advice needed on 94 Marathon

[aero_rider]

I have the opportunity to buy a 94 Marathon for $200 with a bad motor. My question is is it worth it. I know what it costs to rebuild motor but what's an average price for a motorswap with a Honda clone engine. I'm trying to see if I'd come out ahead or if I'd been in too deep. I'm not one to buy and resale stuff but I don't make habits of buying things I'm not going to get what I paid for or at least very close to it.

[Heliarc]

Would you be doing any fabrication needed for the install? Also, instead of a Chinese engine you can often find snowmobiles on the cheap and swap that engine in. Only problem is that you might end up with a pull start and no reverse but if you want to spend a few bucks more you can find them with electric start and reverse. Shouldn't be more than $500 for a sled with a decent engine and electric start and you'll have pretty much everything you need between the two vehicles to get it done. If you can settle for a rope start you might pick one up for free. I got my Polaris 440 sport out of a barn for free. The guy wrecked it(mildly) and was sick of looking at it. Flushed the tank, cleaned the carb and it runs like a raped ape. Only 360 miles on it too.

[aero_rider]

Well the 94 is a 4 stroke with the Robin 295cc. So shouldn't it have the reverse rear end, which would make a motor swap a lot easier. Fabbing isn't an issue for the most part. I have basic welding and fabricating skills.

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[Heliarc]

Oh ok, sorry, I'm used to my two stroke. You should be good to go. Even if you have to settle for a rope start you still have reverse. Long as the rest of the cart is in good shape you can pick up an old sled for maybe $200 at the most. Like I said, you might get lucky and find one for free, just make sure it has good compression and you're halfway there. If I had the chance I'd jump on it. Keep in mind, most of your sled engines are going to put out 2-3 times the grunt of the stock engine. Make sure your brakes and steering are up to it. There's also a section in the forums called "big block swaps". They Frankenstein all sorts of engines into carts.

[nobuckbuild]

get the cart and check out site sponsor cart parts plus for about 500 you could get the cradle , clutch adaptor , and then pickup a honda or honda clone and with a little fab you'll be 700-800 total into a cart with double the stock cars power thats worth 1500-2000 , dont wait to grab it though it will be gone. better yet would be to pull the engine replace whats broken or locked up and only put 300-500 into it and then you have a nice stock cart

[natew121]

Buy it ! Good investment depending on the condition of the rust/ body

[Slamminsam]

i paid more than that for mine. it had a dead engine and was an abused golf course utility cart. but i wanted one with a bed. its a 94 marathon. i have an old JD 340 sno mo motor if interested, but i went with the oil burner crowd....
I think its worth it if youre going to build it to run. one day ill finish mine.