Ap's Vw Beach Buggy

[apmaman]

Er Mer Gewd

[seboni121]

Awesome dude reminds me of the banana split

[apmaman]

my uncle gave me a bananna sticker haha!

[fireblade]

Need more pictures, looking good, I feel like I've got an itch to scratch....... Need to buy one , but how do you convince the wife it's a good idea? He he

[apmaman]

you dont need to pay road tax? or... youl always get more smiles per miles than any other car!?

you can get long wheel base models so plenty of room for little uns. alot less work too as its a straight swap from the old beetle shell to the new fibreglass tub. unlike mines which is the 'classic' style of a shorter wheelbase by about a foot and a bit. thats a proper pro job to cut it out and shorten everything to go along like gear linkages and all the pedal cables etc etc etc.

Unfortunatly ive not got many pics as its still not mot'd so not really had many chances to take pics.

[apmaman]

passed the mot today! yahoo!

[AVTUR]

Well done! It's always a relief when a project finally gets the official thumbs up!

[apmaman]

cheers! ill try get a few pics up but the engines being troublesome. will be fine for 30mins or so but will conk out and die. idles fine though.

[AVTUR]

Dirt in the carb maybe?

[apmaman]

thats what i think. its been sitting for a while and just needs a good clean out as its not run for 6 months.

its like fuel starvation but the pumps fine.

[fireblade]

Fuel can go off.....

[apmaman]

its fairly fresh fuel. was put in last month but it might of vented out all the good stuff. a good shout tbh not something id thought of!

[4wheel]

I have had a number of these in warmer climes,including a pick up version complete with sheep rails ! Be warned though,they have one quirk which can be lethal. Given half the chance they will spin 360' and then some. A wet road and a rounabout are the ideal conditions to find yourself facing the other way. My son returned home wise eyed one night having spun around twice and ended up facing the vehicle behind him. They also nose dive under heavy braking with another excuse for the back to come around. Apart from that they will go almost anywhere with the tyres deflated and are pretty tough in an accident. Left mine out in the rain one night only to find it half full of water in the morning.Actually had to bail it out.Started first kick and off I went,no probs.Good fun all round.

[apmaman]

yes i know what you mean about wet roundabouts. nearly lost it when i first picked it up giving it a wee razz but luckly was an empty road.

gotta be on your toes in the wet! but wet sands a hoot!

i find the brakes to be pretty good even though its drums all around. suppose the cars only ~500kg. the nose diving is interesting as its not really noticable on modern cars. im waiting to put dropped spindles in so will be a bit more noticable.

was yours the ldv style?

as for the project ive added in some baffling exhaust wool but its about as useful as tits on a fish. but hey if the 5-0 stop me i at least have some excuse that ive tried to quietin it.

really just got the spindles to go and then repaint the wheels for it to be finished....

i do have plans to make my own removable hard top and add in the big spot lamps ive got. they look silly on the front bumper and the soft top wont fit if theyre on the rollbar... something to work on this winter i think..

[4wheel]

Sorry bit late with the response. Yes mine was an Ldv style with removable doors.and sheep rails at the back.Very nice for taking the dogs to the beach.Also had a conventional swb with removable hard top and 1600cc twin port motor with twin choke Weber carb.Very nice to drive but a mother to climb in and out of.The roof is low and with the tub sides was a tight fit.Wifey refused point blank to even try and get in.Shame really.

[apmaman]

haha i know what you mean about getting in the car. almost impossible to get in/out with any dignity!

i think im gonna build another after uni from scratch. got lots of ideas for number 2 :-D

[AVTUR]

haha i know what you mean about getting in the car. almost impossible to get in/out with any dignity!

I take it you wear a kilt then?

[apmaman]

the sporran scratches the paint! had tp get a fluffy seal skin on!

[apmaman]

Says it all.... Wiring and those "unique" postures buggy builders seem to get themselves into....

 

 

 

 

I have been fiddling about more with a dwell meter I got a loan off a work bud. My dwell reading is spot on at 44°  but the tacho says 1800 rpm but I think its a bit high, doesnt sound that when its idling.. I do have a 52mm pod one coming I am going to install inside the engine bay so making tune ups a bit easier knowing what rpm the engines at. 

 

My oil pressure also starts at about 2 bar then steadily drops, the oil pressure light isnt on but it sits about 1 bar which seems a bit low... 30psi to about 15psi in old money. Still to put in the temp sender as the sump bolt. 

 

click to play

 

 

I'll do anything to avoid revising for my exams next week....

 

Got my wee RPM gauge fitted inside the engine bay, so I can hold the revs at fixed rpm's and adjust the mixture to remove any pops bangs and missfires. Seems to be great up to 3000rpm now, but if thats the same when its under load, who knows!  :

 

god bless the person who invented cable ties! 

 

[apmaman]

 

 

Well all finished. Drives great, bit too much +ve camber but thats due to the coil over suspension, going to get rid in the future. Something to ask Santa for  

 

Had a bit of a tidy up with the wiring, added in a fuel king filter & pressure regulator. 

 

Yahoo! 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

So the list at the start of the thread?

 

To Do:

 

Fix indicator stalk, turns with wheel activating indicators when not needed DONE

Fix Rev gauge (works on idle) Removed

Fix Oil Pressure gauge (works at ignition but intermittent failure while driving) DONE

Fix Fuel Gauge (Worked on first fill up, but stuck at just above red) DONE

New window wiper & blade for passenger side (Done)

Address battery charging issue, seems like the dyno isn't charging the battery (Done)

Convert side lights to T10, 501, W5W bulbs for LED's DONE

Address potential tracking issues. Rear wheels look "off" STILL TO DO

Repaint engine bay tin ware and fan shroud DONE

Label all wiring and carry out repairs on worn or dodgie looking connections & general tidy up. DONE

De-Rust and paint drum brakes DONE

Pressed metal plates Rear Done

CD player Done

12v Accessory port Done

Exhaust baffles Done

Oil Breather filter replacement instead of hose connecting to carb filter for neatness DONE (Decided to keep the pipe)

 

Want:

 

Add single or twin "cooling fans" inside engine bay to cool while sitting in traffic

New indicator stalk

Re-Paint body DONE

Re-Paint wheels DONE

Re-wire DONE 

New Seats (heated)

New exhaust system, twin motorbike cans

New dash layout with illuminated switches DONE

Alternator Conversion DONE

Front brake disc conversion

Easy Access Jump lead connections

"Blower Scoop" intake for twin carbs

Strip gearbox, solve first gear niggle DONE (was gear linkage)

Strip carbs and set up on rolling road (DONE, but no rolling road)

Convert all lights to LED or projectors. 

New type 3 oil intake thingy mabober DONE

Yellow distributor cap and leads (thought against it due to poor quality caps)

Not too bad I think. 

[sigarland1987]

Have just seen this project thread, what an awesome car/project to have! really enjoyed the read as well

[apmaman]

Wired up the little spots on the rear to the brake lights. Not entirely sure I like them there, but adds a bit of character and uniqueness which is always good. Gonna be jacking it up and painting the underside with more hammerite. Collected all my tins and poured them to make one whole tin haha! so will keep me busy for a few days. Got my daily driver to do as well, 10 years old and the underseal protection has gone, waxoyl for this one. 

[apmaman]

New fuel tank in, and a little bit of poke  

 

[KenONeill]

Ok, I used to have a T1 back in the day, so a few words of help (hopefully).

 

0) This is that important. Sort out the rear camber. Your rear spring rates are probably too high, which is making the car sit too high with it being lighter.

1) Ok, I know you've deleted it, but you don't need a rev counter on these engines; they can't rev high enough to cause damage.

2) That fan assembly you've got should be adequate, at least as long as you still have the original oil cooler. Find pics of a 1960s T1 1500, and look at the solid engine cover, and how much tinware shrouding there is around the cylinder barrels.

[apmaman]

Yeah I think its because its got coil overs on it which are way to stiff for a buggy. Not so bad with a beetle with all the weight of the body etc but new standard shocks are on the cards.