New Custom Sled Project......

**Maize** · 07-02-2010, 06:19 PM

Well....the boat just went down the driveway on its way to Ohio.

That means there is room in the stable for another project.

Enter the wife's new custom sled. It is going to be completely stripped down to the chassis and everything will be powder coated flat black and neon pink.

It is a 2007 MXZ-X 550F.

I got it from Glen, RS Rider on Dootalk.

I will be selling the BR Tech hood, the yellow console, the C&A skis.

Once the RK Tech engine build is done and my stereo is done in the Tacoma, this will be the project.

I go to pick it up on Monday. He are some before shots:

**Maize** · 07-04-2010, 06:24 PM

Got the sled home today after a good bath on the way home... It flat out POURED...cars were pulled over it was raining so hard.

It needs a little TLC, but it runs fine and that is all I cared about.

The hood and console are sold. Thanks 02mxz700x

The skis are also sold and delivered. I met up with Socker002. It is always good to put faces with names from Dootalk. Thanks again for meeting up in Dubuque. It was good talking with you.

Also, thanks to Glenn and his son for meeting up with me in Portage and saving me half the trip to Conover. It was good shooting the breeze with you two, and getting to meet you.

I think I can safely say that you won't recognize the sled when I am done with it. LOL

This will probable get going in about August, or so.

**Maize** · 07-05-2010, 05:01 PM

Well....the rain pretty much ruined my golf plans for the day.

So....Olivia and I putzed around in the guyrage (as my wife calls it).

Here are some pictures of the hood and console for honda400ex2003. I have the hood all cleaned up and polished.

I am waiting on parts for the RK Tech 827 project, namely the cylinders back from US Chrome and a crank bearing from BRP to get going on that project. I am also waiting on Fat-Mat sound deadener for the Tacoma project.

I decided to start in on the easy stuff for this project. I took the exhaust out of the sled. It was pretty beat up. I drilled out the heat sheilds from the muffler. I did some sheet metal work and was able to save those. I will do some DA sanding and then polish that.

The head shield for the expansion pipe was too far gone with parts of it worn away. So I will order new ones of those.

I got the Y-Pipe off the engine, the heat shields off the pipes and I dropped them off a Cool Concepts to be ceramic coated in a matte black.

I also worked out a trade with socker002. I am getting my completely black seat and trunk.

Here is the current state of the sled, with side panels removed, exhaust removed, fan shroud and engine cover all off the sled.

**Maize** · 07-12-2010, 08:11 PM

I got the exhaust back today from Cool Concepts. Looks like Rick's usual outstanding work.

I am putzing around with it when in between delivery times.

I am supposed to have my crank back on Wednesday for the RK Tech 827 build.

I still need to get ahold of Raffi (@RPM Composites) to see if he can find some pink Kevlar/carbon fiber. If not, I will just put a black on it.

**Maize** · 07-13-2010, 05:25 PM

OK.

I just locked up a deal for a brand new Camoplast track. I may put this on my sled. LOL J/K

It is a 121" X 15" X 1.5". I will be putting 96 1.62" studs with power tower nuts.

SAAAAAAAAAAWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE T!

**YamaDooed** · 07-14-2010, 07:42 AM

Is that the BHK black satin coating from cool concepts???

**Maize** · 07-14-2010, 12:57 PM

Originally Posted by YamaDooed

Is that the BHK black satin coating from cool concepts???

That is their Ceramashine Matt Black finish.

I use it on all the sleds. Every sled I own with the exception of the 440fanner has it done. I was going to do it on that, but we are going to be getting rid of that sled.

**YamaDooed** · 07-15-2010, 09:51 AM

Weird the middle pic must be the cat in the matt black finish??? LOL

**Maize** · 07-18-2010, 07:50 AM

Originally Posted by YamaDooed

Weird the middle pic must be the cat in the matt black finish??? LOL

That is the special, one-of-a-kind kitty-matt finish. LOL.

I got the rest of the front end apart yesterday. It is pretty trashed. I have been trying to get ahold of Matt, but haven't had much luck.

So...I am going to make my own front plate, and engine support plate. It already has the 440X PTO side brace.

Here is the front end apart:

Here is the stress crack in the chassis. It isn't a big deal to me. Once the chassis stripped down, I will weld it back up and it will just fine.

**Maize** · 07-23-2010, 08:02 PM

Got a bunch of stuff boxed and ready to ship out today.

I also got the engine out of the sled. More bad news. The mount plate is cracked and bent. No biggie. I will just straighten it out, weld it and redrill the hole.

I am glad I am stripping this down to find all these goodies. A lot of rivets are also loose. I will be drilling those and putting in new ones.

I have decided to wait on the Tacoma stuff until fall. I don't really have the room to have 5 sleds in the garage with one torn apart AND tear the Tacoma apart.

The rest of the weekend will be tearing the sled down.

Here is the broken mounting plate.

I have been trying to get ahold of Matt for another set of his braces. He is nowhere to be found.

I decided to make my own. This is lower A-Arm support, the PTO side brace and the front end-cap piece. I got them cut out today, and bent up. I still need to drill the holes.

Here is the engine sitting out of the sled, looking lonely.