Backwoods Beauty Queen Sandrail Build

AggieZig

Howdy Everyone!

After growing up around vws (see my dad and I's thing resto: http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=339051 ) and moving off to college, I decided it was time for a project of my own... So I bought a sand rail project for $300 off of CL. From what I can tell it got its parts from an early 70s donor bug (ball joint & irs).

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

It's pretty rough and missing a bunch of parts, but I'm beyond ready to tackle it. Plans are a mild rail build that will see some street driving and some woods / trails driving. I've stockpiled some parts and have on order some others from Moore (if they ever ship!). I'm planning on boxing in the rear arms and solid mounting a 5 rib tranny. Should be a bunch of fun to drive... and build.

Stay tuned!

AggieZig · Posted: Tue Jun 11, 2013 9:11 am Post subject:

After looking at the frame I noticed some areas that were looked like cheap quick fixes. These will all come out and be redone with the right size tube:

Square stock across rear of cage

Square stock and angle instead of "V" style tube support between the beam and front hoop

Looks like it's been rolled before.. or lifted from here. See the bend in the front center cross section? Also notice the two bars connecting the front and rear cabin hoops are 2" unlike the rest of the 1 1/2" frame. All of this will come out.

I decided to cut all of those areas out, and pull the suspension apart completely (well, what's left of it) for cleaning, prep, paint, and reassembly.

No more front cross support

Rear cross support gone

Trailing Arms and Spring Plates removed

Time to hit the wire wheel...

Nick1390 · Posted: Tue Jun 11, 2013 11:37 am Post subject:

You got a good frame to work with.

I'm up in Marshall a few hours from you Razz

_________________
I feel in love with my buggy when I was a kid, climbing on it, sitting in the seat acting like I was driving it. Now I'm 24, I've fixed it up and get to actually drive it... when its running... http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=525937&highlight=ending

AggieZig · Posted: Sun Nov 24, 2013 12:06 am Post subject:

It's been a while, and it's time for an update. I haven't got that much more done, but I did manage to knock out some frame work and get started cleaning parts.

First was addressing some issues I had with the frame. I wanted to add front cross braces, re-do the two bars connecting the "windshield" frame and the back of the cabin, weld in some light tabs, and build a rear lower cage piece.

I also beefed up the rear trailing arms with a box in kit from pacific customs (I believe.. it's been a while)

Then I started blasting and painting some parts. I bought a cheapo harbor freight special blaster... which is OK and does its job (most of the time). But way better than the wire wheel and way better surface for paint adhesion.

Blasted (bottom) vs Wire Wheel (top)

That's all for now. Hopefully more to come soon!

It's a play thing · Posted: Mon Nov 25, 2013 1:47 pm Post subject:

You should remove the stock factory rear shock mount and mount the stock on top of the arm. and re fit the gusset for the arm.
_________________
It's not the size of your shop, it's what comes out of it that counts.

I've been playing with my thing ever since I got it...

Vanapplebomb · Posted: Mon Nov 25, 2013 5:34 pm Post subject:

It really doesn't matter as it will still be plenty strong. Remember, most arms bend between the bearing housing and spring plate mounting tab. The spring plate tab to the bushing end really doesn't need to be so beefy, so it works out fine to notch out that part around the shock mount. I have seen it done many times...never seen one go bad. The only down side is you don't gain any ground clearance. For a stock travel rear end, this is a slick way of boxing in the arms.

Although, it may not be a bad idea to run an 1/8in strip of metal from the bottom of the trailing arm, down around the under side of the shock mount...kinda like a skid plate for the shock mount.
_________________
1800 Type 4 Berrien 295

http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=487021

ORANGECRUSHer · Posted: Mon Nov 25, 2013 5:57 pm Post subject:

looks like a great start. I have that same blaster. I'm always fiddling with the top valve and bottom trying to keep the flow going. Definitely the only way to go to get that thing cleaned up!

I love to see another woods buggy being built.
_________________
Brian H.
I may not know everything,but I will try to help if I can
OrangeCrushER Berrien Warrior 2.4L Quad4
LAZY MARY 1970 Baja ~~1835cc~~

Jezza · Posted: Thu Nov 28, 2013 11:40 pm Post subject:

Hey fella you have a lot of blasting ahead of you,I am doing the same though a little more advanced in my project, I have a berrien cruiser ready to mount up the 002 bus tranny and dual port 1600 bug motor.
My IRS is same as yours what tranny and donk are you having?

AggieZig · Posted: Mon Mar 17, 2014 12:07 am Post subject:

AggieZig · Posted: Mon Mar 17, 2014 12:18 am Post subject:

I've gotten a little more work done, though nothing too crazy.

Also tore down the engine that I will be rebuilding for the rail, see: http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=587917

Mainly just knocked out some welding, replaced the shifter box, welded in some support bars for the gas tank.

I also mocked up (just for grins) some wheel sitting beside her to see what she could look like! (These jeep rims / tires will go on later)

I need to get back in the garage and knock out some sand blasting, there's quite a few many parts left to blast and paint!

AggieZig · Posted: Fri Apr 25, 2014 12:09 pm Post subject:

Small update.

Rear trailing arms blasted, painted, and assembled less the bolts that hold bearing caps on.. not sure where I lost those so zip-ties work for now.

Front beam 95% blasted (ran out of media...)

Need to disassemble then finish blasting

More to come!
_________________
Zig, Aircooled Enthusiast
Current: Porsche 914 Resto | 1969 VW Beetle
Past: 74 Thing | Sand Rail | Baja Project | Oval Beetle

AggieZig · Posted: Mon May 26, 2014 10:44 am Post subject:

Made it out this Sunday to do some blasting. Was able to blast just about the whole frame (less the floor) and get it covered in primer. I also tacked in the new steering mount, it still needs some cutting, welding, and grinding to look pretty, but it works.

_________________
Zig, Aircooled Enthusiast
Current: Porsche 914 Resto | 1969 VW Beetle
Past: 74 Thing | Sand Rail | Baja Project | Oval Beetle

AggieZig · Posted: Fri Jun 06, 2014 1:24 am Post subject:

Well I was finally able to move her back home to my garage this week. We got started sanding, prepping, priming, and painting. Doing so in stages as it's more manageable and I like seeing progress. Went with Rustoleum Hammered Bright Red paint. Liking it so far!

More to come soon!
_________________
Zig, Aircooled Enthusiast
Current: Porsche 914 Resto | 1969 VW Beetle
Past: 74 Thing | Sand Rail | Baja Project | Oval Beetle

brooksinc1976 · Posted: Fri Jun 06, 2014 3:53 pm Post subject:

looking sweet. subscribed. I just picked up a 4 seater on CL too A little bit more but I've horse trading and so far I only have -200.00 in it. HA

AggieZig · Posted: Mon Jun 09, 2014 12:30 am Post subject:

Well I'm back at it. Started installed spring plates, ended up around 28* of preload

Then brought her outside for a bath

Stripped and prepped the floor, then painted it Hammered Gray to match suspension

Also sprayed the bottom of the pan with Rustoleum Undercoating

Anyone who says they "need" a rotisserie stand.... Wrong! Spare tire works great for me

Lastly, planned out and mocked up the center console out of some poster board. Will cut and bend sheet metal per my model

_________________
Zig, Aircooled Enthusiast
Current: Porsche 914 Resto | 1969 VW Beetle
Past: 74 Thing | Sand Rail | Baja Project | Oval Beetle

AggieZig · Posted: Wed Jun 11, 2014 11:11 pm Post subject:

Small update. Rented a welder from home depot today and was able to do seat mounts, seat belt tabs, console mounts, and finish some other misc. welding. Also wetsanded everything down in preparation for a final coat this Friday. Trailing arms and brakes installed now too.

_________________
Zig, Aircooled Enthusiast
Current: Porsche 914 Resto | 1969 VW Beetle
Past: 74 Thing | Sand Rail | Baja Project | Oval Beetle

2RL · Samba Member Joined: May 02, 2010 Posts: 177

That's came a long ways from the rusty jungle gym of tubes you originally had there. Looks nice! How big and what type of welder did home depot have? I didn't know they even rented welding equipment.

AggieZig · Posted: Thu Jun 12, 2014 8:36 pm Post subject:

fishybastard · Posted: Fri Jun 13, 2014 6:11 am Post subject:

Looking good so far! Nice job. I think im gonna run those same tires on the back of my rail as well. Ive read super good reviews for them.

2RL · Samba Member Joined: May 02, 2010 Posts: 177

The black on red color combo you've got is going to look very nice when you get done with it.


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