TheSamba.com :: View topic

Wed Jul 28, 2010 7:41 am

I am building a fiberglass buggy but it will be a little different.
First off all it will not be VW based. (sorry)
Here is my donor:

For those who did not recognize.
It is a 1991 Eagle Talon TSI
AWD and around 400 horses.

This is my body:

The body is a long wheelbase so should fit pretty good...

Wed Jul 28, 2010 8:21 am

Quite a few people, especially in Europe take transverse front wheel drive trains and mount them mid-engine, behind the seats. They work fantastic.

There's really no room for an engine, transaxle and front suspension under the hood and fenders of a body like you have, unless you cut off everything forward of the driver, long wheelbase not withstanding.

Wed Jul 28, 2010 8:31 am

Are you going to design a complete chassis?

How are you going to deal with the front suspension? IE: eliminating the strut assembly?

How about cooling and fuel related systems?

What about the 4WD set up? maintain a front engine set up? Cooling system in the rear?

Interesting...but very involved. I would love to hear about your concrete plans.

Wed Jul 28, 2010 1:02 pm

Here are my plans.

To keep it simple I want to cut the body off and keep the floor, engine, transmission and suspension where they are.
The radiator will have to be moved to the back.
I will build a complete cage to give its rigidity back to the chassis.
Last thing would be to cut and modified the body to fit over a front engine chassis.

Plan is to get a 400HP all wheel drive 1500 pounds front engine Buggy...

I will post pictures of the cutting very soon.

Wed Jul 28, 2010 1:22 pm

Quote: To keep it simple I want to cut the body off and keep the floor, engine, transmission and suspension where they are.
The radiator will have to be moved to the back.
I will build a complete cage to give its rigidity back to the chassis.
Last thing would be to cut and modified the body to fit over a front engine chassis.

What about suspension (front & rear) mounting points? Since its a unibody they are really more part of the "body" then the floor.

Will the radiator get enough airflow in the rear? Do you plan to keep the gas tank back there as well?

How far off is the talon wheelbase and track width from the stock fiberglass body? Are you going to have to lengthen and widen the body? How do you plan on keeping it straight in all those directions during the re-glassing?

Interesting and complex job.

Wed Jul 28, 2010 2:05 pm

Hummm....
Unibody...???
400 hp ???
I dont think you would actually drive it,

..... just aim it!
.
.
.

and squeeze the trigger !!

Wed Jul 28, 2010 2:31 pm

Thats ging to be one difficult job good luck post pics :P

Wed Jul 28, 2010 3:12 pm

... good luck

bnc

Wed Jul 28, 2010 3:14 pm

Quote: ... good luck

From me as well.

Wed Jul 28, 2010 3:19 pm

I hope that donor is in better shape mechanically than it is cosmetically :shock: It would be a shame to spend all that Money(and it will take a tremendous amount) and time only to find out the FWD does not work or the turbo is toast ETC,ETC.

Wed Jul 28, 2010 3:38 pm

dsmbuggy wrote: Here are my plans.

To keep it simple I want to cut the body off and keep the floor, engine, transmission and suspension where they are.
The radiator will have to be moved to the back.
I will build a complete cage to give its rigidity back to the chassis.
Last thing would be to cut and modified the body to fit over a front engine chassis.

Plan is to get a 400HP all wheel drive 1500 pounds front engine Buggy...

I will post pictures of the cutting very soon.

If you can get this project under 2500lbs I'd be amazed. Best of luck you. You certainly have your work cut out for you, but if it turns out well, the payofff will be worth it!

Wed Jul 28, 2010 3:57 pm

GTBRADLEY wrote: I hope that donor is in better shape mechanically than it is cosmetically :shock: It would be a shame to spend all that Money(and it will take a tremendous amount) and time only to find out the FWD does not work or the turbo is toast ETC,ETC.

You are right the car has a brand new 2.3 stroker motor with forged internals, new gt30 turbo, new water to air intercooler, new radiator etc...

I actually do not plan to spend that much money on it.
I just bought 120 feet of chromoly tubing for $300 of ebay
The body was $200 also ebay.
A new aluminum fuel cell $170.

The rest is mostly already in the car.

Thanks for all your good wishes. :wink:

Wed Jul 28, 2010 4:29 pm

Strangest looking water to air intercooler I've ever seen. Looks like a big fat air to air intercooler on the front there, that's why the core is so thick - to let the air through from side to side.

Good luck with your project, I have been working on my 2000lb 400hp 4WD rear mounted buggy for 2 years now and am still fitting up the tailshaft and the drive shafts.

I hope you can do it quicker than what it's taking me.

Wed Jul 28, 2010 4:40 pm

My 1981 Eagle Wagon. 4WD and about 150hp. I will put a towbar on the back and use my buggy to push it down the road. Does it still count as a four wheel drive vehicle if it is off and being pushed?

Wed Jul 28, 2010 4:48 pm

Hmmm.... TIG welding chromoly.... not my favorite thing to do -

bnc

Wed Jul 28, 2010 5:35 pm

Quote: I just bought 120 feet of chromoly tubing for $300 of ebay

Wow...that seems like a real good deal. The best I could find on EBAY was about $60 for an 8 foot section of 1.5":

http://cgi.ebay.com/4130-NORM-CHROM-MOLY-STEEL-TUB...3341cbb69d

That would be $900 for 120 feet so it looks like you got a great deal.

Any ideas on the suspension and wheelbase questions yet?

Wed Jul 28, 2010 6:35 pm

cant wait to see how this one goes.
keep us posted!

Wed Jul 28, 2010 7:15 pm

What are your plans for suspension?

Wed Jul 28, 2010 7:34 pm

You live in a nice neighborhood :shock:

Wed Jul 28, 2010 7:48 pm

wythac wrote: My 1981 Eagle Wagon. 4WD and about 150hp. I will put a towbar on the back and use my buggy to push it down the road. Does it still count as a four wheel drive vehicle if it is off and being pushed?

I want.