Pactrickg Dune Buggy

CSAW · Mar 22, 2003

Patrick a while back we discussed VWs and Dune Buggys briefly. I just wanted to show you a toy I picked up a while back. If I can figure out how to post a picture. Did you ever get the problems with yours worked out?

CSAW · Mar 22, 2003

Front view

Bird · Mar 22, 2003

That looks too fancy and too shiny for a dune buggy. /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif

Taylortractornut · Mar 22, 2003

Ive owned and built a few buggies not many dunes in north Mississippit but plenty of logging road and Gravel pits. Most of the ones here are built from tubing though. Id like a fiber bug to se on the highway though. Ive got a freind in Tat had a Corvair motor on his nice ride but it kept losing the 90 degree fan belt. Thers a fella here thats got one that he made tithe the front of an old Toranado with the steering locked its fun for wheelies. ild like to make a buggy out of the old Jeep cherokee that almost killed me. Newly rebuilt under carrige with only 50 miles on it sittin behind the shop waitn for its reincarnation lol.

CSAW · Mar 23, 2003

Thanks Bird, Actually it is a good balance of respectability and enjoyability. I Fixed up a Bronco one time and it was too nice to enjoy. I was always afraid it was going to get scratched or something would happen to it. So I sold it and bought an old beater truck. This buggy is in just about the right condition. I don't want to scratch it but wouldn't cry if it were to happen.

Taylortractornut, I was in the process of building a rail buggy when this just showed up out of nowhere. Had to have it. There are a lot more roads around here than off road areas to ride. It's even fun on the streets. My son is working on an rail buggy also. As soon as I finish a few more things on this I will start working on mine again.

It is also nice to have something that is street legal. Just jump in and go. My wife and I go for rides lots of nights and take it when we go out to dinner. We have a beach here also that we ride on. The speed limit is 10mph 11 WILL earn you a fine. Not much fun in that. The dunes are sacred, if you kill a seat oat or sea turtle it is punnishable by death. /forums/images/graemlins/crazy.gif

Taylortractornut · Mar 23, 2003

I traded for this old buggy 10 years ago. I almost got fined for killing a wild turkey that flew between the seats and stuck his head in the fan. Game warden saw it and tried to give me a ticket for harrassing wildlife. I used to drive mine to school on the back roads and get off on a 2 lane hiway for a mile and zip into school. I need to get mine out again, but more important things like gettin the rest of the machine shop built is ahead of it. not many dunes here just man made ones. saw an ad one time where a fella took 2 vw ttransmissions and mad a shaf that drove both fronm the same engein and made a 4x4 buggy with the rear vw engine. My neighbor is a vw mechanic and told me for sped machine off as much flywheel as you can but for the power a vw has comes from the flywheels intertia. My cousin dislikes a the vw engine because of the vale adjust ments so he bought the pinto engine swap kit plus he had 10 built Pinto ministock engines from his race days. there fun to.

patrickg · Mar 24, 2003

I got the gas tank patched after welding and brazing (my first brazing attempt) for the better part of a day. Patch looks like a big ugly tumor but is liquid tight. I then uses the liquid plastic inner tank liner that the motorcycle shops sell (auto restoration types use it too.) NO GAS LEAKS.

I had an upholstery shop make me a removable top that comes off in sections. Clear plastic around the back and sides of back. The top piece is separate and can be left on for a sun shield. Doors are removable without tools. Not entirely waterproof at speed or in wind but I haven't finished "MY PART" which includes sealing the attachment between the windshield and the doors.

Your ride looks like a nice Beach Buggy. Yours is much much better looking than mine. I hope it isn't a reflection of the old hod rod expression, "If it won't go... Chrome it!"

I have some play in the front left wheel attachment assy that seems non-adjustable (there are adjustments, they don't remove it all.) I bought a complete front end for parts ($50) so when time is avail I can fix it.

I think the RIGHT descriptor for my buggy is "beater." Fully functional but NOT pretty. It needs paint. Also, I have an industrial strength roll cage over the entire passenger compartment extending around the engine so It would never be as cute as yours.

Thanks for link to the pix.

Again, CUTE RIDE!

Pat