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ispep1012 Samba Member
Joined: September 11, 2009 Posts: 24
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Posted: Fri Sep 11, 2009 12:13 pm Post subject: New sand rail user - looking for purchasing advice |
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Hey all! Been doing some research on a few things & google keeps sending me here so I thought I would register & ask some questions.
I am looking to purchase a sand rail for a combination of street and play. I am a tall guy at 6' 3" so I need head room. I am considering building if I cant find a decent starter buggy.
I was gonna look at a berrien stalker this weekend and could use some advice. This was factory welded with the torsion bar & 3in extra headroom 7-8 years ago. It is king pin front, IRS rear, racing swing arms, hydraulic pedals & cutting brakes. Engine is a vw 1600 FI & bus tranny.
Front rims & all around shocks need replaced. Asking 2500.00! What do you guys think & can the FI be switched to carb easily. Thoughts welcome! From Michigan if it helps. |
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ataim Samba Member
Joined: June 17, 2009 Posts: 219 Location: Fort Worth
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Posted: Fri Sep 11, 2009 12:45 pm Post subject: Re: New sand rail user - looking for purchasing advice |
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ispep1012 wrote: |
Asking 2500.00! |
Sounds like a pretty good deal to me. Read the transmissions for dummies on the stickey? If it is complete buggy with a bus tranny then I'd be all over it. _________________ I like steak. |
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ispep1012 Samba Member
Joined: September 11, 2009 Posts: 24
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Posted: Fri Sep 11, 2009 6:06 pm Post subject: Re: New sand rail user - looking for purchasing advice |
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ataim wrote: |
ispep1012 wrote: |
Asking 2500.00! |
Read the transmissions for dummies on the stickey? If it is complete buggy with a bus tranny then I'd be all over it. |
Yeah I have found quite a few interesting articles on here. Just a matter of remembering what they look like I guess.
Is there any common things that are most important to look over when buying a used rail. Also this is not street legal so I would have to convert it. What is the best route for front brakes on kingpin? Oh also does anyone in Michigan care to share some insurance rates on a sand rail? |
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bawbeeseboy Samba Member
Joined: October 30, 2007 Posts: 54 Location: hillsdale michigan
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Posted: Sat Sep 12, 2009 4:39 am Post subject: |
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Had mine registered as a historic vehicle. Was titled as 1983 assembled roadster . I had collector car insurance for a while until they decided not to insure dune buggies, you know they always ask for pictures. I switched to Auto Owners and that was about 250/6 mos full coverage and would switch to just comp. for the winter. Hope that helps. |
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ispep1012 Samba Member
Joined: September 11, 2009 Posts: 24
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Posted: Sat Sep 12, 2009 7:06 am Post subject: |
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bawbeeseboy wrote: |
I switched to Auto Owners and that was about 250/6 mos full coverage and would switch to just comp. for the winter. Hope that helps. |
Thats not bad at all. To be honest I was expecting those prices without full coverage.
Has anyone on here had any experience with the stalker chassis.http://www.berrienbuggy.com/id32.htm. I am not quite sure on the flat top design yet, but it would look great with a t-top design. I am going to look at this tomorrow hopefully if all goes well. |
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ispep1012 Samba Member
Joined: September 11, 2009 Posts: 24
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Posted: Sun Sep 13, 2009 3:29 pm Post subject: |
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Well I am a proud owner of my first vw powered machine. Bus tranny turned out to be a 6 rib. final price 1950.00. What do you think!
[/img] |
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tody Samba Member
Joined: May 15, 2008 Posts: 85 Location: Orange County, CA
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Posted: Sun Sep 13, 2009 3:35 pm Post subject: |
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looks like a good deal you might want to reinforce the cage a little with some x bracing behind front seats and over your head. also a 8-10 in piece from the a pillar to the door bar so it slants like this \. |
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bawbeeseboy Samba Member
Joined: October 30, 2007 Posts: 54 Location: hillsdale michigan
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Posted: Sun Sep 13, 2009 3:46 pm Post subject: |
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I used Berriens kit with the x brace in front and the gussets for the corners of the bars really stiffend things up. |
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ispep1012 Samba Member
Joined: September 11, 2009 Posts: 24
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Posted: Sun Sep 13, 2009 4:43 pm Post subject: |
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Well I will definitely be bracing & doing some custom fab work on the frame. I need to put in some shock bars for the rear. Got lots of ideas .
It needs some work and I am not quite sure on the fuel injection yet but I should get there. I may need some advice of you guru's out there. It leaks a little but research says it is quite common. What would be best for me to start checking and going through on the engine? I have a book for vw to help. |
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ataim Samba Member
Joined: June 17, 2009 Posts: 219 Location: Fort Worth
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Posted: Mon Sep 14, 2009 7:20 am Post subject: |
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If you have not already read this you need to. http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=354795&highlight=lost+friend
Six rib bus tranny, My buggy did not have front brakes also. I wound up putting disks on the front. I already had disks in the back. I also used a duel Wilborn master cylinder.
What are you mainly going to be running your new buggy in? _________________ I like steak. |
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ispep1012 Samba Member
Joined: September 11, 2009 Posts: 24
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Posted: Mon Sep 14, 2009 10:29 am Post subject: |
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Ouch! I didnt see that post but thanks for the burned in mental image. Should help me make some better decisions. I am trying to figure out the best route for brakes instead of a new 800.00 kit. I gotta try to be somewhat reasonable here. I will mostly drive on street and I do intend to play with it offroad possibly even silver lake, mi. It all depends cause right now no one I know has one.
As far as bracing goes, this was a quick photoshop. I want to put in the back bars as seen in photo then possibly x-brace that part with removable flanging just in case. I added the front braces as the other one suggested in the front but not sure if I like that angle. Honestly I am not even sure where I can get sufficient tubing around here. We used to have a place then they quit dealing to public!
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gkalmar Samba Member
Joined: November 13, 2005 Posts: 79 Location: Denver, CO
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Posted: Mon Sep 14, 2009 1:38 pm Post subject: |
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I'm jealous. I'd love to have a Stalker or a Venture frame. I like the looks, and they have lots more tie rod clearance up front. I want to go mid travel on my rail, but I think I might have a hard time. |
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ispep1012 Samba Member
Joined: September 11, 2009 Posts: 24
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Posted: Mon Sep 14, 2009 7:05 pm Post subject: |
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gkalmar wrote: |
I'm jealous. I'd love to have a Stalker or a Venture frame. I like the looks, and they have lots more tie rod clearance up front. I want to go mid travel on my rail, but I think I might have a hard time. |
Honestly I wasn't sure of the flat top at first. I much preferred the classic style but after looking at pictures long enough and finally seeing it in person I prefer this style now. |
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GonzoTx Samba Member
Joined: September 22, 2008 Posts: 132 Location: Martin Springs,Tx
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Posted: Tue Sep 15, 2009 2:59 pm Post subject: |
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Ispep, Look around for stock style disc kits. I got mine for under $300 with new spindles. They use factory calipers and disc so finding replacement parts is cheap and easy. |
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ispep1012 Samba Member
Joined: September 11, 2009 Posts: 24
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Posted: Wed Sep 16, 2009 5:58 pm Post subject: |
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GonzoTx wrote: |
Ispep, Look around for stock style disc kits. I got mine for under $300 with new spindles. They use factory calipers and disc so finding replacement parts is cheap and easy. |
Thanks for the tip. I was wondering that my self. I may not allocate them in my get it street legal budget as I was reading the TR-54 and it does not state front are required. Now of course I will put front brakes on this to drive on the road, I'm only saying I would rather get everything else done to tile it first. On the other hand I need tires & rims all around and would probably save money that way I don't have to buy two sets of fronts. |
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ispep1012 Samba Member
Joined: September 11, 2009 Posts: 24
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Posted: Thu Sep 24, 2009 4:19 pm Post subject: |
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Got a few questions. I am getting ready to get started on this and was wondering what is a good size tire and rim to be running for a combination of street and off-road. I have 4 lug but dont know the mm pattern yet.
I'm buying new rims & tires so I want to get this as close to perfect as I can. |
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therickster005 Samba Member
Joined: October 21, 2018 Posts: 1 Location: Concord CA
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Posted: Sun Oct 21, 2018 5:20 pm Post subject: Re: New sand rail user - looking for purchasing advice |
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Question? Speaking of off road, where can I buy front x brace bars for bugs? Thanks |
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tripicana Samba Member
Joined: February 13, 2003 Posts: 1164 Location: colorado springs
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Posted: Sun Oct 21, 2018 6:09 pm Post subject: Re: New sand rail user - looking for purchasing advice |
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Wut? _________________ foam cowboy hats aren't good helmets. |
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dustymojave Samba Member
Joined: January 07, 2007 Posts: 5802 Location: Lake LA, Mojave Desert, SoCal
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Posted: Mon Oct 22, 2018 8:33 pm Post subject: Re: New sand rail user - looking for purchasing advice |
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therickster005 wrote: |
Question? Speaking of off road, where can I buy front x brace bars for bugs? Thanks |
Kind of extracted this thread from the pyramids huh? 2009? And it's not even a direct cross reference. But OK...
Show us the frame you feel needs x-bracing. And show us where you feel it needs to be added.
From your post, you might have a stock VW Bug, maybe a Baja Bug, remotely possible for a tube frame or fiberglass buggy.
Better yet, how about starting a new thread of your own asking this question. Put pictures in your new topic. _________________ Richard
Offroading VW based cars since 1965
Tech Inspection 1963 - 2012 SCCA/SCORE/HDRA/MORE/MDR +
Retired from building Bajas, Fiberglass Buggies and Rails in the Mojave Desert. Also Sprints & Midgets, Dry Lakes, Road Race cars. All types New and Vintage
SoCalBajas Member
Kicked Cancer's A$$...1st and 2nd round...Fight ain't over yet. |
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