Low down Hillbilly

[OCD Garage]

A pic of the assembled cover, I later added a lip around the bottom to assist with sealing as well as centering during installation. The edges will be rounded, sanded and wrapped in epoxy/'glass for longevity. Once it's been painted, sound matting will be added to the interior surfaces.

[Kafer_Mike]

Great job on the roll bar. I like the contours and fit to the body. For the cross bar, you may want to add some 'stays' for the harnesses (if you hadn't planned to). You don't want them to be able to move side-to-side -- especially with lowback seats and a windowless buggy.

_________________
Kafer_Mike
Build 'em fast...or let 'em sit.

[OCD Garage]

Thanks Mike. I'm inspired by the attention to detail in many of the builds I see here on the Samba and a few FB pages I follow. I'm just trying to play keep-up with the bigger boys, using my limited equipment and engineering solutions as I go. A couple hours work, performed regularly adds up quickly and keeps interest in the project fresh.

I do intend to include a pair of those seat belt retention hoops which are also in the current line-up with the overhead connectors, another set of lower side bars, 2 or 3 X braces, fire extinguisher mounts and...

[Busstom]

Damn, been a while since I checked in on your thread, you're moving right along. I was digging the vibe of the Ford teardrop tail lights, but I do like what you're doing with the Bus lamps.

Looking back, I don't know if you ever answered whether your teardrop trailer is home-made
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My name's Steve and it's pronounced "Bust 'em" (cuz people think I'm Tom) 😏

[OCD Garage]

[OCD Garage]

There are now at least two layers of epoxy/'glass on all surfaces of the box and after lifting it in and out of the back window, I decided it needed handles. The idea of creating handles morphed into building a rack to bungy a day pack, etc. to, which I drilled and chamfered a lot of holes. I think I'll leave the cross bars for contrast, but I may change my mind later. It does add some visual interest to the otherwise open flat top of the cover.

[slalombuggy]

Looks great, one of the coolest builds I've seen in a long time.

I just gotta ask tho, mainly because I have been dealing with a whiplash injury that's kept me from work or doing anything much for the last 5 months. Have you thought about a head pad off of the rear crossbar? Even just a small padded circle behind each seat to limit the movement of your head if something happened? Just asking.

Keep up the great work.

[OCD Garage]

[OCD Garage]

Decided to use smaller tubing to support the rack as the proportions fit better, welded on 5/16" nuts + bolts for the mounts. I spent most of the afternoon cleaning up the risers before welding them to the rack. It's definitely less awkward lifting the cover in and out through the back window than it was before. The rack will be plenty strong enough to bungy a small cooler and basket lunch to for weekend outings. Now, I can get back to finishing the roll cage and bumpers.

[OCD Garage]

I ordered a couple of wink mirrors to fill in the blind spot the rear corners of the top create. They were surprisingly cheap ($23cdn from kmstools.com) and shine with an excellent looking build quality. They have adjustable angle arms, left or right side, stainless steel construction, convex glass mirror, etc. Two Allen set screws and you're good to go, originally intended for door jambs but perfect for the thickness of my windshield posts. Old school style.

[OCD Garage]

Tie downs added to each end of the air system/trans cover which were pirated from a Jeep YJ or similar.

Additional tubes added overhead to tie the cage together. Connecter tubes along lower body line and cross braces to follow.

[OCD Garage]

A friend dropped by today to help me lift off the roof so I could get on with the roll cage build. While I was waiting, I decided to install the tri-bar head lights which had arrived. I also ordered new head light retainers instead of wasting a lot of time on the crusty old set which wouldn't have turned out as nice anyway. The head light rings are from a Karmann Ghia.

In the works is an X-brace for the top of the cage whose pieces will need to be welded in working forward from the rear hoop, with the front braces going in last.

[OCD Garage]

Overhead X-brace fab completed today. Now I can go back and fully weld the front/rear hoop overhead connectors, then all the upper braces can be welded into place. Likely to start on the lower side braces next to help tie it together.

[NJ John]

I can’t wait to see this thing from outside the garage. These close ups are a tease.
_________________
1973 standard, yellow, lowered, 3” narrowed front, 1600 blo-thru turbo w/single dell 15.4@86, so far
11.41 et buggy. Long gone
Let’s go O’s! Let’s go O’s!
https://www.youtube.com/@AirSpooledGarage

[OCD Garage]

[OCD Garage]

Added additional bracing to the steering column support to help stiffen the chassis and increase crash protection. I didn't want to crowd the footwell with too many extra tubes as the windshield wiper assembly is right above the centre console and the body needs to lift straight up to be removed. I'll soon be able to mount the rest of the air ride system so it will function from the switches instead of four Schrader valves.

[OCD Garage]

Working on filling the space between the welded-on steering support section and the bolt-in cage. The pic shows a mock-up of the fire extinguisher mount. There will be welded tabs on the tubing and the 3/16" thick mounts will tie things together with 3/8" bolts.

[OCD Garage]

Haven't had a lot of workshop time this week, but did manage to get one side of the extinguisher mount fabbed/welded to the removable cage. Next up will be a little CAD for the other side, more welding and detailing. The mount itself was made by cutting a 2" wide section of 4" diameter x 3/16" wall tube in half and welding it to a length of 1.5" x 3/16" bar. The wall mount that came with the fire extinguisher bolts into the cage mount and will keep it tucked in while connecting the two cage sections together.

[OCD Garage]

One down, one to go as I plan to fill the other side the same way. Everything unbolts but still ties things together along with providing additional fire safety.

[OCD Garage]

Right side of the cage is done for now. Next up will be repeating this on the left side.