TheSamba.com :: View topic - Barrett bus-into bug

Tue Jan 03, 2006 8:09 pm

I've got an old 10deg. tranny mount that was sold by barrett Enterprises. It's just like the McKenzies one, only the front mount bolts in rather than welding.
Anyone used one of these? Any strength or shifting problems?

Also, this thing's made of some pretty heavy plate- does anyone make longer bolts for the end of the horns? I don't like having them only partly engaged, but the local specialty fastner shop looked at me blankly.

Wed Jan 04, 2006 3:18 pm

Well if you want to get rid of it, I have been looking for one of those for a couple of years now. I have always wondered what happened to their old inventory. Later, Mitch.

Wed Jan 04, 2006 11:45 pm

Funny you mention that...
I don't, but I have been thinking about duplicating it. Anyone think it would be worth the trouble, or are Class11 and I the only ones who would use it?
(also been trying to find Barrett- there have got to be dies for this thing sitting around somewhere, and I've got a 100 ton press at work)

Thu Jan 05, 2006 6:31 am

i would replace the small silver screw on the front mount, it looks like the weak link....

watch out for class 11, he will want to trade some hot wheels for it!! :wink:

Fri Jan 06, 2006 12:24 am

I also have been looking for that kit. I would be interested in a copy.

Doran

Fri Jan 06, 2006 7:33 am

I would purchase one. Been thinking a lot lately about upgrading from my trusty swing axle to one of those new fangled IRS transmission I keep hearing about. If I do a bus tranny would be the only way I would go.

Fri Jan 06, 2006 7:45 am

DesertBob wrote: I would purchase one. Been thinking a lot lately about upgrading from my trusty swing axle to one of those new fangled IRS transmission I keep hearing about. If I do a bus tranny would be the only way I would go.

New fangled IRS you say, tell us more!

Fri Jan 06, 2006 11:09 am

DesertBob wrote: I would purchase one. Been thinking a lot lately about upgrading from my trusty swing axle to one of those new fangled IRS transmission I keep hearing about. If I do a bus tranny would be the only way I would go.

believe me, the difference is well worth the $$. but i bought the Latest Rage Crap mount instead...... :?

Fri Jan 06, 2006 1:00 pm

I've got the McKenzie's one. Frankly its onf of the best/strongest parts out there. I'm sure many would purchase them if you started fabbing your own.

Sat Jan 07, 2006 7:02 pm

subybaja,

My friend just gave me one of these mounts the other day. It is new but someone used the plate that bolts to the tranny [behind the W shaped piece] for a dunebuggy mount. If you take yours apart, could you post a picture of it? I have to make one and would like to see the bottom edge before I start. Thanks!

Sat Jan 07, 2006 7:22 pm

There you go... Good luck!

Sat Jan 07, 2006 7:47 pm

Thanks a bunch! [even with measurements!]

That will be an easy make. I have been looking for info on this for a few days and you happened to post about it. Crazy! I won't be using mine for quite a while so I won't be able to comment on them till summer. I hope they work well for the both of us.

Tue Mar 21, 2006 12:53 pm

Hello Subybaja , would you be so kind to tell me how thick the plate is, I have to manufacture one myself but it is hard to find a "bus to bug"mount here in the Netherlands.

Is it posible to give some more measurements.

Thank you very much in advance.

Greetings from Bajadude , from the Netherlands 8)

Tue Mar 21, 2006 4:54 pm

vwclass11 wrote: Well if you want to get rid of it, I have been looking for one of those for a couple of years now. I have always wondered what happened to their old inventory. Later, Mitch.

Thats funny, cuz I shopped there alot and after they closed I would drive by and for a long time all the inventory was still in the shop and stuff in back. I always wondered if they would sell off stuff cheap...:)

Tue Mar 21, 2006 7:11 pm

I finally tracked down Ron Barrett a few months ago. He's totally out of the business, working for some wholesale parts supplier, so there is no old stock. He did say that he was OK with people copying that mount, though.
I plan to do just that as soon as I get done with CAD drawings of it. Plasma cut, jig welded...
I seem to recall that the plate it's made of is .2 inches...
I'll let you guys know when I've got a few ready.
In the meantime, BD, you might check out McKenzies weld-in mount. It's the one that's shown installed in "Transmissions For Dummies", pg 3:
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=143138&highlight=transmissions+dummies
The Barrett one is shown there uninstalled.

Quote:
-----Original Message-----
Subject: Ron Barrett

Mr Barrett,

I was sad to see your business go by the wayside. Happens to too many in the aircooled world.
I'm working on a 1969 baja bug, installing an 002 trans using your old
bus-into-bug adapter. I've been discussing it with the guys on
Thesamba.com's offroad forum, and there seems to be some interest in
reviving this kit. McKenzie's Offroad makes one that's similar, but
requires a lot of welding and fitting.
Since you're now out of the business, would you object to my
fabricating several? Also, can you offer me any leads on the old
jigs/fixtures that it was built on?

Thanks for any help you can give,
Patrick

Dear Patrick,

Thanks for your kind words. I closed Barrett Enterprises for health reasons
but I'm doing fine now. The kit you referred to was actually designed and
manufactured by Transform. Unfortunately they are no longer in business. I
have no objections to you manufacturing that kit. I think it would be a
good idea. I checked to see if I had a sample left but I don't. Good luck.

Ron Barrett

Tue Mar 21, 2006 8:31 pm

whats the advantage to a 10 deg mount?

Tue Mar 21, 2006 8:35 pm

drops the shift rod into the tunnel, gets the motor a little higher, i think it might get the trans lower in the forks, resulting in less cv angle at full droop

Tue Mar 21, 2006 8:40 pm

Here's a nice set-up

Tue Mar 21, 2006 8:57 pm

Quote: I seem to recall that the plate it's made of is .2 inches...

In cold rolled or hot rolled steel it would be either 3/16" (.188) or 1/4" (.250"). I haven't seen much on the market in between those. The 3/16" size would be more than strong enough. Cold rolled would paint or plate easier due to lack of scale on the surface. Just my $.02 (since I am not working on my car right now... :D )

Tue Mar 21, 2006 9:04 pm

that is a cool setup. would take a rather large hole in a stock tunnel though