Going to look at a pan buggy, what to look for upon inspection?

[71StandardReduction]

Fellas,
Been without a vw for some time and someone finally listed something within a reasonable drive.
Looks like an OK made pan / tunnel buggy even though it doesn't have top or front cage work... can add those though.

Wondering what everyone else checks when they go look at one, he's at what I would consider max value so don't want to miss anything!
It is a swing and king/link with 4 lugs, possible 68 model?

Anyone found a way that might reveal if it has alot of endplay in the engine?
Owner doesn't know much about it, or what size it is.
_________________
One thing I ask from the Lord, This only do I seek:
That I may dwell in the House of The Lord all the days of my Life, to gaze on the beauty of The Lord and to seek Him in His Temple~Psalms 27:4

YHWH NISSI
YHWH SHALOM

64 Pan Buggy
https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=...mp;start=0

Ruby Red 1966
https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=779597&highlight=

https://youtube.com/@SCOFabwerx?feature=shared

[71StandardReduction]

_________________
One thing I ask from the Lord, This only do I seek:
That I may dwell in the House of The Lord all the days of my Life, to gaze on the beauty of The Lord and to seek Him in His Temple~Psalms 27:4

YHWH NISSI
YHWH SHALOM

64 Pan Buggy
https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=...mp;start=0

Ruby Red 1966
https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=779597&highlight=

https://youtube.com/@SCOFabwerx?feature=shared

[Dale M.]

To check end play you can grab fan pulley and do a push/pull.... Spec is .003 to .005, very tiny amount.. Anything more than about 1/32 inch means it needs attention...
_________________
“Fear The Government That Wants To Take Your Guns" - Thomas Jefferson.

"Kellison Sand Piper Roadster" For Street & Show.
"Joe Pody Sandrover" Buggy with 2180 for Autocross (Sold)
============================================================
All suggestions and advice are purely my own opinion. You are free to ignore them if you wish ...

[joemama]

'66, '67, '68 were all balljoint front, swingaxle rear. '67 and '68 both had longer torsion bars (the ones with the caps that limit how tall the tire can be), so if its link pin and swingaxle, and short torsions, its '65 or older. I also think it looks like it has adapters for 5 lug wheels. I would look the pan over for rust, cracks around the horns, make sure nothing is bent. Other than that, I would drive it, check that the trans downshifts fine, doesnt pop out of gear, no grinding. Does the motor start and idle good, is there much blowby? Grab the crank pulley, push it in, pull it out, big clunk, and loose, or? Looks like its dual port, so probably a 1600 or 1641?
Looks reasonably clean, and fun.

[71StandardReduction]

Good eye on the 5 lug wheels, I was thinking (obviously) it had 4 lug vw pattern lol
Owner said it was a 1970 model beetle donor but I know it can't be.
So yeah being it's probably 5x205 with adapters, definitely could be an earlier model than what I assumed, which is good for wheel selection.
I hope I can get to the little inspection cover in the front and maybe look through the shifter for tunnel rust later on.

I just want to be able to check the engine out best I can.
Nearest vw shop still in business is somewhere around 5 to 6 hours away.... that I can find so having to have machine work done will either cost me a day or alot in shipping.

I don't plan on doing much for now, will just be a woods buggy.
Mainly making sure the engine and passengers will be safe and some simple upgrades.
_________________
One thing I ask from the Lord, This only do I seek:
That I may dwell in the House of The Lord all the days of my Life, to gaze on the beauty of The Lord and to seek Him in His Temple~Psalms 27:4

YHWH NISSI
YHWH SHALOM

64 Pan Buggy
https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=...mp;start=0

Ruby Red 1966
https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=779597&highlight=

https://youtube.com/@SCOFabwerx?feature=shared

[earthquake]

Are the roll bar and rear 90°s welded in pipe bends? it looks like it is a little tight in the bends. It would probably be fine for putting around at moderate speeds.

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]

[71StandardReduction]

I don't see any welds present around any of the bends though I do agree, they are very tight bends.
_________________
One thing I ask from the Lord, This only do I seek:
That I may dwell in the House of The Lord all the days of my Life, to gaze on the beauty of The Lord and to seek Him in His Temple~Psalms 27:4

YHWH NISSI
YHWH SHALOM

64 Pan Buggy
https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=...mp;start=0

Ruby Red 1966
https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=779597&highlight=

https://youtube.com/@SCOFabwerx?feature=shared

[71StandardReduction]

Got out and gave it a decent look over today, not too bad from what I can see.
It was once street legal apparently, has tx inspection stickers.
Had an air cleaner that was obviously not doing it's job because it doesn't fit.
A loose transmission cradle bolt.
There is no master cylinder on it, it's just missing, I figure there was just a factory unit installed as the nap hat area is still intact.
Throttle cable is outside the tunnel lol.
It did come with an extra engine and an irs transmission.

But anywho I'm going to work on brakes and tune up stuff.
Also the right side king/link is worn considerably, I have no knowledge on those so some input on rebuilding would be appreciated!
_________________
One thing I ask from the Lord, This only do I seek:
That I may dwell in the House of The Lord all the days of my Life, to gaze on the beauty of The Lord and to seek Him in His Temple~Psalms 27:4

YHWH NISSI
YHWH SHALOM

64 Pan Buggy
https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=...mp;start=0

Ruby Red 1966
https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=779597&highlight=

https://youtube.com/@SCOFabwerx?feature=shared

[stevebaz]

dont buy anything without a title and not just a bill of sale. then worry about rust everywhere. I would buy one as complete as I could. You will save allot of money that way. buying everything piecemeal you get over your head real quick.

[Mal evolent]

bit if trivia for you: those fiberglass seats were designed by Steve McQueen, and sized to fit his scrawny anatomy. if your hips are wider than his, late 90s Ford Mustang seats have a flat mount on the bottom and fit more substantial people
_________________
73 Beetle Baja, Ghia front brakes, Type 3 rear brakes, 2220 ( 94 X 80 ), Weber Progressive, Bosch SVDA, '97 Mustang seats

Baja Bugs for Volkswagen Virgins: Index

[71StandardReduction]

[71StandardReduction]

[71StandardReduction]

Also I watched some videos on king and kink pin replacement, I can def handle that... plan to buy them from aircooled.net and rent their reamer tool.
Any advice on Brazil vs German pin sets? Get what you pay for apply here?

Looking at the chassis number information I can find, it is a Nov 1964 model and both engines are AB code which appears to be 1300cc Dual Port for non US models.... which who knows if or how many times either of them has been rebuilt.
_________________
One thing I ask from the Lord, This only do I seek:
That I may dwell in the House of The Lord all the days of my Life, to gaze on the beauty of The Lord and to seek Him in His Temple~Psalms 27:4

YHWH NISSI
YHWH SHALOM

64 Pan Buggy
https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=...mp;start=0

Ruby Red 1966
https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=779597&highlight=

https://youtube.com/@SCOFabwerx?feature=shared

[dustymojave]

[71StandardReduction]

I don't like wheel spacers so been on the hunt for some 15x7 wide 5 steelies. Plus one of the rear adapters has a stripped out stud.

Came up short everywhere, out of stock or super marked up price because of low availability... typical in this day and age unfortunately.
Best I could do was some 15x8 I found... on ebay....

Anywho... this is what they advertised

This is the reality

I've never seen any like these but I guess they will work, don't like the flat faces, prefer the dished look like older wheel sets I've had in the past.

The front has 14" wheels with brand new tires so going to wait until they need replaced before replacing the wheels so I don't have to buy new tires at the moment.
_________________
One thing I ask from the Lord, This only do I seek:
That I may dwell in the House of The Lord all the days of my Life, to gaze on the beauty of The Lord and to seek Him in His Temple~Psalms 27:4

YHWH NISSI
YHWH SHALOM

64 Pan Buggy
https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=...mp;start=0

Ruby Red 1966
https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=779597&highlight=

https://youtube.com/@SCOFabwerx?feature=shared

[liquidrush]

I've got a pair of brand new 15x5s I bought new but were not the right size for my tires. I'll make you a great deal on them if they'll work for you.

[71StandardReduction]

[liquidrush]

I'm in the st Louis area, the wheels are still in the box they were shipped to me in.

[dustymojave]

15 x 6 is also a good size for rear wheels on a Baja or buggy. 15 x 5 will work fine for most tires other than sand dune or deep mud tires. Louisiana just might lean towards lots of deep mud. If this is your case, you might be better off with 15 x 8 rears. Maybe 31 x 10.50 tires.

Oh, and Joemama said,
"'67 and '68 both had longer torsion bars (the ones with the caps that limit how tall the tire can be),"

I want to correct that as they did not have longer torsions except in '68 AutoStick which was IRS. '67 Bugs had short torsions. I'll have to refresh my memory whether swingaxle '68s had shorts or longs.

'67 and '68 Bugs were swingaxle and had long AXLE SHAFTS, '67 long axle - short spline, '68 long axle - long spline.
_________________
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.

[joemama]

Richard is right. its the axles that are longer. My '67 pan has short torsions, my '71 has long torsions. Sorry for confusing things.