like to find a lighter skid for my 80 liquifire. from what i have heard you guys saying, there was an alluminum skid in the liquifire cc? or is there a skid out there that is significantly lighter from a different model or even make that will work good? the sled is used for ice oval racing and i must shed some pounds! thanx!

storm_00 · Post by **storm_00** » Tue Sep 12, 2006 10:31 am

from everything I have look thru you pretty much have to take one from a newer sled an there its a real good possibility that you will have to redrill mounting holes that just what I have have found,last year I wanted to do the same to my liqifire for the same reason its too damn heavy an doesnt have enough travel I have seen some put polaris indy suspension in there but I just left mine stock another thought is to look at the sprint fire an have one made to fit your liquifire but that will cost ya a bit of change .
,wayne

Horicon Joe · Post by **Horicon Joe** » Tue Sep 12, 2006 11:49 am

"i would like to find a lighter skid for my 80 liquifire"

The Liquifire 2 has an aluminum skid does it not ????

Joe

disfunctionals · Post by **disfunctionals** » Tue Sep 12, 2006 12:05 pm

the main rails are alluminum but all the rest is heavy steel with gussets every where. its literally built like a tractor!!

JoeRainville · Post by **JoeRainville** » Tue Sep 12, 2006 12:17 pm

Dis,

There are no suspensions that are going to weigh much less than the stock 80's Liquifire. That type of suspension was called "the art of simplicity" when it came out on the 79 Trailfire.

No production suspensions that I am aware of have used anything besides steel for the arms. I even add a little weight to mine by using a steel cross shaft in the top of the rear arm, to help prevent bending. The original aluminum cross shafts tended to bend along with the arm itself.

The steel suspension used in the 76-77 Liquifire and Cyclones, plus the dual shock 74-75 suspension used in the JDX's 295/s, and finally the 340/s and Dator suspensions were darn heavy. The Dator lost about 20 lbs with the optional 77 "lite" suspension that was close to the production 78 Liquifire unit. The 78 CC used a suspension very, very similar to the 80 LF.

Since the 80 LF only wieghs about 412 lbs dry, there is not a lot of fat on that sled. You could fabricate some aluminum parts to replace some of the steel underhood, but that is about it really. And, you can use the short little aluminum ski's

Good luck racing,
-Rainville

B)

That Girl Racing · Post by **That Girl Racing** » Tue Sep 12, 2006 2:19 pm

I have to agree. I can't think of a lighter skid out there. Most aftermarket racing skids look surprisingly like the 80's skid and are no lighter. Peter

disfunctionals · Post by **disfunctionals** » Tue Sep 12, 2006 3:26 pm

alrighty then. ill use this skid, thanks for the info, i just wasnt sure if there was anyhthing else out there. ive already got short aluminum skis, small gas tank, small seat, and a bare bones chassis. this year i tore down the entire thing and i am rebuilding it from the ground up, so well see how this season goes. ill try to post some pics once im finished with it. thanks again guys!!