Berrien Cruiser with 1ZZFE Toyota 1.8L and mid travel coil over

[biotex]

Thought i'd start a build thread so I can tap into the great minds available here. I have never built a rail or buggy before, but it is on my bucket list, so here goes.

I purchased a 4 seater Cruiser kit because I wanted extra space for an ice chest or whatever, and for more leg room as I'm 6'3'' . I think the storage closer to the front makes for better weight distribution as opposed to a pickup kit added on.

I own a hydraulic/air tube bender and a JD2 tube knotcher. My welding skills are poor, so I may have to hide some of the welds from you all. I unpacked the kit and after about 6 hours I had the pieces sorted out and tacked into place.

Previously I had been assembling a front end using combo link pin spindles and a 6" wider warrior front beam. The plan is to run coil over shocks all the way around.

Some pictures of the assembly:

Please, please feel free to comment or advise me as I blindly move forward. I have much to learn.
_________________
ACME Cruiser Sand Rail, 1776, Combo spindles,
Coil Over conversion in progress

[biotex]

I have a 1776 engine that is fresh from overhaul, and a 002 transmission also fresh. The plan was to run these, but then as luck would have it, a complete running car with a 1ZZFE 1.8L came my way. I checked with Kennedy adapters, and they support this combo, so that is what I will do.

Still working on the housing, but nearly there.

_________________
ACME Cruiser Sand Rail, 1776, Combo spindles,
Coil Over conversion in progress

[biotex]

I ordered some 930 CV's and flanges. I hope to order the rear arms within the next few days. Then I double check my measurements and fully weld the chassis together.
_________________
ACME Cruiser Sand Rail, 1776, Combo spindles,
Coil Over conversion in progress

[dustymojave]

How do you plan to use this car? Desert of West Texas? Sand Dunes in OK? Drive on the street to car shows?
_________________
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.

[biotex]

[rayjay]

What kind of welder do you have ? I can't understand why you are dissatisfied with your welds. Practice makes perfect. If you are using flux core you should convert to shielding gas and normal ER70-s6 wire. For the majority of welding you are doing a GOOD 120V welder is all you need. The metal will be 1/8" or less for the most part. You DO need a high amp 120V outlet and no wimpy extension cords.

[biotex]

[rayjay]

Most beginners don't have the heat up far enough. I will give you one tip. For every power setting there is a very small range of wire speed that will give good results. You have to figure out the wire speed by trial and error. If the wire seems to be pushing the torch away from the joint then the speed is too high. If the torch seems to be going zzziiittttt zzziiiitttt zzziiiitttt then the wire speed is too low. In the middle of those 2 extremes will be the proper wire speed for that dia of wire and that power setting. You may have to turn up the speed a tiny bit for doing overhead welding. I keep a business card in my machine with all the settings written on the back.

[earthquake]

There is a saying...
"Don't learn to weld building your first race car"
So please get some instruction from either your friend or even You-tube and practice, you would not want a tube to break loose and hurt you or a family member. If it sounds like bacon frying you should be getting a decent weld.

eQ
_________________
74 CLASS 11 LOOK-A-LIKE
69 DUNE BUGGY
79 INTERNATIONAL SCOUT II
05 SCION XB SERIES RELEASE 2[#437]
95 Chevy C3500 dually
98 Ford E150
Link to Kelly J. Nolte 3/20/53 - 11/6/08
https://time-zonelabs.blogspot.com/p/about-kelly.html
DEATH TO CHINGERS!
[From a military recruitment poster in the novel "The Stainless Steel Rat" By Harry Harrison]

[biotex]

Today I drove my donor car to my shop. I’m not 100% sure I will do the Toyota engine swap, but I’m leaning that direction. The engine has 150K on the clock and she runs perfectly. Started right up after sitting a year. For $200 with a title I couldn’t pass it up.

Tomorrow my tie rods arrive. They will allow me to see what my travel is and can order shocks.
_________________
ACME Cruiser Sand Rail, 1776, Combo spindles,
Coil Over conversion in progress

[biotex]

Got the engine and wiring pulled. Hoping to get it all cleaned up soon.

_________________
ACME Cruiser Sand Rail, 1776, Combo spindles,
Coil Over conversion in progress

[biotex]

Looking at the belt routing. I think I can delete the A/C and the power steering units and still make it all work.

_________________
ACME Cruiser Sand Rail, 1776, Combo spindles,
Coil Over conversion in progress

[StreetRailFun]

Looking good with the work. How is the progress coming along?

[earthquake]

Was that Toy motor a FWD motor? make sure you can use it as a RWD. sometimes they are different, some Nissan have the same basic motor for front and rear drive but there is a bell housing flange difference. sounds crazy I know.

eQ
_________________
74 CLASS 11 LOOK-A-LIKE
69 DUNE BUGGY
79 INTERNATIONAL SCOUT II
05 SCION XB SERIES RELEASE 2[#437]
95 Chevy C3500 dually
98 Ford E150
Link to Kelly J. Nolte 3/20/53 - 11/6/08
https://time-zonelabs.blogspot.com/p/about-kelly.html
DEATH TO CHINGERS!
[From a military recruitment poster in the novel "The Stainless Steel Rat" By Harry Harrison]

[Big Al]

[quote="biotex"]I have a 1776 engine that is fresh from overhaul, and a 002 transmission also fresh. The plan was to run these, but then as luck would have it, a complete running car with a 1ZZFE 1.8L came my way. I checked with Kennedy adapters, and they support this combo, so that is what I will do.

Still working on the housing, but nearly there.

Your 930 CV's might require a notch in the frame horns. If you box the trailing arms don't do it until you check the 930's there too.

Al

[dustymojave]

[no1clyde]

I thought I put this in your thread but I don't see it so here is my build for you to look at if you haven't https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=577601&highlight=

Ed

[Timofeykuz]

Hey there. I'm new to this Forum. But I'm also building a 1zzfe buggy and I'm wondering if you ended up making up something that produces the right vss signal for the ECM. Let me know, thanks!