4x4 North

Been looking at tracked vehicles for a bit now and finally found a decent one local and picked up this decent 1981 Bombardier Bombi over the weekend. Runs pretty good but have a few plans and clean up to do figured I’d post a thread on it.







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Niiice

That one looks to be a in a lot better shape than I'm used too. What sort of powerplant do they have?

Scott Cee AKA 2drx4 wrote: ↑Mon Jul 27, 2020 1:59 pm Niiice

That one looks to be a in a lot better shape than I'm used too. What sort of powerplant do they have?

Yeah its decent. From what Ive read the floor pans rust out on the bombi's pretty bad. this one seems good.

They run a Ford 1.6 I4 with a 4speed manual from factory. The motor is basically an Industrial Ford cortina motor, same as an old pinto engine.
The differential is a D44 ring/pinion with planetaries for a combined ratio of 5.89

Guys have swapped all different motor combinations into them, the most popular seems to be a toy 22re, but i just came across one that has a 5.3/th400 combo But honestly if feels pretty peppy with the stocker

I’ll have to get a couple people on the forum that been looking at tracked stuff. Looks awesome.

Few more photos

Front plow, factory option so pretty nice other than they hacked the top mount to make it rise higher but overall good.


Raises up pretty good. I will machine up some pins and clean it up so can be quick on/off as the previous owner said it’s nose heavy with it on




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The drag/gromer is a different story. Looks like Stevie Wonder went at it with a torch and some coat hangers

Just top notch work all around





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Inside the cab they removed the one seat for rear hydraulic levers, I’ll be changing that and putting another seat back in. Also none of the gauges seem to work also no switches or wiper. So will clean it up and add a few other gauges.


They added another fuel cell on the back. Could be better but I like the added capacity, and can switch from front to rear tank as the factory one is up front


And the 1.6 in all it’s glory. Seems to run really well. It came with a spare motor but it’s rough.


And a small storage box on other side



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Bogey wheels are original and ok, looking at getting them foamed filled. Also will need to do some work to the cleats, will be getting some good aluminum welding practice in the future


Drive sprockets are probably ok, I’m going to send some photos to a company that knows what they’re looking at and see, but I’d feel better just replacing them.


Overall a pretty decent machine, only 977hrs. Plans are general clean up and maintenance, gauges, lighting upgrade, roof rack, winch, and more seating. Pretty excited about it.


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Kal Tire does foam filling if you're not in a hurry. I dropped off my snowblower tires and 4 weeks later they were done.

They charge by the pound. It was like $40 to do the two snowblower tires, so umm, probably be a bunch to do all those bogies.

Honestly, that thing is mint compared with the condition I normally see them in. There's lots of them in the arctic, and you couldn't build the machine you have if you took the best part off every one of them in the whole arctic.

HillBilt wrote: ↑Mon Jul 27, 2020 2:09 pm

Scott Cee AKA 2drx4 wrote: ↑Mon Jul 27, 2020 1:59 pm Niiice

That one looks to be a in a lot better shape than I'm used too. What sort of powerplant do they have?

Yeah its decent. From what Ive read the floor pans rust out on the bombi's pretty bad. this one seems good.

They run a Ford 1.6 I4 with a 4speed manual from factory. The motor is basically an Industrial Ford cortina motor, same as an old pinto engine.
The differential is a D44 ring/pinion with planetaries for a combined ratio of 5.89

Guys have swapped all different motor combinations into them, the most popular seems to be a toy 22re, but i just came across one that has a 5.3/th400 combo But honestly if feels pretty peppy with the stocker

I'm 99% sure that body style could be had with a Ford 300. That would certainly get you some low end grunt.

I have no idea why anyone swaps a 22RE into anything. Of the 80s underpowered economy 4cyl engines it's one of the worst. You don't see the 2.3 or the iron duke eating timing sets in stock form or having a hard time holding together when turbo'd. The Volvo and VW stuff from the era is proven solid as well.

LS swap! I heard on the internets that its super cheap and easy

Nice rig!


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arse_sidewards wrote: ↑Tue Jul 28, 2020 3:09 am
I'm 99% sure that body style could be had with a Ford 300. That would certainly get you some low end grunt.

Probably not the Bombi, you would have to relocate the rad to fit a 6 in there. I know you could get them with the Ford 2.3, as my manual states that as an option. The BR100 plus you could maybe fit the 6 in it as its a bit longer but very similar body style.

Helidump wrote:LS swap! I heard on the internets that its super cheap and easy

Nice rig!


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Thanks.
Don’t laugh, I’m following a guy that put an LS in his. It’s a BR100 so a tad bigger. It’s pretty rad



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Scott Cee AKA 2drx4 wrote: ↑Mon Jul 27, 2020 11:46 pm Kal Tire does foam filling if you're not in a hurry. I dropped off my snowblower tires and 4 weeks later they were done.

They charge by the pound. It was like $40 to do the two snowblower tires, so umm, probably be a bunch to do all those bogies.

Honestly, that thing is mint compared with the condition I normally see them in. There's lots of them in the arctic, and you couldn't build the machine you have if you took the best part off every one of them in the whole arctic.

Well that makes me feel good about it.

Wow I didnt think the foam would be that much, I wonder if it could be done at home? How much weight did it add?

HillBilt wrote: ↑Tue Jul 28, 2020 1:14 pm

Scott Cee AKA 2drx4 wrote: ↑Mon Jul 27, 2020 11:46 pm Kal Tire does foam filling if you're not in a hurry. I dropped off my snowblower tires and 4 weeks later they were done.

They charge by the pound. It was like $40 to do the two snowblower tires, so umm, probably be a bunch to do all those bogies.

Honestly, that thing is mint compared with the condition I normally see them in. There's lots of them in the arctic, and you couldn't build the machine you have if you took the best part off every one of them in the whole arctic.

Well that makes me feel good about it.

Wow I didnt think the foam would be that much, I wonder if it could be done at home? How much weight did it add?

The foam is really heavy. Added 10lbs to each snowblower tire I think. They might do a lighter foam too though, the foam I got is meant to be heavy to add weight for traction I guess.

The more industrial oriented of the Kal Tire locations probably can answer more though. The regular tire shops rarely deal with it, if ever.

Guys do use the polyurethane insulation foam and DIY it, but I don't know how well it lasts long term. That foam isn't really meant for that. However I'd think your application would be low impact so it might work fine.