2000 arctic cat 600 to mountain sled. Or somthing.

[Ram00cat]

New here. Thought I'd post what I've been tinkering on for a few years. Started as a 2000 powder special with a smoked tunnel cooler, courtesy of a rock. Total cost was trading an old .22 hole punch straight across. Here's when I first got it.

 

[Ram00cat]

Tried to repair cooler at the shop by welding it up. But was just to dirty and couldn't pass pressure testing. Had a co worker take some interest in what I was doing. And mentioned he had a sled just like that in his front yard. 50 bucks later and a I had a 99 powder special 700. Plan was to use the chassis and fron suspension. Motor was a mystery. Didn't have clutches either. Opted to sell the power plant to fund other goodies. Here's the 99 day i brought it home.

 

[Ram00cat]

After snagging the 700. Did some homework and found the extra 100cc of engine size wasn't worth it. Didn't know much about sleds so I went off of what I was reading. The 600 ran like a top anyhow. Started swapping chassis and jumped in head first. Both where 136 tracks. But different geometry. The 2000 had fox shocks and the rear skid was a remote reservoir fox shock. Figured that was a slightly better set up. So I tool the better of both skids and made one out of it. Ran the better track ect. Did a little cleaning on the new chassis. But wasent to worried Figured later I could adress it.

 

[Ram00cat]

Little side experiment. Got a 2011 m1000 chassis minus the bull head that smoked a tree. Robbed the rear half of the tunnel. Bumper and running boards off of it to see if it would work on the sled. My work background is a welder / machinist. So figured I could scab somthing together. Function over fashion. The end goal was a capable sled for some deeper snow and be able to transport fishing gear up the mountain. I live in an area where I can ride to a trail head 2 miles down the road. Given there's enough snow.

 

[Ram00cat]

Finished switching the two frames and sent the spare wrecked parts off to the scrap bin. Opted for the 99s rear skid. Seemed to have a better angle then the 2000 for longer travel. Kept the 99s front a arms. Had a narrower stance. Figured it would be a little more tippy that way. Nothing exciting with the rest of reassembly. Lots of learning on the go. Tossed the rear tunnel extension into storage for a rainy day along with the M series running boards. Figured a running riding sled was more priority at the moment. Snow was falling and I was ready to not be working on it. Eventually I built a quick rear hitch. Did some board racks and rod holders so it could pull double duty and be an ice fishing sled.

 

[Ram00cat]

Rode it for. Season last year. Enjoyed it. Knew I wanted some changes. Mainly a little more track. And different running boards for the mountains. But a few shots of a handful of trips. Was a great year for snow.

 

[Ram00cat]

Got myself in trouble and bought a set of front and rear shocks from a buddy. Belive they came off of an M series. Rear was a bolt on. And fronts are a bit longer haven't figured out if and how to fit em up. They bolt on. But I think skii pressure will be a bit much. *shrug* not sure whats acceptable ect. Figure I'll mock em up and when I get ro ride it first time I'm sure I'll know if they work or not. But that spurred my buying parts phase. Found a 151 skid & track. Then found a chassis to match. Looked in fair shape. But needed cleaning. And a little welding on some stress cracks. Tossed everything together to have a frame to work on / around. Modified the upper control arms to accept the longer shocks. Had a spare set of arms. I saved from the original powder special. Not convinced on them. But geometry seems to work. In theory .

 

[Ram00cat]

Found a set of pro boards I've been looking around for past year or so. Ironically it was from a guy I knew who worked across the street from my job. Brought em home and got right to work fitting them. With the way my chassis runs tunnel cooler up in the corner it was going to be tight bolting them in. Went with a 90 degree tab I fabed up and shot in a nutcert threaded for 5/16. Had to fab up a front support bracket for both foot wells. Happy woth how those came out. Goofy angles. Started fitting the rear bumper /hitch the other night. And dismantling the 2000. Hopefully I'll have a sled to ride this year.

 

[jarred kale]

New here. Thought I'd post what I've been tinkering on for a few years. Started as a 2000 powder special with Tutuapp 9Appsa smoked tunnel cooler, courtesy of a rock. Total cost was trading an old .22 hole punch straight across. Here's when I first got it.

Welcome aboard

 

[hansenmac]

I like builds like this. its fun to take something fix it up find ways to make it better.

 

[Ram00cat]

Not much to report aside from more disassembly. Got my plastics off. Probably going to run zr2 plastic this year. Zr3 plastic would be kindof fun. But would rather have a rideable sled then look spiffy. Got the 99 control arms, shocks, and skiis torqued onto the new sled. Fresh coat of paint for the season. Snow flap is now bolted on. Had to make a rear cover I bent up at work from some crap sheet aluminum.

 

[Ram00cat]

I like builds like this. its fun to take something fix it up find ways to make it better.

Thanks. I've built a few other things befor sleds. 65 chevy 4x4. Did a 90s toyota thats my daily. Ect . Not a sled tho. Would like to do a tube chassis some day. Really appeals to my fabricatir side. Got bit by the bug after ridding my function pile of parts last year tho. So here we are.

 

[Ram00cat]

Chain case is out. Found an axis snow flap I've been looking for. And mounted the bumper I think for good. Little bit of progress. Hoping to get the majority done over the holidays.

 

[boondocker97]

Shoot that 2000 powder special was a millennium edition! They didn't make too many of those. My dad bought a new 600 that year cause it was fuel injected over the millennium one that had the carb 700 in it.

 

[Ram00cat]

Shoot that 2000 powder special was a millennium edition! They didn't make too many of those. My dad bought a new 600 that year cause it was fuel injected over the millennium one that had the carb 700 in it.

I've heard of them being few and far between. Unfortunately the original chassis was toast. The more I learn about zf2 /zr3 stuff. Realizing this will be kindof a retro thing when it's done. Old plastics and a new chassis and running gear.

 

[Idcatman3]

The ZR2 plastics stick out further in the nose than the ZR3s. This digs more snow in some situations. If I remember right, the hoods are also heavier and more brittle than the ZR3s. That said, very fun project!
Depending on where you are, I have a bunch of ZR3 hoods and other plastic...
They even made some ZR1 style plastics for the AWS V chassis. Those would be the 97-99 ZR 440 Sno Pro.

 

[Ram00cat]

Th

The ZR2 plastics stick out further in the nose than the ZR3s. This digs more snow in some situations. If I remember right, the hoods are also heavier and more brittle than the ZR3s. That said, very fun project!
Depending on where you are, I have a bunch of ZR3 hoods and other plastic...
They even made some ZR1 style plastics for the AWS V chassis. Those would be the 97-99 ZR 440 Sno Pro.

Good info. My main attraction to zr3 plastics if I can find any for a fair price was weight. And I've always been a sucker for the king cat 900 orange sleds woth chrome wind visor hah. It seems a mesh hood is the real straight forward way to save weight, I just don't like the look if them. I'll have to see how it handles when done. & if nose diving is an issue there's a local snowmobile recycling guy I've gotten to know and buy from who has plenty of plastics for zr3s in inventory. I just don't want to cough up 500+ bucks for thr while shebang. Unless it was orange plastic. *shrug*

 

[Ram00cat]

The ZR2 plastics stick out further in the nose than the ZR3s. This digs more snow in some situations. If I remember right, the hoods are also heavier and more brittle than the ZR3s. That said, very fun project!
Depending on where you are, I have a bunch of ZR3 hoods and other plastic...
They even made some ZR1 style plastics for the AWS V chassis. Those would be the 97-99 ZR 440 Sno Pro.

Oh and location is north central wyoming

 

[Ram00cat]

Got the chain case headed in the right direction. Found out my torque plate from the 99 was the wrong height. Guess the mountain cats has a rolled chaincase. Changes height. So found the original plate it came with. Going to graft on the motor mount portion. But the bearing is probably 2 inches lower? But along with that. Motor is mocked up. Steering is done. Scored a gas caddy and the mounts. Made up some adapter plates so I don't poke a hole through my heat exchangers. Turned out pretty slick. Gaining on things.

 

[Ram00cat]

The old. Vs new. Lots of split welds on the old chassis