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WesleyGarrard Samba Member
Joined: October 08, 2007 Posts: 541 Location: Pekin, Il
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Posted: Sat Mar 17, 2018 10:24 am Post subject: ATV Industries Sand Shark Build Series |
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A while back I was staring at the mounds of VW parts strewn across my garage, shed, and basement thinking I should do something with them. I know, that is a normal Saturday afternoon for most of us here on the Samba.
As such, I began looking and thought, the only thing I am really missing is a body to put all of these parts on. So the idea to build a buggy was born.
I put some feelers out for any friends who may have a buggy body kicking around that they would let go. As luck would have it, another friend whom I am constantly trading parts to and fro, had such a body. A few hundred dollars lighter and a over a hundred pounds heavier, I was the new owner an ATV Industries Sand Shark.
Below are my concept drawings for what this thing should look like upon completion.
I also have a parts from a FIAT 1200 Cabriolet that I parted out. As well as a few parts from British Sports cars kicking around from the wife. I am going to make it right hand drive too as somehow I ended up with a set of RHD pedals. I am going to use seats out of Triumph TR7. Tail lights, signals, and dash switches from an Austin Healey Sprite, mirrors from the FIAT and maybe the steering wheel too, not sure yet. I do not want to get folks too confused.
So I will have a European amalgum of a Buggy. The idea is that I will daily drive the buggy for a full Midwestern year and document my experiences. Once that year is over, I will sell it off and free up all the space and money that these parts have consumed. Below is a video of the begining of the process.
Step 1 to building a buggy to get rid of excess parts? Buy more parts...
Link
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WesleyGarrard Samba Member
Joined: October 08, 2007 Posts: 541 Location: Pekin, Il
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Posted: Tue Apr 10, 2018 3:29 pm Post subject: Re: ATV Industries Sand Shark Build Series |
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Some updates to the Parts Bin Sand Shark Dune Buggy build.
I got the pan shortened to fit the body. The next step will be to get the center tunnel all cleaned up and start fabrication on rectangular tubing outer rails onto the pan.
I do have a question. The tubes for the parking brake and the heater cables were in poor shape, so I removed them. Has anyone else made new brake and heater cable tubes? I have to have the heater tubes as I intend for this to be an all weather buggy.
Here is the video we made of the process.
Link
Enjoy! |
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firea100 Samba Member
Joined: March 20, 2010 Posts: 5 Location: East China Mi.
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Posted: Tue Dec 11, 2018 12:51 pm Post subject: Re: ATV Industries Sand Shark Build Series |
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Hi, I have a Sand Shark body like yours. Do you know what the serial number of yours is? Mine is 772 and its the same orange color as yours appears to be!
Please keep posting pics as i’m Very interested in your progress!
Thx
Larry (firea100) |
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WesleyGarrard Samba Member
Joined: October 08, 2007 Posts: 541 Location: Pekin, Il
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Posted: Tue Dec 18, 2018 10:42 am Post subject: Re: ATV Industries Sand Shark Build Series |
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I did not find any number or anything on the body. I did find a place where a plaque once lived. But that is long gone. Possibly removed at one point between the 5 repaints. Stay tuned. I hope to get back with an update after the new year.
Last edited by WesleyGarrard on Wed Dec 19, 2018 9:11 am; edited 1 time in total |
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AirKooledGarage Samba Member
Joined: September 28, 2012 Posts: 314 Location: Wisco
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Posted: Tue Dec 18, 2018 6:57 pm Post subject: Re: ATV Industries Sand Shark Build Series |
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This is awesome, looking forward to seeing the updates! _________________ 1973 Bus
1974 Long Body Buggy (sold)
1965 Manxish buggy (kids car)
1961 Patina Bug |
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Wetstuff Samba Member
Joined: September 23, 2010 Posts: 700 Location: Maryland
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Posted: Fri Dec 21, 2018 10:50 am Post subject: Re: ATV Industries Sand Shark Build Series |
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Wes... In that photo, it looks as if you're about to kill the spider living in the center of the steering wheel.
Looks you'll have fun.
Jim _________________ Manx #2614 |
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WesleyGarrard Samba Member
Joined: October 08, 2007 Posts: 541 Location: Pekin, Il
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WesleyGarrard Samba Member
Joined: October 08, 2007 Posts: 541 Location: Pekin, Il
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cjsuner Samba Member
Joined: January 04, 2013 Posts: 476 Location: Bay area CA
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Posted: Mon Jan 06, 2020 3:47 pm Post subject: Re: ATV Industries Sand Shark Build Series |
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Glad to see you're still working on it! I love the idea of useing the parts from all different kinds of cars! Really thats what buggies should be in my mind. _________________ 71' Super Convertible (Orange)
74 Super Beetle (Red) |
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KAmes Samba Member
Joined: February 16, 2014 Posts: 877 Location: Illinois
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Posted: Mon Jan 06, 2020 6:54 pm Post subject: Re: ATV Industries Sand Shark Build Series |
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That's neat! Many years ago I switched an MG Midget to right hand steering. It was a lot of fun, I'd like to do it again someday. The pedals bolted right up, for steering I flipped the steering rack upside down and made a gear box to reverse the steering shaft direction. This was before the internet, today I could probably find the correct steering rack. I have a buggy waiting it's turn in the garage, now you have me thinking |
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WesleyGarrard Samba Member
Joined: October 08, 2007 Posts: 541 Location: Pekin, Il
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Posted: Tue Jan 07, 2020 8:27 am Post subject: Re: ATV Industries Sand Shark Build Series |
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cjsuner wrote: |
Glad to see you're still working on it! I love the idea of useing the parts from all different kinds of cars! Really thats what buggies should be in my mind. |
Thanks! You are right, that is always how a buggy was intended to be. Some were even marketed as a cheaper way to replace a totaled Beetle where the pan and suspension was still in good shape.
I am doing a lot of scrounging for this project. Trying to get as much stuff for it for free or through trades but striving for a high build quality. |
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WesleyGarrard Samba Member
Joined: October 08, 2007 Posts: 541 Location: Pekin, Il
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Posted: Tue Jan 07, 2020 8:31 am Post subject: Re: ATV Industries Sand Shark Build Series |
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KAmes wrote: |
That's neat! Many years ago I switched an MG Midget to right hand steering. It was a lot of fun, I'd like to do it again someday. The pedals bolted right up, for steering I flipped the steering rack upside down and made a gear box to reverse the steering shaft direction. This was before the internet, today I could probably find the correct steering rack. I have a buggy waiting it's turn in the garage, now you have me thinking |
My wife has an MG Midget! I almost considered using a pedal box from one of those on the buggy. But in the end, I deemed it too complex and would cost more than I wanted. |
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WesleyGarrard Samba Member
Joined: October 08, 2007 Posts: 541 Location: Pekin, Il
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Posted: Tue Feb 18, 2020 8:30 am Post subject: Re: ATV Industries Sand Shark Build Series |
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A little teaser of the next installment of the Dun Buggy build series.
https://www.instagram.com/p/B8sANMLFPhm/ |
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WesleyGarrard Samba Member
Joined: October 08, 2007 Posts: 541 Location: Pekin, Il
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WesleyGarrard Samba Member
Joined: October 08, 2007 Posts: 541 Location: Pekin, Il
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Posted: Thu Nov 10, 2022 1:58 pm Post subject: Re: ATV Industries Sand Shark Build Series |
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Getting back into work on the dune buggy. It sort of went on the back burner while I tended to other projects. Then I sort of got bored with it. But, I have found a new way to rekindle my interest. My wife's Uncle gave me a Corvair engine. So I figured, slap it in the dune buggy!
One question for those who have done the Corvair swap in a buggy.
Is support on the rear of the engine needed or is the Crown adapter plate plenty strong to hold the extra weight?
I only ask as Chevrolet concluded that a rear engine mount was needed. Most swaps I have seen just use the rear engine mount to hold on a bumper or a license plate.
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oprn Samba Member
Joined: November 13, 2016 Posts: 12740 Location: Western Canada
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Posted: Fri Nov 11, 2022 3:31 pm Post subject: Re: ATV Industries Sand Shark Build Series |
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Sweet! You will have the 6 cylinder Porsche sound now without the cost! I am envious! Do it up nice and that is a keeper now in my books!
I am completely baffled though why you went right hand drive...
As far as I know the engine is just fine mounted only to the transaxle. Maybe someone with a Corvair powered Buggy could confirm that. _________________ We had the stone age, the bronze age, the industrial age and now we are in the age of mass deception and mind control for corporate profit. (The mass media age) |
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WesleyGarrard Samba Member
Joined: October 08, 2007 Posts: 541 Location: Pekin, Il
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Posted: Fri Nov 11, 2022 3:48 pm Post subject: Re: ATV Industries Sand Shark Build Series |
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oprn wrote: |
Sweet! You will have the 6 cylinder Porsche sound now without the cost! I am envious! Do it up nice and that is a keeper now in my books!
I am completely baffled though why you went right hand drive...
As far as I know the engine is just fine mounted only to the transaxle. Maybe someone with a Corvair powered Buggy could confirm that. |
I went right hand drive partly because someone gave me a set or rhd pedals and partly because “Why not?”
It is an amalgam of German, Italian, British, and American parts. |
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oprn Samba Member
Joined: November 13, 2016 Posts: 12740 Location: Western Canada
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Posted: Sat Nov 12, 2022 5:07 am Post subject: Re: ATV Industries Sand Shark Build Series |
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We have had 3 right hand drive cars because they work best for my wife to deliver mail in and have another on order right now. There are some disadvantages that you will find out soon enough. Left hand turns at busy intersections and passing on the highway require a passenger to tell you when all is clear but the big one for us right now is that it is getting hard to find an insurance company that is willing to insure them. And they jack up their rates when you do find one. _________________ We had the stone age, the bronze age, the industrial age and now we are in the age of mass deception and mind control for corporate profit. (The mass media age) |
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WesleyGarrard Samba Member
Joined: October 08, 2007 Posts: 541 Location: Pekin, Il
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Posted: Sat Nov 12, 2022 7:01 am Post subject: Re: ATV Industries Sand Shark Build Series |
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oprn wrote: |
We have had 3 right hand drive cars because they work best for my wife to deliver mail in and have another on order right now. There are some disadvantages that you will find out soon enough. Left hand turns at busy intersections and passing on the highway require a passenger to tell you when all is clear but the big one for us right now is that it is getting hard to find an insurance company that is willing to insure them. And they jack up their rates when you do find one. |
Oh, I am well versed in RHD vehicle operation. My daily driver is a 1993 Mitsubishi Minicab Kei Van. Personally, I have not had any difficulty. It all just seems right to me. State Farm gave me no problems with insuring it with full coverage and the premium was a lot cheaper that the liability only coverage we have on our Subaru Outback.
https://www.instagram.com/p/CJj5ADdlaTO/?igshid=MDJmNzVkMjY= |
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oprn Samba Member
Joined: November 13, 2016 Posts: 12740 Location: Western Canada
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Posted: Sat Nov 12, 2022 8:23 pm Post subject: Re: ATV Industries Sand Shark Build Series |
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All good then. Slick little minivan! _________________ We had the stone age, the bronze age, the industrial age and now we are in the age of mass deception and mind control for corporate profit. (The mass media age) |
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