Chaparral vs John Deere: A Build-Off Challenge
- Thread starter skiroule
- Start date
Let me sub for Kelly who's away from his computer this weekend as I was wondering the same thing; I pulled the following off a couple of related sources.
The first liquid-cooled snowmobile was the 1972 Brut LC44, built by Brutanza Engineering, Inc. of Brooten, Minnesota. The company was later bought by Scorpion Industries, which produced the liquid-cooled Scorpion Bruts starting in 1974.
The first liquid-cooled snowmobile was the 1972 Brut LC44, built by Brutanza Engineering, Inc. of Brooten, Minnesota. The company was later bought by Scorpion Industries, which produced the liquid-cooled Scorpion Bruts starting in 1974.
- 1972: Brutanza Engineering created the first liquid-cooled snowmobile, the Brut LC44, with a radiator for cooling.
- 1973: Brutanza replaced the radiator with heat exchangers, which were another industry first.
- 1974: Scorpion Industries bought Brutanza and produced the liquid-cooled 340 and 440 models as Scorpion Bruts.
Chaparral introduced its liquid-cooled SSX model in 1974.
I believe that's the model that "the K Man" is restoring.
I believe that's the model that "the K Man" is restoring.
Thanks Gary! one of the neighbor kids growing up had a Brut, didn't pay much attention to years and what it had back then, was just cool to be one of the kids on the block with a snowmobile, interesting that it was back in 1972 the first liquid cooled snowmobile was produced!
heckler56
Well-known member
Kelly, great info, thank you yet again. BTW, I would use zipties or something in my many piles of orphan parts. In fact, while putting up my traditional icicle lights I needed a hanger to attach the excess extension cord too. Finally used that L bracket in my cabinet of drawers I got from my dad before he passed. So that L bracket has been with me for roughly 50 years 
. I let the wife know however I didn’t mention to her the price tag was still intact, 10cents…
. I let the wife know however I didn’t mention to her the price tag was still intact, 10cents…
skiroule
Well-known member
Great info Gary. "The K Man", I like it.
There have been a lot of theories as to why most of the sled companies folded in the 70’s. Most blame the oil embargo in 73, which did jolt the American public out of the belief that cheap gasoline was a given. While this was probably a major factor, my sense was that by the mid-70’s the market was also largely saturated. It seemed like everyone had one sled, if not several, and the novelty had worn off for a lot of people and they were already dumping them.
In the case of Chaparral, while it was probably still profitable, it wasn’t profitable enough for the parent company (ARMCO Steel), and the suits came in and turned out the lights, just as the 75 models were ready to go into production. Kinda sad, how it ended.
Heckler, I’ve seen and used zip ties for almost every imaginable application. One of the wonders of modern invention. 50 years, 10 cents – and you could still find it.
As Gary pointed out, Brut was the first manufacturer out of the gate with a liquid cooled sled and whether the engineers at Chaparral were coincidentally working on the same concept or paying attention to what Brut was doing, they did their homework. In the 1974 model year, Chaparral produced the only other liquid cooled sled on the market on a large scale, churning out several thousand liquid sleds versus Brut’s 500 – 700.
There have been a lot of theories as to why most of the sled companies folded in the 70’s. Most blame the oil embargo in 73, which did jolt the American public out of the belief that cheap gasoline was a given. While this was probably a major factor, my sense was that by the mid-70’s the market was also largely saturated. It seemed like everyone had one sled, if not several, and the novelty had worn off for a lot of people and they were already dumping them.
In the case of Chaparral, while it was probably still profitable, it wasn’t profitable enough for the parent company (ARMCO Steel), and the suits came in and turned out the lights, just as the 75 models were ready to go into production. Kinda sad, how it ended.
Abe. I’ve always admired Chaparral’s drive for innovation. Remember, they are credited with the first IFS suspension, which was used in some of their early race sleds. In my mind, there’s no question that the SSX was ahead of its time and, is a very quick 440. I think it will be a real contest when I’m able to run it against the Skiroule RTX 440, which, at this point is my fastest sled on the backyard drag strip.
Heckler, I’ve seen and used zip ties for almost every imaginable application. One of the wonders of modern invention. 50 years, 10 cents – and you could still find it.
skiroule
Well-known member
A few more pieces added to the SSX. It’s getting a little crowded in the shop.
Here’s one for you guys that are mechanically curious. I don’t think it’s unusual for motors to have dual vacuum pulse ports but the ports on this motor are 3/8” in diameter. Cripes, what were they planning to pump? The fuel pump vacuum port is only 1/4”. You can’t find a 3/8 to 1/4 barbed reducer in this town, so it was back to Ebay.
Here’s one for you guys that are mechanically curious. I don’t think it’s unusual for motors to have dual vacuum pulse ports but the ports on this motor are 3/8” in diameter. Cripes, what were they planning to pump? The fuel pump vacuum port is only 1/4”. You can’t find a 3/8 to 1/4 barbed reducer in this town, so it was back to Ebay.
heckler56
Well-known member
Since they were ahead of the times in thinking, maybe they anticipated a turbo or using an auto fuel pump to dump fuel.. Turbos were the rage back then in F1 and other series at that time…
skiroule
Well-known member
I have been pushing hard the last few weeks. I’m literally out in the shop every day that I’m not working at the hardware store. My wife has suggested that I move out there but then, she makes that suggestion regularly, whether I’m working on sleds or not.Looks good with the belly pan finished & installed. Coming together nicely. You are as busy as a one legged man in a butt kicking contest!
I did do a test fit of the dash/console today. With the Mikuni carb conversion, things are tighter than the already tight stock configuration but it looks workable. Then I cleaned up the assembly. It’s not perfect but it really doesn’t need anything beyond the cleanup.
It’s not a huge sign but it’s a key part of the shop. I have this routine every night when I’ve packed it in. I throw a couple of logs on the fire, kill half the shop lights, turn on the sign, maybe crack a cold one or two, and reflect on what got accomplished and plan what needs to get done during the next session.
It’s probably not out of the question, Chaparral was pretty serious about racing back then and tried some pretty wild stuff, like the first use of an airfoil on a race sled (which was eventually banned).
I often do the same. I think it's important we recognize our progress rather than getting bogged down or fixated on a problem. A semi-lit room and beer therapy has solved many of the world's problems. I highly recommend it!
Yup! Sign me up!