'74...ish Dune Buggy

joescoolcustoms · Posted: Sat Sep 13, 2014 2:02 pm Post subject:

Nice job!

Having a "final look" is always a morale booster.
_________________
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

neohic · Posted: Wed Oct 08, 2014 4:09 pm Post subject:

Trying to stay focused on this... I've been working on my shop lately getting it insulated and finished so I finally have a cozy spot to work this winter again. I know I say it before winter just about every year but I think I'll actually have a chance at picking away at this poor thing this year! So that brings me to what's next in line and I think it's more metal work. Simple cage... bumpers... that sort of stuff. The problem I keep coming up with is what to make the bumpers look like... the front, more specifically. The rear is a simple decision for me... I hope Joe doesn't mind me using his picture. Very Happy

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

... beautiful! As for the front... I have no idea. I like the look of the simple yet classic buggy front bumper but I just don't think mine has the right lines as it's kind of Imp-ish. For example...

Mine:

Imp:

They both just kind of fall off the map directly under that center body line. Again, I like the look of my buggy body but that giant gap between the body and the bumper is just goofy looking on the Imp! Really been thinking about doing something similar to Joe's on the front as well with the double tubes but I think it might get a bit busy looking. Searched around in interweb land... done a bunch of sketches... I'm at a loss.

Thoughts? Suggestions? Examples of bumpers that are a little different than the norm? Or, should I just forget about bumpers all together and run it without?
_________________
-Ben

I like to build stuff...

joescoolcustoms · Posted: Wed Oct 08, 2014 6:47 pm Post subject:

No problem on the photo. That is why they are posted on this site.

I just finished my Sears Rascal and have not posted all the final pictures of it. But, I strayed from the normal on the front bumper and tried something a little different. A little higher than normal, but super strong with the 0.120 wall tubing.

A few ideas:

_________________
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

neohic · Posted: Thu Oct 09, 2014 6:35 am Post subject:

chromanium · Samba Member Joined: February 28, 2013 Posts: 2

I'm new to this forum and not sure this will end up where I intend it.
The buggy in the build pictures as you log on has a Linton front hood for sure but the body appears to be an Empi. I believe that to be Linton's Brush Buggy model.
The Linton Spoiler I believe is a different model with a completely different body especially the rear spoiler deck hence the Linton Spoiler.
I have a friend that has owned one for 43 years and can ask him to look for a tag if there is one, but he most likely would have observed it as he does extensive work on it and others.
I have contacted the Chamber of commerce in Sidney Montana where they were produced and they have no information on the builder but get request for it every couple years.
The Spoiler model body style is rare, and usually found in northern states. They garner quite a bit of admirers from the style/contour lines even amongst a show of 40 plus buggies.
I have attached (I hope) 2 of them I have owned.The Linton hood style, is apparent. The build project appears to be the Brush Buggy and these the Spoiler buggies.

neohic · Posted: Wed Oct 29, 2014 5:55 am Post subject:

Pretty sure mine is a Linton based off of the picture I found on Dune Buggy Archives...

Looks to me like the back rolls over without the spoiler on the back. Definitely not an EMPI with a Linton hood either. The fenders have different lines by the headlights. Anyhow, cool to see another buggy similar to mine. Thanks!
_________________
-Ben

I like to build stuff...

chromanium · Samba Member Joined: February 28, 2013 Posts: 2

neohic · Posted: Wed Oct 29, 2014 6:00 pm Post subject:

Thanks for quoting all that... ?

As far as an update, been working on insulating and finishing my shop. Pulling the buggy in this winter.

_________________
-Ben

I like to build stuff...

neohic · Posted: Fri Nov 07, 2014 4:46 pm Post subject:

So my shop is pretty much done. Done enough to be tired of working on it and wanting to get back to working on fun stuff anyhow. Very Happy

It's not much... 14'x28'. It's big enough to call home for now. As for the buggy, it actually saw the light of day!

... and then it got put in it's winter home. It's pretty much the same as it has been for the last few years with the addition of wheels and tires just recently. Looks almost presentable in some decent light!

Unfortunately a good camera angle only hides everything that's been hiding in it. Rolling Eyes

Ah well... it's in a workable area now so that's a step in the right direction, right?

_________________
-Ben

I like to build stuff...

neohic · Posted: Sun Nov 09, 2014 6:23 pm Post subject:

Everybody likes cutting and welding on a used gas tank, right? Laughing

Didn't have anything to worry about though... the tank has been dry since the '80s with zero vapors left in it. I've started trying to take care little things up front that add up in the end that seem to take forever after getting major things done.

I started with putting the tank in and putting the hood on... things didn't fit quite right. Those sexy sloping lines just didn't jive with what was happening inside. The tank was from the donor '74 Beetle so I knew that the fuel intake would be in the wrong spot. I like where the filler was cut originally so I used the hood as the template. Here's how it went...

Should I leave that breather there or should I move it?

For now, I used a short piece of 2" exhaust tubing as a place holder for whatever I choose as a cap. Like I said before, I like the fuel fill low to keep the hood looking clean. Just not a fan of a giant cap in the middle of the hood. Next on the list was adding a mini sump in the bottom of the tank. The fitting in the bottom was completely screwed up so I figured it needed to be cut out anyhow. It's not the absolute lowest point of the tank but I was planning on adding a drain elsewhere. I like the idea of being able to completely drain the tank if need be.

Obviously, fittings to come later. I see a small body lift in my future too. The steering coupler rubs on the bottom of the tank as shown in the dirt.

Last on the list is to patch up the last corner. I left it open to be able to clean it out as I go along.

Not done with it, but I had to put the hood and lights back on for the evening. Couldn't stand leaving it without its face on. Rolling Eyes

_________________
-Ben

I like to build stuff...

joescoolcustoms · Posted: Sun Nov 09, 2014 8:34 pm Post subject:

Nicely done.
_________________
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

neohic · Posted: Mon Nov 10, 2014 11:23 am Post subject:

Thanks, Joe! I'm now on the look out for something I can scavenge a filler neck from for just a plain half-turn chrome cap. I've got the filler neck from the donor '74 but it's the twist in style cap. Can't find one that doesn't look like a tub faucet. A vented cap would be nice too.

_________________
-Ben

I like to build stuff...

neohic · Posted: Fri Nov 14, 2014 6:28 pm Post subject:

Finished the tank today.

Had one spot of rust that needed to be cut out and patched. Otherwise the tank was in great shape... I hope. I'll throw some pressure in it and check over the whole thing.

Then this happened.

Cleaning up a bunch of things and adding a half inch to the pan this weekend for a little extra clearance all around.
_________________
-Ben

I like to build stuff...

neohic · Posted: Sat Nov 15, 2014 6:47 pm Post subject:

So the body lift is done and it raised more than just the body... such as more problems. We'll get to that in a minute. For now, some progress...

I used 3/8" couplers as my threaded inserts. Drilled a bunch of holes, dropped them in, and welded away. As for the lift, I've got a bunch of new space because of it.

As for the problems, I knew they'd come up. They all have to do with body fit up and it looks as though I need to learn some stuff about working with fiberglass.

Along the sides of the body, things line up pretty good but the bottom edge rolls upward. I would imagine that was from sitting for so many years before I even got it. I'm sure there would be enough play in the body to run a strip along the top of the bottom lip of the body and sandwich things together but there's still the problem of the half-million holes that have been drilled into it. As for the front and the rear, I knew that I was changing the shape of the steel but things always looked pretty bad before this. Been looking around on the interweb and there's lots of good information out there. Still, I'm hoping that Joe puts in his opinion here too. Very Happy

If I'm going to be cutting up the body, my next concern is the battery box. It's tiny... about 8"x10" and I'm not sure if I'll be able to fit a decent battery down in there.

Should I cut that out? Maybe just fill the current hole and make up a battery tray underneath? Then there's the lines of the body over the rear wheels... I hate them. Always have as long as it's been on a chassis. Here's what I'm thinking there...

... or...

Anyhow, I've been working at this thing all day and it's kind of disappointing to plop the body back on it and have it look exactly the same as how it did the day before. Rolling Eyes

_________________
-Ben

I like to build stuff...

neohic · Posted: Sun Nov 16, 2014 4:45 pm Post subject:

Spent a little more time looking at things this morning. I think I'm torn whether or not to continue with the metal work or would now be a good time to rough in the fiberglass repairs? There's a bunch of holes and a couple cracks that really wouldn't affect any of the current mock up, but having the bottom edge of the body cleaned up would make things easier with what I previously planned on working on this winter. Granted, I wouldn't want to do any final bodywork at this point because I'd still be banging around it, but progress is still progress. On the same hand if I were to get rid of the current battery box, it'd make room for whatever I replace it with. On the other there's the learning curve of never working with fiberglass before.

Thoughts? Suggestions? Thanks, dudes!
_________________
-Ben

I like to build stuff...

neohic · Posted: Fri Dec 26, 2014 11:45 am Post subject:

Not sure what's up with all my pictures, but I'm still around. Edit... fixed.

Had a bit of a hiccup with things... my gallbladder decided that it didn't agree with the way I was running things so it tried to pull a mutiny. On the up side, I got a fancy new Harbor Freight bender for Christmas. Plans are to modify it like Joe's.
_________________
-Ben

I like to build stuff...

wythac · Samba Member Joined: August 02, 2004 Posts: 2791

I think it is good to do FG and metal work concurrently, as long as your shop space doesnt lead to a lot of contamination of your FG work. Keeps you busy, and keeps you literally in touch with your components, so you are less likely to arrive at the end of your mock up finding something you overlooked. You might also find that as you do more FG work you get better at it, inspiring a return to earlier lower quality fixes for more work there, etc...

Good luck and better health to you in 2015.

neohic · Posted: Sun Dec 28, 2014 9:45 am Post subject:

neohic · Posted: Tue Dec 30, 2014 3:17 pm Post subject:

Albeit a bit slow today, I started on the mounting strips for the cage.

Went around and tightened things down until a slight cracking sound started. Along the sides, the gap is minimal. However at the corners, things have a little ways to go.

Front, left:

Rear, left:

Right, front:

Right, rear:

Rear:

So things have a little ways to go. I need to get myself a heat gun to finish the job. Started getting the foot well and the rear into shape also. Things only needed to move slightly but I think I'll still need a heat gun to keep things where they belong.

_________________
-Ben

I like to build stuff...

BIGMIKEY · Posted: Tue Dec 30, 2014 4:31 pm Post subject:

neohic;

My Deserter body was warped just like yours. I had to do the same things you are doing in front and the edges. The back was just like yours too. I snuck it down a bit at a time and drilled bolts to hold it in place. It took a little time but I got the body to conform to the chassis no problem. It took a few weeks the ease it into shape but I was in no hurry. I still haven't decided on a body lift yet though.

I like your clamping strip.

Mike T
_________________
BIGMIKEY

Deserter Series 1 project.
https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=787047&highlight=

1973 Beetle Driver, Marina Blue.


Hello! Log in or Register \| Help \| Donate \| Buy Shirts	See all banner ads \| Advertise on TheSamba.com

'74...ish Dune Buggy
Page: Previous 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 ... 9, 10, 11 Next Jump to:

Forum Index -> Kit Car/Fiberglass Buggy/356 Replica		Share:
		Print View

	Forum Index -> Kit Car/Fiberglass Buggy/356 Replica	All times are Mountain Standard Time/Pacific Daylight Savings Time Page: Previous 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 ... 9, 10, 11 Next Jump to:
Page 4 of 11