Dirtbox Venom mini-buggy, 40+ horsepower!

[mysteryboy28]

pivots are 1" tubing with 3/4" inner diameter (1/8" wall) riding right on 3/4" bolts. the bolts will get a nice coat of grease before all is said and done.

as for the weight? yeah they're a bit beefy with some weight to them. shouldn't be an issue for the 60-ish horsepower motor though.

 

[bighead]

I love your fab work. Nice job friend.

 

[mysteryboy28]

Standing on it's own rear legs! Dang, these quad shocks are FIRM... They'll hold the weight of the motor and passenger(s) just fine.

 

[mikeprosauceka]

Looks good

 

[greaser]

Nice its really starting to look like a buggy once you get the front end on it will look really good.

 

[mysteryboy28]

got the new hubs mounted on the tires today, and picked up the 50 tooth sprocket, 10 tooth sprocket, and 5 weld-a-hubs needed for the drive/jackshaft assembly. got a great deal on them from a local supplier, cheaper than i could find them on the internet!

had to take a side-track today and knock out the front suspension/steering rebuild project that a guy paid me for 2 weeks ago. will have that wrapped up wednesday and then commence on the buggy again. he had a friend try to beef up the suspension/steering, with no attention to steering geometry, and it was all outta whack! said when he'd ride around for a bit everything would come out of adjustment. also said the tires would lean at weird agles when he turned and went over bumps. it was bad. when he brought it here one of the wheels was just hanging, flopping around. lol. he says he's going to give me his 110v mig welder for free that needs the wire feed fixed. sweet! hopefully i can get that working, and then i can weld with gas!

 

[mikeprosauceka]

U gona have mine ready by sat right

 

[mysteryboy28]

U gona have mine ready by sat right

i better, or you're going on my honeymoon with me!

 

[mikeprosauceka]

Cool where we goin lol

 

[mysteryboy28]

grandville, mi, nice jacuzzi suite. then heading to grand haven for some tourist fun. out for dinner and drinks, maybe a show, lots of relaxation and fun! and most importantly - no kids! bring a swim suit!

 

[mikeprosauceka]

Great i cant wait lol

 

[mikeprosauceka]

Didnt do anything lastnight?

 

[mysteryboy28]

pulled an all-nighter (went to bed around 10am this morning, got up about 6pm) and worked on the suspension/steering for the other buggy. it's tough when working with a pre-existing setup that doesn't really work for what you're trying to do to it. lots of fabricating! lots of demolition too to the work that the previous guy messed up. lol. there literally wasn't any positive steering/suspension geometry to it, just things slapped together at weird angles. also this buggy's front end is tiny - not much room to work with. so the new a-arms and mounting tabs have to be creative and efficient.

back to work so i can wrap that up and put a dent in the Venom before 6am!

 

[mysteryboy28]

wrapped up the suspension/steering on the other buggy, and had decided to go with top a-arm shock mounts due to lack of clearance for the shocks to reach the bottom a-arm. this unfortunately transfers the force of bumps throughout the spindle to the top a-arm, which isn't ideal. the guy was concerned about that and requested that i somehow get the shock mounted to the bottom a-arm. but he said there was no hurry, to enjoy my wedding and honeymoon, and finish up the Venom first.

 

[devilstear]

its looking good well done.

 

[exenos]

There shouldn't be a problem with the shock mounts on top. The force has to go through the spindle anyways. It's just a matter of do you want to be pulling on the heim joint or pushing on it. Right now your pushing on it.

 

[mysteryboy28]

And we're back to work! After a nice lil honeymoon with the new wife, it's time to finish up this Venom. Plan to wrap it up by the weekend, and then get started on the next one!

Got a few things done today. Polished up the steel for the A-arms, made brackets for the A-arms to mount to, and bored out the bolt holes on the spindles to accomodate 1/2" bolts. Went to Harbor Freight and stocked up on supplies, went to Home Depot and bought 27 cans of paint (yes, 27!). Also bought a new 4' shop light to mount under the garage door opener - which was badly needed for these crazy late hours I work.

Tomorrow we will have front suspension and steering! I see a roller in the near future...

 

[n1kogr]

i love this build keep it up man

 

[mysteryboy28]

some progress. had to backtrack a lil bit because the a-arm mounting brackets were about 1" too short. made new ones and got started on the a-arms.

 

[n1kogr]

You are going to place a bar above the a arm brackets correct?