Homemade VW buggy

[xelderx]

So back along time ago...way before I was born, my grandfather decided his life wouldn't be complete without a buggy to take to the beach on his fishing trips. Back then you could drive all over the beach and nobody cared. If you've ever kept up with my threads you'll know that conventional methods and the road more traveled is not usually my way of getting things done. Obviously that kind of thinking was passed down through the years as my grandfather seems to have been the same way. Instead of doing the standard Beetle+fiberglass body kit=beach buggy my grandfather decided that this:

would be a better starting point to make his own buggy. I guess he just happened to have one laying around. So, in honor of it's 40th or so birthday I'm going to attempt to legalize it for street use. Here is what I'm starting with:

It ran as of a few years ago. It still has the original motor with no rebuild on it. I've had to weld the frame back together after trying to jump it about 8 years ago. I'll get better pictures up as soon as I can get it out and clean it off.

The major problems right now are getting it registered. I know some people who know some people that can help me with that, but I hate paperwork. The next biggest obstacle is rewiring the whole thing for 12 volts instead of the 6 volt system it has now.

 

[xelderx]

If I can get the legal stuff out of the way I may be calling these guys up.

http://www.kennedyeng.com/mazda.htm

 

[Sir Nuke]

the 6 to 12 volt conversion is a piuece of cake. I KNOW VW's I dod this conversion a few times.

all you bneed to do is to replace all the luights. if there is a flasher unit still there, replace that and you are ready to go.

NOW, one thing you can still use is the 6 volt starter, as long as you don't keep gringing it if the thing won't start, just give it a break. the 6 volt starter will actually turn over twice as fast. ALSO you can't just swap out the starters for a 12 volt, as the ring gears on the flywheels are different. SO if you are determined to swap the starter for a 12 volt, you will have to get a new flywheel/cluch disc/pressure plate, and then you will have to gring out the bellhousing to make the clearence you need. its so much easier to just keep the 6 volt starter and go with it. I have driven many many years in 12volt converted vw's and never had a bit of problems with the starters. This is my 65 VW bug sleeper.

 

[Bu11dogg2]

After a certain amount of years the Reg should go into limbo, at which point applying for an antique title should be an option.

good luck!

 

[xelderx]

the 6 to 12 volt conversion is a piuece of cake. I KNOW VW's I dod this conversion a few times.

all you bneed to do is to replace all the luights. if there is a flasher unit still there, replace that and you are ready to go.

Awesome info. So there isn't any problems with the coils going from 6 to 12 volt? Just lights?

 

[Sir Nuke]

Awesome info. So there isn't any problems with the coils going from 6 to 12 volt? Just lights?

YES you also need to put on a 12 volt Coil, and a 12 volt generator and voltage regulator, but that is all. the starter and its soloinid is fine. and change all the lights and the flashers if they still have them. its all just the same parts that would come from a BUG. as the 6 volt BUS had all the same elect. stuff. if fact the entire engines are the same.

 

[xelderx]

Sweet. I'm looking forward to getting it on the road. I have a motorcycle rebuild that wilol hopefully be done in a week or so. Then I can focus on this thing.

 

[Sir Nuke]

only one more thing, IF you have wipers still, you will have to put a 12 volt wiper motor in it.

 

[madmax_2069]

wow that is the first that ive seen of its kind

 

[xelderx]

Alright....project is moving along. I have been told by my grandfather that he still has the title. This takes a lot of the paperwork out of the way. Now I'll have a proper VIN and just need to get the buggy saftey inspected. The biggest problem with it right now is the brakes. I'm going to need to rebuild them. I'll be checking with the local antique VW shop to get some wheel cylinders and look into a new master cylinder. I also confirmed that it's a 1960 model chassis. It actually has a rare driveline setup with gear reducers on the wheels. The driveshafts actually spin backwards from normal VW transmissions and have gears on the ends that drive a reducer box attached to the wheels.

 

[Sir Nuke]

Alright....project is moving along. I have been told by my grandfather that he still has the title. This takes a lot of the paperwork out of the way. Now I'll have a proper VIN and just need to get the buggy saftey inspected. The biggest problem with it right now is the brakes. I'm going to need to rebuild them. I'll be checking with the local antique VW shop to get some wheel cylinders and look into a new master cylinder. I also confirmed that it's a 1960 model chassis. It actually has a rare driveline setup with gear reducers on the wheels. The driveshafts actually spin backwards from normal VW transmissions and have gears on the ends that drive a reducer box attached to the wheels.

I have seen those many times. Here are two of the VW's I have built.

 

[dominoy2k1]

damn thats vw looks sweet

 

[xelderx]

A few extra pictures. I found out that the headlights are actually battery powered emergency lamps for buildings...like when the power goes out. i also checked the brakes...they don't work at all...looks like I'll be digging for a new master cylinder.

 

[melicha8]

OMG Sir Nuke is still around! Why don't you take a seat on the couch and grab a cold beer in the fridge. Lawz I miss dem intros to new members

 

[Sir Nuke]

damn thats vw looks sweet

sure is. I built it about 14 years ago, its a 1965, I built the engine from scratch and did a LOT of mods to the engine as I was building it. In 1965 it had a 1200 cc engine, I built a 1776 cc engine, it dyno'ed out at 125 HP, the original engine only had 40 HP. Needless to say it SCREAMED!! I use to race it a lot in drags, I use to take on Z28's and Mustang GT's (that was in the early 90's) and clean their clocks all the time, no one around here had a clue what a VW could do. except ME!!(stash)

 

[Sir Nuke]

OMG Sir Nuke is still around! Why don't you take a seat on the couch and grab a cold beer in the fridge. Lawz I miss dem intros to new members

YEP buddy, I have been back for a while, where have YOU been! :{D

 

[madmax_2069]

those bug's are orignal's, and are getting more rare as time passes, they are defiinatly keepsakes