1992 Polaris Indy 500 SP EFI

What was your intended objective when you started the build?

The plan was to build this barn find into a racer as fast and cheap as possible, but I ended up putting the extra time into it to make it look really nice.

What motivated you to start your project?

I was itching to find a shop project for school, and my shop teacher had been wanting to work on this sled with a student. I’ve only ever worked on motorcycles and ATV’s, but I’ve done snowmobile pit crew for ice races, and a sled build was very appealing to me. I asked him to bring it in, and he did. This sled was a literal barn find, and I couldn’t have been happier to take this chicken infested pile of spare parts and turn it into a respectable sled. Mr. Lendobeja and I both have a passion for saving condemned projects, instead of destroying them. This sled was a great learning experience, and one more trashed sled saved from the grave yard.

What was the most unique and creative thing you did to the sled?

I engineered and machined a push-pull torque stop for the motor. It mounts on the electric start holes in the motor, and connects to the front bulkhead of the chassis so the motor flexes less. This improves belt life, and it looks sweet. I also welded an aluminum battery box to replace the rusty steel one.

What are you most proud of?

This sled is one of the first EFI sleds ever produced, and it was bought non-running. Getting it to run was a challenge, as the first computer we tried was junk, but now it runs great. I’m proud that I was able to get a non-running EFI sled from the 90’s to run, and that I was able to finish the project when other students thought I couldn’t.

What do other people say about your snowmobile?

Others say that it looks a whole lot nicer than it started, and that they want me to work on their sleds for them.

Videos

4 Comments

Paul Lendobeja says:

April 12, 2021 at 9:06 am

Adam, Nice job….. Saved 1 more sled from the scrap pile…..

Reply
RICHARD IRISH says:

September 3, 2022 at 4:29 pm

Once the slut is warmed up I have a hard time starting it

Reply
RICHARD IRISH says:

September 3, 2022 at 4:30 pm

Once the sled is warmed up I have a hard time starting it. Have to keep pulling starter rope faster and faster

Reply
anonymous says:

February 16, 2026 at 10:34 am

5

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Submitted by: Adam H

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Specifics

Classification: Mild

Make, Model & Year: 1992 Polaris Indy 500 SP EFI

Fondly known as: Mean Mistreater 7

Time spent: at least 320

Snowmobile cost: $150

Money spent: About $290, $150 for the used engine, and most of the rest was parts from Dennis Kirk.

Engine: Fuji 488 liquid cooled, 75hp, EFI

Intake: EFI, oil injected

Exhaust: Finish: rusty, with all the holes welded up. It came out of a carb parts sled, so I’d imagine there’s more power to be gained with the correct tuned pipe that originally came on the EFI sleds. I’m in the process of cutting the baffle off another stock pipe to make a side exit exhaust with a can on it for a different sound, look, and maybe even a little more power.

Drivetrain: Stock everything. New sliders from Dennis Kirk

Tunnel/Chassis Modifications: Push-pull torque stop from front bulkhead to motor.

Suspension: Stock, but painted. All new bearings in the rear end.

Brakes: Stock, but with an extended braided brake line from Dennis Kirk.

Finish – Paint: Color was kept as stock as possible. Areas where the paint had worn off were repainted, rusty areas were wire wheeled and painted. Almost all the hardware is stock, but has been cleaned up with a wire wheel, and clear coated to add more character than new hardware.

Accessories: Rox bar risers