Dirtbox Venom mini-buggy, 40+ horsepower!

[machinist@large]

Coz when you take it apart it doesn't matter. When you put it back together, especially after painting, you pay more attention & have to think about it...



I hope you're joking coz he's as local to Michigan as I am

Are you volunteering?

 

[landuse]

Even better, Landuse gets to settle the estate; seeing how he's so local to the mid Michigan area. What do you think?

I may be mid something, but it ain't Michigan....

I hope you're joking coz he's as local to Michigan as I am

LOL. If you pay for our flight tickets from Australia and South Africa I am sure we wouldn't have a problem settling any disputes that may arise.

 

[mysteryboy28]

waiting for fenders to dry. meanwhile some pics for ya.

check out my home-made castle nuts (not so much castle-like, being only one notch ground into them).

 

[exenos]

You should give that muffler a couple coats of high heat paint, not the rattle can stuff but the good stuff that can take over 1400F. It just looks so out of place.

 

[mysteryboy28]

my brother stopped by and took this pic with the fenders in mock-up positions (they aren't welded on yet, just sitting on the tires).

 

[greaser]

Nice he is going to love it.

 

[fowler]

Looks good

 

[mikeprosauceka]

buggies on route here ill be posting a video soon

 

[mysteryboy28]

sad to let it go, but it had to happen. lol. next will be greaser's buggy! watch for a new thread...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3XIWVPOXGfY

 

[souperman000]

That looks really nice, it came out well.

Just a thought - have you ever considered making it higher off the ground with a shorter wheelbase?

 

[OzFab]

That looks almost professional...

Joking, it looks awesome, great job.

Just to clarify, have you ever done anything like this for a living?

 

[mysteryboy28]

Just a thought - have you ever considered making it higher off the ground with a shorter wheelbase?

higher would mean bigger shocks = more expensive (currently using shocks that are about 16" eye to eye). it's got about 12" of ground clearance, which i think is pretty cool.

shorter wheelbase would mean moving the front tires back, which would mean a whole different steering design (rack n pinion moved up, tie rods connected to pivoting shafts that extend down to the spindles - blah). not to mention i would have to either use smaller wheels, or extend the a-arms out farther so they don't hit the side of the buggy. check out some of the smaller hammerhead buggies that have the shorter wheelbase - the steering design is more complex, and the wheels are smaller.

 

[mysteryboy28]

Just to clarify, have you ever done anything like this for a living?

i'm trying to right now! lol. place your orders here.

 

[OzFab]

Just to clarify, have you ever done anything like this for a living?

i'm trying to right now! lol. place your orders here.

Well, I know that but, where did you get your experience/knowledge?

Shipping would kill me

 

[mysteryboy28]

That looks almost professional...

i didn't like how the sheet metal warps when you weld it, so i'll be using plastic panels for anyone who orders side/front panels, and sheet metal for the rear panel only (offer some protection from the motor/heat).

 

[mysteryboy28]

Well, I know that but, where did you get your experience/knowledge?

Shipping would kill me

just lots of trial and error, and LOTS of research! countless hours of research...

 

[fowler]

or ally ones

if u make them bolt on they wont warp

ha fabroman u could get an edge one and go much faster

 

[OzFab]

i didn't like how the sheet metal warps when you weld it, so i'll be using plastic panels for anyone who orders side/front panels, and sheet metal for the rear panel only (offer some protection from the motor/heat).

I can tell you from experience, there's no way to prevent that, it's why I hate welding hoods & roofs on cars...

What about attaching them with sikaflex (do you guys have that?) or using screws or rivets?

Plastic panels is a good idea, or have you thought about expanded mesh?

 

[mikeprosauceka]

well took it for its first real test drive with the grass bein a lil wet no problems getting it sideways it handles pretty good breaks could use a little bit more stopping power but it works forward to backward is easy and quick have had it not make it all the way into gear a couple times did not like the sound it made when that happened just needs a slight adjustment and the noise you talked about when slowing down is very evident thought i broke something the first time i heard it but its just the cvt so no big deal just a bit anoyying no metal bangin noises surprisingly the only noises from this thing are from the engine for the most part have had a bit of trouble with ground clearence and length while going over small hills it bottoms out a bit but havnt got stuck yet aside while trying to go thru the woods in tight spaces lots a forward and backwards to get thru but overall great build quality structurley sound and pretty quick the real test will be if any thing breaks in the first month with me driving probably but thanks dave you do good work it was worth the wait i suggest this buggy over any store bought one

 

[mysteryboy28]

i think that was all one sentence. lol.

thanks mike! i'm glad you like it. it's a big buggy, so better suited for dunes and wide open fields and hills, more so than tight trails and turns and ditches.

make some good videos and post em here!

as for the reverse - i don't think the sleds were meant to be slapped into reverse all the time, so the gearboxes are a little tempermental. sometimes having the engine at just the right RPMs helps it shift easier.

i think it'd be cool if you could get someone to airbrush some blue flames on the sides.