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Nairod Samba Member
Joined: April 23, 2019 Posts: 28 Location: NV
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Posted: Sat Feb 08, 2020 2:24 am Post subject: Changing/swapping hood style, can I do it? |
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I have started rebuilding a very rough buggy with a sort of Mercedes grill shape to the hood. I do not like the look at all. I can hardly bear it.
I've tried hunting around in this forum but have not seen anything about a complete hood swap. I have some questions, I sure hope you guys have the answers.
1. Are hoods mostly all compatible where they contact the dash and the fenders? Will they fit the body without much alteration, it is just the nose design that is different?
2. Are there sources for aftermarket hoods? I am looking for the sleek nose look, like Manxes and their clones.
3. Anyone reshaped a bulbous Mercedes-ish hood into a nice looking streamlined one?
I would be willing (very) to swap if my hood is considered to be desirable in some applications.
Thanks!
PS I see there is a way to show a quote from a response in your own response, it's in a box so you can tell where it came from. How can I do that? |
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Dal Churchill Samba Member
Joined: November 10, 2008 Posts: 275 Location: Catalunya, Spain. Originally England UK.
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Posted: Sat Feb 08, 2020 2:36 am Post subject: Re: Changing/swapping hood style, can I do it? |
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Before anyone can help we'd have to know which buggy you have. Photos would be a huge help.
There's a "Quote" button in the top right corner of a person's post that you can use. Simply delete the bits you don't need and then add your own response underneath. _________________ 1974 Beetle. Bus/Porsche/Rover V8 (Buick 215ci) Baja. (Unfinished project)
1979 Beetle. 1641. Ex-Modern Day Luftwaffe Airfield Radio Car. (Daily driver) |
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ALB Samba Member
Joined: August 05, 2008 Posts: 3483 Location: beautiful suburban Wet Coast of Canada
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Posted: Sat Feb 08, 2020 7:04 am Post subject: Re: Changing/swapping hood style, can I do it? |
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I don't blame you for not liking the hood your buggy has, they're pretty f'ugly! I think you're going to have to take some measurements and hunt down the different buggy manufacturers to see how close a fit you can find to what you have. If you can't find one that fits exactly but has the lines you want you'll have to take one that's close, cut it up and glass it back together to make it fit. If you've never done anything with fiberglass it may sound a little daunting, but with a little work you can totally reconfigure a hood to fit another car. We've taken hoods and made them narrower, wider, longer and shorter- all for different offroad racing tube frame buggies friends built. It just depended on the layout of the car and the hood we could get at the time.
If you end up going this route and need some advice, feel free to pm me and I'll walk you through it. Al _________________ On a lifelong mission to prove (much to my wife's dismay) that Immaturity is Forever!! |
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Nairod Samba Member
Joined: April 23, 2019 Posts: 28 Location: NV
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Posted: Sat Feb 08, 2020 1:27 pm Post subject: Re: Changing/swapping hood style, can I do it? |
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Dal Churchill wrote: |
There's a "Quote" button in the top right corner of a person's post that you can use. Simply delete the bits you don't need and then add your own response underneath. |
I did it! Thanks, Dal
This may be a dune runner "mini Mercedes"?
ALB, thanks for the offer to advise. I don't know how to PM. Who thought fixing a dune buggy would require computer skills?
If I rework the hood, it has to end up looking symmetrical and properly proportioned or I will hate it. I'm daunted at the apparent difficulty of taking that existing hood and making it look like a reasonable facsimile of a Manx nose.
Just to make it more challenging, I'd really also like to make it an opening hood, for gas fill and access to wiring. I have not seen much on this tactic either in my searching. |
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Busted Knuckle Garage Samba Member
Joined: November 22, 2019 Posts: 71 Location: Northlawrence Ohio
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Posted: Sat Feb 08, 2020 6:56 pm Post subject: Re: Changing/swapping hood style, can I do it? |
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Have you considered just finding another body more to you're liking? Seems like it would be a lot less work.
Good luck whatever you do.
Frank _________________ Frank |
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Nairod Samba Member
Joined: April 23, 2019 Posts: 28 Location: NV
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Posted: Sat Feb 08, 2020 10:57 pm Post subject: Re: Changing/swapping hood style, can I do it? |
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Busted Knuckle Garage wrote: |
Have you considered just finding another body more to you're liking? Seems like it would be a lot less work.
Good luck whatever you do.
Frank |
You know, Frank, I just don't want to start all over. I'd sooner just keep the ugly hood than go through all the extra hassle (I'm 70...) Gets tougher every day.
I'm mostly excited about getting my 2 grand daughters to drive it - they're 14 and 16 and it's gonna be a lot different from a Civic Hybrid. |
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Dal Churchill Samba Member
Joined: November 10, 2008 Posts: 275 Location: Catalunya, Spain. Originally England UK.
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Posted: Sun Feb 09, 2020 2:57 am Post subject: Re: Changing/swapping hood style, can I do it? |
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It's a Dune Runner with the "Mini Mercedes" hood. They made various hoods and bodies that were interchangeable but whether you'd find an alternative hood for sale today I don't know. A hood from another manufacturer could be persuaded to fit but it'd be a gamble if you couldn't try before you buy.
If it were me I'd military/expedition style it. I'd add a light bar and custom made load carrier to disguise that front. I might be tempted to cut out the radiator hump and re-glass it smooth but I'd keep the extra nose height for improved fuel tank space. I think it'd look a little like a Thing front end, maybe with some riveted on load rubbing strips to disguise any joins.
Whatever way you go with it, good luck with the build and please use this thread to keep us updated! _________________ 1974 Beetle. Bus/Porsche/Rover V8 (Buick 215ci) Baja. (Unfinished project)
1979 Beetle. 1641. Ex-Modern Day Luftwaffe Airfield Radio Car. (Daily driver) |
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oprn Samba Member
Joined: November 13, 2016 Posts: 12730 Location: Western Canada
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Posted: Sun Feb 09, 2020 3:42 am Post subject: Re: Changing/swapping hood style, can I do it? |
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Those hoods are kind of butt ugly for sure. I am not sure what a previous owner had in it for an engine but he cut a huge chunk out of the rear apron to accommodate it and a big hole in the rear seat upright for the rad I suspect. You could use a bunch of fiberglass work there as there will be very little strength left in that part of the body.
I would suggest taking pictures of this body around to some body shops, boat shops or even a canoe builder for ideas and estimates on getting it to where you want it. Fiberglass work can be a bit of a daunting task to a beginner for sure!
Good on you for wanting to share this Buggy with the young folks. Teach them to drive a stick because it's becoming a lost art. The poop eating grins will be worth every penny!
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Busted Knuckle Garage Samba Member
Joined: November 22, 2019 Posts: 71 Location: Northlawrence Ohio
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Posted: Sun Feb 09, 2020 5:40 am Post subject: Re: Changing/swapping hood style, can I do it? |
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Nairod wrote: |
Busted Knuckle Garage wrote: |
Have you considered just finding another body more to you're liking? Seems like it would be a lot less work.
Good luck whatever you do.
Frank |
You know, Frank, I just don't want to start all over. I'd sooner just keep the ugly hood than go through all the extra hassle (I'm 70...) Gets tougher every day.
I'm mostly excited about getting my 2 grand daughters to drive it - they're 14 and 16 and it's gonna be a lot different from a Civic Hybrid. |
I am not much behind you at 67. I love the old stuff I have accumulated over the years and love sharing it with any young folks.
I have an old Club Car golf cart that looks the same in the front as you're buggy does. I have always wanted to build some kind of custom grille for it. Maybe adapt a grill off of something of build something out of round bars. That large face could turn into a canvass for some creative thinking.
Good luck.
Frank _________________ Frank |
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ALB Samba Member
Joined: August 05, 2008 Posts: 3483 Location: beautiful suburban Wet Coast of Canada
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Posted: Sun Feb 09, 2020 5:57 am Post subject: Re: Changing/swapping hood style, can I do it? |
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See the things you're learning already- who says you can't teach an old dog new tricks! And I ain't no spring chicken either (I'm 63- where did the time go?) so don't worry, you're in good company. If you look at the bottom of anyone's post you'll see a PM button- click on it and you then can start a private conversation. I've PM'd you already, so look at the top of the page and click on where it says you have a new message.
Even just wiping off the raised area for the grille on that hood would be an improvement. And if you cut down the sides- oh, I'm getting so far ahead of my self here! Al _________________ On a lifelong mission to prove (much to my wife's dismay) that Immaturity is Forever!! |
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rayjay Samba Member
Joined: March 26, 2008 Posts: 1506 Location: Buford GA
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Posted: Sun Feb 09, 2020 6:13 am Post subject: Re: Changing/swapping hood style, can I do it? |
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In the Samba Off Road classifieds there's at least one guy in NV advertising used fiberglass buggy bodies and projects all the time so you might could find something you like better.
Plan B. Just finish what you have and wait and see if a hood shows up. With a custom tubular bumper and some fog lights you could hide the center of the hood. |
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Dale M. Samba Member
Joined: April 12, 2006 Posts: 20379 Location: Just a tiny bit west of Yosemite Valley
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Posted: Sun Feb 09, 2020 10:13 am Post subject: Re: Changing/swapping hood style, can I do it? |
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Big chunk missing out of rear of body is easily repairable....
Hood, well yes it's ugly but if you can find decent used hood you can probably make it fit....
Have you actually studied how to do FG repairs.... I have repaired a few boats and buggy bodies, yes it dirty work, but If you make a mistake, you just do it over again... There is rewards to learning fiberglass repairs when you finally have finished buggy at local car shows and it gets the attention it deserves....
IT you want to learn FG repairs hang in with what you have and ask more questions and rove I-net for ideas, instructions and material types...
Materials for repairs Are far cheaper than buying another body ...
Last body I did cost me $400, and the repairs maybe $75-$100 for materials. but when finished it was in ready to final color paint and it was worth maybe $800 to $1000...
Dale _________________ “Fear The Government That Wants To Take Your Guns" - Thomas Jefferson.
"Kellison Sand Piper Roadster" For Street & Show.
"Joe Pody Sandrover" Buggy with 2180 for Autocross (Sold)
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All suggestions and advice are purely my own opinion. You are free to ignore them if you wish ...
Last edited by Dale M. on Sun Feb 09, 2020 1:53 pm; edited 1 time in total |
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brianbernal71 Samba Member
Joined: January 10, 2010 Posts: 211 Location: Spokane WA
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Posted: Sun Feb 09, 2020 11:00 am Post subject: Re: Changing/swapping hood style, can I do it? |
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Dang, I love my dune runner mini mercedes, hood and all. Really separates it from all the other clones.
_________________ 62/70 Dune Runner Mini Mercedes "Eugene"
83.5 Westy "Skippy"
81 Rabbit Pickup "Betsy". |
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oprn Samba Member
Joined: November 13, 2016 Posts: 12730 Location: Western Canada
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Posted: Sun Feb 09, 2020 2:28 pm Post subject: Re: Changing/swapping hood style, can I do it? |
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Tastes vary. I had a boss once that thought the AMC Gremlin was the most beautiful car ever produced!
Good thing or we would be all driving cars that look alike.
Wait a minute... all the new ones do look alike!! |
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Dale M. Samba Member
Joined: April 12, 2006 Posts: 20379 Location: Just a tiny bit west of Yosemite Valley
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Posted: Sun Feb 09, 2020 5:30 pm Post subject: Re: Changing/swapping hood style, can I do it? |
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oprn wrote: |
Tastes vary. I had a boss once that thought the AMC Gremlin was the most beautiful car ever produced!
Good thing or we would be all driving cars that look alike.
Wait a minute... all the new ones do look alike!! :shock: |
Yeah all the new SUV's look like a jelly bean on wheels...
Dale _________________ “Fear The Government That Wants To Take Your Guns" - Thomas Jefferson.
"Kellison Sand Piper Roadster" For Street & Show.
"Joe Pody Sandrover" Buggy with 2180 for Autocross (Sold)
============================================================
All suggestions and advice are purely my own opinion. You are free to ignore them if you wish ... |
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Nairod Samba Member
Joined: April 23, 2019 Posts: 28 Location: NV
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Posted: Tue Feb 11, 2020 1:06 pm Post subject: Re: Changing/swapping hood style, can I do it? |
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Dal Churchill wrote: |
If it were me I'd military/expedition style it. I'd add a light bar and custom made load carrier to disguise that front. I might be tempted to cut out the radiator hump and re-glass it smooth but I'd keep the extra nose height for improved fuel tank space. I think it'd look a little like a Thing front end, maybe with some riveted on load rubbing strips to disguise any joins.
Whatever way you go with it, good luck with the build and please use this thread to keep us updated! |
Ha ha! Like a Thing, that's a cool idea. Fits the problems with the hood. I will keep it in mind. It actually might be harder to make look "factory". |
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Nairod Samba Member
Joined: April 23, 2019 Posts: 28 Location: NV
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Posted: Tue Feb 11, 2020 1:07 pm Post subject: Re: Changing/swapping hood style, can I do it? |
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brianbernal71 wrote: |
Dang, I love my dune runner mini mercedes, hood and all. Really separates it from all the other clones.
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Well, I must say yours looks a lot better than mine. The grill is a big plus. |
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bugvert Samba Member
Joined: October 26, 2005 Posts: 137 Location: Connecticut
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Posted: Wed Feb 12, 2020 11:31 am Post subject: Re: Changing/swapping hood style, can I do it? |
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I believe your dunebuggy is a "Road Runner"
See the ads below.
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Nairod Samba Member
Joined: April 23, 2019 Posts: 28 Location: NV
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Posted: Wed Feb 12, 2020 2:17 pm Post subject: Re: Changing/swapping hood style, can I do it? |
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bugvert wrote: |
I believe your dunebuggy is a "Road Runner"
See the ads below.
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This is a surprise! I thought it was obvious it was a Dune Runner mini-mercedes, but this hood looks exactly like mine. |
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tgodber Samba Member
Joined: May 02, 2004 Posts: 410 Location: Okanagan Falls B.C. Canada
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Posted: Wed Feb 12, 2020 5:18 pm Post subject: Re: Changing/swapping hood style, can I do it? |
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Road Runner was the first name but they had copyright problems and had to change it to Dune Runner instead. _________________ My wife said I never listen to her.
Or something like that! |
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