Empi Sportster Roll Call

64empi · Posted: Tue Sep 15, 2015 5:25 am Post subject: 64 empi sportster

well, we made it into the gatlinburg mountains area a few days ago. the sportster gave use a few surprises on the way up. first as we were pulling out of rest stop parking space, the right front tie rod end decided to let us know it had lost its retaining nut..... we fixed it with a pair of vice grips till the next exit and bought a few spares.
next we found out our reduction bus transaxle does not like highway speeds for long periods of time, it started puking gear oil out the rear. this happened near the end of the day. so we filled it up the next morning and drove the rest of the trip at 60 m.p.h., seemed to help, it still leaks.
we will be entering the maggy valley vw show this weekend, it should be a hoot.
this a photo of my replacement motor, a 1600 of unknown yr,bought at a swap meet as rebuilt....but that's another story

Image may have been reduced in size. Click image to view fullscreen.

yankee1919 · Posted: Sat Sep 26, 2015 10:29 am Post subject:

Those Empi Sportsters look awesome!

If I can ask to keep the story line short and get more pics!

Glad to hear you all are getting Empi Sportster back on the road.

Tony

BL3Manx · Posted: Wed Sep 30, 2015 11:35 pm Post subject:

Just saw this one for sale in Eugene, one of the nicest I've seen

http://eugene.craigslist.org/snw/5210596795.html

yankee1919 · Posted: Wed Oct 07, 2015 9:42 am Post subject:

I would agree, that is nice. I wonder if the owner is on the Samba?

yankee1919 · Posted: Fri Oct 23, 2015 8:20 am Post subject:

Summer is ending! But where are the Sportsters? Any new pics? Very Happy

vponder · Posted: Sun Oct 25, 2015 5:30 am Post subject:

Just a thought been looking at all these Sportsters, I got to say I'm liking them. Don't know about the wife. But I would have to a have a four seater due to family time. I noticed one for sale in Los Angles CL for 2900 or best offer solid black. Well I think it was nose was flat. But to have one I'd put the Daytona up for sale. That white and red on the net is sharp looking.

yankee1919 · Posted: Tue Oct 27, 2015 3:58 pm Post subject:

VPonder,

Jump in! The will tickle your heart and hurt your wallet!

Many fine pics on The Samba and a lot of reference material.

Try to find one that has all the legal paper work and roll up your sleeve and late night podcast.

Good luck.

Tony

vponder · Posted: Tue Oct 27, 2015 4:29 pm Post subject:

yea I know your right Ive been all over the Samba and Cl looking My state will take a bill of sale. My buggy has a GA title so IM sure that will help when I go to sale it one day.

vponder · Posted: Thu Oct 29, 2015 3:01 pm Post subject:

I found a Sportster on Ebay that was on there last Oct. Was wondering to anyone know if it went to anyone on the Samba. It didn't sale, it was in Blacksburg Vir. It appeared white with a white top. I know that's vague. Had a buddy at work send them a message via Ebay but I doubt they'll see it since their not on there much. It looked like a good starter.

Bill W · Posted: Thu Oct 29, 2015 7:38 pm Post subject:

BL3Manx · Posted: Thu Oct 29, 2015 10:38 pm Post subject:

It might be easier to mount the shocks in the stock location at the top (if you have the shock mounts on the torsion housing) and fabricate a bracket which attaches to the RGB and relocates the lower shock mount below the upper. That's what Johnny Johnson did on his no hop kit

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Bill W · Posted: Fri Oct 30, 2015 10:53 pm Post subject:

BL3Manx · Posted: Fri Oct 30, 2015 11:46 pm Post subject:

That's the Johnny Johnson No-Hop kit which were made back in the 70s and 80s. They improve the handling of a bus transaxle in a sedan chassis. There are threads about them in the off-road forum. You can sometimes come across used ones for sale.

PG Sportster · Posted: Sat Oct 31, 2015 12:09 am Post subject: GRB Shock Mount

Here are some photos of my Sportster. It's has a 65 Type 1 pan and a Type 2 transaxle and GRBs. The shock is at an angle, but doesn't seem too extreme.

You might be able to fabricate an angled shock mount if you're concerned about binding.

I eventually plan to convert back to a standard Type 1 transaxle as my top speed is 55 to 60 mph even with 30x9.50r15s at the rear.

It uses the original spring plates drilled for the GRB so the conversion back shouldn't be too difficult.

yankee1919 · Posted: Thu Nov 05, 2015 3:02 pm Post subject:

Yo! Don't tease! lets check out your Empi Sportster from above! Razz

PG Sportster · Posted: Thu Nov 05, 2015 5:54 pm Post subject: EMPI Sportster

You betcha, check out my photos below.
It has a '65 Type 1 pan, Type 2 transaxle w/GRB and a type 3 pancake engine.

I'm planning to convert to a Type 1 transaxle for a bit more top speed and out the chrome rims to black painted steel smoothies.

yankee1919 · Posted: Mon Nov 16, 2015 2:39 pm Post subject: Re: Empi Sportster Roll Call

Awesome! Are the taillights impala or corvair?

Looks awesome! Very Happy

PG Sportster · Posted: Mon Nov 16, 2015 3:29 pm Post subject: Re: Empi Sportster Roll Call

Thanks.

I believe the taillights are 1964 Impala's, due to the slope. I had a 1962 Corvair Monza and the rear end is more vertical.

I'm in the process of redoing the wheels with used 165/80r15 Michelin ZXZs up front. Much easier to steer and better turn-in than the 215/75r15s.

A bit more retro.

BL3Manx · Posted: Tue Nov 17, 2015 1:12 am Post subject: Re: Empi Sportster Roll Call

Do they still make new ZXZs?

I had a couple of ancient "spares" on a BMW 2002 that the tread separated from the carcass in one big piece.

PG Sportster · Posted: Tue Nov 17, 2015 9:49 am Post subject: Re: Empi Sportster Roll Call

I think you can still get ZXZs from Coker, but they are pricey. Older tires are always a bit of chance. I don't drive too far or too fast with this buggy so I'm not too worried.


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