This last summer
after the 2011 VSCA National Show
in Billings Montana,
Perry Hesteness/WSVSA
President & Vintage Sled extraordinaire from
Southern Idaho
called me and when I
picked up the phone he said.....
" hey Dudeman, I picked up a TX
440 for ya today!"
The conversation was right
up my ice oval and we spoke back and forth about
how cool it would be
to put a PDC hood on this unit along with some other mods.
If you have ever seen
any sleds that Perry Hesteness owns and restores, they
are always quite detailed
and complete. Doesn't matter if he does them stock original
or mods them with customization,
"Perry's Sleds are Very Sweet Eye Candy".
Since then, I have been
tickled Red White and BLUE !
1976 Polaris TX 440 back
from the race this January. Perry put's on his thinking cap and begins
planning the process
to make a sweet modified / restored rider sled for Sno
Pro USA.
PROJECT:POLARISTX
"Four Four Oh!"
GOAL:
Refresh
/ Modify to achieve the classic Polaris Race
look and maintain reliability
of the TX for riding anytime & anywhere.
Bigger Mikuni Carbs, Clutch Rebuild
and Fine Tuning.
Research and Time.
PDC Hood fitted to the original Polaris
TX Belly Pan.
After the hood is fitted, Perry decides
to shoot the entire hood with fresh white paint
then shoot the Midnight
Blue Express painted section around the engine hole.
The TX is disassembled and prepped
for paint.
1976 Polaris TX Belly Pan gets the
grinder !
The classic 70's "Arctic Cat" Sno Pro
bend to the steering shaft.
Fiberglass Dope & Sand, then Fiber
Glass Dope & Sand some more.
Chain Case, Disc Break, Caliper, Cog
are all scrubbed and freshened up !
Bearings & Fabrication !
The Polaris TX Starfire
Shovel Head Skis. Just like the 1974 Polaris Race Promo back in the
day.
Add a Starfire H-Bar
loop them some Beer Nuts and Hang On !
Primer on the skis, spindals and chassis.
The belly pan is now fresh with PURE
POLARIS BLUE !
Scrub up the Snow Flap and then the
new decal is applied.
New Bearings and lube with some black
paint for the TX Suspension.
The Chassis & Bulkhead First Coat
of BLUE !
Looks like a Factory 1976 now !
Skis assembled and fresh Chrome Shocks
just like back in the day.
Gary mounts the belly pan.
The back bumper was deleted and the
TX Starfire side handles were added.
Fresh steering rods and ends are ready
for intallation too.
Chain case, jack shaft, brake caliper
installed.
Ignition !
Original 1976 Polaris TX Dash and Fuel
Tank back in place.
Fresh front end parts for "ultra" tight
steering and control.
Vintage ENDO pipes for Polaris TX 440's
sourced and restored !
On the ground for the first time for
final adjustments before engine installation.
Steel Braided Brake Line.
The hood with fresh white
and midnight blue paint is fitted.
In less than 20 days this unit is now
ready for the finals.
Decals, pipes, brakes and throttle
and the clutch set up session.
Bracket Fabrication Time !
Next Step Decals and Finish Touches,
Load into Trailer then roadtrip to
Pomeroy Washington....
10th ANNUAL
Mount
Misery Snowdrifter's
Vintage Snowmobile Show-N-Ride
Pomeroy,
Washington - ROSE SPRINGS SNO PARK
February
18th, 2012
2012 WINNER - Race Sled
NAME: Joel Wheeler
MODEL: 1976 TX MOD STOCK III Custom
MAKE: Polaris
CLASS: Race
Thank You
Willie & Emily Ruchert
Special
Thanks to Perry Hesteness
A
POLARIS IS BORN !
~Delivery Session~
click above for video
Now time for some Finishing Touches
Add the rest of decals, then cut the
back of the hood.
1975 Polaris PDC Red Stripes on the
sides of the Blue Paint.
# 75
Champion Spark Plug decals were common
on the Factory Race Sleds.
Sand the edge with a little 400 grit
Rubber edge fitted into place.
This Sno Pro USA Unit is custom made
from an original 1976 Polaris TX 440.
The original 1976 Starfire
Seat, Chrome Tunnel Grab Handles & the Starfire Handlebar Loop
were added. These items
were on the 1976 Polaris TX Starfire 250's & 340's.
In '76 Polaris didn't
make the "Starfire" version of a TX in the 440 Class.
Additional Performance parts include:
Bigger Mikini Carbs
Modified Original Polaris Clutch
Endo Twin Pipes
1975 Polaris PDC Twin Hood.
Pre-Midnight Blue Express. . .
PURE Polaris Blue with low-fi metal
flake.
Under the Hood !
Original ENDO Pipes from back in the
day. [ pre Aaen ]
Clean and Simple !
"Ain't She
Sweet"
TX Starfire PDC with the new seat from
Conrad Van Batavia
SEATS BY CONRAD
Specializing in Exact
Duplicate Restorations for Vintage Snowmobiles
csvan@arvig.net
Now the 1976 Starfire has it's seat
back.
POLARIS - Red White and BLUE
Polaris TX 440 F/A MOD and Polaris
TX404 SLP Liquid MOD
On the Trailer and Ready to Show.
Priest River, IDAHO
Vintage Snowmobiles of the Inland Northwest
1976 TX 340 Starfire
- Updated Blue Windshield.
"Quality Gargage Time" Polishing,
Lube - Grease, tighten bolts.
Winter Knights 2012
Sno Pro USA sleds all lined up.
1976 Polaris TX PDC 440,
1976 Polaris TX Starfire 340 MOD, 1979 Ski Doo Blizzard 7500 Plus
POLARIS - Red White and Blue !
1976
POLARIS TX Starfire
"Four Four OH!"
[click
above for youtube video]
RETURN
all rights reserved -
www.snoprousa.com
