Hello

[VWSpenn]

Hello,

Thanks for the add. I have been looking at the Facebook page and thought I had better get on here before bugging everyone with questions.

Had many beetles over the years, a camper and always loved the beach buggy. The wife must be going a bit crazy over the lockdown and finally said yes I can Convert my bug so here I am.

I am planning a LWB buggy for easy. I have a good 72 chassis. I have stripped it back and waiting to get blasted and painted. Gearbox already painted ready to go.

Couple of questions to get started

1. When I put the gearbox back in, how many splines should I go down to get the rear axle even with the weight of the buggy.
2. I have 4 stud disks and drums on rear. What are the wheel options or should I go 5 stud?
3. What are the differences between and east coast buggy and ff buggy LWB? Can’t seem to see much except the price.
4. Colour. The wife and I have got some metal flake colours we like. Does anyone have a good picture of them we can see as the swatches online look different from pc to laptop etc
Emerald Green, violet firebird, black night sparkle are our shortlist.

Thanks for you help.

Spencer

[Roadrunner]

Hi Spencer,

I'm one of the 2 guys who run FF buggies.  If you message us through the Facebook page I can send you some videos of the flakes you are interested in, I have samples of all the ones we do.
https://www.facebook.com/ffdunebuggy

Splines
Get your buggy built, roll it before setting your splines, you will need to set this for your final weight and this will really depend on the weight of the components you use in your build.

Wheels
There are less choices available on the 4 stud wheels.  Your best bet is to have a look on Cool Air VW and see if there are and 4 stud that take your fancy https://www.coolairvw.co.uk/category/shop-by-vehicle/buggy-baja-and-trike/buggy-wheels/buggy-baja-buggy-and-trike-wheels/?per_page=10&page_no=2&sort=cSortRelevancy

You will have far greater choice of wheels in either porsche 5 stud or Chevy/Jag 5 stud patterns and are not limited to VW parts suppliers only.  For example
https://www.northhantstyres.com/main-wheel-page.php


The Buggy styles
East Coast supply the GT Buggy is a GP style buggy where the majority of the stretch from SWB is in the rear arches. 
The FF was reshaped so the stretch is hidden into the rear curve. 

At FF Buggies we put tubes into the undersides of our tubs for you to run wiring down.  We also blend in the backing gel colour into our fibreglass resin so there is constant colour through the shell.  The same colour is used in the underside flow coat.

There is also the option of a removable hard top roof with the FF, which can be provided in flake.

Flakes
Our flakes come in 4 different types:

• Straight/Rainbow - This is a single colour flake
• Holographic - This is 80% single colour with 20% silver hologram colour changing flake mixed in
• Chameleon - 100% pure colour hologram flake
• Blends - These are a mixture of flakes many of which are black based with colour mixed in

We can also supply the same flakes as East Coast, for a £50 premium or any of the Flake King range for £100.  Please note the yellow Ibbotson flakes also have a £100 premium due to the cost of those specialist flakes. 

[VWSpenn]

Thank you for the info.

I will message you on Facebook.

[Dave DND]

Welcome to the madhouse - Worth adding your location to your profile as you may find others nearby that can help if needed.

The LWB roof that Gordon designed for the FF is a real game changer, especially when you see how fast and easily it can be fitted or removed - probably quicker than typing this reply !!

 

[Hugh]

Welcome.

Gordon has given you some great advice and you could do with viewing metal flake in person as it really varies enormously in its subtle and stunning appearance in reality.

Hopefully there will be some gathering of buggys soon but giving your location may well reveal several metal flake buggys nearish you that their owners would happily show you.

 

[Hunter]

Greetings and welcome,

Brace yourself and fill a flask with tea/coffee or get a good supply of beer at hand, here (  http://www.manxmaniac.co.uk/index.php  ) is where at least a few hours will vanish, you will come away with so much inspiration and probably loads of questions but a very nice feeling of buggy-ing.

As the guys have said put your area location and make sure you have a good biscuit and coffee/tea supply cos once lockdown is over you may have a visitor to cross your path!

Cheers Hunter

[Manxdavid]

Hello and welcome!

As a start point for the rear I usually set the spring plates so that you can just about lever the plate onto to downward stop on the rear forging with a screw driver. If that doesn't make sense just try moving the spring plate up a spline and see how it sits with the engine in and having driven or at least rolled it round z good bit

[Paul1953]

its a high from me   

[Doon L001]

Hello and welcome

Re splines, as Gordon said drive it for a while to let it settle first. When I raised mine a notch it took a good 20 miles to settle in

Peter's site Manxmaniac has a guide for lowering the rear with all the information you will need

Dave

[pepsi81]

Welcome from up here. Enjoy

[billa4x4]