Throwing in the towel - my MarsFab buggy build

untchabl · Jan 16, 2022

Tear down is complete. Got a paint booth scheduled for about 3 weeks from now when my buddy can paint it. Hopefully between now and then I can get alot of the mechanical things done, rebuild air shocks, new gaskets and seals on the engine and trans, build the Yota t-case, etc.

ridered3 · Jan 16, 2022

untchabl said:
Tear down is complete. Got a paint booth scheduled for about 3 weeks from now when my buddy can paint it. Hopefully between now and then I can get alot of the mechanical things done, rebuild air shocks, new gaskets and seals on the engine and trans, build the Yota t-case, etc.

View attachment 159993 View attachment 159994

Nice! What's the plan color wise?

untchabl · Jan 16, 2022

ridered3 said:
Nice! What's the plan color wise?

Chassis will be black. Side panels, roof and hood will be vinyl wrapped red satin chrome. Haven't decided on colors for dash, grill and rear taillight panel.

ridered3 · Jan 16, 2022

untchabl said:
Chassis will be black. Side panels, roof and hood will be vinyl wrapped red satin chrome. Haven't decided on colors for dash, grill and rear taillight panel.

Very cool! Any interest in using a clear coat for the dash so it looks like @MarsFab tin work but will be preserved/protected?

untchabl · Feb 21, 2022

After some delays the chassis is finally painted. Hopefully start reassembly on Thursday and Friday when I'm off work.

ridered3 · Feb 21, 2022

@untchabl painted chassis looks great! Did you paint it or have it painted?

easleycrawler · Feb 21, 2022

ridered3 said:
@untchabl painted chassis looks great! Did you paint it or have it painted?

A buddy of his has a paint booth.

ridered3 · Feb 21, 2022

easleycrawler said:
A buddy of his has a paint booth.

Very cool.

untchabl · Feb 22, 2022

@ridered3 local guy has a paint booth at his house that I rented out for the weekend and I had a buddy spray it. SPI black epoxy primer is what's on the chassis and the axles. Wanted something that was easy to touch up down the road with some semi-gloss black rattle can.

ridered3 · Feb 22, 2022

untchabl said:
@ridered3 local guy has a paint booth at his house that I rented out for the weekend and I had a buddy spray it. SPI black epoxy primer is what's on the chassis and the axles. Wanted something that was easy to touch up down the road with some semi-gloss black rattle can.

That's cool on the rent-able paint booth and good call on future touch ups.

untchabl · Feb 22, 2022

Completely forgot that I weighed the bare chassis before we painted it. It's just a cheap $45 mini crane scale but it's all I've got. Planning to weigh the axles and the engine as well just for curiosity. Will put the completed buggy on some racecar scales when it's all finished.

ridered3 · Feb 22, 2022

untchabl said:
Completely forgot that I weighed the bare chassis before we painted it. It's just a cheap $45 mini crane scale but it's all I've got. Planning to weigh the axles and the engine as well just for curiosity. Will put the completed buggy on some racecar scales when it's all finished.

View attachment 160552

That's awesome on weighing everything as it's being reassembled!

xjcrawler · Feb 23, 2022

untchabl said:
@ridered3 local guy has a paint booth at his house that I rented out for the weekend and I had a buddy spray it. SPI black epoxy primer is what's on the chassis and the axles. Wanted something that was easy to touch up down the road with some semi-gloss black rattle can.

Is it just epoxy primer with no clear coat?

untchabl · Feb 23, 2022

xjcrawler said:
Is it just epoxy primer with no clear coat?

Yes

xjcrawler · Feb 23, 2022

untchabl said:
Yes

Epoxy primer has no UV protection and it will not last. It will slowly look worse just from washing it.

untchabl · Feb 23, 2022

xjcrawler said:
Epoxy primer has no UV protection and it will not last. It will slowly look worse just from washing it.

Thanks for the heads up. Too late to change it now, that is what my buddy suggested to use. If it gets bad in the future, I'll just rattle can it more.

TBItoy · Feb 23, 2022

untchabl said:
Thanks for the heads up. Too late to change it now, that is what my buddy suggested to use. If it gets bad in the future, I'll just rattle can it more.

Assuming you are going to keep the buggy inside... then it won't be much of an issue.

buddy painted his with DP90 epoxy primer and it looks and matches krylon satin black. Every couple years he'd hit the outside of the tubes that got rashed up with rattle can. Just held a piece of carboard on the back and painted the "face" of the tubes.

xjcrawler · Feb 23, 2022

untchabl said:
Thanks for the heads up. Too late to change it now, that is what my buddy suggested to use. If it gets bad in the future, I'll just rattle can it more.

It's an awesome looking buggy would hate for it to look bad in just a few years was the only reason I mentioned it.

untchabl · Feb 23, 2022

xjcrawler said:
It's an awesome looking buggy would hate for it to look bad in just a few years was the only reason I mentioned it.

No, I really do appreciate the heads up. It will be stored inside when I'm not on a ride and I'm sure it's going to get scratched up because I plan to wheel it alot to make up for the last 5+ years of being rig-less. I'm sure in a few years it will need a repaint anyway from abuse plus I'll probably be ready to change some stuff up by then aka coilovers, stronger axles, possibly rear steer, etc.