ol' garage build #2

well after several outings in my first buggy I built, I had it in my garage with a broke transmission and while it was down for repair I started thinking about how I didn't really build the buggy to my driving style. I had a "Family" crawler in mind and went the 4 seater route with the first one I built. Although it took me a couple years working on it off and on, I was pretty happy with the way it turned out, but after a couple of rides I could tell that it just wasn't what I really wanted. I never even put the rear seat in the thing. I really wanted a purpose built 2 seater bouncer, not a family crawler. I put an add out on here and it wasn't long that I had a buyer. and with that the chassis was sold and I was left with a pile of parts and some cash for tube and a few other goodies.

So that brings me to the present. I have been working on buggy #2 for a couple weeks. I have a lot done already and if all goes well, I hope to be getting ready for final weld around the new year. I have to give a huge thanks to bendtech. that program is awesome for design and total build of a buggy!

Here is a few pics of what I had and the progress I've made thus far. I will apologize before hand, but there is a lot going on in the pics I will post. my garage is packed! hopefully I can get some pics posted that doesn't look like a bomb went off as I progress and get some of the clutter cleaned up.

The new buggy will be using the old drivetrain. 6.0 with cam, springs, and pushrods ( ultimate LS induction from FI tech coming) // 350 turbo with full reverse manual valve body and ptc torque converter // 203/205 doubler // 60 and 14. shooting for 120 wb and 20" belly. 43" sx on trailworthy locks.

My first buggy

What I came up with for new design

Here's the old chassis stripped down and loaded up ready to go to the new owner. Be looking out for it. Great guy on here by screen name "jasper" bought it from me so hopefully a build thread will come from him.

So official start date was November 19th. With plans completed and still waiting on the .188 I started bending the .120 wall.

With the .188 wall finally in I bent the lowers and started putting the main frame together. I made me another frame table too. I work at a steel mill so we have an abundance of plate.

A little more progress. Main head bar hood bent and tacked in. Notice the assembly tool I came up with to help hold the bigger pieces in place. First of the front shock hoops are done.

Got up this morn and started working on it before I had to come into work tonight. I start 6 12 hour nights in a row tonight, so progress may be slow. I was able to get the dash bar and a few support tubes done before I had to leave.

Giggity drool

I love the finished walls in the "shop"

;D

You going to lay down while you wheel?

Looking like a good start.

Lower links came in today. Took advantage of the turkey day Sale from ballistic fab. I was planning on running 2" 7075 lowers and trying to repurpose my old lowers ( 2" 3/8 wall with 7/8 heims) for uppers. I know the width is not as big from 7/8 heims to 1.25 heims , but I was planning on making the upper link mounts to fit 1.25 and putting spacer plates to narrow it to 7/8 heims that I could remove if I decided to go with the bigger upper heims.

Give me some opinions. I would think that most of the abuse would be soaked up by the lowers and the uppers would be ok at 7/8 for now. I'm an on a budget so if I can repurpose the old stuff it helps out right now

Ballistic is In business? I tried them a while back and didn't get a response. Bout a year ago I guess

yes sir, I order from them or wfo concepts most of the time.

whiskeymakin said:

Ballistic is In business?

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I get promotional emails from them all the time

Looking good Sharp. How is the melt shop life?

For some tech, ran some 3/4" chromo heims on a heavy ass truck crawler and did not have problems with the joints. Tacoed an upper link one time, 1/4 wall, and the joints were fine. Reused them and they were intact when the truck was parted out.

Jeremy

bobo said:

Looking good Sharp. How is the melt shop life?

For some tech, ran some 3/4" chromo heims on a heavy ass truck crawler and did not have problems with the joints. Tacoed an upper link one time, 1/4 wall, and the joints were fine. Reused them and they were intact when the truck was parted out.

Jeremy

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Ill take any day at the melt shop over a good day at the cut line! Its going descent up here. Just need trump to get those order books back logged and id be very happy. That's good to know on the heims. Yours were 3/4 and my olds are 7/8, so I should be fine. Your buggy ready yet?

Great thread ! I love seeing people build nice rigs in a normal shop so many people think you gotta have a 40x80 building and fancy tools to build nice things . A grinder , welder and drill press with a tube bender will build about anything ! Nice work I'm tuned in

Almost got it back together. Been a long time since last ride though. Thinking about selling since I don't ride anymore. With kids getting older seems like all I do is work and play taxi.