Time for a Four Seater - Buggy Build

[Amy]

WOOHOO the buggy is almost done. We can have a life now!!! YAY!!!

 

[X1994J]

WOOHOO the buggy is almost done. We can have a life now!!! YAY!!!

Is it ever REALLY done?

 

[Amy]

Is it ever REALLY done?

Nope, never. Ruiner.

 

[Herzog]

Crappy photo but I have the color after several failed attempts.
Got this using a copper orange base and then using a red translucent final coat.

Someday I'll get a cleaner hood but this will do for now.

Also took it for another spin. Feels really good!

 

[Kiel]

It looks like your old rig on steroids!

 

[jpest]

Nice! Just in time for Moab next weekend.

 

[jpest]

Oh!! and you forgot the 5' stinger.

 

[xtremexj]

Looks awsome Shane!! Hopefully I'll be at this stage same time next year. Nice to see someone reaching the end of their journey.:greg:

 

[sixstringsteve]

the journey has just begun

 

[ricsrx]

that is some great work, cant wait to see it on the trail

 

[Herzog]

Limit straps, cleaned up the wiring underneath, other small details and started on the body panels.
I'm going to post up a buggy panel tips & tricks thread soon.

 

[chadschoon]

So sweet!!! What thickness of poly carbonate did you end up using?

 

[Herzog]

So sweet!!! What thickness of poly carbonate did you end up using?

I tried to get .090 but I was in a hurry and they only had 1/8" in stock. So I ended up with that. The next size down that they had was .030. I could have waited and ordered some but I'm impatient.

 

[Bart]

Loving the looks and finish work. Nice job Shane.

 

[Greg]

The panels look slick Shane, nice work!

I will be watching for your buggy panel tech thread, it couldn't come at a better time!

 

[broncomitch]

Very nice.

 

[xtremexj]

Looks great!! Almost time for a really good shake down run.

 

[Stacey]

This last summer I traded off my Jeepster crawler, thinking I was ready to head in the direction of exploring the back country vs extreame rock crawling. After reading thru this build over the last few days, dang you, i am really wanting to build a buggy. There is no way I could build my own frame so over the winter I will be locating a suitable 4 seater frame and amasing parts?

You have done an exceptional job and I'll be copying a lot of what you have done.

 

[Herzog]

Thanks for the comments everybody. I appreciate it!

Well, got the side panels cut and didn't feel like painting (too cold anyways) so I decided to take her for a spin.

Took it out for it's first official shake down today just out on some hills North of Price. I was only able to handle the cold for about an hour but I did get to try some things out and get get it bound up in a few areas to see if there would be any issues. 1st thing I noticed is that it climbs like a SOB! 114" is pretty sweet so far!

Only a couple immediate issues to solve. Tires still rub on the rear coil-overs at full stuff, but just barely. I've already added a 1.5" spacer back there to get the track width where I want it so now it looks like I will have to move the lower coil-over mounts slightly inward. Not too big of a deal.

The other issue that I noticed were the limit straps on the front were too short. I need to move the mounts so I can get a little more droop out of it.

One other thing, although not really an issue or super important, but I might think about raising it up an inch or two. I love the low slung feel and look and it's sturdy as hell... but I worry about the belly on those Moab ledges.

Crappy phone pics. Sorry. I'll be doing better photos when it gets paint. The perspective looks weird in these pics but they are all I got this weekend.

 

[chadschoon]

Nice. I'm jealous doesn't sound like you have many things to tinker with