Make, Model & Year: 1981 Scorpion Sidewinder
Fondly known as: “Winder”
Snowmobile cost: Hundreds
Engine: Original 440cc l/c engine. Engine has been trail-ported and polished by Lowell Horning. Nikasil replated with matching pistons by Millenium Technologies.
Intake: Twin 34mm Mikunis with UFOs, torque wings and Dial-A-Jets.
Exhaust: Aaen dual pipes.
Drivetrain: Original track and gearing. Comet 108EXP primary clutch. Original Artic Cat reverse cam secondary with Lencco billet aluminum roller cover and Dalton 48/44 billet helix.
Tunnel/Chassis Modifications: None
Suspension: Stock leaf springs and rear suspension.
Brakes: Stock mechanical calipers
Finish – Paint: Many powder coated parts. Tunnel, chasis and belly pan all repainted. Dash/console also repainted black instead of grey.
Accessories: Digatron EGT setup. Ignition is a capacitor ignition using Nology Hotwires and silver electrode plugs.
14 Comments
Good looking, and I see you ride it also.
Thank you Matteo! Yes, it’s no trailer queen lol!
I owned 1 of these and wish I still had it… This one looks great! Kudos.
You really did do a great job! She looks fantastic!
Beautiful sled! I would die for some more information on the ignition setup you used.
Thanks Curt. Wires use a capacitor instead of a resistor. They release energy instead of block it. The plugs have a silver electrode and no resistor. Provides better, more powerful spark energy and flame front over OEM.
I notice you dont have the front nose cone if intrested i do have a mold to make one. Excellent job. Looks awesome
Thanks Gary! After this was posted last year. In the summer I found a guy that makes re-pop cones. So I have one on there now.
Hello Greg .. first off very nice ! Hats off to you. I do have a ? Long shot but do you know of any place or anyone that is making the hood for the sidewinder? Thanks
Thank you Dave. I owned this sled about 10 years now. I’ve rarely seen anyone remaking the hoods and don’t remember the last place I saw one. Sometimes guys have made the bellypan. If it’s not to damaged, my recommendation would be to try to repair the fiberglass yourself or find and independent body shop that could do it for a reasonable price. Otherwise, the 1984 Artic Cat El Tigre hoods are very similar but not the same.
Greg another question on your build… did you replace the track? If so what track did you use? With my figures I’m being told a camso 9796t but when I check fitment with sites they say it doesn’t fit my sidewinder or the el tigre 6000. Any thoughts thanks
Hi Dave. No. I did not but would like to as I need more traction and don’t like using studs. Also, no that track will not work. It’s for the Yamaha skids which are 9″ wide on center. These Artic Cat skids are considered 8″ on center. You could, I suppose, retrofit a Yamaha skid into the Sidewinder and then use that track.
There is a company out of Canada that has started mfg new tracks to fit these older sleds. However they started with the 9″ on center tracks (Yamaha) first. I asked them when they might make the 8″ ones…they said 2024. So something might be coming in the future.
Hey Greg. Just stumbled upon this old thread. Very nice work on your Sidewinder build! I have an all original Sidewinder which runs pretty well. However, the clutch setup isn’t great. Would you be open to answering a few questions?
Thank you.
Sure Paul.