Dreaded1's build

Dreaded1 · Posted: Fri Aug 19, 2011 9:39 am Post subject: Dreaded1's build

I just purchased my first sand rail and will be driving from Upstate NY to Michigan this Sunday to pick it up. I have wanted one since I was a kid and this was too good of a deal to pass up. I got it for $1,400, it has a 1600cc engine that was rebuilt in 2009 and has 50 miles on it. I believe the guy just used it to run around his property. There is no title and it is not registered so I will have to do all the leg work to make it street legal in NY.

I will be working with a friend of mine that will be rebuilding one at the same time. Preliminary plans are to add front and rear disc brakes, front and rear shocks, complete strip down and paint. Remove the old center console and replace it with some newer gauges and add some more rails to the sides. I will also be going with wider front tires. I am still on the fence about the mesh floor, whether I want to keep it or not. One of my friends will be making a custom canvass body and top for the buggy also.

The major work will begin after Feb 2012 and I have a lofty goal of having it on the road next summer. This is my first VW, I have been working on my WRX for the last few years and finally got it where I want it. Now its time for another project.

I have been lurking on here for a few weeks and finally decided to join. I look forward to picking your brains for some knowledge, I know all the info I need is out there somewhere, its just a matter of using the SEARCH button.

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dixon_cass · Posted: Fri Aug 19, 2011 10:13 am Post subject:

looks like a good rail! im really liking the front wheels! what color are you going to go with.
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My build thread:

http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?p=5224965#5224965

IRS, Kingpin, 2 seat, hot rod pinto powered sand rail.

http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=882925383&ref=ts

Dreaded1 · Posted: Fri Aug 19, 2011 10:17 am Post subject:

I am thinking of going with orange or dark metallic blue. The red it has now is killing me, but they are really bad photos. It might be better in real life.

txdunebuggy101 · Posted: Fri Aug 19, 2011 10:37 am Post subject:

Welcome to the Samba! thats a nice looking rail, and a steal at that price.... you have come to the right place for all your info needs. i have figured out, through reading in all the forums, that when you total everyones knowledge here, there is nothing not known about VW's. from the pic, its a swing axle trans and the front looks like b/j with spindle mount wheels. the mesh floor would be ok for mostly street use, but i prefer aluminun floors. im gonna add mesh to the very front of my rail where its braces triangle out to the beam mount. the red paint dont look so bad.... i do not like the Tpee exhaust , i prefer the bobcat style with Ubend. but i guess your less likely to bump into it and get burned.... have fun with that bad boy.....
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I NEVER KNEW I KNOW SO LITTLE, TILL NOW....

Dreaded1 · Posted: Fri Aug 19, 2011 11:04 am Post subject:

txdunebuggy101 · Posted: Fri Aug 19, 2011 9:01 pm Post subject:

dont cut up a bus.... you can use a bug from 69 to 74 i think. they have irs also. if your gonna use a bus trans, you can still use the bug irs with a special mount. buses are too rare in my opinion to hack up for parts.... is the front beam b/j or king pin?
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I NEVER KNEW I KNOW SO LITTLE, TILL NOW....

txdunebuggy101 · Posted: Fri Aug 19, 2011 9:05 pm Post subject:

o yeah... just do a irs conversion . you need irs arms and the pivot mount. search irs conversion and youll see what im talking about. it might be easier.... Wink

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I NEVER KNEW I KNOW SO LITTLE, TILL NOW....

Adventurer · Posted: Fri Aug 19, 2011 10:08 pm Post subject:

txdunebuggy101 · Posted: Fri Aug 19, 2011 10:35 pm Post subject:

yes adventurer, upon closer look. it does look like king/link pin.... im lookin from a whack smart phone...
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I NEVER KNEW I KNOW SO LITTLE, TILL NOW....

Dreaded1 · Posted: Sat Aug 20, 2011 7:14 am Post subject:

I will have better pictures on Monday when I get back from my road trip. The current owner of the rail is not too computer savvy and could not provide me with any better pictures. So I wasn't confident on his technical knowledge of the rail itself. I bought it on good faith and knowing that what ever needs to be replaced can be replaced.

I will definitely look into the irs conversion kit. Like I said I plan to throw money at this project until its done the right way, the first time.

Which front clip type is preferred for 95% street use, The b/j or link pin?

dixon_cass · Posted: Sat Aug 20, 2011 7:17 am Post subject:

both front ends will work fine for street. they are both very capable front ends in the off road world. if your 95% steet than a stock front end will work great.
_________________
My build thread:

http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?p=5224965#5224965

IRS, Kingpin, 2 seat, hot rod pinto powered sand rail.

http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=882925383&ref=ts

Dreaded1 · Posted: Tue Aug 23, 2011 10:09 am Post subject:

Bringing it home from Michigan.

It runs but needs some work. First gear is damn near hitting the passenger in the left knee. I shutter to think about where 4th would be if it went into fourth. The clutch is way out of adjustment there is about 6 inches of play before it begins to engage, which is a simple adjustment. It also looks like the a seal is blown on one of the rear brakes, another simple fix.

There is definitely some work that needs to be done on it to get it where I need it next summer, but overall I am happy with it. I may have to do some adjusting of the top bars. I am 6 foot and when I sit in the seat the bar is maybe 2 inches above my head, too close for my comfort. We are thinking about cutting the bars off and moving them more to the outside so they are over my shoulder and not directly over my head.

When I called the owner to inquire about buying he said he did some tranny work and thats why it wont go into 3rd or 4th. When I got out there he said he was driving it after some beers and jammed into 3rd and now it wont go into 3rd or 4th. Again not a big deal because I planned to change the tranny out already.

unfortunatley the entire thing is spray painted red, even the front shocks, bushings, pedals, everthing on the front clip. I am going to get very familiar with the smell of paint remover.

Dreaded1 · Posted: Wed Aug 24, 2011 7:06 am Post subject:

I just looked at the dixon cass build thread and saw that he mounted his switches on the roof of the rail. I had planned to do something similar and try to have the gauges mounted so they are hanging down from the top of the windshield. Can someone point me in the direction of some more pics of the switch box mounted on the top of the rail?

motorbreath53 · Posted: Wed Aug 24, 2011 7:25 am Post subject:

This is an old pic before it was painted... but the other one I had was blurry. This is just an "off the shelf" center console you can get at any of the mail orders co.'s ... I just trimmed it to fit. The mounting bracket is welded to the roof.

This is in a baja, but you could still do somthing similar in a rail.

OH! And check that the shift coupler hasn't moved. Your shift problem sounds like it could be a linkage issue. (just the same, check that the nose cone on the trans isn't broken.) I know you said its getting swapped, but... why not drive it until then...
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..."cut n' turn in progress"...

wuudywuudpecker · Posted: Wed Aug 24, 2011 7:34 am Post subject:

That's a nice looking rail and that price was awesome I paid more than that and it wasn't running Rolling Eyes

good luck with it!
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Check out my build thread
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=432960

shok · Posted: Wed Aug 24, 2011 1:27 pm Post subject:

Be very careful how you cut and move tubes around on that rail, just moving the upper ones could cost you some strength. And yeah I'll second the opinion that the tranny issue might be a minor linkage thing.
Oh and all the red paint might be annoying but if he had it outdoors all the time it may have protected everything too, either way looks like a cool find.
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1974 Baja Bug Hackjob
1968 Baja Bug

1971 Squareback parts car

Dreaded1 · Posted: Thu Aug 25, 2011 4:36 am Post subject:

Yea we definitely have to completely go through the tranny to see exactly what the problem is, that my happen this fall.

As far as the top tubes are concerned, we have scrapped the idea of moving the top tubes out. I am 6' tall and the tubes are maybe 2 inches above my head when I sit in the current seats. I plan to upgrade the seats to something with a little more cushion, which would put my head even closer to the tubes. What are some suggestions for getting me some more head clearance? Extending and reinforcing the tubes coming up to the windshield and behind the seats?

dixon_cass · Posted: Thu Aug 25, 2011 4:40 am Post subject:

you could always lover the floor under the seats a bit. i cant find the thread but another member had the same problem so he modified the floor to lower the seats.
_________________
My build thread:

http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?p=5224965#5224965

IRS, Kingpin, 2 seat, hot rod pinto powered sand rail.

http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=882925383&ref=ts

EvanB · Posted: Thu Aug 25, 2011 1:22 pm Post subject:

maybe tilt the seat back a little? give a little lean to how you sit, but would also lower your head!
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1962 Euro Ragtop Beetle
1964 Beetle (Parts)
1967 Baja Bug (72 Pan)
1974 Railbuggy (Sold)
2006 Jetta TDI

mrcole · Posted: Thu Aug 25, 2011 8:55 pm Post subject:

my seats are lowered beyond the bottom fo the frame (with hefty skids of course) - see my build thread for any pics.
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My Build Page

http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=447524


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