V-8 Snowblower Turns Heads

2006 - Volume #30, Issue #1, Page #43

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f you spend much time on the internet, you might have already seen this amazing snowblower powered by a 454 cu. in. Chevy engine. Pictures of it have been going around for the past couple of months.
    Builder Kai Grundt says the project originally started out as a dare with his neighbor - purely for fun. Due to the high cost of components, he never dreamed there would be a commercial market for this rig, but he was seriously mistaken. He and a business partner, Kerry Phibbs, now build and sell the big blowers and they're overwhelmed with orders.
    Besides the testosterone rush the big blower provides, reliability is a key selling point. No more slipping and burning drive belts. No more choking on exhaust fumes. No more cold hands. And no more yearning for more power.
    "It'll never let you down," says Grundt. "Instead of drive belts, it has a hydraulic drive motor and two smaller hydraulic motors to control steering."
    The 454 cu. in. Chev. block produces 412 hp, 430 ft.-lbs. of torque, and it can throw snow 50 ft. at 3,500 rpm's. There's even power to pull a car out of a ditch.
    To keep your fingers warm, engine coolant circulates through the handle bars. A thermostatically-controlled electric fan blows the warm air from the engine onto the operator, keeping him toasty warm.
    Maneuverability isn't sacrificed on this 912-lb., perfectly balanced monster, thanks to the hydraulic-drive 4-WD skid steer drive wheels on independent walking beams. It has a zero turning radius, and you can walk the auger over curbs or steps with very little effort.
    This rig has full instrumentation with back lit, marine-style gauges that are weather and water resistant. It also includes a flashing blue safety light.
    Twin exhausts with standard baffling produce a minimum of 92 decibels, so hearing protection is strongly recommended.
    Since each V-8 blower is custom-built, the options are unlimited. For example, the auger choices range from single to multi-stage designs. Any make of motor is a possibility, and a V-10 or diesel engine with remote start are equally available.
    The standard V-8 Snowblower is priced at close to $30,000 (Can.) but because almost any customization is possible, the sky is the limit on price. Phibbs says they are currently swamped with orders, including one with a price tag of $42,000.
    Orders so far have been exclusively south of the border, he says. Being proud Canadians, the buddies buy almost 100 percent of their components from Canada.
    "It's a tool that makes wintertime fun," Grundt says. "It's certainly very unique, and it gives the total impression that you're wearing the big daddy pants in the neighborhood. I had no idea there were so many people who could afford something like this."
    It makes sense that a snowblower of this magnitude would be invented in Canada, since it was a Canadian who, in 1925, invented the world's first snowblower.
    Contact: FARM SHOW Followup, Kai Grundt, 32 Sellens Ave., Bracebridge, Ontario, Canada P1L 1R3 (info@ v8snowblowers.com or sales@v8snowblowers.com; www.v8snowblowers.com).

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V-8 Snowblower Turns Heads SNOWBLOWERS Snowblowers f you spend much time on the internet you might have already seen this amazing snowblower powered by a 454 cu in Chevy engine Pictures of it have been going around for the past couple of months Builder Kai Grundt says the project originally started out as a dare with his neighbor - purely for fun Due to the high cost of components he never dreamed there would be a commercial market for this rig but he was seriously mistaken He and a business partner Kerry Phibbs now build and sell the big blowers and they re overwhelmed with orders Besides the testosterone rush the big blower provides reliability is a key selling point No more slipping and burning drive belts No more choking on exhaust fumes No more cold hands And no more yearning for more power It ll never let you down says Grundt Instead of drive belts it has a hydraulic drive motor and two smaller hydraulic motors to control steering The 454 cu in Chev block produces 412 hp 430 ft -lbs of torque and it can throw snow 50 ft at 3 500 rpm s There s even power to pull a car out of a ditch To keep your fingers warm engine coolant circulates through the handle bars A thermostatically-controlled electric fan blows the warm air from the engine onto the operator keeping him toasty warm Maneuverability isn t sacrificed on this 912-lb perfectly balanced monster thanks to the hydraulic-drive 4-WD skid steer drive wheels on independent walking beams It has a zero turning radius and you can walk the auger over curbs or steps with very little effort This rig has full instrumentation with back lit marine-style gauges that are weather and water resistant It also includes a flashing blue safety light Twin exhausts with standard baffling produce a minimum of 92 decibels so hearing protection is strongly recommended Since each V-8 blower is custom-built the options are unlimited For example the auger choices range from single to multi-stage designs Any make of motor is a possibility and a V-10 or diesel engine with remote start are equally available The standard V-8 Snowblower is priced at close to $30 000 Can but because almost any customization is possible the sky is the limit on price Phibbs says they are currently swamped with orders including one with a price tag of $42 000 Orders so far have been exclusively south of the border he says Being proud Canadians the buddies buy almost 100 percent of their components from Canada It s a tool that makes wintertime fun Grundt says It s certainly very unique and it gives the total impression that you re wearing the big daddy pants in the neighborhood I had no idea there were so many people who could afford something like this It makes sense that a snowblower of this magnitude would be invented in Canada since it was a Canadian who in 1925 invented the world s first snowblower Contact: FARM SHOW Followup Kai Grundt 32 Sellens Ave Bracebridge Ontario Canada P1L 1R3 info@ v8snowblowers com or sales@v8snowblowers com; www v8snowblowers com

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