Just bought a fg Buggy, now what to do with it?

[SamT]

I'm going to my parents for spring break (wife is a teacher) I need to scavenge my donor cars for a gas tank, or atleast the sender, tail lights, maybe a steering colmn thats nicer, blinker relays and other electric crap I need. I have a 66Ghia that has a cherry balljoint beam on it I think I will grab, It has 5 lug hubs on it too so they will match the rims I bought. Don't worry, the ghia has terminal cancer and no title.

[/list]

[gr8cobbler]

Spring break....those were the days....

I'm taking that week off too so I can watch my kids and maybe work some on the buggy, between crisis. The Ghia should have disk brakes, nice upgrade. Donor cars, plural, that will help a lot too. Sounds like a fun week ahead for both of us.
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Gary

Being a cheap old fart is just a front for my actual lack of money.

[SamT]

well got my donor parts, ghia gas tank with mechanical sender and gauge, Balljoint beam with 5 lug hubs. (I ordered new clearance ball joints, going to cut and turn the beam)

IRS trailing, short sway-away axles and spring plates (use late swing axle torsons) .

My wife almost has the shell sanded down and has a paint color picked out at the local auto parts store.

I was mocking up the ride height and fender clearance, The 2x4 between the shell and chassis is about where it will site with my bodylift I'm incorporating into the chassis. It will sit a touch higher after I cut and turn the front beam (and redo shock towers) and notch the rear so I can take mostly full advantage of my bus CV joints on the downward stroke since I will have to leave up travel stock due to the big tires. I'm not really looking for huge travel over bumps and stuff, just offroad capabilitys and some street manners. I cant decide weather or not to cut the swaybar off.

[Hogzilla]

[SamT]

Well guys im back to work on this car. I have nailed down my goals and purpose. I did quite a bit today. Pics to come.

Purpose: all terrain vehicle, something you can jump in and drive a few hours, but if you see a river you wanna ride. Just pull off and go. Will also be used to chase pigs hunting. Kinda like a RZR and kinda like a jeep hybrid.
Goals: safely drive 70mph, ground clearance for offroading, suspension good enough to handle small bumps at speed (like chasing pigs through a field or grass), reliable enough for a road trip.

Basically i want it all! Im not going to spend a ton of money, but i don't think i need to. I have alot of the parts bought.
I build the floor of the chassis from new metal left over from old projects.

[SamT]

I used the pan to build my tube chassis on. This way i get and extra couple inches of ground clearance when i chop the pan off.
That was a pita. Hope whoever cut it down the first time did good keeping it straight.

I used some pretty heavy tube 1.5x2.5" its good thick wall. Should be a good ridgid base and give good side impact protection. I laid a piece of 1.5 inch .125 wall tube down the center of the chassis. I was surprised it felt lighter than the factory pan.

[SamT]

Here is where im at. Still need to add some beam supports and work on the bottom side.

[SamT]

I think i can fit a Atv winch up front below the gas tank. Do yall think a 2500lb atv winch is enough?

[jspbtown]

How are you gonna run your shift linkage?

[SamT]

Im using a bus trans, it would be above the tunnel. Im running a super shifter also.

[gr8cobbler]

I'm using a $50 2000# HF winch and it seems to have plenty of pulling power, geared low so it's also slow. Comes with a remote control key fob. I'll try to post a picture later.
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Gary

Being a cheap old fart is just a front for my actual lack of money.

[clonebug]

Did you leave the VIN# unmolested????

Without that it might be difficult to get it registered unless going for custom built.
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[SamT]

Yup, thats why i left that ugly little piece of the tunnel in place. Im in kansas, so no inspection or anything since the title is kansas. Its kinda wierd though, title just says A 71 "Volk" but the VIN matches up.

[didget69]

- is there going to be additional chassis structure on the side rails or center tunnel? Current chassis pics look like a motorized & suspensioned extension ladder...

bryan
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I never found the need to impress people with any mechanic certifications, trophies or track wins... unless it was for Mom to post on the refrigerator door.

[brettsvw]

This is where I look for inspiration.

http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=556247

[gr8cobbler]

This originally came in "cool green camoflage" but I kept 'not seeing it' on my workbench so I shot it with "blend in black" and made a bracket to attach it to the beam with the frame head bolt holes. (custom frame). I used it to tug the buggy up on a trailer, slow but no strain. I replaced the cable that came with it with a 20'X2" ratchet strap that I also bought at HF for $8 and tossed the ratchet and original cable in a drawer. The strap is a lot easier to work with than the cable. I wired it through a DPDT switch on the dash but it also came with a remote control key fob which is pretty cool too. I can use either as needed. I'm pretty happy with the results.
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Gary

Being a cheap old fart is just a front for my actual lack of money.

[SamT]

[gr8cobbler]

I built a similar chassis and liked the idea of a little more side impact protection and the serious stiffness the second tier of square tubing provides. The buggy body snugs in nicely.
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Gary

Being a cheap old fart is just a front for my actual lack of money.

[SamT]

[didget69]