I thought it was about time I put some of my photos of this buggy in order, and that prompted this build thread, better late than never.
It will take me a while to get this up to date so be patient.
This first post will be what it was like when I bought it, without looking at the number plate anyone who doesn't know it would struggle to recognise it in the Stoneleigh pics.

I bought Doon LWB 001 in September 2009, it had a recent MOT which should have been perforated and on a roll, it had lights fitted but not even wired in, an instant fail. A caliper bolt missing, all bolts on the half shafts were loose, seats were loose and so it went on.

I ended up with a buggy when the firm I worked for paid out a bonus, my wife said to buy a toy so I started looking at motorbikes and she diverted me to buggies.  Glad she did as I am still alive.
When it arrived I was all excited as it was driven off a trailer setting off all  the neighbour's car alarms but a quick drive round the block told me I needed to check it over thoroughly and get the spanners out and give it a good going over before driving it again.

And here she is.


It had a 1600 engine, single carb, twin cannons and smoked badly at start up.  The only tinware was the fanshroud as can be seen from this pic.


The interior was carpetted and had a yellow steering wheel that just did not go, plus the fact I had to move my left leg right out of the way to change gear as it wedged between the gearstick and the wheel.


It was also running tiny wheels, 14x6 with low profile tyres on the front.  It stuck to the road like glue, accelerated well but was screaming at 50 mph


Here is a link to the album of how it started off if you want to see more.
http://s391.photobucket.com/user/DoonL001/library/Buggy%20rebuild%20thread/Buggy%20as%20bought%20Sept%202007?sort=3&page=1

It's making me tired thinking about all the work I have done on it, so more tomorrow.
Enjoy
Dave

And now we move on a year to September 2008
After getting it roadworthy and legal by tightening up pretty well every bolt, wiring up the rear fog, changing to black and white number plates and getting the number plate light working, fixing the steering joint so it didnt slip when cornering and umpteen other jobs I enjoyed it all summer.
I had also found when I decelerated or cornered hard I got oil smoke, easy fix, the rocker covers had the fittings for a breather box but no pipes or box so oil sprayed right on the J tubes, so fitted a breather box.

By September I had fitted 15" back wheels and tall tyres, raised it a notch on the rear torsion bars and fitted higher profile tyres on the front which had the added bonus of making my speedo  read somewhere near the actual speed.
It was starting to look like a beach buggy rather than a skateboard.


The engine had also been out to fix some oil leaks, I also put on twin Weber 34 ICTs as the original carb was showing its age. Hex linkage wouldnt fit without fouling the body so in went the centre pull type. cannons wouldnt fit as they fouled the carbs so tried Zoomies.  Also got some cylinder tins and the small deflectors to go underneath, so now had the bare minimum.  Cylinder tins started to rust as soon as the packaging  was undone so the hunt started for genuine VW stuff.
Also named her "Weather Permitting"


I had also replaced the back seats, 2 bits of trimmed padding held in badly with Velcro with a couple of seats from a sit on mower or small digger, a lucky find at a car boot sale.
All it needed now was a rollcage to replace the hideously ugly square section thing it came with and give me seat belt mounts at the back, so I got designing.


I also had a rear cage made so I could mount the number plate better and the Cannons modified so they could go back on.
This was the end result made by a wizard welder I found after fitting my full harness seat belts.




By now had also fitted some guages and reworked the dash for the first time and put an oil filter on, oh and some rear/brake lights you could actually see.


Really happy with the results although went back later to get the top centre bar replaced with a cross of bars to stiffen it, while I was there had a front bumper made with the left over stainless and a lockable box to fit behind the front seats made up out of chequer plate.

Anyway, enough for now - more tomorrow.
Full set of these photos here if interested
http://s391.photobucket.com/user/DoonL001/library/Buggy%20rebuild%20thread/Buggy%20progress%20Sept%202008?sort=3&page=1

Dave

Looked even better in the flesh at the show the other week

Cool

Thanks both.

Looked even better in the flesh at the show the other week

That's because it's had several more years of changes that I haven't posted up yet, watch this space.

Looks nice and different from the rest with the cage design, was good to see it and meet you at stoneleigh.

You know Snoopy we talked for I while but I had no idea it was Snoopy until you posted the pictures of your sunburn.  We must have name tags next time.

Anyway, back to the buggy
By Christmas 2009 I hadnt done much more.  Had a front bumper


And the brass inserts for the dash, I thought they would look good and they covered the holes, were becoming a pain to keep shiny


By March 2010 the engine had been swapped for a Dan Simpson 1776 unit, proper VW tinware including undertin painted white (bad idea, hard to keep clean - IMHO of course), Pertronix ignition and flamethrower and an alternator fitted.


I had also got the cage change to a X pattern on top which made it much stiffer and, I think, looked better.


The next things needed were a roof so I could use her all year round and a decent exhaust as the new engine was being strangled and just wouldnt run well, it also blew the baffles out the first time I opened it up.
So a nice drive to Guildford (140 miles or so) in December through the snow to see Graham (Whiff).  I had designed the roof and with a few practical changes he built pretty much what I asked for.
This is the buggy at Clacketts Lane services on the M25 on the way there, a police Range Rover had just pulled up next to me and the driver had questioned my sanity.

The buggy just drove through the slush no problem while all the modern cars were all over the place, but it was a bit nippy.

Picked it up in February 2011, nice and cosy with the new roof, well pleased with it.  Roof has a rear section that fits under a fibreglass seal, a Whiff's speciality, a front section that can be used on its own on top of the cage as a useful sunshade, and side panels.  The back section also has the middle panel able to be rolled back.
when I picked it up I had no indicators, so off to see Mike the exhaust magician. Guildford to Silverstone in constant drizzle with the view restricted by the roof and no indicators, still go fast enough and no-one behind needs to know where you are going 

Rolled around in the mud with Mike as it gradually got darker while he finished off the exhaust millimetre perfect - cant praise his work enough.    Before and after pics below.



What a difference, the engine now revved freely and I had about 500 more useable revs at the bottom end, it even idled 
You can also see the new teardrop led rear lights from Pop Brown and the reflectors fitted as an MOT advisory.

More pics of the exhaust here
http://s391.photobucket.com/user/DoonL001/library/Buggy%20exhaust?sort=3&page=1

Enough typing for now, more to follow
Dave

Hi Dave Shaggy posted his sunburn pictures there were a awful lot of meets to remember everyone

Hi Dave Shaggy posted his sunburn pictures there were a awful lot of meets to remember everyone

I rest my case for the name tags, I spoke to both of you 

Anyway, as people are reading my drivel time for more (topical eh - see other threads  )

I left this with no indicators early 2011.
Waited for the rain to stop and started to fault find.  Traced the indicator cable, first problem, one went into the tubes under the tub and came out the other end a different colour, time to get worried.  I knew the wiring wasn't done well but this was silly.  Bit the bullet and cut the cable, couldn't pull it through the tube, so did the same the other end.
Whoever wired it had taken a beetle loom, cut it and joined bits together with chocolate block connectors and odd bits of wire and tucked the lot in the tubes.  Some were done with a thick wire going in one end and 2 thinner bits taking it through the tube, other cables were pushed through the loops, time for  .
Bit the bullet and just stripped the lot out to start again, then discovered there are loads of different wiring diagrams so with lots of advice (thanks Chad, Peter and everyone else), Peters wiring diagram and loads of trial and error but no blown fuses or smoke I rewired the lot and ended up with a much more reliable, but slightly over engineered, wiring loom.  Took 3 months of weekends and evenings.
Here is a little of the mess I removed


And here is an "in progress" picture


Dont have any to hand of the finished job but some have seen under the bonnet.

Anyway all sorted and back on the road for summer 2011.

Now to deviate a bit (ooh er missus - showing my age here), just found some pictures before 2011, here are a few I think are interesting.
I worked at Sizewell B and found out just after getting my hands on Doon LWB 001 that the owner of Doon LWB 004 also worked there sometimes.  Here are a few pics of them playing together



Just like at Stoneleigh I found it amazing how the same cars can be so different

I also had some pictures taken for my local club calendar, Miss August, sorry about the hat, great fun had by all.



And here she is sheltering from a sudden storm at the NATS hot rod show in 2010, this is when I decided to remove the carpet and get a roof


And finally Mel Hubbard (remember him?) donated a navigator to me

This is Poppy, she was 6 months old when Mel had to find another home for her, she is a bit older in this pic and is more popular than the buggy at shows, just ask Clem what happened at Battlesbridge when I put her in the car ready to leave

More later
Dave

I'm sure we met at Mell's one time when he had one of his BBQs

I'm sure we met at Mell's one time when he had one of his BBQs

I think you are right Shaggy, was that the one with the big build up to how he would light it? And he was riding around on an antque boneshaker?
thats the only one of his bbqs  I have been to although I have been up to see him a few times
Dave