Ians Buggy Build

[Drivermod]

After some thoughtfull consideration I decided to part out the CJ and use as much of it as I can to put together a full tube buggy. Todd at Shotgun Fab will be helping immensly on this build and is the one who finally convinced me to go for it. I sold the frame, tub, and steering to a local guy. Here is a picture of what is left, minus the engine, wheels and tires.
(the chassis you see in this pic is another one Todd put together with a friend of his on Monday and Tuesday. He's been busy.

I took some time to sketch out my ideas in AutoCAD before getting started just to keep the scale of it in check. I picked up a stack of tubing from Carwash last week and started bending on Wednsday. Got the main tubing of the chassis together yesterday. We got to try out his new Baleigh tubing notcher on my chassis and it worked really well. Much quicker and more precise than his old setup.




In the pics the chassis is sitting at ride height but the axles are not in the correct locations. We put in two 15 hr days but got alot done. So far I'm really liking it. Roughly 114" wheelbase, with a 21" belly, 51" wide at the belt line and 68" to the top of the cage. I'm using the SBC 400/700R4/Atlas drivetrain out of the Jeep along with the axles (Dana 60/70) tires (39.5 TSLs) and wheels. Using 17" Bilstein 9100 series coil overs to suspend it. Next big purchases will be heims, steering components and seats. Have a double ended ram but need to locate an orbital. Not sure what to go with yet. Seats will be Kirky Pro Drag 16" wide (I'm a scrawny guy). I'll continue to update as things progress. Realistically, I hope to be riding by Memorial Day weekend. With 6 kids at home finding time to work on it will be the biggest hurdle. Big thanks to Todd for motivating me and helping out as well as the garage space and use of tools. He has a great setup for fabrication and is working on a new chassis for himself to move out of the single seater. It's gonna be pretty radical.

[jwend]

thats sweet man, i like it alot simple but cool.. I dig it for sure..I drive by his shop once a week and always think about stoping i may have to next time

[yellowjacket]

very nice start sir!. i been waiting to see your vision...make sure you leave room for suspension seats down the road... is it all 1.75 ?

[Drivermod]

I wrestled with the suspension seat vs Kirky thing for awhile and just decided with a flat belly it would be too tall with suspension seats. As it is now I should have around 5-6"s of head clearance. A suspension seat would easily fit the drivers side but wouldn't work well on the passenger side because of the transfercase. The Bilsteins should absorb most of the hits unless I land hard on the belly skid. Thanks for the replys. I can't wait to see as a roller. Shouldn't be too long.

All 1.75" except the windshield braces. I will be adding some more 1.75 and 1.25" gussets here and there. The belly is framed in 1/4 wall and the rest is .120 wall.

[timido]

Way cool that thing is coming along nice!

[Yotajunk]

I really like the lines on that chassis! Glad it's coming along man!

[nshefbuch]

40%???? I think that's way to high. I've spent a lot of time around engine and chassis dyno's and never seen a 40% loss of power. If your putting out 240 Hp at the wheels the motor is more than likely pushing 300-325 max. Should be more like 20% loss. The transfer case and large tires won't make up an extra 20% loss. Granted automatics lose more than manuals but its a difference of say 7% -10%.

[underpowered]

as a rule of thumb i was always told by dyno guys a manual has 10-15% loss, and an auto has about 20% power train loss.

40% does sound very high even with your big tires.

[Drivermod]

I drag raced for years and spent lots of time around chassis dyno's as well. As an example there is a thread on Pirate where one of the Ultra 4 guys posted up his flywheel numbers and at the tires. Both verified on a dyno. Difference for him was 37%. Top of the last page of this build thread.

http://www.pirate4x4.com/forum/gener...a4-car-23.html


The engine in my buggy is a 406 with Brodix heads, Holley Stealth Ram injection and a fairly large flat tappet cam. It better have more than 325 hp or something is seriously wrong. You'ed be surprised how much power all this heavy weight drivetrain sucks up. Wanna race?

[timido]

I am sure there is a lot more drive line HP loss through a transfer case and a Dana 60. What tires was it dynoed on?

[KillerKoatings]

Ian have you decided when you are taking it out again. We are coming home from the lake tomorrow so I should be around this weekend

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[Drivermod]

If it dries up enough I'll be taking it to DTOR Saturday. If it's still a slop fest I may go to Big Rock on Sunday. Sorry, wish I could be more concrete. I'll let you know as soon as I'm sure.

[timido]

I might be next weekend at the earliest.

[Drivermod]

Originally Posted by timido

I might be next weekend at the earliest.

How about Harlan the last weekend of the month?

[timido]

Probably some local stuff and then Slade for the spring Fire run.

[KillerKoatings]

Can't wait to get a ride this year

[93 Krawler]

Sweet!!

[Drivermod]

Thanks guys.

Kenny, any time but I will need to get a ride in your new toy in return.

[timido]

Looks great it smiles when the lights are on

[Drivermod]

Dynoed it yesterday at Cincy Speed. Around 100 more hp to the tires and it was still climbing when I hit the limiter at 6000 rpm. I may raise it a bit Happy with the turnout and the tune is very conservative so I can run on any old pump gas. Gonna do some local riding this Friday.

https://www.facebook.com/ian.mullane...type=2&theater

We also dynoed Todds buggy and found some issues that would have been hard to nail down on the trail. Much better power curve now.

[fordman00]

Looks sweet!