Non-Touring Buggy project

[Camaro Zach]

Well some of you might be wondering why i havent updated on the camaro buildup its because im getting this little project out of the way first.

My best friend Jake is founding it and im building/teaching him how to fabricate. This was my first time doing alot of tube work too, i really like it.
Specs: 350/350, 10bolt rear (till it breaks), custom fuel cell, rear mounted radiator, 4 link (i have one designed but am looking for input if anyone would like to help), s10 spindles/brakes/balljoints with custom control arms, Pinto R&P, 1 5/8" .120wall DOM for the chassis and 1 1/2 .250 DOM for the 4 link and control arms.

We have roughly 30 hours into the buildup so far let me know what you think

[Camaro Zach]

Nobody on here into the offroad stuff i guess?

[kamaroman68]

Actually I find it to be pretty cool. I wanted to do something like this for my 1 year old son in a year or so. Much smaller scale of course. My idea was to take a powerwheels jeep remove the wheels and replace with air filled rubber tires and then create a tube frame using 1" metal electrical conduit. It would have a horizontal lawn mower engine in it with a centrifigal clutch and the gearing would be changeable according to the level of skill attained. Chris

[Travis B]

i'm not really into off road stuff but like pretty much everything that has been fabbed from scratch.....looks good so far. Also I don't know that I would call it a little project...lol looks like a ton of work fitting all those tubes

[6'9"Witha69]

looks like a ton of work fitting all those tubes

Reminds me of an erector set!

[Ralph LoGrasso]

Looks good, Zach; keep us posted on the progress.

[Camaro Zach]

thanks guys. got the bushings today so ill start on the control arms tomorrow.

The notching wasnt as bad as i expected but i have probably 5 or 6 hours in it lol...

and here is the website my friend made for it www.buggyproject.com

[Bill Howell]

Guess you will have enough hp to pull it? lol
Looks good Zach, I want to see more pictures when you finish it.

[formula]

freekin awesome. My best buddy and I want to build a buggy too, but we aren't gonna have time for a good while.

What's you guys' budget for yours?

[Camaro Zach]

Not really a budget, just as cheap as we can (within reason) mainly just tracking down the best deals on parts. And not sacrificing performance, reliability, or looks

[TurboLark]

Here is my little offroad car.

[Camaro Zach]

Looks good Turbo, did you build it or did someone build it for you?

Started on the Lower Balljoint plates tonight. cutting them out of 1/2" plate that will get beefed up further later on.

[TurboLark]

Looks good Turbo, did you build it or did someone build it for you?

Started on the Lower Balljoint plates tonight. cutting them out of 1/2" plate that will get beefed up further later on.

I bought the frame done. I dont have the time to do full fabrication anymore.

[CAMAROBOY69]

DANG a buggy with a 350 in it would be insane! I see a lot of them when I go to Silver lake in Michigan but they only have 4 cylinder VW engines. I cant even imagine a 350 in there.

[TurboLark]

DANG a buggy with a 350 in it would be insane! I see a lot of them when I go to Silver lake in Michigan but they only have 4 cylinder VW engines. I cant even imagine a 350 in there.

Most of the buggies built nowadays use Ls1, LS2 and some LS7 motors. Unfortunately using these engines in a rear engine config requires the purchase of a $7000+ transaxle with some using a 12.5K 5speed sequential.

[Camaro Zach]

Yea there are alot of rear engine LS1 buggies, cant believe the coin they drop in the transaxles

Got started with one of the UCA's today and built a ghetto wood jig to hold it for now. Going to tig weld these so they had to fit up perfect.

[Camaro Zach]

notched them and tacked them this afternoon

[Camaro Zach]

got the lowers done this afternoon, its starting to look like something now. Has 7* of caster built into the arms and the uppers will be adjustable with cam washer/bolts.

Let me know what you think

[Camaro Zach]

all i got done today before i ran out of argon.. oh well

btw thats mig tack on the left

[Bill Howell]

Zach, if you can figure out how to mount a first gen camaro on this frame, you may have just invented the ultimate protouring/offroad vehicle....lol
As always, looking good. Now, get back on the camaro, you are never going to finish it if you don't hurry up and start on it again....lol