Buggy building questions.

nutter · Jan 4, 2010

So my good freind got a new bender and it works awesome so we were both thinking of building buggies this year or next. My questions are should we start with a frame from another rig or go all tube? It seems like it would be easier to start with at least part of a frame since its rectangle and easy to mount things to. If i did go with a frame what frames are best to use? I was thinking an early bronco frame their boxed all the way back and pretty tuff. I can get one for free from a buddy. Also What size tube should i use i was thinking either 1 3/4 04 2 inch dom. Where can we find a good tube notcher? Which style notchers work the best? Wheres the best place to get tube? Ive allways gone to floydes for steel. Does anyone on here run a leaf sprung buggy? If so how does it do compared to air shocks coils or coilovers?

crazybluerider1 · Jan 4, 2010

I will never build around a stock frame again.

.02

Not Jobless · Jan 4, 2010

crazybluerider said:
I will never build around a stock frame again.

.02

x2..

Jaydog · Jan 4, 2010

nutter said:
So my good freind got a new bender and it works awesome so we were both thinking of building buggies this year or next. My questions are should we start with a frame from another rig or go all tube? It seems like it would be easier to start with at least part of a frame since its rectangle and easy to mount things to. If i did go with a frame what frames are best to use? I was thinking an early bronco frame their boxed all the way back and pretty tuff. I can get one for free from a buddy. Also What size tube should i use i was thinking either 1 3/4 04 2 inch dom. Where can we find a good tube notcher? Which style notchers work the best? Wheres the best place to get tube? Ive allways gone to floydes for steel. Does anyone on here run a leaf sprung buggy? If so how does it do compared to air shocks coils or coilovers?

If I were you I would spend the next year reading all the tech articles on Pirate and every build thread that pertains to the rig you want to build, then plan everything down to what caps you want on the valve stems, do all of that before you even bend your first tube, and it might save a few headaches, no reason to throw a bunch of money into a rig and then have it not work great when you are done. :awesomework:

CHOP SHOP · Jan 4, 2010

Jaydog said:
If I were you I would spend the next year reading all the tech articles on Pirate and every build thread that pertains to the rig you want to build, then plan everything down to what caps you want on the valve stems, do all of that before you even bend your first tube, and it might save a few headaches, no reason to throw a bunch of money into a rig and then have it not work great when you are done. :awesomework:

sounds like another life long internet build spent searching for the perfect combo that is obsolete before getting it done.

Just keep wheeling your rig.:beer:

hydro joe · Jan 4, 2010

I started with a frame but i planed to do anther one, it was to get my feet wet and i have built it agin and help a friend with his.

[/IMG]

nutter · Jan 4, 2010

My rig is pretty much where i want it. I plan to keep it and wheel it while building this one. I want this rig to be a three seater on 38s or 39s with a 60 front 14 bolt rear a sbc th400 and dana 300 combo. I dont want to end up with a truggy or juggy it has to be a full buggy just with a cal so i can putt plates on it. I want to run leaf springs because their symple and dependable and with the right springs it could do pretty good. I was thinking chevy 63s rear and s10 rears up front that should keep it low and flex good still. If anything i would consider three linking the rear and keeping leafs up front.

CHOP SHOP · Jan 4, 2010

so you want to use a 1/2-3/4 ton truck spring in the rear where there is no weight to make them flex, but use a s10 minitruck rear spring up front where the weight and steering are? Howed you come up with that?

nutter · Jan 4, 2010

Peaple putt 63s in the back of yota all the time theirs no weight back their and they work great. The weight of a toyota truck bed compared to a bunch of tube a back seat with a person in it a fuel cell and tools and spare tire is close if not more then the weight of a toyota bed.

boardbysled · Jan 4, 2010

The thing with leaf springs is your approach and departure angle is generally limited.

nutter · Jan 4, 2010

I live in washington and wheel natches evans and elbe. Ive been all over these places and have yet to find a place that leaf sprung rigs cant go. Im not trying to drive up a cement wall.

CHOP SHOP · Jan 4, 2010

nutter said:
Peaple putt 63s in the back of yota all the time theirs no weight back their and they work great. The weight of a toyota truck bed compared to a bunch of tube a back seat with a person in it a fuel cell and tools and spare tire is close if not more then the weight of a toyota bed.

I put them on all the time and they work well. Just not when coupled to s10 springs.

CHOP SHOP · Jan 4, 2010

nutter said:
I live in washington and wheel natches evans and elbe. Ive been all over these places and have yet to find a place that leaf sprung rigs cant go. Im not trying to drive up a cement wall.

sounds like you dont need a buggy then?

Why build one if you **** wheels everything?:corn:

nutter · Jan 4, 2010

Because i like to build things. And evans natches and elbe isnt everything either. I want a buggy mostly for summer wheelin and going to the dunes.

nutter · Jan 4, 2010

A freind of mine has chevy 63s and s10s and it works great. Have you ever ran that combo in anything or even seen it?

CHOP SHOP · Jan 4, 2010

nutter said:
A freind of mine has chevy 63s and s10s and it works great. Have you ever ran that combo in anything or even seen it?

my second wheeler had s10 springs up front. It sucked. I even tried 4 door s10 blazer springs too, still sucked.

I even advised a friend a month ago not to use them when he told me how perfect they were.

I sold him some ford springs last week to replace the bent s10 rears that lived for two rides.

I am clueless tho.:beer:

CHOP SHOP · Jan 4, 2010

nutter said:
Have you ever ran that combo in anything or even seen it?

if you can get at a wrecking ward fo cheap, ive run it.:; Heres my old (8 years ago) wheeler with s10 blazers up front.

traildemon · Jan 4, 2010

If you are going to go through all the work to build a buggy put links on it. you have a rig on leafs now. oh and jd2 has a good notcher. and I would just buy new boxed tube for the bottom of the buggy if you find it easier to hook stuff up to it because cleaning up old frames sucks and 2 x 4 box tubing is pretty cheap

samicrawler · Jan 4, 2010

Just build what you want and wheel it, there is no absolute right or wrong way to build something. A little bit of trial and error is always expected when building a wheeler. You will never get it perfect the first time or at all for that matter. I would read a bunch of builds and tech articles then build. If you ask a bunch of questions on a forum you will get a bunch of different answers because everybody has there own opinions. Just build it safe and have fun, that is what it is supposed to be all about.

CHOP SHOP · Jan 4, 2010

samicrawler said:
Just build what you want and wheel it, there is no absolute right or wrong way to build something. A little bit of trial and error is always expected when building a wheeler. You will never get it perfect the first time or at all for that matter. I would read a bunch of builds and tech articles then build. If you ask a bunch of questions on a forum you will get a bunch of different answers because everybody has there own opinions. Just build it safe and have fun, that is what it is supposed to be all about.

this is great advice for building a wheeler, not a buggy.:;