My RAT beach buggy

Thought I might post up the link to the construction of my FibreFab RAT beach buggy since I'm getting a fair bit done to it now. Its getting a few mods done as well.

http://users.hunterlink.net.au/~ddat/

Here I was expecting to see an old 50's buggy with paint peeling off surface rust on everything , dumped on its guts and with a big motor...........



Oh you mean that kind of Rat.......😀
Cool buggy, I agree the square lights look crap....I also like what you've done with the rear........:thumb

yep
first thing i noticed where those square lights...

I am so very gald u got rid of em..

Very nice

PWOOAAARRRR!!!!

the ride on lawn mower looks madd in the background in the 6th picture!!!:P😀

dom

cool, you dont have some spare front wheels like them laying around...

Yeah, as soon as i got it i knew i was getting rid of the lights. Other than that I don't see it being too much different to a manx or similar.
The mad lawn mower is dads pride and joy, ever since I mowed down his newly planted shrub, he doesnt let me on it 🙁

wrecker67: Nah sorry, I only got the 4 wheels, I plan on putting some big wheels using a more common stud pattern. This will be after I get rear discs, unfortantely it'll probably be in 2005.

ratbug, the rear lights you have used; where can i get them 😀 Im looking to customise the rear of my bug and they look perfect. Cheers

Clint:bounce

The rear lights are from HELLA and NARVA, you can have a look at the range at http://www.hella.com.au and http://www.narva.com.au. To buy them, the best place is INGRAM auto electrics in Broadmeadow.

thanks for that ratbug

I got the body on the chassis now and its starting to look like a car again. Its currently away getting the rear roll bar done and the dashboard getting covered in vinyl.

So, I'm working on the instrument cluster. I've put a signal generator through the electronic speedo and got a frequency vs speed relationship. With the circumference of my tyres it works out that i'll need about 5 pulses per wheel revolution to get the speedo right. This should be corrent, since the lancer the speedo came out has a diff ratio of about 4.5:1, the other 0.5 will be the difference in wheel size on the buggy compared to the lancer.
I've been thinking of how to get 5 pulses/rev.. Get a hall effect or photo interrupter between a disc with 5 notches in it? Or one magnet and multiply the 1 pulse/rev to 5 using a multiplier circuit.. Dunno yet..

Anyway, enough techno talk, I got the main LEDs behind the face and it seems to light up well, i think the 90degree beamwidth of the leds helps out a bit.

So heres the dash normally




And heres part of the dash lit up..




and here's what lights it up

love your work looking ultra smooth at the moment :thumb cant wait for more progress pics :bounce

Sweet dude- u have some real talent :thumb

Really love that rear-
you have greatly improved the front but probably needs paint to get better idea of it.
Keep up the good work. Love the idea of customised Buggies.!

Thanks for the feedback. I have now added a third page with all the latest updates... The car is just about ready for rego! Just need to fix a few minor problems.

Click here for the third page

great work mate, cant wait to see it on the road, thats going to look awesome! i cant believe wat u hav done with ur dash, thats incredible.
our club needs a nice buggy like that, r u interested in joining? let me know...
sam
dnvk@hotmail.com

[Edited on 13-3-2004 by VWFOOL]

that no rat!

Thats awesome, dude! Love your work, it's something truly unique. That whole dash looks stunning too😎
What colour are you going to paint it when it's done?

Havnt quite decided on a colour yet, up for suggestions!

Its been a big day today, took it down to get the engineers certiface, blue slip and finally rego'd. My biggest hassle was proving to the rta i was the owner of the verhicle.

After reading the tare weights of other long wheelbase buggies and conisdering mine is weighed down with a solid strengthened chassis and lots of luxury extras i was surprised mine weighed in at 720 with a full tank.

Just some pics of its first big trip out to the coast.

Went to take it onto stockton beach today but the beach buggy had other ideas. First up the carbies flooded the engine when it was going over the rough lavis lane. After it got over that sickness it went sinking into the sandy access track and got bogged several times. After getting the back half of the chassis stuck in the sand we got towed out by a 4wd and started heading back home. 100m later a rear tyre deflated and it was riding on the rim. What seemed like an hour later a helpful 4wder got the rim off and pumped it up for us. 100m later it was nearly flat again. This time the buggy guys came to the rescue and I got trailered to the nearest servo. With antother dose of air, it was all good.

I'd just like to say thanks to the helpful 4wd'rs and fellow buggy owners who helped me out when I was in trouble. Maybe next Easter when I get the buggy beachworthy I can join you guys.

Ohh forgot to mention, I think my problem was that its way too low at the back.

he he he. did i predict right or what. anyway you had fun trying, hey and saw and now know what you have to do.

and dont forget the access for the oil!!!

and dont forget the access for the oil!!!

Allready sorted that one out. The reverse lights can come out. If i take the right one out it gives me good access to the filler.

Top stuff!
I like the shots at King Edward Park - spent plenty of time there watching VWs kicking ass over the years... !

hey dude i think u passed me the other week along the foreshore, probably the same day u took those pics. great buggy, hope to see u at the next club cruise...

sam
DNVK

Thought I'd update this thread and let you all know the buggy has been off the road for the last month getting an IRS rear end and now halfway through putting the EJ20 motor in it. I've started putting up a few pics on my site under the Conversion Page

Thought I'd update this thread and let you all know the buggy has been off the road for the last month getting an IRS rear end and now halfway through putting the EJ20 motor in it. I've started putting up a few pics on my site under the Conversion Page

I'll get some more pics up there in the next week or so.