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Goshen
Samba Member
Joined: April 03, 2012
Posts: 833
Location: Miami. FL & Cartagena
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 Posted: Thu Jul 14, 2016 10:53 am Post subject: Manx Dune Buggy Build (Ms. Lady in Red) |
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I just bought my first Dune Buggy 3 weeks ago.
I drive Uber part time on Sundays only to make some extra money for my project bus and when i was dropping off an Uber Rider passenger I just happened to have glanced over the parking lot area of condominium complex and seen what looked to be a buggy under some tree partially covered in a brown tarp.
I wasn't going to do anything because i was working on getting another Uber Rider then since nothing was coming into the Uber App i decided to knock on some doors and was led to a woman who had owned it for about 8 years and she told me that it had been sitting there under the tree for about 4 1/2 years.
I told her that i had worked on one with a friend when I was 17 and always wanted to own one. She said if i hadnt come along it would probably sit another couple of years. In my mind i thought initially i could just buy it and if it runs flip it so i can fund my 1967 Split Window bus project restoration.
Before
After
I am a glutten for punishment because the Dune Buggy looked great just sitting there but when i got it home it was going to prove an expensive flip because the motor had sucked in so much rain water that it was everywhere... wait to you see the pics.. but here is the preliminary photo of what i saw but in the pages to follow you can follow my journey to the point of no return 
This is Frank "Volks Medic" a mobile vw mechanic...
This is what it looked like underneath the tarp
It took about 4 weeks to finally negotiate it from almost 3k to $1,800
Ready to be towed home
_________________
My '64 Pan Meyers Manx Dune Buggy "Lady in Red"
https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=659260
My '67 Split Window Bus project :
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=634144
My '67 Maserati Blue Oceano Bug Build:
https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=541870
Last edited by Goshen on Wed Aug 03, 2016 7:42 pm; edited 1 time in total |
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Goshen
Samba Member
Joined: April 03, 2012
Posts: 833
Location: Miami. FL & Cartagena
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| Posted: Thu Jul 14, 2016 11:08 am Post subject: Re: My first Manx type Dune Buggy... a Deal of a Lifetime.. |
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The Dune Buggy is filthy
Damn cotter pin and bolt came off less than 3 blocks from where i bought it.
I am out on the road without a paddle.. I cannot leave the car here and the buggy so i had to call a friend to come sit with the cars so i can go look for the bolt and cotter pin... it was a very hot and muggy day in Miami and i was wearing a black tee shirt... HOT Sweltering HEAT !!!
I finally got her home but it took a long time because the right front wheel was locking up and smoking
All cleaned up .. debris , leaves, dirt, ant nest and vermin removed via Dry Vac... what a mess this buggy was in.. now to tackle the wheel locked
I am a big guy at 6'2" and 250 lbs.. lets see how it is getting into this
It wasn't easy but i have to get sliders under these seats.. i cannot drive it this cramped up
_________________
My '64 Pan Meyers Manx Dune Buggy "Lady in Red"
https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=659260
My '67 Split Window Bus project :
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=634144
My '67 Maserati Blue Oceano Bug Build:
https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=541870 |
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Goshen
Samba Member
Joined: April 03, 2012
Posts: 833
Location: Miami. FL & Cartagena
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Goshen
Samba Member
Joined: April 03, 2012
Posts: 833
Location: Miami. FL & Cartagena
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| Posted: Thu Jul 14, 2016 11:28 am Post subject: Re: My first Manx type Dune Buggy... a Deal of a Lifetime.. |
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Time to remove the gas tank.. the guy who built this dune buggy used a plumbing contraption hardware as you can see by the pic.. it didnt seal well and in some future posts you will see the nightmare of water i removed from the gas tank..
Its off center.. .. what a mess
Its a good thing that i have experience working with fiberglass so i will make this better.. if you have seen my vw bug then you know what i am capable of
All these gauges wired up but not working..
No sending units to the wires
Removing the windshield
What a mess
_________________
My '64 Pan Meyers Manx Dune Buggy "Lady in Red"
https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=659260
My '67 Split Window Bus project :
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=634144
My '67 Maserati Blue Oceano Bug Build:
https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=541870 |
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Goshen
Samba Member
Joined: April 03, 2012
Posts: 833
Location: Miami. FL & Cartagena
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Skulptorchaz
Samba Member
Joined: June 11, 2013
Posts: 839
Location: S.E. Indiana
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| Posted: Thu Jul 14, 2016 2:27 pm Post subject: Re: My first Manx type Dune Buggy... a Deal of a Lifetime.. |
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Nice! I think you got a good deal.
Do know if it an actual Manx or a clone? Mine looks just like it but it's a clone.
Good luck buddy!! |
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Goshen
Samba Member
Joined: April 03, 2012
Posts: 833
Location: Miami. FL & Cartagena
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Zcarnut
Samba Member
Joined: July 16, 2006
Posts: 409
Location: West Palm Beach FL
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| Posted: Thu Jul 14, 2016 7:58 pm Post subject: Re: My first Manx type Dune Buggy... a Deal of a Lifetime.. |
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I think you got a deal. Are there many buggies in Miami? Seeing another one here in West Palm is a rare site.
_________________
I do drive a Honda.
When im mowing my yard |
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brettsvw
Samba Member
Joined: November 22, 2007
Posts: 2145
Location: Florida
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Skulptorchaz
Samba Member
Joined: June 11, 2013
Posts: 839
Location: S.E. Indiana
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| Posted: Fri Jul 15, 2016 7:57 am Post subject: Re: My first Manx type Dune Buggy... a Deal of a Lifetime.. |
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Unfortunately, I don't have many pix of the steering column. I used the whole column from a '73 Ghia. Worked great. I just filled the dash and manicured it in to fit snug. Here are a couple pix but probably not a lot of help.
I still need to find a real horn button. 
Best of luck!! I'll be watching your posts! |
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BL3Manx
Samba Member
Joined: August 29, 2006
Posts: 6767
Location: Northern California
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| Posted: Fri Jul 15, 2016 8:15 am Post subject: Re: My first Manx type Dune Buggy... a Deal of a Lifetime.. |
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That looks like it might be a genuine Meyers Manx. The steel dash frame looks like an original one.
The dash is definitely one of the new replacements which Bruce Meyers makes now. It needs to be bonded with fiberglass to the back edge of the hood as per Bruce's instructions(figure 1).
As Bruce explains in paragraph 1., the frame actually needs to be modified for it to fit. The top crossbar and the two vertical bars need to be removed. I also filled the holes previously drilled in the two vertical side bars and redrilled them. The sheetmetal tabs he put on there definitely won't do. The bolts which mount the windshield frame should be right on the seam between the dash and the hood.
Your steering column installation was designed by the builder. Bruce originally had the column mounted on top of the cross bar
Last edited by BL3Manx on Sat Jul 16, 2016 7:40 am; edited 1 time in total |
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Goshen
Samba Member
Joined: April 03, 2012
Posts: 833
Location: Miami. FL & Cartagena
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BL3Manx
Samba Member
Joined: August 29, 2006
Posts: 6767
Location: Northern California
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Goshen
Samba Member
Joined: April 03, 2012
Posts: 833
Location: Miami. FL & Cartagena
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Goshen
Samba Member
Joined: April 03, 2012
Posts: 833
Location: Miami. FL & Cartagena
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BL3Manx
Samba Member
Joined: August 29, 2006
Posts: 6767
Location: Northern California
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| Posted: Sun Jul 17, 2016 12:29 pm Post subject: Re: My first Manx type Dune Buggy... a Deal of a Lifetime.. |
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This drawing and the other information in Bruce Meyers assembly instructions will provide good information on how your buggy should have been assembled. It appears the original builder had his own ideas.
Details like how the gas tank should be secured. How the windshield frame, dash/hood/ and body should be secured together in a unit(you have the new fiberglass dash which follows the instructions above. You also use the new H cross section rubber strip under the dash (not the L aluminum angle and flat rubber strip). How the hood should be attached. The brackets to attach the body to the chassis. The secure mounting of the steering column. All these as well as the chassis and engine mechanicals, make the difference between a safe and reliable buggy or something that really shouldn't be driven on the street.
http://www.tjkustoms.com/Dune-Buggy/Manuals/Manx.pdf
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derealist
Samba Member
Joined: June 02, 2014
Posts: 2
Location: West Palm Beach, FL
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| Posted: Tue Jul 19, 2016 7:55 am Post subject: Re: My first Manx type Dune Buggy... a Deal of a Lifetime.. |
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| Zcarnut wrote: |
| I think you got a deal. Are there many buggies in Miami? Seeing another one here in West Palm is a rare site. |
There are a few here in West Palm but not much. I know of a few that's just rotting away from being parked too long. Hopefully by this time next year mine will be on the road. |
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Buggy Brian
Samba Member
Joined: October 26, 2006
Posts: 308
Location: Yulee, FL
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Skulptorchaz
Samba Member
Joined: June 11, 2013
Posts: 839
Location: S.E. Indiana
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| Posted: Wed Jul 20, 2016 6:31 am Post subject: Re: My first Manx type Dune Buggy... a Deal of a Lifetime.. |
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| Thanx for that Brian. I requested membership. If they do this in the future, I'd like to try it sometime. |
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Goshen
Samba Member
Joined: April 03, 2012
Posts: 833
Location: Miami. FL & Cartagena
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