Hello! Log in or Register   |  Help  |  Donate  |  Buy Shirts See all banner ads | Advertise on TheSamba.com  
TheSamba.com
 
Thoughts on a Bradley GT
Page: Previous  1, 2
Forum Index -> Kit Car/Fiberglass Buggy/356 Replica Share: Facebook Twitter
Reply to topic
Print View
Quick sort: Show newest posts on top | Show oldest posts on top View previous topic :: View next topic  
Author Message
wythac
Samba Member


Joined: August 02, 2004
Posts: 2791

wythac is offline 

PostPosted: Tue Dec 12, 2017 4:46 pm    Post subject: Re: Thoughts on a Bradley GT Reply with quote

ReVo,

If you have metalworking skills I don't see why you couldn't drop the pans. I think your primary challenge will be the controls, and your seating position relative to them:

A shorter shifter will keep you from looking like the Rat Fink cartoon when driving. An inch probably wouldn't dramatically change your orientation to the steering wheel. But you will have to consider how you will deal with the pedal set...it has a set relationship to the tunnel. You might get away with just shortening the brake and clutch pedals, but that will make them harder to push.

I've never done anything like that, but if I had, those would have been my fabrication concerns.
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Gallery Classifieds Feedback
woodoctr
Samba Member


Joined: June 01, 2013
Posts: 254
Location: Ohio
woodoctr is offline 

PostPosted: Tue Dec 12, 2017 9:17 pm    Post subject: Re: Thoughts on a Bradley GT Reply with quote

Pan drops are pretty easy. They actually cast 4 inch fiberglass pan drops with the body on the later Sebring cars. Do a little figuring and you can make mini drop pan inserts for your seats. Headroom can be increased by dropping the back of the pan down more which gets your torso down for more headroom. That brings your leg/knees kind of "up" which will allow you to get closer to your pedals and shifter. When I built my Bradley I modified a short sport shifter which was made for a Karman Ghia by heating/bending it to curve to me and then combined that with a short throw shifter kit.
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Gallery Classifieds Feedback
jspbtown
Samba Member


Joined: January 27, 2004
Posts: 5152

jspbtown is offline 

PostPosted: Tue Dec 12, 2017 9:57 pm    Post subject: Re: Thoughts on a Bradley GT Reply with quote

You can do a pan drop, a body lift, or both. When I built my Bradley I did a 3" body lift. You obviously need to drop the suspension to make things look right but its pretty easy.

Floor pan drops are usually occur in the back and then they taper up in the front to keep the stock pedal assembly.

The shifter and ebrake can also be moved back about 6" relatively easily which makes driving that car so much easier. In my Avenger I moved them back and was able to cut down a stock shifter that looked great.
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Gallery Classifieds Feedback
ReVo
Samba Member


Joined: December 07, 2017
Posts: 5
Location: Michigan
ReVo is offline 

PostPosted: Wed Dec 13, 2017 12:37 pm    Post subject: Re: Thoughts on a Bradley GT Reply with quote

It seems like it isn't too big of an issue to drop the pans. like you guys said just lowering the back of the seat a bit should do the trick. I saw some guides on moving the shifter/ebrake handle back and that shouldn't be too difficult either. It still has the hurst shifter in it, too. It has 100k miles on it. How much more do you think the ol' girl has left in her before she will need a rebuild? It seems like he took good care of it with regular maintenance.
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Gallery Classifieds Feedback
woodoctr
Samba Member


Joined: June 01, 2013
Posts: 254
Location: Ohio
woodoctr is offline 

PostPosted: Thu Dec 14, 2017 7:22 am    Post subject: Re: Thoughts on a Bradley GT Reply with quote

It's a crap shoot at that mileage. Power pulleys always concern me as less air is getting over the engine. Just an opinion...another shortcoming with the design was Bradley's assumption that "enough" air was getting to the engine even though it wasn't hanging out like it would have in a dune buggy. Always thought that the original tin should have sealed out the engine bay like in the original beetle design. Then side scoops could have brought fresh air to the top of the engine for the fan.
So my point is.....you're getting enough decent car here, I'd spring for a rebuild on the motor and tranny......
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Gallery Classifieds Feedback
wythac
Samba Member


Joined: August 02, 2004
Posts: 2791

wythac is offline 

PostPosted: Thu Dec 14, 2017 6:09 pm    Post subject: Re: Thoughts on a Bradley GT Reply with quote

Newer is usually better, but:

Maybe getting it running down the road well enough to identify its shortcomings would be a good plan before tearing into it much. Since you know you'll be doing that eventually anyway, using a short trial run period to help you figure out what needs work, can't hurt.
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Gallery Classifieds Feedback
Dougiebugs
Samba Member


Joined: February 04, 2003
Posts: 61

Dougiebugs is offline 

PostPosted: Sun Dec 17, 2017 7:40 pm    Post subject: Re: Thoughts on a Bradley GT Reply with quote

I hope you brought this car, you really can't loose you money at that price.+If possible drive it for a season, build a mild engine. and enjoy. I have 3 of them
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail AIM Address Gallery Classifieds Feedback
Bugsy61
Samba Member


Joined: March 20, 2011
Posts: 256
Location: Peoria, Illinois
Bugsy61 is offline 

PostPosted: Tue Dec 19, 2017 11:05 am    Post subject: Re: Thoughts on a Bradley GT Reply with quote

I bought one for my son back in 2008, and he still has it. All the advice above reflects our experience exactly. Challenging for tall people, can run hot, strangers will turn your lights on and run the battery dead because the doors don't lock. Only two things left out. Expect the gull wing doors to break very soon. They are all dried out, and they're going to break, and there are no replacements to be had, anywhere. Good news is the gelcoat can be brought back to like new condition with seven coats of clear polyurathane and some careful sanding and buffing. And I mean, just like new! Add a turbocharged aircooled engine, and a freeway flyer trans, and you've got a wicked fast little car.
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Classifieds Feedback
MNChief
Samba Member


Joined: January 02, 2017
Posts: 36
Location: Minnesota
MNChief is offline 

PostPosted: Wed Dec 20, 2017 8:07 am    Post subject: Re: Thoughts on a Bradley GT Reply with quote

I have been doing a Bradley project, and after the pans were dropped I had the fiberglass shop shoot the pans with a chopper gun for strength and sound proofing it really seemed to stiffen everything up (along with all my body mods, see Bradley Gt, redefining lines) I've never had overheating problems here in Minnesota, Michigan should be cool too
Image may have been reduced in size. Click image to view fullscreen.
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Gallery Classifieds Feedback
Display posts from previous:   
Reply to topic    Forum Index -> Kit Car/Fiberglass Buggy/356 Replica All times are Mountain Standard Time/Pacific Daylight Savings Time
Page: Previous  1, 2
Page 2 of 2

 
Jump to:  
You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum
You cannot vote in polls in this forum

About | Help! | Advertise | Donate | Premium Membership | Privacy/Terms of Use | Contact Us | Site Map
Copyright © 1996-2023, Everett Barnes. All Rights Reserved.
Not affiliated with or sponsored by Volkswagen of America | Forum powered by phpBB
Links to eBay or other vendor sites may be affiliate links where the site receives compensation.