Bonneville America Forums Forums Off Topic Discussion Forums Lounge "BikerThug" here (just checking back)

I got a call today from "Evanman" because he was curious whether I had dropped off the edge of the earth. So, since I count many of you my good friends, I thought I'd report back.

As most of you know, I had a mishap with my Speedy. Just before I laid it down, I had taken on a major dune-buggy project. So, being in the midst of that, I was forced to mothball the Speedy because I WILL NOT have two projects going at once. My budget won't allow it. So, unfortunately, I'll be missing this upcoming riding season. And whining about the circumstances is a waste of time, - so there you have it.

Now, some of you want to know about my dune buggy, so I've put a few pictures down below. My plans on this automotive project have grown considerably more ambitious. I will be installing a "Type 4" Porsche 914 motor in it. I've acquired an awsome "6-rib" bus transaxle for it. I'm building a brand new chassis from scratch, which requires me to develope my own wiring harness, design & plumb my own hydraulic system (to name a few things). Needless to say, - I've been busy.











Anyway, just reporting in. Hope you all are riding safe,

-BT

The dune buggy project is coming along nicely. Can't wait to see it finished. Seeing those bare VW bits is making me nostalgic. I'm getting misty...

BT, If you get that dune buggy done in time, take it to the Idaho Invasion

Glad to see you're still alive, kicking and working on stuff.

Soren

That's seriously cool. Those bus transaxles are tough. Hope the ratios have been tightened up over stock. Sometimes they had a wide gap between third and forth, but then again, that works well for playing in the sand.
I like that adjustable torsion setup. Back in the day, we cut 'em, turned 'em, and rewelded 'em .
Lookin' good .

Hey BT,

I hear you about the whining thing, doesn't accomplish much and tends to irritate people . I irritate myself at times, working on it. Budgets? I bet most here can relate to that. I have a house painting and patio renovation project that can't be put off another year. Then again it's hard to hold a paintbrush on fine riding days, dang!

Thanks for checking in, keep those buggy pictures coming, it looks like a piece of mechanical art, similar to that black and yellow speedmaster.

JH

Good to hear from you BT. So when are we all invited over to take her out for a ride?

Wojo,

This is a very extensive project, so the inaugural kegger will be awhile.

You see, - I plan to build this thing all the way up to make sure everthing fits perfectly (called the "mock-up" phase). Then I'm going to tear it all the way back down (utterly and completely) so as to powdercoat the whole chassis, linux the underside, use all stainless steel bolts and nuts to build it back up, and paint - powdercoat - and chrome various parts as I conduct the "final assemly."

It is far more demanding than I thought at first.

I do have hopes to ride my Speedy for the 07 summer riding season.

Take care,

-BT

Definitely interested in seeing more pics of the rear suspension and how that works! Looks interesting...

FJ,

I guess I spelled that wrong. But, when I think about it, I kinda stopped working on my cars about the time they started making them with ECM units in them.

So this one I'm building won't be having anything to do with a computer onboard.
The heater will be something similar to the Triumph Auxilery Outlet (two of them mounted in the center console) with two Gerbing heated suits as standard equipment.

Anyway, I stand corrected, - the word is Line-X.


-BT

Yeah, I know, I was just messin' with ya.

If I ever get around to rebuilding and de-rustifying one of my 914s I might Line-X the undercarriage and the floors of the passenger compartment and both trunks.

BT
Nice work man only one problem..... I think you have had the plans upside down or something ...coz youve put the pedals and steering column on the wrong side!!! LOL
Cheers Mike

BT,
Good to hear from you. Great project, looks like lots of work but will be worth it in the end.

Mark, somehow I must have missed that part, but belatedly would like to see that you obviously made it out of the accident OK (as you are here), must have been during my absence from the board. But, glad to see ya back, and that buggy looks SWEET!!

Nice hearing from you pard. You are doing some mighty fine work there.

Dave

BikerThug, looks good, glad to see that you're using the IRS rear suspension set-up, and looks like you've taken the opportunity to install urethane bushings on the control arm pivots, and around the spring plates / torsion bars. It's cool that you're staying busy though, have fun with that Type IV!

Well, I've been plugging along with this thing. Since I have committed to doing this project without debt, I was polishing my pennies for the last month until I had the funds to acquire the new body. Well, I finally got it, and I drove 750 miles to pick up the brand new Manx-clone body (I picked it up in British Columbia).

Anyway, the picture below shows what the new body looks like.



Don't think for one minute I forgotten about fixing my beloved-Bonnie. When I'm done with this buggy I have big plans. But, I'll be finishing this first.

I'll check back once in awhile.

-BT

Thanks for the update BT,

I was wondering just the other day what your were up to. Now we know . Will you need a safe secure garage to park that beauty?

JH

Looks great Mark! Can't wait to see it when it is done.

Soren

Now I am building an awesome motor for this thing. This will be my winter project. It is a Type 4 VW Case with a counter-weighted stroker crank (78mm), 96mm pistons with a deck height of.040 (that works out to 2270cc displacement). Then I acquired Porsche 914 heads, newly machined to accept 96mm pistons and cylinders, with 48mm stainless intake valves & 36mm stainless exhaust valves. I'll be running Weber 44IDF duel carbs. All this hooked into an 091 "6-rib" bus transaxle. Some say that with a 80" wheelbase, this thing may be able to wheelie.

See the new meats from the backside below.



-BT

You missed you're "calling" BT,

Then again, maybe you haven't. Nice work .

I wanna ride, CanI?CanI?CanI?

JH

Crap.. that thing should be able to kick up some sand or whatever else gets in it's way. Can't wait to see a picture of the finished project.

Nice!! So does the whole motor just hang on the bell housing or is there a sub frame under it? Nice BF AT's Those are nice tires. Where are you planning on running it?

Benny,

The Type 4 VW motor has rear motor mounts that can be utilized in a dune buggy application, - and yes, I am going to use them.

I am going to weld together a motor-cage similar to what can be viewed at this photo here.

But that is down my list a bit.

-BT

BTW, this experience, I believe, will assist me greatly when I finally get around to repairing & customizing my Speedy.

Very cool!