Thanks to some good friends and long term dak dak addictions, I now have a new project car to try and get together for some future vw events. Pics first, some details later
Edit: Project Baja is back, Hillbilly Racer RIP, will Donate cage and engine, which was always the plan
Dasdubber ·
Nice one Matt - this bug is doing the rounds hey!
I guess its too early to ask about power plant options? Anyway, look forward to seeing what you cook up!
Al
LIFE IN THE LOW LANE ·
2332 with an engle cam and IDA's me thinks LOL
Man that car has done the rounds LOL
matberry ·
Yeah guys, she is gonna go straight now!
Here's something to take it on.
555bug ·
on a tangent Matt, I was in Tin Can Bay today for work. It's a nice part of the world you live in up there 🙂 good luck with the project.
Stephen
matberry ·
Hey Stephen, should drop in next time.
So glad you finally saw the light....... How is Charlotte going, body all bolted up...????
Pumba ·
What wheels are you planning,if you are not using the ones on it let me know if you want to get rid of them cheers shane.
matberry ·
Need to keep wheels at present.
Hot to keep options open.
Have a set of dragway prolite , 6 x 15 / 8 x 15 should work for now,
and the steelies for slicks???
Just tidying her up and maybe narrowed beam & dropped spindles, loose some weight, very low buck, as I have none !
matberry ·
Hopefully looking like this soooon.
westi ·
i think i have a fibreglass front end for that model.
nice start.
what is the list of things to do looking like(plains for it ).
LIFE IN THE LOW LANE ·
Good to see the ol girl getting revived into something apart from a cubby house/play toy for Pete's kids LOL
matberry ·
Cheers guys, she would have made a nice rust free cubby, maybe we keep the cubby theme, the first cubby to top 100mph in the 1/4?
Westi.. my list of bits to get her up to stage 1
Narrowed b/j beam [or I can do this myself but prefer not to cut this one up unless I have to]
4 or 5 point harness
I'd love a free[read very cheap] gb shifter but will settle for std with a quick shift kit
short axles and tubes
line lock
spool/super diff
close ratio 3rd
Your one piece sounds VERY interesting, could always make moulds....
not sure about rear track yet, may need some widened std looking rear guards
some plain ally door trims wouldn't go astray !
LIFE IN THE LOW LANE ·
go and rob some stuff off crazy Col. His car is sitting doing nothing atm.
matberry ·
No mate, he's putting engine together soon and tranny bits are getting prepped. No good rodding oops robbing the Col Looker.
Dasdubber ·
Matt, have shot you a PM re. 3rd gear.
Al
matberry ·
Dasdubber wrote:Matt, have shot you a PM re. 3rd gear.
Al
PM replied Al
westi ·
i am doing a mould at the moment.
axle tubes i might have some,not sure ,i will have a look for you.
as for plain ali door trims i can't help you out there mine only come in pink,madjenta and beaded.lol
good to see you got yourself a project to keep you busy.
make sure you keep us posted.
Dak-A-Tak ·
Matt ! I think that red is pink ,with a little metho .😂
Make a line lock out of trailer brake bits . Mick Motors sells drop spindles too .
Big Shed buddy !
matberry ·
Got the spindles from Rod ages ago. Just got to exchange k/l drum spindles I had for Groovers brazilian beetle, but never fitted. Rod goes to states Wed, so he'll have stock when he returns of the b/j disc dropped spindles. Mmmm trailer master cyl... the override kind I gather. Thanks for the heads up.
Sheds already full....workshop,cars, jobs, leftover building materials....got to organise better one day.
I built the shed big enough to build another catamaran one day, finished the doors a few weeks ago, got too many other peoples stuff here and to keep the night air out. She is 18 x 12 meters😀
LIFE IN THE LOW LANE ·
So when does the second level go up inside the shed ofr the storage of more cars Matt?? It's high enough LOL
TheMiniMan ·
Matt i have lots of P76 Alloy V8 engines here if yu`re keen,,, i have one with a T4 turbo all set up on it too,,, HHmmmm straight line speed with a blown 4400 Ally V8 in a bug wouldn`t be too slow hey? :-)
LIFE IN THE LOW LANE ·
Had a run once with a guy who had a P76 V8 in his kombi. My bus with a warmly worked 2L pulled away from him mid way through 3rd gear on the move from about 80k's and kept going. needless to say that I would rather spend the money on a Type 4 2.0 than go to the trouble of putting one of them in the back...
matberry ·
Onya Brenndan . what can I say Matt. As far as water pumpers go I love P76 engines, put one in an old Landy long ago, but air cooled for me, But thanks for the offer mate, maybe we could midmount a V 16 in your new dc?
OZ Towdster ·
So Matt are we going to see this new toy at Warwick
matberry ·
Dynomania stage I,
TheMiniMan ·
hee hee,,, to Life in the low lane,,, if you can imagin the possibility for a second that the guy who ran you with his P76 V8 kombi most probably backed off, seriously ,,, if you havn`t been in a V8 kombi , in 3rd gear with your foot to the floor before, then you won`t have a clue what i`m talking about... It would take a pretty dam serious 2litre air cooled engine to come anywhere near out running a P76 powered kombi... it`s not hard to work out the physics of power to weight ratio & simple Torque figures compared... & they`re no hassle to fit, my first one went into my ol 62 splitty single cab ute & we were driving up the road within 2hrs & that was while we (only 2 of us) were very hung over one sunday morning, Any of the old school Brisbane V-dubbers around here might remember my old girl, if not then no biggy,,, Just showing my age i spose :-) Old Tom Poots remembers it well :-) Both him & Fatty McDonald kept hitting me up to borrow it for fishing trips to Moreton & Frazer Is
Matty B,,, i just wish you had come over to the dark side & shoved an ally V8 into your yella DC back in the good ol days, I should have offered you a spin in my ol girl back then hey? What sort of friend am i not letting you go for a fang, dam i`m a nastey man :-)
LIFE IN THE LOW LANE ·
Yep was a pretty serious 2L air cooled engine. And he sure as hell didn't back off as I wound my bus out to just on 160k's and I pulled maybe 2-3 lengths on him. A P76 V8 doesn't make a huge amount of power and aint no big revving machine. with mods yes you can make them go but in thier stock form they are really nothing to set your hair on fire.
But anyway your love for putting an engine in a VW from another car doesn't outweigh the love I have for lining up such cars with the original air cooled engine modified and showing a clean pair of heels....
So Matt hows the progress of the ol girl going anyway?? Look forward to catching up at Dyno Day. Line up of cars looks like it will be a great day!!
dangerous ·
Something not quite right in your story Brennden.
Do the sums dude!
Either:
1/ other dude was not racing
2/ 4.4lt V8 had something wrong.
Back to the Volksies.....
TheMiniMan ·
Thanks Dave, The Star trek song comes to mind here--> "you cannot change the laws of physics"-- theres kling-ons on the starboard bow, starboard bow.... yeah well
Life in the low lane,,, i have no "love" for putting "other" motors into Vdubs,,, my original splitty was only purchased to carry my race minis to the race tracks & also to pick up 2nd hand minis that were were buying from all over the place & also to take loads of rubbish to the dump,,, but Big hills like toowoomba range & Cunninghams gap etc were a bit of a struggle for the old 1600 dak dak donk, & seeing as we were the Queensland BMC/Leyland spare parts distributor we had plenty of P76 donks lying around doing not alot,,, so "This goes with that at Susan" so to speak & hence i had very much easier & obviously quite a lot quicker trips to just about anywhere & everywhere including spending most of my time off at Moreton Is with the thing :-)
So , in an attempt to justify my existance & my love for the "Combination" of the alloy V8 in a Kombi ute, it was simply a matter of necessity more than anything else
If it makes you feel any better, i did carry my Rally Mini all the way to Tasmania & back for the Targa Tasmania rally ,,, in another old splity ute that only had a 1600 dak dak donk in it... so i can`t be all that bad now can i ???
here we are just outside of Yass on the way to targa Tassie-->
& yeah we picked up our targa trophy plate, won 2nd in "up to 2litre" full modified class & 49th outright , first time there with no pace notes :-)
We couldn`t have done it without our trusty old dak dak mule tho, can you guys even imagine 1700kgs on the back of a 65 model splity ute all the way to tassie & back????
ok,,, back to the volksies then, sorry for the thread rape
How many ponys (at a guess) in your "stage one" then Matty?
LIFE IN THE LOW LANE ·
That pic of that single cab ute with the falcon tail lights. did you do that?? Cause one of my cousins bought a split ute with those lights in it and he set it up for the beach with bigger wheels etc etc.He painted it (think it was redone with blue on bottom and white roof). His only problem was his lead foot and kept breaking gearboxes all the time. Swing axle reduction boxes running 10R's and giving them curry on the beach and trying to climb some big hills that were stopping a lot of 4WD a long way back ended a few boxes lifespan pretty quickly.
matberry ·
Well Matt R, you are a very very bad man for not having taken me for a burn in your much acclaimed power machine. I know the old P38 engine is a weapon, but as Matt R and Brenndan and even Dave all know, I do like my air cooled torque machines. The two Landy's I had dealings both with 4.4 l alloy v8, were grunty trucks, and quite heavy, and I used to relativily easily beat these in my then air cooled machine. First was my 2074 type 1 baja and other was my bus with 914 1970cc efi, hot type IV.
In saying that, same engine in a bus would be a hard act to beat, especially for towing, but put some real money down, if you know what I mean. Warwick 07 there was a P76 powered baja, what #'s did this run??
Certainly there is more wieght penalty with water cooling than a lot of people really account for!!
Any way, I'm looking forward to dynoday, been in Brissy all weekend with a family wedding... good w/e but NO volksie progress....bummer.
We ran this engine at Warwick 07 in Col's fruitloop coloured bug, with an 8.40 at 81 mph best with full bodied, stripped beetle. Happy as it's still very streetable with 9.7 comp. and plenty more development to do.Power works out to be about 137 calculated from 1/8 mile times. But looking forward to Dynoday.
matberry ·
Well some progress, but a long way to go to get everything together for dynoday, but we'll get there, one way or another. Had good news with getting the heads flowed before and after the "special" valve job. Seems 10hp + GAIN. Woo Hoo.
A few details inside this time round, like a bit of case clean/polish [sorry Pagey, only inside] some of those flash coatings on pistons and barrels, and ....
Body work and mechanicals are also getting a bit of TLC, not resto quality, but time is short and I've built enough show winners 😂. [for now the budget is super tight]
Anyway guys and gals....enjoy the day
Matt
matberry ·
And more.
Still some chamber finishing among other things to do.
westi ·
i can still see too much metal.
i thought you said it was going to be fast,lol
start cuting.cut cut cut.
come on i want to see some action shots of metal flying.
matberry ·
Can only agree Westi, way too much metal.
I want to keep cutting, but the plan is to have rego on this racer cos out here in the bush, I can attempt some sort of set up on the street. My last drag beetle, I could never get any seat time except at the track, and I'm too impatient for that. Having said that, there's lots to cut cut cut, but I do want to make dynoday in a matter of weeks.
westi ·
have you gone soft.
once it's been rego'd you don't have to get it re-check every year do you.
she'll be right mate
matberry ·
Your right there mate. She'll be apples' where's that grinder?
I better go to the shed to shed some more wieght.
bond ·
nice ones matt.
nick :thumb
westi ·
thats better,go nuts,grab some scales and of you go.
there is no substitute for weight lose,its free power.
i read some were if the car losses 100kg's it's the same as adding 33 hpor there about's.
thats why my car is the jenny craig weight loss winner for 2008.
and i know were i can take more,but not yet.
matberry ·
All go
Quick bit of body work, body primed, just some hail damaged roof to do now, started this tonight.
and still more engine improvements.
The US barrel location machining hadn't recessed the casesavers, so I am removing these and shortening the saver to improve barrel seating. Lower ones in foreground have been done.
matberry ·
And Westi, I havn't finished with the angle grinder, just postponed till front and rear ends come out.
Stanley ·
Mat, your car is crying out for some flames
matberry ·
Stanley, that is an interesting observation.
Flames or stripes, ....... that is the question!!!!!
westi ·
pagey was onto something with the pink stipes i think.😂
Stanley ·
A liitle birdy told me our cars will be similar in base coulour. Mine will have the aussie flash picked out in silver. I'm also a fan of flames Your car could look good like my avatar.
matberry ·
I'm definately thinking along your avatar lines, Stanley.
Our mate thinks there's too many flamed or black cars.... or both!????
Stanley ·
"Our mate thinks there's too many flamed or black cars.... or both!???? "
Coming from someone who can't settle on a single colour for his car....😀
matberry ·
Stanley wrote:Coming from someone who can't settle on a single colour for his car....😀
Just like a big box of Fruitloops.
Pretty much like the owner, hey😂😂
LIFE IN THE LOW LANE ·
Looking good Matt!!
matberry ·
Roof now has hail damage repaired, although here is just early progress shots of file finish.
matberry ·
IDA's have been geting some treatment too.
Bowls enlarged, venturi's finetuned and polished,
and idle stop on one carb moved to oposite side to make tuning easier.
Stanley ·
mmm...yellow must have been VWs primer of choice. That is the same colour as under my paint. Unless Col has had something to do with them both.
Lookin good Mat....now off to sand mine some more
matberry ·
The yellow is actually a cream previous paint job, after the og Birch Green, but you can blame Col anyway!!!!😂😂😂
westi ·
lookin good,keep it coming
type3kid ·
looking good man, keep the pics coming!!
LIFE IN THE LOW LANE ·
Blame Col most of us tend to!!
Stanley ·
mine has birch green as well. Seems to be where the aussie flash was.
matberry ·
Heads are now ready for assembly and body primed [still a few repairs to sort out but at least it's all one colour]
bond ·
looking good matt. i reckon leave it patchy and in primer! looks the ducks.
nick
LIFE IN THE LOW LANE ·
Good work as always Matt!!
Stanley ·
Comin' along Matt....lookin good. Screamin out for some flames
11CAB ·
Show us some more pics of the Baja in the background
matberry ·
11CAB wrote:Show us some more pics of the Baja in the background
I could Graham.....but then I would have to kill you!😂😂
Stanley ·
looks like it's had some cutting
matberry ·
Stanley wrote:looks like it's had some cutting
Sheet metal just slows you down.
Today the fuel system has been fitted. 10mm fuel line front to rear, relocated fuel pump, reg and filter...
Oh, I have also finished a set of problem heads from the states, but that is another story....2165 gets assembled tomorrow and my 2332 goes back together next, just in time hopefully, for the dyno shootout.👍
Craig Torrens ·
would be a pity if you didn't make the Dyno day........we all want to read how it goes !
matberry ·
Yeah me too. But we know it can do wheelies and run 8,40 in the 1/8th, in a streetcar.
And should go a bit harder, now that I've been able to give it a bit of TLC this time around.
Craig Torrens ·
so what do you reckon atw HP ?
matberry ·
We shall see.
Craig Torrens ·
c'mon have a guess ??!😎
matberry ·
Anything over 130 would be nice.
Craig Torrens ·
what speed did you get in the 1/8th ?
matberry ·
81mph, not my car, so cant remember the wieght, maybe 780kg.
matberry ·
Best laid plans.....my week for assembling car and engine dwindled into two days....Lucky the engine had been together before, but the extra time would have been nice for a few setup tweeks, but I guess it just gives me reason for a another play inside sometime sooner rather than later. These photos from Thursday before the day, showing the nice ceramic and drylube coatings on the pistons. The cylinders have been expertly torque honed and externally coated with a heat dispersant coating. Am very impressed how these looked.
I love these air cooled wonders. By the time it was time for bed, the engine was fully assembled, just needing flywheel fitting.
After overcoming a few installation issues, rewiring engine bay, rust hole in fuel tank leaking my last liter of liquid gold over the garage floor... she fired up like a demon and drove all of 20 meters to be loaded onto trailer.
Twice around the block ts Custom Exhaust's test track and it was time ot turn some numbers, gotta admit I was happy with a totally clean, strong package.
Dak-A-Tak ·
Matt what the latest new's , seen but not heard ? what happening to car for warwick (is it painted PINK yet )
Show us your dyno sheet to , cheers
Pagey
westi ·
going fishing pete.😵
Stanley ·
Come on Matt...What's doing?
I heard on the grape vine somebody was at your place on the weekend masking up for flames.....where's the pics?
LIFE IN THE LOW LANE ·
We gonna see some quick times at Warwick Matt?? The interest is growing!!
matberry ·
Hey guys, just trying to post some pics. Col brought up a few goodies this w/e and we pulled the engine and fitted his newly freshened DB special tranny, with friction coatings every where... it feels beautiful in the car. Also am nearly finished installing 3" narrowed beam, spindals yet to arrive.
matberry ·
These photo's are before this w/e, I adjusted the rear torsions down an inner notch, wound down the front, fitted the tach and fixed up a bit of wiring since the dyno day.
66deluxe ·
Engine looks great Matt, just a question, who did the torque hone on the cylinders i need a set of type 4 94's bored and honed to 96mm? Cheers Damo.
matberry ·
Hey Damo, give Craig a call at Crankshaft Engineering 3806 7488
Stanley ·
where's the flames?
matberry ·
No flames yet Stanley, still primer this time round. Still lots to do, why does it always seem to be a rush to get everything done? Waiting for parts doesn't help.
See you all at Warwick....must go to the shed....
matberry ·
🥷
punchbuggyracer ·
Would I be impressed?
Damn straight that was the high light of the week end!!!!!
hellbugged ·
😂.........heard about your ride in the "hillbilly racer" this morning Rob...........
nice work on the car too matey's........she be phat
matberry ·
Glad you liked it Rob, maybe next year it'll be FAST !
Hope everyone had a safe trip home.
Thanks to Craig and all who helped to make the racing go faultlessly, the weekend was fantastic, as expected.
Traction (as expected) was our big problem, so Saturday was a day of dialing in the car, we chased tyre pressures, ride height, launch rpm etc etc, we even ended up running borrowed (read stolen) kombi bumpstop rubbers and after 8 passes, we were actually able to leave the line ok.
Craig Torrens ·
what time did you get Matt ?
matberry ·
Hey Craig, just looking thru time sheets and presently surprised, best time was on sat, 8.444 @ 82.4 mph.
Sunday was hotter, best was 8.632 @ 81.96 mph.
LIFE IN THE LOW LANE ·
Nice job Matt!! Was good to be out racing with some the "older timer" drag racers from days gone by. I used to sit in the stands and watch and wonder what it would be like to race against you, Dangerous, Pete and co. I didn't get to line any of you up in the bus but would have jumped at the chance!!
punchbuggyracer ·
I actually had to grip the window sill and seat! Drifting around the bend in third was also an eye opener!
matberry ·
Thanks whoever put this vid up, melo427, I think its you stickerman, cheers, Love it.
Matt
LIFE IN THE LOW LANE ·
Very kool and funky Vid there guys. Top work!!
STOCK ·
i think col made that video while eating cookies
🤪🤪
bond ·
2 seconds of drag footage!!! haha.
well done mat and col!
nick
matberry ·
Well and truley time for an update, altho not alot has changed since Warwick. Fitted some widened steel guards that my brother was hording, these will help with fitting the 235 M/T's that are coming.
Fitted the decklid which relocated the engine breather.
Just waiting for some poly torsion bushes and she'll be ready for the track again... :-)
matberry ·
These pics were a few weeks ago when a mate visited.
Dont know which car was most fun, but one cost a little more than the other!!!
VWCOOL ·
yeah I have been looking at Porsche prices recently and they're getting quite cheap! 😂
Brad ·
matberry wrote:Well and truley time for an update, altho not alot has changed since Warwick. Fitted some widened steel guards that my brother was hording, these will help with fitting the 235 M/T's that are coming.
Fitted the decklid which relocated the engine breather.
Just waiting for some poly torsion bushes and she'll be ready for the track again... :-)
Wow your going to fit 235 Mud Tyres .. that Manx Club trip must have really had an effect on you...
hellbugged ·
can't believe Col has coated your headlight rims & buckets, even deck lid hinges.................but not your bloody muffler😉
background baja is looking menacing👍
matberry ·
It's pretty difficult getting Col to do anything bigger than those little parts. Think he must smuggle them in and out of work in his undies. 😂😂😂
F/glass work nearly done for the baja in background. Looks f'n awesome with all the widened panels on.
Brad ..... what can I say......mud tryes yeah baby but pleeeeease dont let me forget the air filters!!
There is an offroader I own in there as well.....just not quite ready yet............😠
matberry ·
Well the time has come, the money is in my bank acc (not for long mind you), so I may as well spill the beans. The 2332 IDA motor has been SOLD. I had an offer that was certainly worthwhile for both parties, so the drag project has been run and won (if only). It was allways only an interim play thing I guess, as I have had the baja project ticking over as well, and its not easy getting much progress on two cars at once, especially with very little $$$. At least this combo proved itself at Bris dyno day (fastest rego'd n/a vw over 2.0l) and I think apart from Westi's flash machine we were also up there in the two Warwick events the car/engine has run in.
I have to say the decision was made easier by the results from Portland. I made a very late decision to participate in the event after finding out on the Sunday before that the numbers were not as expected, only 31 cars entered, so I rallied around all my vw mates and came up with enough $$$ help to be able to put some company stickers on my car and in return I would do Portland and hopefully perform well enough to get some exposure for thier businesses.
We were able to run the car in the Friday night street event, we drove around the town in the street cruise, and some more to find some shops and auto parts stores, and ran in the Saturday night event, and then the VW event on Sunday. Well plenty of cars broke over the weekend, and we consistantly ran in the 8's all weekend. Some how this was overlooked by the officials (the car is only primer you know) because on Sunday, the "top eight" a prestigious group that is not easy to get into, had two of the eight cars running 9's, yet (I say it again) myself and Andrew ? (also consistantly running 8's) were left out. Well mistakes are made, but how f'n difficult is it to work out who is quicker than the next bloke? These two 'slow cars' were in the finals together because of the difficult track conditions, and I am left to wonder ....if only. This result will also totally effect any so called points tally for the year, it is a championship you know, if I could be bothered going to participate at Warwick. I have given Craig weeks for any response and tried a few casual prompts, to no avail so the Hill Billy Racer is no more. I may still go to these events, but any attempt to be serious is out the window, the costs far outweigh any benifit. I am so sorry to all of my sponsors and supporters but I know this lack of professionalism is likely to appear anytime again in the future unless something can be done.
So that being said, I move on to my off road project, it will have enough power to be able to hold its head up on the race track, but will primarily be a dirt/sand machine, who knows Portland next year for the sand dunes if anyone wants a ride. I have sealed a deal on a new power plant to raise the bar again for street driven VW's, I am working on a type 4 engine package. Here are some spacs, 3.0 liter displacement, 10.5:1 CR, EFI with quad throttle bodies, dry sumped, Porsche cooling and the list goes on. I will update as the engine progresses.
Pics real soon.
Matt
vassy66T1 ·
Sad to hear Matt ...
It is disappointing to miss out like that after the effort you made.
On the positive side, as long as another project is there to keep the smile on the dial, then that is good.
Is the baja going to be a race outfit or for fun only?
What will become of the hillbilly car?
Has the 2332 engine gone to a street or race car?
Where is the pics???
555bug ·
Matt that blows and I'm sure you will get a response as this is a VERY small community.
On a happier not that sounds a lot like Mr Bonds engine, tell us more.
Stephen
hellbugged ·
😢........damn mate, not good
matberry ·
Cheers guys...all good, I'm looking foward to getting this new beast together. The type one engine is going in another streeter but it will be spending quite a bit of time at Willowbank as the new owner (he wishes to remain un-named) is an avid racer. Baja to be total play machine. Sand drags Tewah once a month. he he.
So Mr Bond better spill the beans hey....crikey he can keep a secret.
66deluxe ·
Matt, will you be using Bonds type 4 parts? If so he has no camshaft for it he was going to use a cam that i have from Raby, a 9510 grind i bought years ago based on a web 163/86b. Let me know if you want that cam.
Damo.
matberry ·
Damo, no it's not Mr Bond's engine, sounds interesting though, and that cam of yours, more details please. My new engine is still in the pipeline so still unsure of all details, but when more of the components are in my hands I'll let all know.
LIFE IN THE LOW LANE ·
Matt good to hear you are re-joining the Big Type 4 ranks!! No more small displacement engines LOL
So will the Baja be ready for dyno day this year?? You know we won't jib you if you win hehehehehe
matberry ·
Brendan I'll have the big block together in time I think, problem is the baja exhaust,to cut the hillbilly car or not...when is dyno day?
matberry ·
Here's a couple of pics, right before we ripped her heart out...
66deluxe ·
Matt, cam iis .500" lift both intake and exhaust, duration is split and lobe center is 104, i got this cam as i was going to build a 2.6 78.4 x 103mm but then decided on a 2270 instead, designed to go with 44x38mm valves with porsche plug angle.
matberry ·
Cool Daimo,dont know if you're looking for a quick sale, but I haven't sorted all the details, be a little while yet. But pretty sure 914 heads, to be confirmed.
Cheers
LIFE IN THE LOW LANE ·
matberry wrote:Brendan I'll have the big block together in time I think, problem is the baja exhaust,to cut the hillbilly car or not...when is dyno day?
sometime in july at this stage. Pete and I are about to start all the proceedings of getting organsied.
matberry ·
Tonight I picked up the basis of my new power plant for the baja project. Seems tranny upgrade may have to be in order.
matberry ·
Came from a baja off road racer. Engine is a 3 liter type IV with autocraft drysump, scat crank, pauter rods, 10.5:1 cr, 914 big valve heads, had Motec, gone now, but all the other efi stuff is there bar computer, pump and pressure regulator. Originally built about 10 years ago, but 'money no object' owner regularly freshened it up, last rebuild only 200km ago, and here's a good bit, won outright the Aust Fink Desert Race twice 🙂.
I plan to throw in an old Haltech computer, I've got an F7 or an older F5 which has tps, map and closed loop, so probably computer of choice, unless anyone has a motec s4 going cheap.
Now to get back onto getting the body in shape. New heater channels still not fitted.......doh ❗
mactaylor ·
is that bobs old motor did he finally put a H6 in his baja?
LUFTMEISTER ·
looks like B Macs arsekicker 👍
matberry ·
Mactaylor your on the money. Hp output is pretty poor for an engine of this spec, so I'm going to run as is for the mo as it's very fresh, but intend to get some real power from it down the track. Funny how vw guys seem all related somehow, B Mac also got his 'arse kicker' from the same dude, who now has Bob's old car, with a suby the same as Oztowdster, (h6?), just back from the dyno. Not the output of Andrews tho !!! Sounded hot but. Bobs old car is one flash look'n baja/buggy.
vassy66T1 ·
The fink is one wild race. I built a commercial shed for a guy out on the Birdsville track that raced in the fink. He was on a 600cc (hypo) quad after breaking his femur the previous year.
That engine would go well in Tricia's kombi I think?? 🤪
kroozzn63 ·
go the mighty bajas gooooo
reub ·
Big bucks there...saw the engine on ebay - along with his buggy and from memory a G50?
Nice score dude👍
66deluxe ·
Oh F%$& yeah Matt, can i come up and have a look?
matberry ·
Thanks guys for the positive comments, looks like a real quality build so I am very happy with it, but unfortunately I've got plenty to do to get this thing together.
Damo and anyone else that is interested are more than welcome for a look and a dak dak chat, even a beer might be found, i'm up near Noosa, 1 1/2 hrs north of Bris. Funny I didn't see it on ebay, but yes, the guy, an old mate of mine, was also selling another buggy with G50, a arm front end and full tilt everything...the box alone owes him over $10k. My engine had a huge Hewland behind it.....mmmmmmmm 👍
colonel mustard ·
Looks like one sweet engine setup there sir!
LIFE IN THE LOW LANE ·
Matt am going on holidays at eater camping at kenilworth. Expect a visitor if you are home.....
Burrelli ·
Heh Mat... That is an engine that a 14 year old that could not reach the pedals on a can opener oval and a 36er could only dream of..
colonel mustard ·
Burrelli wrote:Heh Mat... That is an engine that a 14 year old that could not reach the pedals on a can opener oval and a 36er could only dream of..
I don't understand....
bond ·
👍
matberry ·
colonel mustard wrote:
Burrelli wrote:Heh Mat... That is an engine that a 14 year old that could not reach the pedals on a can opener oval and a 36er could only dream of..
I don't understand....
I was that 14 year old (actually about 12 i think) in my first buggy.....dreaming..
dangerous ·
What bore and stroke to make 3lt Matt?
105 x 88?
103 x 90?
matberry ·
Wish I knew Dave, also valve sizes and cam spec are unknown to me. Found out last night that was originally a Fat Performance built package, which explains all the trick hardware.
66deluxe ·
Bonds engine was a FAT built engine also, its a 82x105 combo giving 2840, an 84x105 gives 2909 an 86 stroke is possible but a tight squeeze, bond's 82 stroke requires a reduced base circle cam when it comes time to build it. Matt you should find some Carillo's in that for sure and possibly a scat crank, bonds engine uses porsche 53mm rod journals, and could only find new rod bearings for that through Pelican Parts. Will you be doing a dissasembly for inspection purposes?
Damo.
matberry ·
Them be big numbers Damo...he he.. I was told Scat crank and Pauter rods but I wont count on anything till I get a look first hand. I certainly wont mind a set of Carillos though.😀 Did Bond's come from B Mac? If so it probably was also from the same guy before him.
I am tempted to pull it down for a look, but as it's only done a couple of hundred k's since a freshen, I'm going to concentrate on the rest of the build before opening it up. Got lots to do....
66deluxe ·
Berry, yes it was from B-mac.
STOCK ·
go on matt pull her down ,
& while your there some manifold & head work
those manifolds look a bit small 😀😀
you know you want to
matberry ·
No no no Stock. I thought I'll leave things all nice and reliable and touquey as they are, then I can boost things up alittle down the track😀😀
baja burley ·
any pics of what this monster is gonna be pushin along??
STOCK ·
matberry wrote:No no no Stock. I thought I'll leave things all nice and reliable and touquey as they are, then I can boost things up alittle down the track😀😀
ID LIKE TO TAKE A QUOTE FROM MATT BERRY HIMSELF
IF I MAY
"IF YOU DONT BREAK IT YOUR NOT TRYING HARD ENOUGH"
RELIABLE SHMYABLE, BEEF IT UP😂😂😂
westi ·
yeh,
vassy66T1 ·
Don't be a skirt Matt!! 😘
Make it beg for mercy
matberry ·
I might be a skirt....for now. I am already wondering if a turbo from a 2.3 audi that ran 2bar boost stock will give me enough boost for the 3liter. . . .
Here is a pic as I bought her from this forum, 'very little or no rust'
Then a pic a little more recent🤪
OZ Towdster ·
Thats no excuse Matt , you would have known it was rusty the first moment you layed eyes on it, i'mm betting you just told the good wife that to keep her at bay while you design some custom heater chanels .
matberry ·
Some super light ones are going in Andrew....all in the name of .....tba
vassy66T1 ·
I have a T4(turbo) that would be adequate ... going cheap cheap cheap !!!! (no it isn't a budgie)
matberry ·
I own the one I mentioned above, but a t4, now that would definately be big enough, mmmmm
matberry ·
Over Easter I was able to get a bit done on the rust repairs and some decisions on fitting some of the engine accessories.
From this to that
matberry ·
I must appologise for phone pics
And this to that
matberry ·
And here's the new refrigeration unit..... or is that a heater???
vassy66T1 ·
I think personally that air-con in a baja is really missing the spirit of the whole rugged outdoorsy experience.
Just my 2c worth
Should keep the beers cool anyhow ...
Turbo54 ·
Where did you get the round tank on the parcel shelf. The stuff on the rear parcel shelf looks like the internals to a heat exchanger for a water to Air intercooler. 😉 T54
matberry ·
All came with engine. Dry sump tank and HUGE oil cooler. Tank is from UMP in the states. Metal spinners or race fab shop's here could make one for you.
vwsteve ·
i nearly was going to buy that little to no rust baja too matt untill i saw the swiss cheese heater chanels underneath, love the wheels though, i think there is no such thing as a rust free baja these days🤪
matberry ·
I was just happy to be driving a dak dak again, even tho it was short lived. Main thing, papers and rego...
mactaylor ·
the dry sump is huge it must hold over 10 L should be great when u enter the fink!!!!
matberry ·
Your not wrong Mac, not looking foward to oil changes, the cooler must hold 4 liters as well !!!!
matberry ·
mactaylor wrote:the dry sump is huge it must hold over 10 L should be great when u enter the fink!!!!
The last baja I built for myself ran in the then Sydney to Darwin Wynns Safari for six or seven years I believe. Campaigned by the guy I sold it to. Pretty sure it won 2wd class at least once.
Be nice to do it again....😂 only me this time..😂😂
Here's an old pic
vassy66T1 ·
Your spine must be in better shape than mine ... at least for the moment. The fink is a wicked little race for off roaders.
mactaylor ·
I think I remember that baja from a valla years ago and there was another from around the same time that i saw up in the snowys when traveling thru one time that was dark blue with nsw plates. ah the old times!
matberry ·
Been too long so a quick pic to show I am slowly progressing on the baja.
Still at mockup stage for trans mounts and engine fitment. At this stage it looked like a 3" lift kit was the only way the type four was going to fit without modifying air filters, but not to be🙄
vwsteve ·
looking good matt!
matberry ·
After the Jamboree at Willowbank last weekend, and Warwick coming up quickly, I realised that the baja had way too many things to do to get anywhere near having a drive, soooo........
return of the Hillbilly Racer.
After seeing the way the type IV was fitting into the baja, a little trimming to the rear end and surely it'll slide right in🤪
So yesterday the rear was easily trimmed (it already had the large carb access holes cut), and the engine located to check for fit.
Today started mounting dry sump tank and breathers.
westi ·
go toady go.i think a state verses state showdown is coming.lol.
stuff the baja mate get that thing running it will be way cooler.
OZ Towdster ·
Matt , your like an old dog out back of the local butchers , ya keep commin back 😂
matberry ·
Cheers Westi, always fun kick'n cockroaches😂😂
Going to run an old set of IDA's instead of the injection, makes the install a cinch.
Should be able to paint it maroon in my spare time😁
Only problem will be tranny, it's fresh but stock🙁. Might make a locker tho
westi ·
not a bad idea.
you want to bring up the pink shirt for you and pagey.lovely.
why maroon when madjenta is close enough.
vassy66T1 ·
Go Matt!! Be good to see and hear the beast
matberry ·
Andrew, may explain why I get on with dogs hey........A good cat and dog fight is never to be missed😀
Dont think I'll worry about the paint tho, may end up needing to polish it...... hey JW???
Marcus I think even the offroad exhaust should sound pretty tough.....we'll see.
matberry ·
The new look for Warwick
LIFE IN THE LOW LANE ·
Go Matty go!! Type 4 power will certainly be interesting to see the difference over the Type 1 from last year. Gearbox may graon a little more under the strain but hell you only live once!!
Giving my 2L a lil bit of TLC with some dyno time before Warwick to get the carbs set etc etc then take some weight out of it!!
STOCK ·
good shit matt glad to see the hillbilly racer
is coming , the junka can't wait to run over some cane toads
😂😂
oldskl60 ·
Good to see and hear Matt! That wing will look great in the street parade.... haha
Seeing the hillbilly racer rock up last year in the street parade (stinger on, deck lid off, gassies on the front and slammed) really set the stage for for me... the police did not even blink! Love it
FROSTY ·
Hey Matt it looks unreal.!
matberry ·
oldskl60 wrote:Good to see and hear Matt! That wing will look great in the street parade.... haha
Seeing the hillbilly racer rock up last year in the street parade (stinger on, deck lid off, gassies on the front and slammed) really set the stage for for me... the police did not even blink! Love it
Crikey Tom , you mean there were cops out there???? 😂
Actually on the way into Warwick, as we were cruising in with the Hillbilly Racer on the trailer, a police car was heading the other way back into town, and the cops gave us a big wave like they were really glad to see us.....so I thought they would be happy to see the bug cruising into town in the convoy. 🙂
The scary part was heading back to the track without the cover of a convoy but the stinger still barking😂😂
westi ·
come on mate were you up to,were's the pic's.none of this chit chat.
matberry ·
I dont have a milling machine so my car aint cuttin it in pics 😂😂
Engine and trans now fitted 1" higher in pan
New lightwieght rear apron fabbed and fitted
Hopefully diff mods done today
Waiting for TIV-IDA manifolds to arrive from the states to finalise mounting all the hardware......try and take some pics today and less chit chat👍
matberry ·
Progress so far...
wing mounted with fabricated dimpled dzus tabs welded to body, tranny raised 1" and shift rod modded/bent for all gear selection.
matberry ·
Rear apron is now new lightweight lowdrag design with ally panels fitted to wheel arch's to keep large rocks, rubber chunks and any flying tranny parts somewhat under the car and not down the throats of the Webers. The photo shows the injection setup with just enough clearance....I hope the IDA's fit❗
matberry ·
Also mounted my trusty Ray Box ignition system and modded 009 from way back.
dangerous ·
matberry wrote:I dont have a milling machine so my car aint cuttin it in pics 😂😂
But dont you have lathe that you can show us Matt?
matberry ·
Yes Dave....latest freebee; a big mother lathe, but you all seen a lathe before. Right?
Progress last night; 228mm T IV flywheel and Kennedy clutch now fit to type 1 swinger box.......and they said it couldn't be done 🙄
OZ Towdster ·
So hows that cage comming along mate , might drop by this arvo
matberry ·
Well now its time to be putting things back together.......how long we got...??????
hellbugged ·
👍........yeah baby!
OZ Towdster ·
Good job there's 24hrs in a day Mat , as your looking like your gunna need e'mm
VWFREAK ·
coming along nicely 🙂
coletrickle ·
looking good matty keep puttin shit in your car it will make it heavier and give my little street car a chance!Give me the jump and we got us a race mutherf****r!
LIFE IN THE LOW LANE ·
But Matt you have something Col aint got........
Type 4 torque not peaky Type 1 power so it dont matter how much heavier it is..... LOL
matberry ·
Well carbs and linkages, torsion bushes and a few other things all made it today around lunch, I must thank Rod and Ross for doing the post runs in the nick of...so things have been busy this afternoon and the car is going together relatively well.
Torsions are too low but I couldn't resist, looks cool but nearly on the stops!! I'll go back to the shed now and lift it up a bit, about an inch...
colonel mustard ·
Looking good mate! looking forward to seeing it on the weekend.
matberry ·
Another
Stanley ·
Lookin' good Matt
I think Mr Trickle is worried
matberry ·
Stanley wrote:Lookin' good Matt
I think Mr Trickle is worried
He should be Stanley.
Unfortunately the bar$tard has got 1/2 my rear suspension in his car cause I thought I wasn't going to need it, now with the swinger rear again, I sure could use them adjustable spring plates......might have to get the bits back on Saturday night....he he he
Thanks for the positive comments guys.........as for the negatives, well fella's....your time will come😘
vassy66T1 ·
Looking forward to seeing it out there Matt! Are you heading up Friday or Sat morning?
matberry ·
Hey Marcus, trying to get away Fri early morning, to set up & all.........man still haven't started this thing up yet.
LIFE IN THE LOW LANE ·
Looking the Goods Mr B!! Love the wing BTW!! Can't wait to hear this thing go!! You have a passenger seat in it?? Love to go for a spin in it if time permits...
Dasdubber ·
Great work Matt, I'm sure you're busy right now putting things back together and packing. Have a safe trip up - looking forward to catching up over the weekend.
Al
matberry ·
Well still haven't turned the key, but she's ready for a pressure charge of oil and kick er in the guts first thing tomorrow, after putting a new disc caliper on the trailer, and bleeding them, but after that, I'm gonna start this thing, tune should be close and stick it on a trailer and off to Warwick.......a little later than planed.
Hope to see you there
Cheers
Burrelli ·
Mat the engine looks great with the 48s on and the dry sump set up turned out very well. It'll be good to see it going at Warwick.
matberry ·
Well Warwick has been run and won.....Thanks to all organisers, participants and spectators. Another cracker
The Hillbilly Racer showed its head but unfortunately not for long. The weak link with a fresh stocko trans was taken care of ie. the diff was electronically converted to a spool and as Dangerous said...."Cool mate, now the next weakest link will be the axle". Yep you guessed it. Whamo 2nd pass my right/left foot coordination just doesnt know the meaning of grandma launch at the drag strip, and with a spectacular right turn nearly taking out the tree, the RH axle said enough.
All happy in our camp though as the new engine has prooved to be a bull tearing bull breaker. The bottom end grunt needs to be expeirenced to be believed......maybe next year Brenndan
Many thanks to all my mates and collegues that helped source/deliver parts at the last minute and crew to make the car get to the event in time.
Ritchie (Burrelli),Col (coletrickle), Tom (Old School 60), Nick (Bond), Rod Penrose, Ross Freestone, and others, Cheers All
Unfortunately the axle took out the side cover and axle tube and flange......cool.
LIFE IN THE LOW LANE ·
Matt can't wait to see this thing go. It will be quick that's for sure......
colonel mustard ·
matberry ·
Thanks for the cool pic Colonel. Any more? Any vid of the launch that broke the axle anyone?
Edit, luck I grabbed the pic.
colonel mustard ·
Sorry, it's the only one i have. It was great to meet you mr Berry 🙂
matberry ·
Cheers mate. Good to meet the colonel and his side kick Mick too. You look young for your rank😂 keep sucking up all that info dude.😉
Craig Torrens ·
OUCH...👍.... now thats GRUNT !
matberry ·
Well this should hold the gears inside a little easier. Just need to squeeze it inbetween the frame horns first. 🙂
It's the Renault 4 speed, tough as nails, built by ZF and 930 flanges stock. I helped Mark get this adapted to kombi bell housing a few years ago, but it's done f'all work, and I have a spare too. 🙂🙂🙂
hellbugged ·
👍.....thats one bloody big chip matt
colonel mustard ·
that thing is massive! 🙂
waltermitty ·
wowo you had a purple shark tooth in your transaxle!! No wonder it failed. Mitchell
matberry ·
Cool Eh
From left to right
1600 Kombi, 4 sp Renault, same again (with 2.0 kombi bell hsing and custom front mount), swing type 1 case
reub ·
Look to be similar in size to a short nose G50? Maybe a little shorter, and no doubt a shit load cheaper too!
matberry ·
reub wrote:no doubt a shit load cheaper too!
Too right there Reub, a big compromise on ratios but I'll address that when the time comes.
nice bit of carnage there mat is there gunna be enough room for the box without cutting the torsion tubes?
matberry ·
Yes there's enough room for fitting without cutting the torsion bar housing. 🙂
Yes it's a mega strong bit of kit, aparently the UN5 is good for 400hp offroad racing and 700hp circuit racing. This ZF box is like 20% stronger again, it's diff is HUGE, 4 spider and makes a ford 9" look like a baby........me like.
The ratios I'm just going to have to live with for a while, basically it's a bit low in the gearing. The 5.85 diff is the prob, but it's not that bad.
I had been procrastinating over this setup for ages, I've gone over the ratios a million times and I've said yes, no, yes, no, yes, no, I dont know how many times.
The bottom line is $$$$
100 km/hr is 3500 rpm with 31" rubber.
I KNOW THIS IS LOW GEARING.
But WTF. I might go 33" rubber down the track, but as the offroading I do with this thing is going to be mainly local I figured I would give it a go. Basically I have busted enough gearboxes to last a life time, and I was either going to have to get a smaller engine cause the grunt in this 2.9 is RADICAL to say the least, or go with a Mendeola or UN5 or Hewland or very modified Porsche. Guess what.....None of them would I sell my house for!!
So I guess I'll trailer to the further away spots, but at least this thing will reach red line in top gear in a standing 1/4 mile......should be hard to catch in the bush or on the beach eh????
matberry ·
Project Baja is back (obviously from some of the prior posts), Hillbilly Racer RIP, will donate cage and engine, which was always the plan. The Renault 4 speed is in, still need axles and CV's, and I've now srarted on some chassis strengtheners which will tie the front and rear torsions together and to the roll cage.
All just in fab/mock up stage but the detailing is the easy bit. 🙂
matberry ·
🤪
OZ Towdster ·
Looking good mate
Don't think you've got enough speed holes yet but , nice idea but how you've cut the lip of the stock pan's
matberry ·
OZ Towdster wrote:Looking good mate
Don't think you've got enough speed holes yet but , nice idea but how you've cut the lip of the stock pan's
Thanks Andrew, the pan lip wont be a problem, and still will be able to remove pans alltogether down the track if I want to go that way.
reub ·
Yeah, love the speed holes Matt👍👍
matberry ·
Cheers Reub, weight is a major consideration for this build, the easy way would be a lift kit design, but I'm trying to keep overall weight down and center of gravity as low as possible. The speed holes are a function of being able to use as short as possible bolts through only the one thickness of the rhs and letting any sand and dirt out. Oh and they look kool too 😀
reub ·
🙂 I think for my next car weight would have to be a consideration too. VWRX is a barge arse 950kg beetle. Mind you, it adds some stability.
Look forward to more updates dude. Thankyou for sharing.
westi ·
look ma.
it's box car willy with speed holes.love it dude.
warwick this year maybe.??
i'l race on the track and you can runn on the grass,only problem is your's still look's heavy.i might have to run with the fat controller in the front to even up the weight,
nice box.gearbox that is .
look's strong and big and bulky.which remind's me of a girl i used to know.(fat controller)loverly las.
matberry ·
Box Car Willy....Ha Ha Ha love it Westi.
Figured the Dak Dak is designed and built by box heads so why noy build it out of box lol lol.
What you guy's haven't heard about is the midnight drags up this way. Sat night once a month on the 40 mile beach.
So far there's a few cars up for it already, and others still being built........I can't wait 😏
coletrickle ·
matberry wrote:Box Car Willy....Ha Ha Ha love it Westi.
What you guy's haven't heard about is the midnight drags up this way. Sat night once a month on the 40 mile beach.
So far there's a few cars up for it already, and others still being built........I can't wait 😏
I've got my eyes on a set of paddles!And i spoke to an outlaw biker a little while ago,he dirt drags a nitro harley he said we are more than welcome to come to the dirt drags they will make a class 4 us if we don't fit into the ones they currently have.They have a race out side of rocky i belive.
matberry ·
Thats great Col, have to keep an eye out for some 10" rims😀.
westi ·
junka with paddles ,that sounds like fun.
matberry ·
Funny with your last post here Westi, cause the Hillbilly racer has started the progression to off road. After a great Warwick that proved the nearly 3 liter had plenty of grunt to turn the 10 1/2" Hoosiers in 3rd gear.
Here's a bit from the Warwick thread
In our camp, Tony with his flat black Manx had a new combo, trans by DB and engine by myself.
We broke-in the cam on Thursday before the event, ran sweet all weekend. Fastest Buggy on the day with consistant low 8's and over 80mph all weekend, iirc best of 8.1 @ 84mph. Not bad for a very tight 2276 with 040's and IDA's
My Hillbilly racer was not going to participate, but with the offer from Rodney of some IDA's again, with the help of #1 crewman Ritchie, we thrashed most of the week before the event to swap pans with my baja project to run the huge ZF 4-DS 18 transmission and irs 930 setup.
We made it, arriving later than expected on Sat morning after a week of 3 & 4 hours a night sleep. Car ran ok with a few little issues but came home unbroken after running 8.2 @ 84mph with a best 60 of 1.72 by driving off the line !!!
CLA founder Coletrickle showed up Saturday without a car...somehow his two engine budget managed niether.
So today I swaped over from a 3" narrowed very dropped adjusters with 2 1/2" dropped spindle front end to a stock width thing spindle offroad prepped beam. Cranked up the rear adjustable spring plates and we are ready to play.......well nearly. A few more details to get the rear happening, and fit some new offroad shocks........
matberry ·
So hows the transition??????
hellbugged ·
👍
cam070 ·
love it!
DieSchnelleKafer ·
some of the guy son this forum have issues, im in school and i dont even have as much time as them!
sick thread man! i was getting bored at the start when u were messin with that type 1 but i flicked the page and out came this MassIVe type 4 and all of a sudden i didnt want to leave the pc, good work mate this is brilliant stuff
handycam ·
looks good mate 🙂
vassy66T1 ·
Looks wild Matt!!
Is there a passenger seat in there 😘
1916baja ·
thats amazing....
Burrelli ·
Well that will not bottom out in driveway now will it. 😎
matberry ·
Thanks for the great comments guy's, terrible pics I know, but I'll wait untill the rear suspension is up for some more. Looking forward to taking it for a blast.
bajachris88 ·
Matt thats some awesome lift 👍!
Is that stock height tyres? After seeing this and handycam's height transformation, i feel as excited as Augustus Gloop in a candy store with my set awaiting fitting 👍
Be sure to catch some pohtos of the 4wders faces as you run circles around them 😂
LIFE IN THE LOW LANE ·
what size trye are you going to run on the rear Matt?? I reckon some 12.5 37's would look seriously kool...... plenty of grunt and gearbox to push them LOL
matberry ·
LIFE IN THE LOW LANE wrote:what size trye are you going to run on the rear Matt?? I reckon some 12.5 37's would look seriously kool...... plenty of grunt and gearbox to push them LOL
These tyres are what was with the car when purchased, I have another set with a more agressive pattern available which I'll swap to when I get around to it. Both are only 10R's as I've got standard length rear arms.......mmmm 3x3's would be nice but then the shock setup goes up another level.
bajachris88 wrote:Matt thats some awesome lift 👍!
Is that stock height tyres? After seeing this and handycam's height transformation, i feel as excited as Augustus Gloop in a candy store with my set awaiting fitting 👍
Be sure to catch some pohtos of the 4wders faces as you run circles around them 😂
😂😂😂
Fronts are just 195/70 radials and although I'd planned a taller front tyre, I think it would get too tall compared to the rear, and the increased clearance at lock with a smaller tyre is also nice.
I'm still waiting for parts to get the brakes finished and the rear suspension at least to stage 1 off-road.
The first pic of the tranny gives you some idea of the size of the crown wheel in the ZF 4-DS 18 transaxle. It's 11 1/4 " diameter hangs down under the chassis forks, I'll have to run a skidpan designed in conjunction with the rear cage.
Here's a few slightly better pics.
matberry ·
Trying a few different options with the guards that seem to gather
Stanley ·
Lookin' good Matt.....needs one of those old school scoops on top of the roof
matberry ·
Nah mate, been there Stanley, spend too much time looking up for low trees. 👎
ancientbugger ·
So when are you up the beach Matt!🙂
matberry ·
Hey Barry, not prepped for the beach yet, have been delayed with availability of some necessary bits. Be a runner soon, a little longer for the street.....beach after that.......
h ·
the street will never look the same sitting in that thing barrelling over to my place for more beers.. 😂
baghall ·
Hope your gonna keep the rear wing on it as a baja, Matt. Love a car that's a bit different. Looking great.
LIFE IN THE LOW LANE ·
what about a 235/75/15 on the front. Mud terrain/ all terrain BFG would look super kool. If height is and issue then perhaps a 215? Would look at longer arms for the rear to cater for the bigger rubber?
On Brown's buggy that John did the gearbox had a Kombi top mount modified and a mount on the end of the tuning forks which also incorportated the lower mounts for the rear bar and cage as well. Bash plate went from pulley side of engine to just past bell housing/diff on the Renault box.
matberry ·
h wrote:the street will never look the same sitting in that thing barrelling over to my place for more beers.. 😂
Ha mate, first trip out will obviously be to your place h, you better be home 😂....soon
baghall wrote:Hope your gonna keep the rear wing on it as a baja, Matt. Love a car that's a bit different. Looking great.
Well.....I think it looks great, and technically I don't think it's that illegal as it's all at the rear, but.....it certainly may attract some attention....not sure, but this body has the dzus mounts tack welded on, so .. 👍
I'm going to design the rear cage to go with the wing, and maybe if I paint it mat black it may disapear...... maybe?
LIFE IN THE LOW LANE wrote:what about a 235/75/15 on the front. Mud terrain/ all terrain BFG would look super kool. If height is and issue then perhaps a 215? Would look at longer arms for the rear to cater for the bigger rubber?
On Brown's buggy that John did the gearbox had a Kombi top mount modified and a mount on the end of the tuning forks which also incorportated the lower mounts for the rear bar and cage as well. Bash plate went from pulley side of engine to just past bell housing/diff on the Renault box.
The front mudders will have to wait untill it's a full baja, my present plan of the old purple and blue body is starting to fade, with a new very interesting version developing.....but I digress, the little street tyres will get me going for now. Even with Mud Terrains on the front, this thing will push when not sideways, plan is to end up with a single lever hydraulic steering brake. The open diff has planetery's the size of apples so it should cope, and coupled with the super low 1st gear, it's a crawler gear with a 3 liter type 4 behind it, it should idle up trees ....... mmmmmmmmm 😍😍😍
excuse me
Bash plate will start at the tranny nose and finish behind the dry sump pump. Trans support and cage design taken care of.
3x3's and 35" rubber will definately suit the car, but then the extra shocks will be top mounted, also probably over power the front end, it would then have to step up to king/link.........later
h ·
haha be up next thurs nite mate c u over the weekend when it's beer o'clock lol
matberry ·
Well been installing the 28mm rear torsion bars, removed the adjustable springplates and refitted my old notched dual springplates. This is now ride height all round, still has about 4" rear droop. 🙂
I want to go with the red rear guards.....what looks the best ????
Also started mocking up the muffler location
vwsteve ·
looking good matt
personally i like the bigger guards and the look of the stinger instead of mufflers but the boys in blue dont have a sense of humour sometimes😂
whens the full glass front going on?
matberry ·
Thanks Steve
I have moulds for two different one piece baja front ends, one std and one 4" longer and 6" wider......... but the stock front is growing on me....especially with the plan that is developing.......
Turbo54 ·
The cut red guards are the go, it's finding where the lights etc go after that.
T54
matberry ·
Lights no prob, they are going on the cage, with the number plate on a central ally panel.
That's one vote each for guards.......dang, I've put on two red ones 😂😂
vassy66T1 ·
The fuller guards IMO Matt.
Looks too much like its skirt has blown up in the wind otherwise 😊
Any progress on the beast?
matberry ·
vassy66T1 wrote:The fuller guards IMO Matt.
Looks too much like its skirt has blown up in the wind otherwise 😊
Any progress on the beast?
Hey Marcus, thanks for your comments. Progress has been slow on my baja, although it has been useful as a desk at times
I actually hadn't touched it since before christmas, but today I tacked together the exhaust, this time with a muffler ready for some cruising. Just a rear cage and lights and it's roadworthy 🙂
vassy66T1 ·
Good to see 👍
Muffler should make it a bit easier on your ears.
Looking forward to seeing it go up the street.
Speed bumps won't be much of a concern.
matberry ·
WOW
I have just been for the first test drive with the baja suspension.....what can I say???? 🙂🙂🙂
The car has gone from running 8.1's at 84mph on the 1/8mile looking like this
to being one WILD beast that can't help but put the biggest smile on your face imaginable......that is if you like speed .....anywhere!!!
If you like hugging trees and think that fuel economy is your thing, I wouldn't recomend an engine like this, mind you it can be a tame little thing if your just using your breath and mind control to work the throttle pedal 🙂
vassy66T1 ·
Gr8 news 👍
Now where is the photo with the big rooster tails.
matberry ·
I'll have to try for some vid tomorrow, it's soooo FUN, fortunately I only had about 5 liters of fuel on board so it was a quick blast, but with the wet track she would snap the car into wheel spin in any gear, and the torque....is unreal very like a turbo car but from 1200rpm up, and when it comes on cam around 3500 it nearly instantly spins to redline.....Very happy Jan 🙂
matberry ·
Oh, and Marcus, hope you didn't mind me borrowing your old pod air filters for a short time 🙂
vassy66T1 ·
Consider them yours
matberry ·
Cheers mate.
Camper roof coming along nicely, you want a resto thread?
vassy66T1 ·
Go for it.
Would be interesting I think
matberry ·
😀
hellbugged ·
yeah its dirty....but where are the pics of it GETTING dirty 🙂
For sure a fun ride....need that crazy cat offsider to get some vid footage i think!....
Nice work M.B
h ·
matberry wrote:
h wrote:the street will never look the same sitting in that thing barrelling over to my place for more beers.. 😂
Ha mate, first trip out will obviously be to your place h, you better be home 😂....soon
true to form this 'thing' roared over the other day and before matty was outta the rig our old friend beer magically appeared to wet the head 😀
sounded sweet as 👍
matberry ·
Well we tried for vids today and we had video breakdown. Somehow we paused when we should have played... or was that zigged instead of zagged...???? whatever ....gives us a chance to have another go tomorrow. 🙂🙂
h ·
matberry wrote:Well we tried for vids today and we had video breakdown. Somehow we paused when we should have played... or was that zigged instead of zagged...???? whatever ....gives us a chance to have another go tomorrow. 🙂🙂
looking forward to round two 😀
bloody out dated antique camera thingamjij 😬 🤪😂
matberry ·
Crikey H, I better not bring my OLD camera then 😂
matberry ·
Well here's the second attempt at a video download/link
Phill came for a quick ride this morning after doing some jet changes on the IDA's
And this one
vassy66T1 ·
Sounds good
The camera mount is a bit shakey 🙅
matberry ·
Camera mount??? what's that???
matberry ·
More
matberry ·
Quick update...made it to Dyno Mania 2011 with new old Haltech F7 fitted and tuned. Had a few detonation issues with the tune as she's got too much compression, so needed to run retarded ignition and a 'special' fuel booster before we were happy.
Sorry, too few pics and sus quality, but always better than none 🙂
Unloading at Dyno Mania
This is Marks Manx that won under 2.0 litre Air Cooled with his 1915
matberry ·
Well finally I've had time to work on the baja. The detonation issues have been fixed with the addition of one of these. What an excellent product. Second one I've fitted so installation was quick. After 4 trips around my 'test track', a custom ignition map was tweeked to stop all detonation and improve starting. She is running smooth as. At last I can use full throttle !!!!! During some preliminary checks I've had the cooling system off and measured up the engine and she looks to be as expected 2980cc running 11:1 CR with 65cc ported 914 heads. The torque of this monster needs to be experienced. 😁😁😁
The rear cage has been TIG welded and painted
vassy66T1 ·
Good to see you back on the Baja 👍
LIFE IN THE LOW LANE ·
Might have to come for a drive up your way MB and go for a fang in it!!
matberry ·
LIFE IN THE LOW LANE wrote:Might have to come for a drive up your way MB and go for a fang in it!!
Yeah baby, she fang's good 👍
Cheers guys
matberry ·
Went out this arvo for a test in the bush. Slow speed crawling is AWESOME. The low gearing and big efi engine tractors over anything. The weight of the huge tranny makes traction up the slopes and ruts unbelievable !!! Not sure I'll be actually on the beach with it yet, but if anybody wants to come for some fun in the bush I'm in. I'll come down to the ferry altho thats a bit tempting then @#?&#
The big bummer today, got towed home, .... fuel delivery issues, as silly as a filter fitted upsidedown created an airlock on the big hill we were on, that and the hot starting still was an issue, so some more tweeks to the ignition maps seem to have improved it.
More testing required 🙂🙂
Had h in his buggy and Casey in the coolest modified country buggy I've seen. I forgot the camera but I'm sure some pics will appear. 🙁
Bone ·
Hope your thick skinned Mat, because he will remind you of the ordeal for a long time to come! Im speaking from experience.
matberry ·
Bone wrote:Hope your thick skinned Mat, because he will remind you of the ordeal for a long time to come! Im speaking from experience.
Cheers for the warning Bone, I must never forget CASEY WAS THE ONE DRIVING IT WHEN IT STOPPED!!!! 🙂
h ·
😵💫 the dirty old stocko half clagged out 1600 piston slappers made it there n back without any problemos
n yep there are pics somewhere of the almighty machine having it's carcass dragged back to from whence it came 😂
matberry ·
I'm ready for rerun....what about you h?
11CAB ·
Cmon, where are the pics already????
matberry ·
11CAB wrote:Cmon, where are the pics already????
Speak to h, he's holding out. 😂
Saw pics and vids on his camera this arv, so they do exist......
Went out again today too, Bone rode shotgun.....🤪😂
Burrelli ·
Matt
Good to hear the baja is a goer again.
Bone ·
Never again!.....🤪 I was scared on more there several occasions.
matberry ·
Bone wrote:Never again!.....🤪 I was scared on more there several occasions.
🙅🙅🙅 You drive next time 🙂
coletrickle ·
Bone wrote:Never again!.....🤪 I was scared on more there several occasions.
So So it's not just me!The barstard just won't lay down!
matberry ·
Whinging pack of sheila's. 😂😂
66deluxe ·
Went on the mad ride myself today yeah its fn fast but as for being scared i was not best offroading i ve done ever. Thanks Matt.
matberry ·
mmmm I remember the words 'scary fast' being uttered, but we'll leave it there eh?
Post that vid mate 🙂
66deluxe ·
Yes leave it their.
matberry ·
Here's a vid I took when a mate took his girl for a quick blocky in the baja. I expected him to turn into the drive where I was standing, but he saw the camera and decided to blast past me, half on the road and half over the gutter. The camera work and comentry give you an idea that things were not to be as expected. 🙂 He then turns around so I reposition myself as the driver has proven himself to be untrustworthy 😉 and he short shifts into second and nails second and third gears in quick sucession, then dives onto the brakes to make my driveway, while I struggle with pulling back the zoom 😂 .... I must get out with an experienced camera operator.......enjoy (click the photo)
whathaveidone ·
JEEZZZZ nearly made me sick trying to focus on that!!!!!!!
11CAB ·
Looks ready for the beach on the weekend..........
kombibob ·
Bloody hell, what neighbourhood have we bought into. Lol
Bone ·
kombibob wrote:Bloody hell, what neighbourhood have we bought into. Lol
If Mat Berry is your neighbour, your going to have drama's !😂 I think its sand time Matt !
matberry ·
Bone wrote:
kombibob wrote:Bloody hell, what neighbourhood have we bought into. Lol
If Mat Berry is your neighbour, your going to have drama's !😂 I think its sand time Matt !
What can I say !!!!
matberry ·
whathaveidone wrote:JEEZZZZ nearly made me sick trying to focus on that!!!!!!!
Sorry Ben, I was busy jumping out of the way !!!
11CAB wrote:Looks ready for the beach on the weekend..........
Of course I'd like to........we'll see.
h ·
kombibob wrote:Bloody hell, what neighbourhood have we bought into. Lol
muwaahaahhahaahaha!
it won't be long before u are up in these parts
good to see this thing under it's own steam again matt 😵💫
c'mon bob I see you in something in the 'highlife' to become a local..
like days of old in the blue n white beast
baja the 'crete' ute.. I'm sure ash won't notice 😂
h ·
masters of the universe in action working out when it doesn't gogo 😂
i can roll start this in reverse fellas 🤪
h ·
matty b getting rescued by casey 😂
vassy66T1 ·
😏
The Adventurous Mr Berry 👍
matberry ·
Ahh h, I asked for pics mate, but I thought you had some of the baja going, these were after Casey broke it.....😂😂
Thanks for helping by the way, bloody beetle needs to loose some more kg's so next time I will lift it out of the hole....hang about, I'm fitting up the steering brakes right now ...... 🙂 no more getting stuck on little ruts......😂
Thanks Tassie cruiser Marcus
matberry ·
Well managed a few upgrades on the baja.
I planned to take it on the Manx Club annual Teewah beach camping trip, so a few mods were necessary, some for the car and some the occupants. 🙂
I had only been using the engine for short running periods so hadn't hooked up the oil cooler, but summer being on us and with a trip up the beach I knew the massive cooler and thermo fan wouldn't go astray. These were fitted in the return line back to the dry sump onto the rear parcel shelf with a big hole underneath for airflow. . I plan to duct the oil cooler exhaust air out under the back window, but figured until then the cabin air could flow through and do the cooling chores......unfortunately, the natural flow is in through the cooler and over the roof to exit out the front 1/4 windows heating up the cabin like a ripper! Bring on winter.
So I figured a little extra air flow might change things, thanks to Ritchie, I had these genuine popouts to be fitted, so in they went.
How's the uber cool decals on the windows......one on each side 🙂
I also had a steering brake that I was wanting to fit. All the hardware was here, so no excuses......
A bracket to mount the handle was all that was needed. This was made from sheet steel and not a hole needed to be drilled into the chassis for fitment. 🙂 It uses the handbrake mount and seatbelt bolts.
All fits.....
So made it up the beach too
16 buggies made it up over the weekend, and these were the campers on Saturday night. 👍
After a little play with Craigo and his manx.
hellbugged ·
Awsome Matty, love it!!!!........but I'm no longer heading into this thread.
I have always wanted a baja and looking in here is just self damaging
(nice shifter 😂)
h ·
however, after a 'little play'
indeed scaring small non VW related children to death who were camped alongside I hear on the VW grapevine
+ copping the wrath of the irate mother pointing the bone at ur ride no doubt 😂
you bad boy matt 😂
matberry ·
h wrote:however, after a 'little play'
indeed scaring small non VW related children to death who were camped alongside I hear on the VW grapevine
+ copping the wrath of the irate mother pointing the bone at ur ride no doubt 😂
you bad boy matt 😂
mmmmm, no 'scaring little kiddies' but I had the bone pointed indeed. Bloody fun police! We know that they were pi$$ed off only because thier Pajero/Landcruiser/Hilux/Jeep (insert which ever suits) was one BORING ride. Oh, and that a 2am donut run was made the night before.....one of those manx drivers me thinks. :O 😉
11CAB ·
Hey fairs fair, I have small children as well, and I wouldn't want someone hooning around near my kids. I'm not the fun police, but don't do it around the camping areas, it just ruins it for all of us, and we stick out a lot more than "some idiot 4wder"
matberry ·
11CAB wrote:Hey fairs fair, I have small children as well, and I wouldn't want someone hooning around near my kids. I'm not the fun police, but don't do it around the camping areas, it just ruins it for all of us, and we stick out a lot more than "some idiot 4wder"
I'm not so sure there were any kids around.....where's the pics dude!!!
No pics........never happened your Honour.
nils ·
great to see this thing up and about matt!
get any use out of that cutting brake yet? Is great fun though the single tracks like the kings bore and the inland tracks on fraser, and as far a stockton is concerned I have no idea how anyone steers without it.
And graham is right, soon as kids are there, I'm at a snails pace (course with that motor out back your snails pace is same as me with the gas mashed to the firewall)
11CAB ·
matberry wrote:I'm not so sure there were any kids around.....
I'm not saying that there were kids out when you were, but small children are unpredictable, thats why the whole stretch of beach where camping is permitted is now 50km/h........... Anywhere that there is camping i assume that a small child could run out at any time so take things very slow. When in front of the public we need to show we're resonsible so we dont lose our ability to enjoy driving on the beach
We did find this about 500m east of the Rainbow Rocks
11CAB ·
And since this is Matt's thread, here's some pics of the new addition he was running for the weekend......... :P
bugboymatt ·
11CAB wrote:We did find this about 500m east of the Rainbow Rocks
That's cool mate. Great Pics. 🙂
11CAB ·
Here's Matt checking that his throttle return springs are working.......
h ·
11CAB wrote:
matberry wrote:I'm not so sure there were any kids around.....
I'm not saying that there were kids out when you were, but small children are unpredictable, thats why the whole stretch of beach where camping is permitted is now 50km/h........... Anywhere that there is camping i assume that a small child could run out at any time so take things very slow. When in front of the public we need to show we're resonsible so we dont lose our ability to enjoy driving on the beach
ok ok ok geezzee louise
PC gone mad so just to 'CLARIFY'
I 'heard' from the grapevine which is not gospel guys about scaring kids
so it is obvious that no children were harmed when the fun was had if indeed there was any fun
I'm sure no one was smiling even sideways glancing
fun police suck balls
yes we all slow down when kids n the beach mix that's a given
let's not turn this into the PC BS thread n get back to matts ride n the fangin awesome pics posted about the weekend just gone..
enuff said done n dusted 😵💫
11CAB ·
And yes the turning brakes do work.......
11CAB ·
h wrote:ok ok ok geezzee louise
PC gone mad
Its not PC BS as you call it, I was there, you were not...... I'm not saying dont have fun, just dont do it in the camping zone. You wouldnt like someone "having fun" in front of your house.
h ·
yes true was not there was I
heard on the grapevine is the point here
n yes much hooning happens past my front yard regulary
great pics nuff said
thanks for pointing that out
mactaylor ·
great pics keep hooning, but keep to the posted limit. (no signs 100 kph)
matberry ·
Well.......thanks for the pics IIcab.
Thanks for the comments too folks.
Sorry to the Manx Club if there were any kids around and I stepped over a mark, my lead toenails do get me into trouble now and again, but alls cool....or needs to be 🙂
Yes, as Graham posted, the turning brakes work a treat (as do the throttle return springs 🙂 ). I have type 3 rear drums, and am surprised how well they work with the turning brakes applied. I'm keen to try them on some heavy offroading as that's the main use I expected for them, stopping a wheel spinning in a hole..... I think with some quality rear disc's they would obviously be better again, needing less handle pressure for any effect.
matberry ·
And how big is this rooster!!!!!!
h ·
mactaylor wrote:great pics keep hooning..
👍 awesomeness
mactaylor ·
matberry wrote:And how big is this rooster!!!!!!
very cool mat! doin a bit of strip mining!!!
matberry ·
Update
Mactaylor, you'll be happy to hear, mining has once again commenced.
Thanks to Paul at Crankykits, my engine can now be reliably started. What a difference that little tiny (only fed rice) startermotor makes.
So during the week the continuing saga of getting this thing somewhat more reliable began.
I've had front end steering shimmy like a bloody strut bug, who'd a thunk it, this thing has suspension modeled on tractor engineering (hope you liked that one Steve), but with the slight rear down attitude it had 7.5* of castor, so I pulled the shims, also tweaked the toe and it's 99% better. The last issues feel totally due to the old rims not being 100% straight.
I had also bartered for a set of new rear tyres, hopefully curing my imtermittant rear tyre deflation system. Tyres went on at 4pm Friday, I had by then the weeks work on customer cars finished so a few essentials went in the back and I hit the beach just before high tide as evening fell to join the early crew of the Manx Buggy Club Double Island weekend assault.
Twas such a beautiful day I couldn't resist a baja shot or two as I left this morning.
tar76 ·
Must been that warm up you gave it on Friday morning dude! Couldn't get the smile off my face. how about you lower that bad boy down a bit gear it up and we hit targa Tasmania 😵
Smiley ·
tar76 wrote:how about you lower that bad boy down a bit
Wash your mouth out!!! It's a baja 😂😂😂😂
Or half of one at least 😀
Smiley 🙂
h ·
OMG scaring small children again have we 😂
good to see this wreck back on the road
I wonder how long it will go for this time 😂
11CAB ·
Good to see you've finally put a Subaru motor in it :P
baghall ·
Some great pics Matt. Nice to see you guys enjoying the cars. So glad to see one of you guys drove on to the roof of the 4wd.👍
matberry ·
Thanks guy's, wish I was using it more often 🙂
kombibob ·
Went for a spin with Matt in this thing today....what can i say? gay as!!! couldnt pull the skin off custard.
Excuse me now i have to wash my pants😊.
matberry ·
Bob, after you've cleaned your undies, tell us if you enjoyed your 'off-road' excursion. After all we know you normally cruise in low-riders. 😂
kombibob ·
No Matt it was fun😵💫, when we going out again?????
Just let me know before hand so i can make an excuse to have something else on..
THAT THING IS MADDD....LOVE IT!!
tar76 ·
matberry wrote:Bob, after you've cleaned your undies, tell us if you enjoyed your 'off-road' excursion. After all we know you normally cruise in low-riders. 😂
hope you buried that right foot Matt?
When i went bob i nearly fell a sleep 😉
matberry ·
Yep...burried that foot at Warwick a few times. Muddies certainly have a few traction issues on the drag strip......
We had a great weekend, I'd like to say thanks too, to the track officials, to Craig Hughes who took the piss out of me at presentation and making me feel even worse attempting to be coherent whilst public speaking, to the racers and spectators and everyone else that makes it an event.
As usual the event ran like clockwork and at least from our perspective couldn't be better. Every one in our camp had a great time and there were no breakages to report. A few minor glitches was all, me with a CV circlip issue making me think I had a broken CV or axle when I did my first practice launch early sat. Made me miss the cruise into town but was better then than on the track. Tony had a miss fire that was a little fan eating MSD wiring issue that once rectified his 2276 ran faultlessly, Damo and Col both had trouble free days and I won the VW Special class.
VW Special class win 🙂
Short vid during qualifing
:
homeward bound
baghall ·
Congrats Matt, well done, but what is the special class?
11CAB ·
Buggies, Baja's, Formula Vees etc
westi ·
matt's special ,and needed a class al of his own.😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂