TheSamba.com :: View topic

Thu Jul 30, 2009 5:10 pm

progress has slowed, but still moving "forward" a bit at a time.

Thu Jul 30, 2009 5:38 pm

Looking good, keep up the hard work!!!

Wed Aug 05, 2009 5:17 am

Reaaly good work. slow is better think about what you want in the end.

Sun Aug 30, 2009 4:04 pm

My coworker came over w/ his welder and we got the IRS installed today which let me put on the gnarly tires I'm so excited about... Need some more tubing to brace it up where the rear shock mounts are but it's in there. Plan to leave the travel / shocks stock in the rear for now due to budget issues. Also re-installed the roof rails.

Sun Aug 30, 2009 7:16 pm

Where'd you get those gnarly tires and what did you pay for them? I just came back from Silver Lakes, MI and I want something in between sand and straight off road tires.

Mon Aug 31, 2009 3:54 am

Get you a set of desert dog tires you will love them !

Mon Aug 31, 2009 6:09 am

the tires are made by Carlisle - I forget the model. They make tires for tractors and stuff - iirc they're 29x12x15 on an 8" wide wheel which makes them round out a little more than usual. They're commonly used on the fork-lifts you see hanging off the back of flat-bed trailers that delvier stuff to construction sites. I got them for $100 from a coworker, but I think they're usually $150 each or so. From what I gather, the hardcore woodsbuggy guys cut them down to make them lighter and more flexable but I think they'll get the job done as-is.

Mon Aug 31, 2009 6:18 am

Desert dogs do not need to be cut down. They are a self cleaning tread. 154.00 each

Sun Sep 27, 2009 8:13 pm

managed to install the rear brakes on one side this weekend. I took it apart earlier last week and found the outer bearing race was split and nfg, so I had to buy a new bearing. removed, cleaned out and repacked the inner, put it all together again w/ new seals. Wound up with a $22 rear brake upgrade over the std type 1 drums... just had to buy new wheel cylinders. They're 24mm pistons, I used the front brakes off the '72 super beetle I got the IRS from as reference. Hopefully the bearings on the other side are in ok shape.

I've also stripped the whole chassis except the inner 2 rails on the floor and the flooring, and made a replacement lower windshield frame cross-ways bar, and B-pillar posts to strengthen windshield frame, as well as the long cross-piece for the roll bar X.

The engine has been run at the shop a few times... opened up the main jet a tiny bit more but have not run it since. It sounds excellent, mechanically. I did order some new flywheel shims to get the end-play down a bit, along with a set of front-beam clamps to repair the front of the chassis with.

Sat Oct 17, 2009 6:35 pm

all wheel bearings repacked, seals replaced, had to replace one of the rear outer bearings due to a fractured inner race. Slowly making the new pieces to strengthen the chassis. Added tubes to the front tires...

Sun Nov 15, 2009 4:11 pm

got the roll-bar Xing fitted (not welded) Also removed front steering in preparation for cutting off the front beam. Brought the engine home and hung it on the tranny to size things up for the rear of the chassis.

Sat Dec 05, 2009 5:37 pm

Sat Dec 05, 2009 6:00 pm

Its lookin good.

Sat Dec 12, 2009 4:41 pm

co-worker Mike came over and we got everything I had made welded in today, except the shoulder harness bars - they're just tacked in because I may need to move them if I opt to get some seats from the junkyard rather than use the (very old) poly seats I currently have. (no one makes covers for them...) I was thinking of using some sturdy foam like they have on the seats on amusement rides, but I'm not sure where to get it. [/img]

Sat Dec 12, 2009 4:43 pm

Sat Dec 12, 2009 7:13 pm

its goin good. this is how we do it in ocala fl. got the 31x15.5x15 in the back. i do like those tires would like to put them in the front for better traction in the mud. keep up the good work.

Sun Apr 18, 2010 5:25 pm

Hows the budget going? You haven't posted in a while. Im in a similar situation and would like to know where you went with this.

Sat Apr 24, 2010 4:33 am

it's going allright, I think I'll still be pretty close to the $1500 mark. I bought a pair of poly seats w/ covers, brackets and tiger belts for $150 at a show last weekend so that was a big chunk, and I probably do need to replace the exhaust I have that came with the buggy because it is so thin, it'll probably blow out in a few places on our first outing. Should be finished this month. (better be! Got a play date and a hall pass memorial day weekend!)

Sat Apr 24, 2010 8:43 am

Nice, I hope to have mine some what ready to ride by next weekend. Ive been having some carb issues, you know how that goes. Good to see the project progressing. Post some updated pics. Here is what I've been working on. If you got any pointers let me know. http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=409725

Fri Apr 30, 2010 7:44 am

supposed to get a lot of work done tomrrow - need to pick up some tubing from the race car shop, had new bends made for front-end upper tubes, two 90' bends for the rear engine cage / bumper and a front bumper bar bent.

front end is complete, just need some new nuts for the tie rod ends. it's been a bit of a project to get sorted out, especially with the broken-off shock mounts on the control arms and buggered up / welded on bolts on the tops. Shocks are gas-charged monroe units that were just under $17 each. We'll see how they do.

Wiring is mostly complete. Additional wires ran for tail lights, brake lights, headlights, CB radio and headlight switch, but that stuff isn't in the budget for this season. fuse panel is a marine 6-gang jobber... pretty nifty.

was going to load pictures but seems they're too big.