Bounty Hunter dune buggy build thread

[dlyle]

I thought I’d start a build thread for the resurrection of my Bounty Hunter dune buggy. I’ve had the car less than two weeks so I’m just starting to tear in to it. This buggy is on a 1964 VW pan and has the Hadley Transvair adapter with a 98 HP Corvair motor and 4 speed Corvair transmission/transaxle.

When I got the car it hadn’t been started in over 1o years. First thing was to get a new battery. The battery in the car was “new” but was over 10 years old. Looking at my latest Consumer Reports issue I find that one of the better batteries out there was a Super Start Platinum AGM. They sell these at the local O’Rielly stores. It was rated better than Interstate, Die Hard and several of the other big name batteries. Wouldn’t think that an auto store battery would be that good but it was the highest rated.

With a new battery and some fresh oil I tried cranking it over. It spun over but didn’t start. It’s getting gas (manual pump is bypassed for an electric pump) but showing no signs of life even with a bit of starting fluid. A quick check shows it’s getting no spark. Pulling off the distributor cap I can see the points aren’t opening. .016 point gap later and they are now where they are supposed to be. Still didn’t fire so I did a little more investigating and cleaned some wire contacts and then it fired right up. Seems to run ok but does smoke a bit. Not at idle so much more when it has a few RPM’s.

Plans call for the following

1) A redo of all the brakes. It currently has Corvair rears and VW fronts with sand rail type pedals including a hydraulic clutch. I’m going to go back to VW pedals.

2) Rewire the whole car. It really is a mess.

3) Redo the exhaust. Need to find what will fit with the Transvair cage around the motor.

4) Replace the starter

5) Convert from generator to alternator. Already have all the parts (I hope)

6) Convert to HEI distributor (already have a new Set of new wires)

7) Fix the hardtop. It currently has a hinge to make it a Targa type so it will need some fiberglass work.

8 ) Replace the tires.

9) Add a turn signal lever…does not currently have one.

There will be more but this is just some of the short term goals.

Thanks in advance for all the tips and pointers. I need all the help I can get. I've got this thread on another site so you may see it over there too.

[dlyle]

The back brakes have been converted to 5 lug. The rear drums were re drilled so I am looking for a new set. Has to be the most crude conversion I have seen. Not sure whether or not the corvair 5 lug drums will fit but I'm looking in to it.

The front wheels have an adapter. Trying to see if there is a way to get rid of the adapter and use the Cragars that came with the car. They are Chevy 5 x 4.75". Does it make sense to go to disc brakes up front? Would need to have a Chevy 5 x 4.75 pattern and don't want it to increase track width too much.

[dlyle]

I'm going to get rid of these pedals and go back to stock pedals.

[crickifur]

Well as for the front drums, they make them now drilled in the chevy apattern from a couple places i believe so unless you want the extra stopping power, you dont need the upgrade. The disks add about 2 inches from what ive seen on my buggy (I have 4 wheel disks). Im doing a ground up build though. I have to say the current rear drums look scary haha.

[crickifur]

Well as for the front drums, they make them now drilled in the chevy apattern from a couple places i believe so unless you want the extra stopping power, you dont need the upgrade. The disks add about 2 inches from what ive seen on my buggy (I have 4 wheel disks). Im doing a ground up build though. I have to say the current rear drums look scary haha.

[dlyle]

[manxvair]

Your rear axles are '63-'64 judging by the axle bearings, that sucks that they welded the yokes, like you said it makes it difficult to replace the bearings. You might have to find some newer rebuild-able axles for the future.

[dlyle]

[crickifur]

Man those axles are scary!!! It may actully be better to have some made from scratch? If you have to chop corvair axles, i would think a built set would ony be around $300

[slalombuggy]

I see the original builder followed the welding practice of "If you can't weld it good, weld it a lot....." This looks like an exercise in automotive archeology, losts of digging, scraping and research Looking forward to see what you do, these are my favorite bodies of all time.

brad

[manxvair]

dlyle when you have a chance can you post some more detailed pics of the hydraulic clutch slave cylinder installation. I curious as to the bracket set up.

[dlyle]

[dlyle]

[dlyle]

Spent a little time getting the front brakes cleaned and detailed.


This is what the backing plate looked like after initial clean up. Took a while to get all that caked on hard grease off.

The backing plates now look like this after a soak in Evaporust. I didn't have access to a bead blaster so went the Evaporust route. This stuff is awesome. Completely gets rid of rust and leaves the original finish. I swear by this product.

A little paint and they look good as new. Was 100 degrees out so this really is a baked on finish.

After all this once it's all back together I get to do it again on the other side. Keeping one side together so I don't forget how it all goes back together.

[dlyle]

Fun photo of the day. This is the current exhaust set-up on my Corvair buggy. It's not that loud but sounds like a VW! Need to find an exhaust that fits inside the Transvair cage.

[slalombuggy]

Honestly if the clutch and brakes work good use the hydraulic setup. The Corvair uses a push type throw out arm , not a pull type like vw so you will need to fabricate a pulley system to make the cable pull on the arm

brad

[manxvair]

[quote="dlyle"]Here are a few that I have. These are the before pictures so a bit dirty. Looked brand new after a wash. The plan is to go back to the original VW pedals and a manual cable clutch. Hoping to find a Transvair instruction manual so I can figure out how too do it. The one article I read about it says the Transvair kits comes with a clutch shaft that increases the throw of the clutch. Assume that tis would be the clutch shaft and arm that is in the pedals.
/quote]

Since the hydraulic system is already in place I would stay with it, if needed maybe clean up any bracketry or lines.

[manxvair]

[dlyle]

[dlyle]

[quote="manxvair"]