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Thu Jul 17, 2014 9:00 pm

While recording a few shots for a video I made, I noticed that the engine in my rail is moving quite a bit, and is solid mounted. Is this what is causing my wheel hop issues on full throttle launches? would a couple support rods from the rear main hoop down to the frame horns solve this or is it a sign that something is amiss? It is moving about an inch up and down. The last two (other than the mid engine) rails I had didn't move this much...

Fri Jul 18, 2014 5:52 am

If you have solid mounts, a inch movement is indicating something is wrong, check frame horns for cracks or fatigue, or any other structural problems.... And a set of braces to frame horns from cage assembly probably would not hurt...

Dale

Fri Jul 18, 2014 6:20 am

Could be your hareware for the mount coming loose to.

Fri Jul 18, 2014 7:44 am

watch from 0:39 to about 1:15. you can see how much it moves :shock:

in the hard launch in the corner there is wheel hop, not too bad, but it is there.

i will go tear out the passenger seat and see what i can see.

Fri Jul 18, 2014 7:55 am

with everything going on back there, it almost seems deceptive in a way. Hard to say.
I'd get back there, grab the motor and dead lift it a little bit to see if I could feel something flexing
Maybe the whole torsion housing is flexing

Fri Jul 18, 2014 9:10 am

good vid BTW
I've had my GP for a year and the video I've taken has been lame, but then I haven't been doing anything really exciting except wrenchin' :roll:

Fri Jul 18, 2014 10:26 am

Agree, very cool video. I've started to get into some video editing for my band and it is rather time consuming to say the least. You should be able to reach down and grab the cooled down engine and manhandle it a bit to possibly see where the flex is coming from.

Fri Jul 18, 2014 10:32 am

yeah it was fun making it, but no more riding for me for a couple of weeks... on that first puddle in the vid, i screwed my back up. it has been sensitive to shock and quick movements for a couple weeks. when the rear wheel hit, it caught the edge of the puddle, and the rail went fro moving down to up really quick. so, i will fix some issues while waiting, this flexing being one of them...

Fri Jul 18, 2014 10:35 am

IF you have POLY SEATS, get rid of them, they will hurt you, spend the bucks and get full suspension seats, your back will love you....

Dale

Fri Jul 18, 2014 10:37 am

I Ride Sand wrote: yeah it was fun making it, but no more riding for me for a couple of weeks... on that first puddle in the vid, i screwed my back up. it has been sensitive to shock and quick movements for a couple weeks. when the rear wheel hit, it caught the edge of the puddle, and the rail went fro moving down to up really quick. so, i will fix some issues while waiting, this flexing being one of them...

Sorry to hear about your back. Instead of trying to man handle to find the flex with a sore back. You could remove your engine skid plate/rear cage (if you have one) and put a block of wood under your engine and slowly floor jack it up a little to see if something is loose or cracked.

Fri Jul 18, 2014 10:42 am

Dale M. wrote: IF you have POLY SEATS, get rid of them, the will hurt you, spend the bucks and get full suspension seats, your back will love you....

Dale

i've been looking but so far everything i find are too wide. i am seriously considering building another frame, and if i do, they will be suspension seats. that hurt, and i don't want to be a hobbled over old man when i'm 40.

Fri Jul 18, 2014 11:09 am

This may be of help.
Recent post seat options.

http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=599161

Fri Jul 18, 2014 12:14 pm

use "searchtempest" to do a wide area craigslist search for Mazda Miata seats. I went from poly seats to Miata seats and it was night and day difference. $100 for really nice leather with only one scratch, another $29 for waterproof covers from Cabelas and I couldn't be happier.

Fri Jul 18, 2014 12:17 pm

how are they on height? I went with the poly just because i had them and built the mounts to fit, but i could just barely get them low enough. another inch taller and i will be banging my helmet on the cage. :? another strike for a new chassis...

Fri Jul 18, 2014 12:25 pm

It may be easier to raise the roof and cross brace this chassis and build it to fit you, vs a new chassis, which you also may have to alter for height. A suspension seat will require about 4 inch additional ht than a poly seat, unless the existing seats are mounted on rails.

Fri Jul 18, 2014 1:03 pm

I've actually built one from scratch before, you can see it in my gallery. it really isn't a much bigger project to build another chassis vs. rebuild the cage on the old. plus, i could start with the irs torsion i have, make it wider for better seats, taller for headroom, fix the engine ground clearance issue, and have a straight frame (this one is twisted)... but i just got this one going... #-o
maybe this winter....

Fri Jul 18, 2014 6:09 pm

They are actually a bit shorter than the poly seats by about a 1/4" butt height from floor, and a full 4" shorter from the top of seat to floor.

Fri Jul 18, 2014 6:30 pm

Yes, but when you sit in the suspension seat the bottom springs down another 3 1/2 + inches, at least my 200 lbs does on a Beard seat.

Tue Jul 22, 2014 6:53 am

Wow you are right, it looks like those frame horns are dancing around quite a bit back there! I'd tie them into the rear cage and stiffen it all up. Last thing you want to happen is they crack and the engine starts sagging out the back.

Tue Jul 22, 2014 8:17 am

Well, I think I found the problem. The welds on top of the end castings on the torsion tube that connect the roll cage are broken. Only 3 welds are keeping the torsion in the buggy. :shock: I will have to fix that...