Street runner sand rail rebuild project

[dixon_cass]

looking good man! i really like how nice the paint job and combos look! i sure would like to have a hitch on mine.
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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

[red caddy]

I'm BAAAAAAAAAAK. (on the project) Rumors of my demise are gross exaggerations.

Welp, I figure 8 months is long enough for life to get in the way of a project.

Last couple of weeks, I've been able to devote most of my time to tying up loose ends and finally got ready to get back to my streeter project.

This week, finish brake and clutch hydraulics, cutting brake install, finish console and relay box, rough in all the wiring.

Now all I gotta do is put all 'em wars in the right place...

Paul
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If it turns $$$ into smoke and noise, I'm there.

My last build thread. http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=466571

[KopfenJager]

Good to see you back.Cant wait to see the finished rail.

[olmer2]

Looks great! I've been following this build... very nice setup!
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MAGIC SMOKE. The mysterious internal component of all electrical parts that allows them to work. If you let it out, the part will no longer work and could start a fire
'64? http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=5...highlight=
Buggy (sold) http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=399142&highlight=
74 bug http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=547777

[Erik Litchy]

why did you go with a round tank instead of a fuel cell? i think a cell would have fit better in your area.

[red caddy]

Eric, you're absolutly right, Truth is, I already had the round tank, it was with the rail when I bought it. (see the "just got it home" pics) It was clean inside, so it just got re mounted and colorized.

I may yet build a custom tank with a toolbox on top, but for now, it's way more fun to drive it, than to work on it.


I just got back from the shake down run, this little girl is a rocket ship on wheels... When I get all the leaks and NQR fixed, I'll post a full series of "hey, lookie at what I built" pics.

Paul
_________________
If it turns $$$ into smoke and noise, I'm there.

My last build thread. http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=466571

[red caddy]

OK, As promised. Here are the" 'Deere Wagon" family album pic's

Most of the NQR sorted out, 200 miles on the clock. A couple of oil leak's and shitty street manners still to be delt with yet, but, up and runnin'.

What I started with...

It only took a year and 2 weeks, 8 months wasted, workin' a day job, LOL

Paul
_________________
If it turns $$$ into smoke and noise, I'm there.

My last build thread. http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=466571

[pafree]

when i tell people i use tractor paint, they ask if i painted it john deere colors. i have to say that it looks good and you did a great job.

[mondodestructo]

You mentioned your "street manners." What are the symptoms? I'm having a similar issue...
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Building my first rail. Good times.

http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?p=5464220#5464220

[red caddy]

Well, the street manners is a "work in progress".

When I first got it running the steering was iffy and twitchy. At 35, under power, it was very twitchy, hard to keep the front end from hunting and it didn't want to track straight. At 50 it was downright scary. It stopped OK, didn't pull left or right, but the front end would dive under hard braking and there was a ton of under steer. Putting on lots of power in a turn would break the rear loose, with no warning. The wheel had no self centering at all

Here in SW Flori-duh, blow sand and ground coral filler in the pavement makes for "interesting" handling in a light vehicle, add a little rain or mist, and you're driving a "speed skater".

I started a thread, About "street manners", on another board, (Dale's board) 'cause a couple auto crossers hang out there. Most auto-x 'ers seem to prefer the Manx, so I am, apparantly, breaking new ground trying to make a rail corner well...

I'm not gonna rally cross this thing, but if I'm gonna play in traffic, with the nearly dead's, newly wed's and socker mom's in SUV's, I need it to out handle a rice burner.

First recommendation was to check the caster settings, My front beam was 1 degree FORWARD, not 4-6 to the rear. (measured on the front seam of the shock towers) I think the "big N' littles" tire sizes are a great part of the problem, I really like the stance and ground clearance hasn't been a problem yet, so I'm gonna try to "play it as it lay's" (The bottom frame rail is pitched forward at 3 degrees)

I ordered a caster shim kit, installed it, and now the towers are laid back about 4.5 degrees. A test hop showed a noticeable improvement. Most of the front end "dive", under heavy braking, went away, steering is much smoother and predictable. The wheel tries to return to center some, but not as fast as I would like, still far from a positive feel. Steering effort is still very light.

The next step is to add to the shim's and lay the towers back another 2 or 3 degrees, then head for the alignment rack. Base line the rear end at "0", the caster as close to 2 degrees positive as possible and the camber at .5 positive, set the toe at 1/16th inch to start. If I make it home, we have a baseline...

The good news is, I have "anytime" access to a brand new Matco laser alignment machine so I should be able to dial this old girl in fairly quickly, with repeatable results.

Any and all guidence offered would be greatly appreciated.

Paul.
_________________
If it turns $$$ into smoke and noise, I'm there.

My last build thread. http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=466571