440 clone or 500 polaris motor

panteramatt

Im going to be building a cart for my cabin in the mountains. I need it to haul firewood and blast around the mountain roads with four adults. It will have a lift and 22 or 23" tires. Will the 440 have the torque and hp to run up the hills around 30mph+ with 4 adults? Whats the hp and tq rating on the motor? I have a scrambler 500 Im thinking of swapping but for $400 if this motor is powerful enough it would be a much easier swap.

BGW

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Streetbu

Could it be done, probably but I dont think in your case it would be the best choice. For that engine to make enough power to haul 1,200 lbs plus the cart around at 30mph the cam will have to be so radical you probably wont like it at slower speeds. Sounds like the 500 or a UTV may be your best choice.

slonomo

What size adults? Four adults going uphill at 30mph? That's asking a lot. Not sure a golf cart would be the best choice for this.

Will it go up the hill with either engine? Yes

Will it go up the hill at 30 mph? Not likely with four adults, even with the Polaris Scrambler engine, that's asking alot. Prob more like 15-20mph is realistic.

The biggest issue on a golf cart I see is what they are designed for.....golfing. They were designed to carry 2 people, 2 golf bags, a 12 pack, and some snacks, across mostly flat groomed terrain, and maybe a few hills. Adding power will make it go faster, yes, but it's still a golf cart, and they were never designed to carry a lot of weight. You can beef up the springs/shocks. You can add superchargers and/or nitrous. You can put a 12" lift on it with 27" tires. But the limiting factor will always be the structure of the frame, the wheelbase, and the size. The Asian mfgs make machines to do what you want, they just cost $10k or more.

So, "CAN YOU DO IT?" Sure. "SHOULD YOU DO IT?" That's up to you. 4 peoples lives are worth a lot more than a $2000 golf cart on steroids.

Just be careful!

slonomo

Sorry for the rant, just want to give you the truth....

To answer your question:

Will the 440 have enough tq/power? It will have twice the power of a stock cart. Usually that's more than enough to get the job done. But, the 500 has a lot more power. It will do the job better, no question.

What about a Vanguard? .....Oh geeze....did I just..... Yep i did. Vanguards have way more torque down low in the rpm range. I've been told they will throw grass/mud/gravel 15 feet behind the cart, some will do wheelies. I've also been told you can get 30+ hp out of them pretty easily, and that would be on par with the Polaris 500.

dragos28

The VC 440 with their install kit would probably be the easiest route to go.. just swap & go...
for more power you might want to look at the CPP Vanguard big blocks...
i'm running a 16hp Vanguard and i'm pushing around 32mph flat.. never checked the speed up hill, but @ 30mph its pretty sketchy.. and thats with atv shocks and a roll cage...
i dont think i'd want to go 30mph uphill... unless it was asphalt... lol

VC440 you're looking @ around $400ish
CPP Vanguard around $2500ish...

if i were to do it again i'd go the VC440 (i got my Vanguard used)
I also hear that VC will soon carry clone v-twins....
so maybe its something to wait for.

1989Marathon

I can't believe my eyes!!! Man-card revoked!

bokeasmowl

smallblock450sl

There is never to much torque and power.... I really think the Polasis is an excellant choise. The CVT belt drive clutch system makes all the differance, IE: stock transaxle, fairly easy install. Just because you have all that power doesn't mean you have the "pedal to the metal" all the time, but when you need it or want it's there. Take alook in the "bike & atv" in the big block section, I know of 2 like builds...Stuff4mason and Lil'rascals,probably more with a search. I'm going to get hate mail for this, but are the clowns really twice the hp of stock?, I dought that and you cant compare them to a v-twin for torque. Good luck on your build Let the hate replies begin

1989Marathon

I hate you smallblock

bokeasmowl

Was "clowns" a typo?!!!