TheSamba.com :: View topic

Tue Jan 27, 2009 8:08 am

Guys I bough this sand rail last september. During this thread I will post pictures and parts bought to build this rail. If you comments please post them. You never know when you may get an idea from your fellow builder.

My rail pictures can be found here at

http://www.dirtghost.com/sand/

please stand by for the follow up with pictures not posted on the site.

Tue Jan 27, 2009 9:50 am

ok here is the before pictures.

front

side

This is what we have so far

front beam before mounting on frame for mock up

front in mock up

side veiw in mock up

next is the rear shocks and mounts

I want to thank Bobby and Tommy of Bobby's bug stuff in Reidsville NC for helping me create this monster.

Tue Jan 27, 2009 3:21 pm

What the heck are you doing to that thing? :shock:

Tue Jan 27, 2009 3:22 pm

Having a bit of fun

Tue Jan 27, 2009 4:14 pm

Did I really count 3 dead bugs in your photos? What the heck is going on in North Cackalacka?

Tue Jan 27, 2009 4:31 pm

Lotrat wrote: Did I really count 3 dead bugs in your photos? What the heck is going on in North Cackalacka?

The one up on the hill is "VW Yard Art".

Tue Jan 27, 2009 4:50 pm

Yes we work out of a VW salvage yard. It is where all the parts come in from.

Tue Jan 27, 2009 5:33 pm

Just curious. Why did you push the front that far forward?

Tue Jan 27, 2009 5:36 pm

The wheel base was 89 inches before we started on it. It is now 108 inches.
I do not plan on getting this into serious off roading. Just having a good time on the beach will be about it.

Tue Jan 27, 2009 5:38 pm

Don't get me wrong, I think it looks BA, just not quite understanding the 20" push forward. I thought the shorter the wheel base the tighter the turn radius. Or are you trying to make it for higher speeds on straight shots?

Tue Jan 27, 2009 5:40 pm

When this project started it was a swing axle car. It "walked " in the curves. Now it is a IRS and longer for ride on road I hope to be a little softer ride.

Tue Jan 27, 2009 7:57 pm

whats your caster angle like? it looks to be about 3 to 4 degrees past zero the wrong direction.... could just be the picture

Tue Jan 27, 2009 8:07 pm

Looks great, my rail is 108" and it rides decent for stock suspension. Keep the pics coming.

Tue Jan 27, 2009 8:25 pm

90xjlimited4x4 wrote: whats your caster angle like? it looks to be about 3 to 4 degrees past zero the wrong direction.... could just be the picture

caster is correct. checked and re checked before stretched

Tue Jan 27, 2009 8:25 pm

DSTMULE wrote: Looks great, my rail is 108" and it rides decent for stock suspension. Keep the pics coming.

thanks that is worth knowing

Wed Jan 28, 2009 5:09 am

A side veiw for your veiwing pleasure

and her butt

Wed Jan 28, 2009 7:05 am

The added length isn't going to be an issue for you out on the beach, get it on a tight trail and you'll really notice the difference though. You've got nice suspension componets starting off. The chassis looks like a Berrin, my last rail was very similar. It's a good design but IMO a bit lacking on bracing, especially with the travel you're going to end up with out of those tubular arms. On my last rail I ended up adding additional tubes from the steering wheel crossmember to the front torsion amoung others because the desert out here tore the frame to shreds. With the added length, that's probably a must if you plan on using the travel you're going to end up with. If you're just out in the sand than it's probably ok as it is but if I was a bettin man, I'd lay odds that you'll have it out one day jumping it in the woods. The extra strength will really help, especially if you drop in a big motor. Get the fuel tank as low as you can, it will help lessen the chassis roll in the turns.

Keep us posted with pics.

Wed Jan 28, 2009 7:29 am

Thank you for the info . The bracing is not finished yet. We are going to add a center steer with a stock box. We will be adding a brace to tie the top of the frame from side to side about where the rail was lengthen. We have more bars to put in top to bottom in the same area. I will not run this in the woods on any trails. I have way too much invested in it to do that to it.

The fuel tank will be a custom tank made of stainless mounted right over the transmission. About 8 to 10 gallons. Size of tank 16 x 6.5 x 24 . 4 shocks on the rear 2 per side. Also will have limit strap on rear to go along with that.

The frame is a late 70's design from East Coast sandrails . The guy down there was able to give me all the design specs off the old rail. He is excited to see what is going on with an old creation.

Lucky for me I work for a laser cut operation out of Greensboro NC to be able to design all the flat metal parts and have them precision cut there too.

Wed Jan 28, 2009 10:14 am

DirtGhost wrote:
Lucky for me I work for a laser cut operation out of Greensboro NC to be able to design all the flat metal parts and have them precision cut there too.

Just being able to cut your parts out on a laser cutting bed is half the battle when it comes to fabbing stuff up. I was going to turn you on to a Stockcar company back east I get all my tabs & stuff but thats a non issue with where you work. Good luck on the build.

Wed Jan 28, 2009 10:18 am

If you have a dxf file you want cut or and Idea I can get it across the laser for a fee.