Popular Post Pushiepirate Posted April 2, 2020 Popular Post Share Posted April 2, 2020 Been a VW fan for yonks, had both a 1960 and 64 Split window Kombies a 64 Beetle and a 74 ex Australian Army 9 seater Kombi, wish I'd kept one of those Kombies! Time has flown, ten years ago nearly I saved this old J & S buggy from the clutches of a brutish Banyan tree that was going to gobble up the old thing. The pan was gone to rust heaven, managed to save a few parts from the motor, what’s left of front end and transaxle are still at the whims of nature in the bush. As found….. As she sat under a tarp for nearly ten years…….. Been thinking and talking about doing this for an age, finally got the time, no work, so getting into it, she is going to be a worm burner, down with the snakes, as in low! Will be two person pedal powered with a central VW steering wheel so both occupants can share the driving. Will have brakes but only on the rear wheels of which there will be four, two driving, two coasting. Been hoarding (collecting) bits for her for a while, some old school head lights found in a junk shop, front bar scored at the local dump. Made up the windscreen from an old windy frame, can fold down safari style. Probably obvious, she's a bit heavy so have made her so the buggy body can come off and she can go as just the frame. Really want to keep the VW flavour, steering wheel, badges, chasing up some ratty hub caps, more on this later….. 10 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post Pushiepirate Posted April 26, 2020 Author Popular Post Share Posted April 26, 2020 So after a couple of big days finally got the rear end sorted, originally had the drive wheels out beyond the body. Revised this they now sit nicely in the space where the VW engine would have sat. So in a sense have the motor where it should be! Next sort out the chain drive, plan is to have two idlers up to the pedals. The outer wheels take some of the load, hoping most of the weight comes onto the middle drive wheels, all four have suspension, outers leaf springs, inners coils. Scored the outers off a children’s pram, the inners off an old school suspension mountain bike. After the drive system is sorted front end and steering, long way to go but getting there! Any tips criticism gratefully accepted.................? 9 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post Pushiepirate Posted June 13, 2020 Author Popular Post Share Posted June 13, 2020 Whooohooo we have some progress, control as in steering in, also revisited the front end. Was going to have a rigid front end but thought what the heck, had the bits so went with suspension, see how she goes, if work out couple of bolts and she goes back to a solid set up! So you can steer her how about propulsion, mocked up the pedal position, the way things are looking they will sit lower. As I said up the top want to keep the VW theme rolling, so first VW bit a Ratty 60’s steering wheel. I live very isolated so you often fix and build things with what you have. Also as with most things I’m on a budget so best thing about this build so far what I’ve spent. Only items I’ve laid out cash on, some welding rods, the tyres, some spring washers and the steering wheel, all the rest scrounged from local tip, gotta be happy with that! 13 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post Pushiepirate Posted June 21, 2020 Author Popular Post Share Posted June 21, 2020 After a couple of big sessions we have a drive train and it works! As I have stated have been concerned about the weight with the buggy body. Story within itself scored a bonnet locally in great condition, so now we have a Volksrod! Also had concerns about the gearing and brakes, no worries with the gearing plenty low enough to get going and cruise, if anything will probably have to gear her up a couple of cogs. Brakes are better than expected as well, all four rear wheels have brakes which helps, operated from a lever mounted outside the seats, emergency braking Fred Flinstone style! Plan to run her without the front bar maybe rig up a small nurf bar, pretty happy with where she’s at, looks like a Volksrod?! 12 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pushiepirate Posted July 17, 2020 Author Share Posted July 17, 2020 Bit more done, apart from tuning the drive train added a few more bits top get the Volksrod look happening. Lowered the bonnet, the head lights that turn with the front wheels, wheel covers with VW hub caps. Added a smaller nerf bar and used the same fold down windscreens from the buggy, see above. Finally would be most grateful for some assistance from those with a little steering geometry knowledge? I am trying to get Akermann’s sorted with the steering, as in getting the inside wheel to turn a tighter circle than the outside wheel at full lock. Have mountied the outer tie rod in a few positions and can’t for the life of me get this sorted, see below where the outer tie rod is mounted, thank you. 5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
1vaknd Posted July 17, 2020 Share Posted July 17, 2020 length of steering arm will only adjust the speed the wheels turn vs input (which also changes force applied to turn the wheels, longer =easier, shorter = harder) ackerman is based on drawing imaginary parallel lines down the sides of you "vehicle" intersecting the lower pivot of your king pin angle. moving the steering mount location, inboard or outboard of this will change your ackerman being front rack you want to move the mounts outwards so that the steering mount intersects the lower king ping piviot and aims towards the centre of the rear axle for optimal turning 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pushiepirate Posted July 17, 2020 Author Share Posted July 17, 2020 1vaknd that's what I was after, need to move where the tie rod connects outside the line of where the wheel pivots, great diagram, thanks for your help. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pushiepirate Posted October 25, 2020 Author Share Posted October 25, 2020 Bit more progress, made up some panels for the front and a rear end tray made fairly light to so not so much usable, more for looks, paint next. Ploddin along with this build, replaced the ply side panels for the body with coroplast plastic sheets, easy to work with and more importantly light weight. Suicide doors of course. 9 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pushiepirate Posted January 6, 2022 Author Share Posted January 6, 2022 After a long stint, over a year, of not being motivated she is back, went for red oxide primer, may get a top coat may get a patina look, will leave her as is for now and see what grows on me? Decided the tray was too high so chopped the top rung off also lowered the door to the same height, end result much lower look. Have plans for some form of cover for the tray and cockpit area, more soon….. Hopefully?………… 9 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pushiepirate Posted January 18, 2022 Author Share Posted January 18, 2022 Brief clip of her rolling under pedal power. 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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