i6 vs v8 weight balance for snow wheeling.

[MPG_Bronco]

what is the current weight balance from the front to back of say a normal build?

engine + c4 + d30 w small bearing rear axle, roll cage, rear bench, tire swing away, 24gal, BL 33's (2.5 sl)

I'm sure other goodies can be on there, but I guess how much does the i6 help balance vs the v8 from front to back for snow wheeling.

and would an i6 be strong enough for snow wheeling, 250ci. notthing fast, just tough.

 

[Glass Pony]

I don't know about the balance but my motto is "you only need enough hp/torque to turn the tires and dig yourself down to the frame".

 

[EB70]

i have snow wheeled for decades and some of the best snow wheelers out there are Toyota solid axle trucks that have around 100HP. Of course, they had low gears and 38's but still.

I have most everything to build a snow wheeler Bronco, and I have always liked the idea of simple, 6 cylinder and low gears with some rubber. I will likely end up automatic and v8 because I already own all of it.

I think the 250 would do great!

 

[welndmn]

Every place seems to have different types of snow, out here in CA, we need horsepower for the lead rig to brake trail, after that the light weight rigs really do well.
I'd always want power to brake trail, that's the best part!

 

[spap]

I would imagine the six is very close in weight to the 302,

 

[AaronWelch]

Google is saying they are about 50-60 LBS difference between them. 302 being heavier of course.

Aaron

 

[Viperwolf1]

Every place seems to have different types of snow, out here in CA, we need horsepower for the lead rig to brake trail, after that the light weight rigs really do well.
I'd always want power to brake trail, that's the best part!

X2. You need to push with enough speed to keep you moving. Just like shoveling snow.

 

[76Broncofromhell]

Horsepower, momentum, and floatation. Balance is fairly superfluous. As is steering.

I take my GPW on 1 tons and 42x15.50s to the snow (when there actually is snow) every year to reinforce why I have a wheeler with no doors and no heater. If you aren't going to run it to the rev limiter and side swipe a couple trees, you aren't going to make it anywhere.

 

[EB70]

I will say that one of the cooler deep snow rigs I used to run with was a typical early bronco. He had 5.89 gears, locked with a np435 and heavy bumpers etc. He had Eaton 12" wide double center Monster Wheels with 38" radials. At times it was the best thing out there. Particularly when breaking trail for the underpowered guys. The coolest thing though was when he would get it stuck. He would put it in 1st low and walk away and let it chaw through the snow. It did most of the time. Sometimes it took 15 minutes while he watched. Lots of bouncing...

 

[Viperwolf1]

I will say that one of the cooler deep snow rigs I used to run with was a typical early bronco. He had 5.89 gears, locked with a np435 and heavy bumpers etc. He had Eaton 12" wide double center Monster Wheels with 38" radials. At times it was the best thing out there. Particularly when breaking trail for the underpowered guys. The coolest thing though was when he would get it stuck. He would put it in 1st low and walk away and let it chaw through the snow. It did most of the time. Sometimes it took 15 minutes while he watched. Lots of bouncing...

And if there were any small tire guys behind him they would have to hit those spots extra hard or get high centered.

 

[EB70]

It wasn't pretty when he got done. Keep in mind, this was proper snow wheeling IMHO. Lots of snow, little air in the tires and on top. I always liked his EB, but I wasn't "enlightened" yet and spent the next twenty years building every 4x4 BUT an EB. Now it is EB time....

 

[Broncobowsher]

Google is saying they are about 50-60 LBS difference between them. 302 being heavier of course.

Aaron

That's about what I would expect.

I know of 2 ways of dealing with snow.
Light and floatation to stay on top.
Heavy and narrow to get to the ground under the snow.

Depends on the snow wheeling conditions.