TheSamba.com :: View topic

Wed Sep 28, 2005 6:46 pm

what has everyone done to hold down their one peice fiberglass front end's? I wanted to go with draw latches instead of what I have now. I would like to see what other people have done, even if its the same thing I've got. If anyone does have a draw latch set-up could you share where you bought them please!

Wed Sep 28, 2005 6:52 pm

Thats what most people have actually (like in your pic) But some have the rubber pulls... I don't have a technical name for them, but its the came thing on most Bug-Eye kits on baja's.

Wed Sep 28, 2005 6:54 pm

I use Dzus fasteners.

Wed Sep 28, 2005 7:04 pm

Dzus fasteners! i like it! and cheap!

Wed Sep 28, 2005 7:22 pm

Ya,

and Zeus was the "God of gods and men". He was also known as the "lord of the sky". I think that basically means your car will be summond by the gods to have good hangtime. That shits better than adding chrome. If it don't go, Dzus it!

SHMO

Wed Sep 28, 2005 7:42 pm

Whaaat are you rambling about?

Wed Sep 28, 2005 7:54 pm

I dunno. I'm hungry and bored....lol

SHMO

Wed Sep 28, 2005 8:25 pm

Shmo.. that's almost as out there as the maggot who was posting on STF (rember the guy suggesting whipped cream in the oil to sweeten it up?)... at least you're more creative.

Fastners... whatever you do .. if it has tension on it it needs to be reinforced. I've bout several pieces of fiberglass pulled apart because the fastening devices weakened the plastic.

Creative idea. I've always wondered about a latching system that would pull from the inside and snap.. would take some cable engineering... would be nice not to have it exposed to the outside.... Just wish I had the McGyver in me to figure it out.

Pins or Dsus...

Wed Sep 28, 2005 8:55 pm

Not that it is terribly relavent with Baja bugs but something to consider with other projects.. NHRA and other racing orginizations are considering either banning or limiting use of Dzus fasteners on race cars. There have been many fires that went out of control due to either too many dzus fasteners or the fact that they are difficult to remove in a hurry. Basically what was a small fire progressed to full engulfment in the time it took to get the hood open.

I prefer the hood pin set up and would go that route if my 1 pc wasnt already drilled out for dzus fastners. Also, make sure when you buy dzus fasteners..you specify fiberglass mount fasteners. They are much different from their metal counterparts.

Thu Sep 29, 2005 8:01 am

A thought, perhaps not a good one, but here goes: International Scouts had a tilt forward hood. Unless you used to own a "Corn Binder", you might not have know that. Scouts are easily found at wrecking yards because of their thin metal. My '76 was from Tim10's part of the world and it did not have a single piece of decent metal on it, but man, that hood latch worked great. As for me, pins on top for allignment, duzs along the sides.

Thu Sep 29, 2005 8:48 am

Jowlz wrote: Not that it is terribly relavent with Baja bugs but something to consider with other projects.. NHRA and other racing orginizations are considering either banning or limiting use of Dzus fasteners on race cars. There have been many fires that went out of control due to either too many dzus fasteners or the fact that they are difficult to remove in a hurry. Basically what was a small fire progressed to full engulfment in the time it took to get the hood open.

I prefer the hood pin set up and would go that route if my 1 pc wasnt already drilled out for dzus fastners. Also, make sure when you buy dzus fasteners..you specify fiberglass mount fasteners. They are much different from their metal counterparts.

Say...that IS bad new about the dzus. I'll be carful not to put my bug into the wall at 315mph. As a matter of fact, I will be so carful, that I will only do 70 mph. :lol:
I actually have mine held on by button head fasteners. The safari team had better have air tools. Yeah...the bolts are kind of a pain in the ass, but it would rattle around with the pins and any kind of a rattle or squeak will drive me up the wall by the end of the day.

Thu Sep 29, 2005 9:37 am

Scott,
I agree with you on the rattle part... I hate hearing noises that shouldn't be there...

Have you posted any pics of your yellow baja? It looks like a convertible. I would like to see some pics if you have them.

Thu Sep 29, 2005 10:00 am

[quote="scott the viking"] Jowlz wrote: Say...that IS bad new about the dzus. I'll be carful not to put my bug into the wall at 315mph. As a matter of fact, I will be so carful, that I will only do 70 mph. :lol:

:lol: Actually, the more serious of the events have happened in pit/weigh areas. There was an incident in Jersey a few weeks go. NHRA's computer was down so there were a bunch of cars lined up waiting to weigh in. A truck had a fuel leak which had been going for a while as he pulled up. It finally caught fire. The fire techs couldnt get the front of the truck off cuz the guy had used about 20 dzus fasteners. I guess it got pretty scary with all the cars bunched up and fuel on the pavement from the leak.

Thu Sep 29, 2005 10:53 am

Anyone ever tried to adapt Jeep latches? They'er so much better made than the rubber junk sold to VW folks...
Notch the fiberglass around the latch base and screw it to the metal underneath?

Thu Sep 29, 2005 2:56 pm

Skidmark wrote: Scott,
I agree with you on the rattle part... I hate hearing noises that shouldn't be there...

Have you posted any pics of your yellow baja? It looks like a convertible. I would like to see some pics if you have them.

Is it still called a convertible if you cant put the top up? :lol:
I was going to wait until I had finished the front suspension before posting any pics, but I went ahead and did it anyway. We can use them as a before and after. I put up three in the gallery. If you guys want to see some other shot or angle, let me know.
SHMO...Just keep your hawk eye in your head, it's not a finished product. I still have to rap my coil-overs with beer cans. :lol:

Thu Sep 29, 2005 4:29 pm

Oh...and SHMO...NO, it's not crooked...trust me :wink:

Thu Sep 29, 2005 7:34 pm

I wasn't even going to say anything about it being crooked. I was way too busy wondering how the hell you're gunna get that jallopy going 70mph. :roll:

SHMO

Thu Sep 29, 2005 7:47 pm

HOW DARE YOU :shock:

Thu Sep 29, 2005 7:52 pm

Haha,

thought you would like that one. :wink:

SHMO

Thu Sep 29, 2005 7:59 pm

That car looks amazing scott. I was wondering if there is any problem with the lights up on the cage lighting up the inside of the car and glare off the windsheild. I ask because I had a Jeep that I put a light bar on. I found the glare off the hood annoying and relocated the lights to the front bumper.