Buggy project for a newb

[EVO3]

Hey Guys, my name is Andy, and i have a problem. I think my new addiction (as if i needed another) is buggys. It started off a few months ago when i bought an old Manx clone from someone just as a "Quick fixer upper", and, of course, i couldnt just leave it at that. since then, ive had a custom floor pan built for it, a new roll cage and bought a second engine. First engine had some issues and found one in better shape for $450. I couldnt pass it up. Here are the pics from the beginning.



Yeah, im a Star Wars nut too......


Cut out the rusted floor pans and added 2"x2" steel frame.



New roll cage build around the body......





Need to save up a bit for the powder coating. In the meantime, i'll be starting on the body work. I bought side pods for it, so i need to get them mounted and then clean up all the holes that were drilled out by the previous owner. I'll try and keep the progress pics coming.[/url][/img]

[aorange]

Looking good!

But careful.. these things are VERY addictive I know from personal experience
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[Lo Cash John]

Looks really good! I'm in the middle of a buggy build also. In fact there's a lot of buggy guys here in the Jacksonville area.

So who did the roll cage and chassis work? It looks first rate. When you're ready for powder coating be sure to take your parts by Powdertech Plus in the Orange Park Industrial Loop just off Wells Rd. Tell them John from Lo Cash Racing sent you.
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[jbreddawg]

I really like that rollbar setup !!! Welcome to the boards !
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[Russ Wolfe]

You need to take your Xmas lights down.
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[Dinubadave]

Looks great! Nice cage. Keep the pictures coming.

Dave

[glassbuggy]

Clone Trooper Clone in a Manx Clone - yep seen it all now

[Lo Cash John]

[EVO3]

Thanks guys.

The chassis and roll cage were made by a friend of mine out in Middleburg. His specialty is building dragsters from the ground up, but he took my car in as a side project and now i think i got him hooked as well. He already bought 2 beetles for himself. He's really enjoyed doing the buggy and is now thinking of doing more of them for other people.

Anyways, i'll post more pics as soon as i get more done.

BTW, the Xmas lights were up because that pic was taken back in December. An Xmas present for myself.

[didget69]

[EVO3]

Got more work done on the buggy today. I pulled out the side pods from storage, started mounting them, and quickly found out that it was a job better made for 2 people. I was feeling stubborn and decided to troop on with the project. After a lot of curse words, cutting, grinding, more curse words, and FG splinters in my hands, the job got done.







Now my dilemma; Should i mold the pods permanently to the body, or just bolt them in place? If i decide to mold them in, should i leave the panel line between the body and pods? I kinda like the separation line. I just dont like the unfinished look of just leaving a crack between both parts. Does that make sense?

[DBDNY]

Those are looking nice.

I thought I saw somewhere someone put in pods that opened and was used for storage. If I am not crazy and just imagined that, could someone direct me to where I could get more info on them.

[BL3Manx]

They were sold by Meyers in the 60s.

[manxdavid]

I'm glad you don't seem to be mounting the gas tank in the same place the previous owner had it. A little spill onto a hot engine from an over-filled tank could have easily spelled disaster!!!

[new-n-old-vdubs]

does any one have those pods? id likt see some pics
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[jspbtown]

[EVO3]

Yeah! I thought someone around here had one done like this. I think this is gonna be the route that i take.

Very nice buggy BTW.

[jspbtown]

I just want to be clear...they are still seperate from the body. I just took the time to fit them.

And thanks for the compliment.

[EVO3]

Ahhhh..... i gotcha. Well, after spending most of the day getting the pods mounted, i could not for the life of me get the fender ends of the pods to mount flush with the edge of the body fenders. If you look at the buggy from the side it looks perfect, but if you look under the fender, you can see about a 1" to 1.5" separation of the pod to the fender on the front and rear fender. Considering that the body is probably well over 40 years of age; that could have something to do with it. Either way, i have an idea to get the edges of the pods to butt up against the fender but it will require me to cut the pods. Im not worried about doing the extra work. I have several years of prop building experience under my belt. Im sure it'll come in handy with this project.