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Manx Style Dune Buggy Build (Litha Mark III)
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wvbowtieman
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PostPosted: Tue Jan 04, 2011 9:57 am    Post subject: Manx Style Dune Buggy Build (Litha Mark III) Reply with quote

This is my new project for 2011...It will be a NOS Litha Mark III fiberglass Dune Buggy body on a 1960 Type I pan. I am new to the VW crowd but have the pleasure of knowing joescoolcustoms who has done about everything that can be done to a VW. I did build a 1973 Super Beetle Baja back in the 1980's but have just about forgotten everything about VW's since then. I typically work with Chevrolets (wvbowtieman). I own a 1961 Corvette (Frame Off Restoration completed 1999), 1970 Camaro Bracket Drag Car, (Racing since 1993) and probaly have owned over 150 Other cars since I was 15 years old (Mostly Chevrolet). This Buggy will be built to drive on road and maybe to the beach once in awhile. Motor will be a 1641 with weber 2 brl progressive carb. All new suspension, Brakes ,Brake Lines, Brake Cables, Fuel Cable, Master cylinder, Shocks, Fuel Lines, Oil Pressure Lines, Everything will be Sandblasted and restored. Pan will be painted and truck bedliner will be applied to the top and bottom of the pan. Wheels will be American Racing Torque Thrusts 15"x8.5" rears and 14"x 7" fronts with vintage looking 2 bar Knockoff centers. I am not sure of a color at this time but I am leaning towards a PPG color used on Stacey David's GEARS Rat Roaster project...Kind of a Jolly Rancher Apple Green Metallic. I will try to keep photos of the work in progress if all goes well with the downloads. Applause
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snowymonkey
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PostPosted: Tue Jan 04, 2011 1:46 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Awsome another Lithia MK III Cool . I'm finishing mine up Very Happy I'd love to see some pics of the body.
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joescoolcustoms
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PostPosted: Wed Jan 05, 2011 12:19 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Congrats on the first post David!

To post up your picture, open up your picture on the samba, (VW ony related pictures) and copy the top link titled "Direct Photo Link". Come back to your thread and open up a reply and click on the button just above the message body when typing the response titled "Img", then paste the direct photo link, and press the "Img" button again to end the photo. Each photo has to have the "Img" framing the photo to post. It will show "img" the image digital link "/img".

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I found the body in NOS form about 3 years ago here on the Samba and bought it in The Plains Ohio form the tryke builder. I bought the pan near Ashville NC. It did take some convincing mostly of his daughter to get him back into VW's.

He forgot to mention he finished a full tilt '68 Baja with one piece front end, full cage back about '87 to '88 and also a few VW powered rail buggies for the mud/woods.

Here is the body when I first got it.

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Bad News Racing 2018 NORRA 1000 3rd in Class
Best Day Ever Racing 2022 NORRA 1000 2nd in Class and first All Female team to complete the race

Everyone is gifted. Some just do not open the package.

Looks like it was painted with a live chicken,polished with a brick and buffed with a pine cone
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wythac
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PostPosted: Wed Jan 05, 2011 7:52 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Nice looking body. I think I recall seeing some pictures of that posted here awhile back. It's going to be a great car. Good luck and welcome.
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snowymonkey
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PostPosted: Wed Jan 05, 2011 1:13 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Do either of you have any of the literature that goes with the Lithia buggies?
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joescoolcustoms
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PostPosted: Wed Jan 05, 2011 1:26 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

snowymonkey wrote:
Do either of you have any of the literature that goes with the Lithia buggies?


I did not get anything with the body except the body when I bought it. The PO told me he picked it up in Georgia. It has never been drilled, cut or hood mounted.
_________________
Bad News Racing 2018 NORRA 1000 3rd in Class
Best Day Ever Racing 2022 NORRA 1000 2nd in Class and first All Female team to complete the race

Everyone is gifted. Some just do not open the package.

Looks like it was painted with a live chicken,polished with a brick and buffed with a pine cone
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wvbowtieman
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PostPosted: Sun Jan 09, 2011 4:57 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Worked on the Buggy this weekend....Restored the Brake/Clutch peddle asembly. Restored the front brake backing plates and installed new Wheel cylinders, Brake shoes, Hardware....Also cleaned up welds and stripped rear suspension for painting. Smile

Went Saturday to Keith's Volkswagon with joescoolcustoms and picked up some goodies....
New chrome tie rod set.
New front shocks.
New front Wheel cylinders.
New front Brake shoes.
New front wheel bearings and seals.
New Billet gas peddle/roller.
New front beam adjusters. (Will be installed by joescoolcustoms)
New Throttle cable.
New polyurethane front snubbers. (black)
New caster shims and long bolts.
New front brake flex lines and c-clips.
New Brake/Clutch VW pads.
New Aluminum front spindle lock nuts.[/img]
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wvbowtieman
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PostPosted: Sun Jan 09, 2011 5:15 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

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Before and after photo's....
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jspbtown
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PostPosted: Sun Jan 09, 2011 5:44 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

What year (or type) brakes are those? I have never seen a spring arrangment like that coming off the adjuster.
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wvbowtieman
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PostPosted: Sun Jan 09, 2011 5:55 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

These brakes are from a 51 to 57 link and pin....Keith's VW had a little time in locating front shoes for this setup....brake shoe was for a 55 to 57 type 1.
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scott9398
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PostPosted: Sat Jan 22, 2011 9:46 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

OK! I am going to throw down the unfair advantage flag. For all those who didn't notice the picture. He is working on a lift in his home garage. And don't let is humble nature fool you, that '61 Vette, is awsome, and his Camaro is sweet. This guy knows more about Chevy's than most, so don't cut him any slack on this build. This buggy will be really cool when it is done. Can't wait to see it.
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wvbowtieman
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PostPosted: Tue Jan 25, 2011 1:21 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

More work on the Buggy this weekend....Cut and installed new front beam adjusters. This was not too hard to do....Well thanks to joescoolcustoms.
Also ordered my 1" x 2" steel tubing to add a little body lift and to avoid any flex in the pan. This lift will also be used to tie in the roll bar/cage.
Plans are to run the wiring through the lift using 3/4" round steel tubing to feed the wires through so no wires will be visable. (This is the idea anyway)
Some pictures of the front beam being narrowed. Smile

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This is me....I did go on a diet after seeing this photo... Shocked
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joescoolcustoms
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PostPosted: Tue Jan 25, 2011 2:51 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Quote:
This is me....I did go on a diet after seeing this photo...


And I bought some Rogaine after seeing my photo.
_________________
Bad News Racing 2018 NORRA 1000 3rd in Class
Best Day Ever Racing 2022 NORRA 1000 2nd in Class and first All Female team to complete the race

Everyone is gifted. Some just do not open the package.

Looks like it was painted with a live chicken,polished with a brick and buffed with a pine cone
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wvbowtieman
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PostPosted: Mon Feb 07, 2011 12:15 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Worked on the Buggy the last couple of weekends. Started the fabrication of the 1" x 2" rect. tubing for the body lift/chassis stiffner and also will be used to tie into the roll cage. Welded in the battery box I got from Jegs...this battery box was a perfect fit and compact.


Battery Box

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I will be welding in 1/2" tubing for the body/pan mounting bolts...this will keep from crushing the 1" x 2" rect. tubing when tightening bolts from the body to the pan. Also I will be running some 3/4" tubing inside the Body Lift/Chassis Stiffner to hide any wiring to the motor/lights. Laughing
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tinnocker
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PostPosted: Mon Feb 07, 2011 2:40 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

"I will be welding in 1/2" tubing for the body/pan mounting bolts...this will keep from crushing the 1" x 2" rect. tubing when tightening bolts"

I drilled holes all the way thru the tubing and dropped a 3/8" rod coupling in the hole. I then plug welded the bottom of the coupling and welded around the coupling on top. I ground the plug weld on the bottom flat so I have a smooth bottom with no bolts showing and I have threaded holes on top to bolt my body to.
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scott9398
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PostPosted: Mon Feb 07, 2011 4:22 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

How is that new welder working for you. All the welds in the pictures look great.
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wvbowtieman
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PostPosted: Tue Feb 08, 2011 8:10 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Hey Scott...Same old Hobart welder...Kinked gas line stopped gas from reaching the welds...working fine now as you can see...glad Joe came over and found the problem. Very Happy Saved a few bucks to put into the Buggy!
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heywebonya
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PostPosted: Tue Feb 08, 2011 10:43 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Looks great, what taillights are you considering? It looks like a candidate for Corvette type LEDs.

Jeff
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wvbowtieman
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PostPosted: Tue Feb 08, 2011 2:18 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

heywebonya
I was going to use a very nice set of old school 71 Vega GT taillights but I have had some thoughts of using some custom LED lights...I do like the C5 Corvette LED"S. Many threads here talk about needing a little brighter taillights in there buggies. I used these Vega lights in a Baja build and was never really happy with their illumination... Think
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Guz Motorsports
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PostPosted: Wed Feb 09, 2011 10:28 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Congratulations man, your job is outstandig!

And those before and after pics are great, it reminds me of those pics of before and after that show a bikini girl after taking those miracle pills for loosing weight!! LOL!!
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