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BIGMIKEY Samba Member
Joined: September 24, 2007 Posts: 1105 Location: North East Pennsylvania
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Posted: Thu Nov 30, 2023 2:59 pm Post subject: Deserter Series 1 build |
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In 2011 I found this Deserter buggy locally. A unfinished project. It came with an engine, transaxle, and many boxes of parts. Many of the parts were still in the packaging. I began work on it then but some life happened so it sat covered in my shop. I got tired of tripping over it so it's time to finish it.
Mike T _________________ BIGMIKEY
Deserter Series 1 project.
https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=787047&highlight=
1973 Beetle Driver, Marina Blue. |
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GS guy Samba Member
Joined: December 03, 2007 Posts: 968 Location: Maryland
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Posted: Fri Dec 01, 2023 5:26 am Post subject: Re: Deserter Series 1 build |
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No time like the present! ANY progress is good progress.
Jeff _________________ 70's vintage Deserter GS buggy - undergoing transformation to Super GS! |
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BIGMIKEY Samba Member
Joined: September 24, 2007 Posts: 1105 Location: North East Pennsylvania
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Posted: Fri Dec 01, 2023 2:23 pm Post subject: Re: Deserter Series 1 build |
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I began by taking the body off the chassis to inspect both moore closely. The body was in decent shape. The green appears to be paint as there is overspray under the fenders. There are 2 old repairs. right rear and left front. The battery wells have the bottoms cut off presumably to clear the IRS semi trailing arms. Also the tail box over the engine has a very ill concieved cutout for engine access. Need to do something about that. I have all the pieces.
Mike T _________________ BIGMIKEY
Deserter Series 1 project.
https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=787047&highlight=
1973 Beetle Driver, Marina Blue. |
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BIGMIKEY Samba Member
Joined: September 24, 2007 Posts: 1105 Location: North East Pennsylvania
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Posted: Fri Dec 01, 2023 2:50 pm Post subject: Re: Deserter Series 1 build |
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One thing that I noticed was the holes in the body. There weren't any extra ones from multiple previous builds.
I inspected the chassis next.
Mike T _________________ BIGMIKEY
Deserter Series 1 project.
https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=787047&highlight=
1973 Beetle Driver, Marina Blue.
Last edited by BIGMIKEY on Sun Dec 03, 2023 8:53 pm; edited 1 time in total |
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BIGMIKEY Samba Member
Joined: September 24, 2007 Posts: 1105 Location: North East Pennsylvania
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Posted: Sun Dec 03, 2023 1:56 pm Post subject: Re: Deserter Series 1 build |
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Continuing the evaluation I dug in to the chassis to see what I had to work with.
The chassis was already shortened when I got it from the PO. The tunnel was welded well but the floorpans were a disaster with uneven outer rails.
Deserters have an 84" wheelbase. Longer than the usual 80" length. Instead of removing the 10.5" section to shorten the floorpan, whoever did the work overlapped the ends. Rust formed between the layers. Not good enough for me. This would have to be redone.
Whoever cut the tunnel sawed right through the clutch and throttle tubes.
I guess as long as he had the sawsall in his hand he decided to cut this off. Oops.
Mike T _________________ BIGMIKEY
Deserter Series 1 project.
https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=787047&highlight=
1973 Beetle Driver, Marina Blue. |
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BIGMIKEY Samba Member
Joined: September 24, 2007 Posts: 1105 Location: North East Pennsylvania
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Posted: Sun Dec 03, 2023 2:28 pm Post subject: Re: Deserter Series 1 build |
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The first thing I wanted to correct was the hacked through clutch and throttle tubes. Also to run a new fuel line.
I stripped the pan and flipped it over on supports. I drilled out a few hundred spotwelds and made a few cuts to reveal the stuff I needed to fix.
The parking brake tubes, clutch tubes and throttle cable tube were severed. The fuel line was mostly gone. I removed the tubes for the heater cables and set about splicing the ends together.
I used short lengths of tubing to connect the ends and welded them in place. I ran a new fuel line too. 1/4" coated steel.
I replaced only the rear half of each floorpan as the front half was good. I shortened each pan quater the way the Deserter build manual shows. Lots of carefull measuring and cutting but they turned out well.
Mike T _________________ BIGMIKEY
Deserter Series 1 project.
https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=787047&highlight=
1973 Beetle Driver, Marina Blue. |
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BIGMIKEY Samba Member
Joined: September 24, 2007 Posts: 1105 Location: North East Pennsylvania
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Posted: Sun Dec 03, 2023 10:18 pm Post subject: Re: Deserter Series 1 build |
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My vision for this Buggy build is something like this; Summer of 1971, an 18 year old kid decides to build a dune buggy after meeting a guy a with a complete Sears buggy. He scrapes up enough money, buys a kit from a local dune buggy dealer and stashes it in the chicken coop where the work will be performed. He buys a burned 1969 bug from a local VW guy and uses that as a donor to build the Buggy. He farms out the welding but turns the wrenches himself. In the spring of 1972 the completed buggy hits the road.
However:
The actual story was somewhat more disappointing. I did meet a guy with a Sears buggy and got fired up to build my own. Reality was I didn’t have a good enough job to save enough to buy the kit. There was a local buggy dealer, Jack’s Dune Buggies, but I couldn’t afford a kit. All I recall from that place was seeing a stack of many colored buggy bodies in his barn. No idea what manufacturer the bodies were. There was also a local VW guy that I used to buy parts from. He had a burned VW but it was actually a 1967 and all I bought was the engine. I stuck that in my 1963 beetle to replace the leaky 40 horse. I was happy with that setup so interest waned in building a buggy. A few years later I had a better job and more income. When I went back to the buggy Dealer he was out of business. So the dream buggy never got built. By 1974 I was married. There was a happy ending though. In the spring of 1975 I found and bought a Meyers Manx built on a 1965 chassis. I restored that and drove it for 3 summers and had the best time driving that all over upstate NY with my wife next to me and dog in the back.
This Deserter Series 1 build will mirror that Buggy dream of long ago, the buggy that I never built, and this time it will get built. Nothing fancy just a good basic buggy.
Mike T _________________ BIGMIKEY
Deserter Series 1 project.
https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=787047&highlight=
1973 Beetle Driver, Marina Blue. |
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Dangib Samba Member
Joined: October 05, 2011 Posts: 95 Location: pittsburgh
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Posted: Mon Dec 04, 2023 5:56 am Post subject: Re: Deserter Series 1 build |
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Hell ya sweet build looks like a really nice solid body, gotta save these. cant wait for more brother, quick side note ditch the coilover shocks asap. |
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NJ John Samba Member
Joined: September 21, 2007 Posts: 2234 Location: HdG, MD & NJ
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Posted: Mon Dec 04, 2023 6:33 am Post subject: Re: Deserter Series 1 build |
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That’s what it’s all about. _________________ 1973 standard, yellow, lowered, 3” narrowed front, 1600 blo-thru turbo w/single dell 15.4@86, so far
11.41 et buggy. Long gone
Let’s go O’s! Let’s go O’s!
https://www.youtube.com/@AirSpooledGarage |
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BIGMIKEY Samba Member
Joined: September 24, 2007 Posts: 1105 Location: North East Pennsylvania
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Posted: Mon Dec 04, 2023 7:49 am Post subject: Re: Deserter Series 1 build |
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Dangib wrote: |
Hell ya sweet build looks like a really nice solid body, gotta save these. cant wait for more brother, quick side note ditch the coilover shocks asap. |
Thanks Dangib. I recycled them. ..Reborn as ...
Mike T _________________ BIGMIKEY
Deserter Series 1 project.
https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=787047&highlight=
1973 Beetle Driver, Marina Blue. |
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BIGMIKEY Samba Member
Joined: September 24, 2007 Posts: 1105 Location: North East Pennsylvania
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Posted: Fri Dec 08, 2023 11:11 am Post subject: Re: Deserter Series 1 build |
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While the bottom plate was still off I installed new shift rod bushing and shift coupler. I shortened the shift rod and installed the adjuster. I had to flip the pan over and install the transaxle to make sure the shift rod was adjusted correctly. Tested and it shifts great.
While the pan was right side up I welded in the newly shortened pan quarters to replace the terrible crooked pans that it came with.
Next I flipped the chassis back over and welded the bottom plate back in place and applied seam sealer.
_________________ BIGMIKEY
Deserter Series 1 project.
https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=787047&highlight=
1973 Beetle Driver, Marina Blue. |
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BIGMIKEY Samba Member
Joined: September 24, 2007 Posts: 1105 Location: North East Pennsylvania
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Posted: Fri Dec 08, 2023 11:50 am Post subject: Re: Deserter Series 1 build |
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I added 1.25" square tubing to the pan rails to stiffen up the chassis. I welded in short lengths of round tubing to recess the bolt ends so they don't show under the frame.
Paint for the pan is Black paint from Tractor Supply. A little more glossy that I realized it would be. I used a brush but the paint leveled out nicely. It dried rock hard.
For the inside I used the Internal frame coat from Eastwood. Covers pretty well.
That finishes most of the heavy lifting for the chassis. Next will be suspension, brakes etc.
Mike T _________________ BIGMIKEY
Deserter Series 1 project.
https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=787047&highlight=
1973 Beetle Driver, Marina Blue. |
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BIGMIKEY Samba Member
Joined: September 24, 2007 Posts: 1105 Location: North East Pennsylvania
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Posted: Wed Dec 13, 2023 12:44 pm Post subject: Re: Deserter Series 1 build |
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I wanted to be able to adjust my front ride height. A set of Sway-a-Way style adjusters were purchased and installed.
Following the instructions I scribed the cut lines using a hose clamp as a guide to ensure they were straight.
Used the same hose clamp to hold the adjuster in place for tack welding.
Finish welded adjusters. I had to crank my Lincoln 110 welder up all the way to get good penetration. I put a healthy bevel on the ends to make sure.
Pretty happy with how it turned out. This was my first time installing adjusters and the instructions were a bit hard to decipher.
Mike T _________________ BIGMIKEY
Deserter Series 1 project.
https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=787047&highlight=
1973 Beetle Driver, Marina Blue. |
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NJ John Samba Member
Joined: September 21, 2007 Posts: 2234 Location: HdG, MD & NJ
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Posted: Thu Dec 14, 2023 7:02 am Post subject: Re: Deserter Series 1 build |
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Are you going to auto x it? _________________ 1973 standard, yellow, lowered, 3” narrowed front, 1600 blo-thru turbo w/single dell 15.4@86, so far
11.41 et buggy. Long gone
Let’s go O’s! Let’s go O’s!
https://www.youtube.com/@AirSpooledGarage |
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BIGMIKEY Samba Member
Joined: September 24, 2007 Posts: 1105 Location: North East Pennsylvania
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Posted: Thu Dec 14, 2023 8:37 pm Post subject: Re: Deserter Series 1 build |
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NJ John wrote: |
Are you going to auto x it? |
I may take it to a local autocross after it's finished but won't compete on a regular basis anymore. I did that for 30 years and had a good time doing it. Now I am retired and just want to cruise.
Mike T
Here is my wife putting our old Safari through it's paces.
_________________ BIGMIKEY
Deserter Series 1 project.
https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=787047&highlight=
1973 Beetle Driver, Marina Blue.
Last edited by BIGMIKEY on Fri Dec 15, 2023 8:23 pm; edited 1 time in total |
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GS guy Samba Member
Joined: December 03, 2007 Posts: 968 Location: Maryland
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Posted: Fri Dec 15, 2023 6:18 am Post subject: Re: Deserter Series 1 build |
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Looking good! Based on the the new "bottom" position of the torsion anchor bolt you're going to a raised over stock ride height adjustment range? Keep up the nice work!
Jeff _________________ 70's vintage Deserter GS buggy - undergoing transformation to Super GS! |
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BIGMIKEY Samba Member
Joined: September 24, 2007 Posts: 1105 Location: North East Pennsylvania
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Posted: Fri Dec 15, 2023 8:21 pm Post subject: Re: Deserter Series 1 build |
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GS guy wrote: |
Looking good! Based on the the new "bottom" position of the torsion anchor bolt you're going to a raised over stock ride height adjustment range? Keep up the nice work!
Jeff |
Wow. I hope not. I followed the instruction measurements to put the adjusters in the neutral position to adjust down or up equally. I guess I could have screwed up. The instructions were worded oddly.
The work I have posted so far has been done slowly over the last 10 years. I have had the buggy mocked up numerous times fitting adjusting changing modifying etc. I reviewed my build notes and found where I had to screw in the adjuster screws several turns to ensure the 175/70-14 tires did not bottom on the fenders so I am pretty sure I got them right. Thanks for the comment and encouragement. Means a lot coming from you because of your awesome GS build.
I plan to test drive it sometime in late spring. I will do a final assembly mockup before blowing it apart to fix and paint the body, but while it's together I'm going to make it run stop and turn and do a test drive. And final set the ride height.
Mike T _________________ BIGMIKEY
Deserter Series 1 project.
https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=787047&highlight=
1973 Beetle Driver, Marina Blue. |
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BIGMIKEY Samba Member
Joined: September 24, 2007 Posts: 1105 Location: North East Pennsylvania
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Posted: Fri Dec 15, 2023 8:40 pm Post subject: Re: Deserter Series 1 build |
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Here is the finished chassis with new brake lines, rubber lines, urethane spring plate and semi trailing arm bushings.
New fuel line, clutch and parking brake cables.
Brake master cylinder, Volvo reserviour. new ball joints tie rod ends. Also a set of caster shims.
The shocks are those phony coilovers that seem to be so popular. I removed the springs and perches and gave them a coat of Chevy Orange engine paint. Instant FONI shocks.
Mike T _________________ BIGMIKEY
Deserter Series 1 project.
https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=787047&highlight=
1973 Beetle Driver, Marina Blue. |
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NJ John Samba Member
Joined: September 21, 2007 Posts: 2234 Location: HdG, MD & NJ
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Posted: Sat Dec 16, 2023 9:52 am Post subject: Re: Deserter Series 1 build |
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Looking awesome.
Back to the adjusters. I guess the beam assembled without any binding. Hopefully the adjusters are in sync. It’s easy to get confused with them. _________________ 1973 standard, yellow, lowered, 3” narrowed front, 1600 blo-thru turbo w/single dell 15.4@86, so far
11.41 et buggy. Long gone
Let’s go O’s! Let’s go O’s!
https://www.youtube.com/@AirSpooledGarage |
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slayer61 Samba Member
Joined: June 01, 2021 Posts: 1018 Location: CA
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Posted: Mon Dec 18, 2023 8:04 am Post subject: Re: Deserter Series 1 build |
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NJ John wrote: |
Looking awesome.
Back to the adjusters. I guess the beam assembled without any binding. Hopefully the adjusters are in sync. It’s easy to get confused with them. |
Indeed...
I put one of my center sections in backwards ended cutting the section back out, grinding the weld on the inside of the section, knocking it out, turning it around and welding it back in _________________
Cusser wrote: |
... Most folks are idiots when it deals with electrical !!! |
67rustavenger wrote: |
3/4 race cam? What's missing, one of the lobes? |
Paul
'68 Manx clone... Sears??
2276 built on AS21 case
W-125 w/ GB 1.25:1 rockers
Mahle forged pistons
CB 4340 crank
CB H beam rods
deep sump
44 HPMX
EMPI GTV 2 STG II wedge ports
CB Magna spark
1 5/8 merged collector w/ hater stinger |
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