TheSamba.com :: View topic - Couldn't hold off any longer - My Build

Thu Aug 19, 2010 8:21 am

73SpeedBuggy wrote: GS guy wrote:

Adam - what radiator is being run in this buggy? Is it custom or off the shelf somewhere? I like the darker color, does a good job of hiding it.

Jeff

They're both (there's a bigger one in the rear wing) custom built by a radiator shop in MA.

So your car is requiring 2 radiators to cool the engine? Wow...

For the OP - look at Porsche Boxster radiators as well - 13.37" x 17" x 1.62" core

bnc

Thu Aug 19, 2010 9:42 am

Yea, two radiators - yikes!
I figured that was the intercooler under the rear section.

Unfortunately, I have yet to find anyone who has used an off the shelf radiator in the front of a manx-style buggy. I can find smaller ones (like the Scirocco/Golf models) but not 100% convinced these will work OK and seem to be undersized? I can find larger ones, but they're sized a little too large for the available space. I want plenty of reserve cooling that can take more than a few seconds of on-boost running - yet still fit under the front end! :twisted:

Jeff

Thu Aug 19, 2010 11:59 am

GS guy wrote: Yea, two radiators - yikes!
I figured that was the intercooler under the rear section...I want plenty of reserve cooling that can take more than a few seconds of on-boost running - yet still fit under the front end! :twisted:

Jeff

There is an inter-cooler in the wing as well which didn't leave much room, so the radiator back there isn't as large as it could be otherwise. Hence the desire for the secondary radiator. And it's really on there for, as you said, reserve cooling for harder running. The front unit is pretty small, no cutting of the fiberglass was required to make it fit, and there is also a heater core so the coolant lines were already run to the front of the buggy anyway. Most guys who install them in the sidepods run two as well.

However, the yellow one in the other picture I posted is the sole radiator on that one, but it was bigger and required cutting the fiberglass under the hood to make it fit.

Thu Aug 19, 2010 3:05 pm

Thanks Adam.
I talked to Olli (the yellow buggy) when he first built it, inquiring about the radiator. He confirmed it was a standard Griffin Scirocco model (22 x 13 x 3") though he had Griffin relocate the inlet/outlet a little to better fit the Manxter. Apparently it cools his turbo Suby just fine - I just have a hard time thinking (convincing myself) about using a radiator that small! I can easily go up to 25-26" wide and that would in fact better position the hose connections in my chassis.
Here's another pic of his immaculate buggy:

Jeff

Thu Aug 19, 2010 3:18 pm

PS - not trying to hijack your cool build Quantum - just throwing some ideas out there for radiator placement!

The issue with the rear-mount seems to be airflow, and getting enough of it. I think at low speeds, the fan can do a pretty good job of cooling it down, but at high speed the airflow wants to cycle back in from the rear, and likely just swirls around alot! Couple guys have located oversize rad's above the transaxle or in the rear seat area (rear engine cars) with some success. However, the overwhelming success stories seem to come from front mounts. Note the Manxter with side mounts doesn't exit the air in front of the rear tire (because that won't work - high pressure there). The side pods carry the exhaust air up over the tire and exit out under the rear of the bodywork.

Jeff

Thu Aug 19, 2010 6:06 pm

GS guy wrote: Thanks Adam.
I talked to Olli (the yellow buggy) when he first built it, inquiring about the radiator. He confirmed it was a standard Griffin Scirocco model (22 x 13 x 3") though he had Griffin relocate the inlet/outlet a little to better fit the Manxter. Apparently it cools his turbo Suby just fine - I just have a hard time thinking (convincing myself) about using a radiator that small! I can easily go up to 25-26" wide and that would in fact better position the hose connections in my chassis.
Here's another pic of his immaculate buggy:

Jeff

Drag racer have been using the Scirocco radiator for years with V8 enignes -
Summit & others sell these with & w/o filler necks & inlets/outlets either left or right side -

http://www.summitracing.com/parts/AFC-80107N/

NOW - getting back on track...

What's the latest Quantum?? The guys here seem to live vicariously through your build! :lol:

bnc

Thu Aug 19, 2010 6:28 pm

If it were my car I would mount the radiator directly over the engine on a horizontal plane and then use this material to build a nice professional looking tonneau black cover. If you make the radiator large the actual airflow will much be of much less concern as it will be compensated with surface area. i.e. a four core big block aluminum radiator on a 4 cylinder. The radiator blocking the engine from sight will also add to the "interest". In my opinion....

http://www.speakerworks.com/PhotoDetails.asp?ShowDESC=N&ProductCode=CG1

Thu Aug 19, 2010 8:22 pm

I'll likely have more for you this weekend...parts are starting to arrive.

Mon Aug 23, 2010 4:29 pm

Some more progress for ya...

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This is still in it's prototype-ish phase...lots of finish welding, fish-plating and so on to do.

Mon Aug 23, 2010 5:08 pm

interesting convergence of pipes in back -

bnc

Tue Aug 24, 2010 6:59 pm

wow looks great! I've been planning this exact project for a few years. I've been eye-balling the drivetrain from my corrado, and a Manx clone shell I've had laying around for a few years. Good luck with the project, looks like it's coming along well!

Wed Aug 25, 2010 6:31 am

Wow, how cool. I'm researching a two vehicle build (tube frame street buggy's) and I am interested in your rear spindles, brakes and control arms.

Where did you get them? Custom made or prefabbed?

I'm having to design the rear suspension for a mid-engine Subaru drivetrain (incl trans) and somehow work this into a frame that is usually set up for a rear vw torsion setup.

I'd love to find out how you designed your rear suspension!

I will certainly be following this build for ideas.

Wed Aug 25, 2010 6:54 am

I've posted before that I'd look at using the rear cradle & suspension assembly from a Miata for a build... it would require custom axles, but the Miata diff could be removed & the cradle could 'straddle' the Subaru transaxle, or a VW or Porsche 914 transaxle. By using/adapting the cradle, you maintain the Mazda upper/lower control arms - or as an alternative, you could transfer the a-arm inner pivot points to a custom tubre chassis & use the Miata suspension bits.

http://www.quadesl.com/miata_photos/rear_diagram.gif

bnc

Wed Aug 25, 2010 4:13 pm

martkat wrote: Wow, how cool. I'm researching a two vehicle build (tube frame street buggy's) and I am interested in your rear spindles, brakes and control arms.

Where did you get them? Custom made or prefabbed?

I'm having to design the rear suspension for a mid-engine Subaru drivetrain (incl trans) and somehow work this into a frame that is usually set up for a rear vw torsion setup.

I'd love to find out how you designed your rear suspension!

I will certainly be following this build for ideas.

The rear suspension is essentially from a mid '90's Nissan 300z (the four bolt is from the 240sx). My main reason for going this route was I had one and loved the handling and - as it happens, the wheels I wanted were available only in that bolt pattern. The aluminum spindle/upright I always thought was cool.
The control arms are just cheap ebay ones that would be more than adequate for this build.
I just did the driveshafts today. A combination of the toyota ones grafted onto the nissan outters.
Having said that...I would agree with Didget that the Miata warrants a serious look. Its so much more basic and works very well. The problem I had with it is the lower arms are more central and would hit the oil pan upon any upwards travel. The 300z arms are angled to the front and outta the way, somewhat.

Wed Aug 25, 2010 4:55 pm

Pure art! Love it!!!

Wed Aug 25, 2010 9:18 pm

martkat wrote: Wow, how cool. I'm researching a two vehicle build (tube frame street buggy's) and I am interested in your rear spindles, brakes and control arms.

Where did you get them? Custom made or prefabbed?

I'm having to design the rear suspension for a mid-engine Subaru drivetrain (incl trans) and somehow work this into a frame that is usually set up for a rear vw torsion setup.

I'd love to find out how you designed your rear suspension!

I will certainly be following this build for ideas.

I was looking into the mid engine subie swap ,and found that the subie has a bolt in crosser that should be pretty easy to build off of,just had to make upper strut mounts and an easy lower control arm rear mount .Measure everything on the subie before removing the crosser ,copy the dimensions out of tube,and away you go .The crosser was in a 99 legacy gt ,but pretty sure most subie's are constructed like this .

Thu Aug 26, 2010 7:36 am

bruces wrote: martkat wrote: Wow, how cool. I'm researching a two vehicle build (tube frame street buggy's) and I am interested in your rear spindles, brakes and control arms.

Where did you get them? Custom made or prefabbed?

I'm having to design the rear suspension for a mid-engine Subaru drivetrain (incl trans) and somehow work this into a frame that is usually set up for a rear vw torsion setup.

I'd love to find out how you designed your rear suspension!

I will certainly be following this build for ideas.

I was looking into the mid engine subie swap ,and found that the subie has a bolt in crosser that should be pretty easy to build off of,just had to make upper strut mounts and an easy lower control arm rear mount .Measure everything on the subie before removing the crosser ,copy the dimensions out of tube,and away you go .The crosser was in a 99 legacy gt ,but pretty sure most subie's are constructed like this .

I looked at the Subaru crossmember as well, but don't like being restricted to using MacPherson struts; too heavy & not well designed for handling.

bnc

Thu Aug 26, 2010 9:37 am

here is my GT with an ecotec and manual trans. I also build a set of hanging pedal .

For the rad. I place it in the front, the one I have is over size since I will install a supercharger.[/img]

Thu Aug 26, 2010 9:38 am

Just check all my pics

Thu Aug 26, 2010 5:05 pm

braddieselproject wrote: here is my GT with an ecotec and manual trans. I also build a set of hanging pedal .

For the rad. I place it in the front, the one I have is over size since I will install a supercharger.[/img]

Very nice!!
Even though I am the most anti Chevy person - the eccotec 2.2 was my second choice. A very nice motor all 'round. Plentiful and cheap on top of that.