LWB or SWB ? what are the pros and cons of each , thanks Jon ;-)up
Are you thinking to build or to buy?
Hard one that as it depends what you like and want LWB has more space SWB is more maneuverable both can be rough to drive if not set up, the V5c should show correctly registered ie something other than a beetle saloon although many are not with no problems.
The beauty is no two buggies are the same.
Best to get to a show or if you can find buggy owners in your area to have a look and a ride in one or more.
Where in the country are you, there's bound to be a show with buggys somewhere you can get to
Quote from: Doon L001 on February 02, 2022, 08:21:19 PM
Where in the country are you, there's bound to be a show with buggys somewhere you can get to
In Newcastle , not the weather for buggy shows at the moment !
There are buggies up there on the member map if still owned and Paul1953 is busy building one.
I went SWB, because that is what I was presented with at the time
Rebuilt it many times now, and loved every minute of it.
I am 100% certain that if I was presented with a LWB one many moons ago that I would still have rebuilt it many times and loved every minute of it.
LWB or SWB ? Unless you have a set criteria to fulfil, then it really doesn't matter - Its still a Buggy ;-)up
If I were building a new buggy from scratch it'd have to be a lwb, I'd never consider a swb with all of the IVA test and registration hassles. There have never been so many good looking lwb buggies out there as there are nowadays.
I built this a few years ago from spare parts that I had lying around and a reject body, it was a truly great car!
It's an early shape Jas buggy.
(https://i.postimg.cc/vZSzgqQw/Screenshot-20220129-103511-2.png) (https://postimages.org/)
(https://i.postimg.cc/7YHMB8hy/IMG-20130711-00199-zps4e814e93.jpg) (https://postimages.org/)
Quote from: Manxdavid on February 02, 2022, 11:03:50 PM
If I were building a new buggy from scratch it'd have to be a lwb, I'd never consider a swb with all of the IVA test and registration hassles. There have never been so many good looking lwb buggies out there as there are nowadays.
I built this a few years ago from spare parts that I had lying around and a reject body, it was a truly great car!
It's an early shape Jas buggy.
My current inspiration. 8)
I'm going LWB due to bureaucracy.
(https://i.postimg.cc/vZSzgqQw/Screenshot-20220129-103511-2.png) (https://postimages.org/)
(https://i.postimg.cc/7YHMB8hy/IMG-20130711-00199-zps4e814e93.jpg) (https://postimages.org/)
This is the shell that it's based on.
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/VW-Beach-Buggy-LWB-Body-Shell-Bonnet-Dash-Fibre-Glass-Baja-Rail-Classic-Beetle-/142488328654?mkcid=16&mkevt=1&_trksid=p2349624.m46890.l49286&mkrid=710-127635-2958-0
Quote from: Manxdavid on February 03, 2022, 08:04:39 AM
This is the shell that it's based on.
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/VW-Beach-Buggy-LWB-Body-Shell-Bonnet-Dash-Fibre-Glass-Baja-Rail-Classic-Beetle-/142488328654?mkcid=16&mkevt=1&_trksid=p2349624.m46890.l49286&mkrid=710-127635-2958-0
Thanks ;-)up
LWB kits also available from FF, Doon, Jas, Volksrod, Californian, Meyers Manxter (from Portugal) and GT.
Quote from: Manxdavid on February 03, 2022, 08:04:39 AM
This is the shell that it's based on.
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/VW-Beach-Buggy-LWB-Body-Shell-Bonnet-Dash-Fibre-Glass-Baja-Rail-Classic-Beetle-/142488328654?mkcid=16&mkevt=1&_trksid=p2349624.m46890.l49286&mkrid=710-127635-2958-0
Yes I had seen those and didn't realise the blue one was yours. Nice to see your rear end, :-* as I'm less keen on the FF rear.
It`s a Hi from me ;-)up I am approx 35 miles south of the Metro Centre... Down A1 and off at the Sedgefield / Bishop Auckland junction.
Your lwb / swb question has so many variables that it`s not straight forward to answer in a few words..... Lwb no issues with iva . Swb from scratch iva... Rebody / Rebuild an existing swb a good choice but you must check chassis vin number in relation to V5C and be sure what you get is legitimate in registration.
Quote from: Paul1953 on February 04, 2022, 06:53:13 AM
It`s a Hi from me ;-)up I am approx 35 miles south of the Metro Centre... Down A1 and off at the Sedgefield / Bishop Auckland junction.
Your lwb / swb question has so many variables that it`s not straight forward to answer in a few words..... Lwb no issues with iva . Swb from scratch iva... Rebody / Rebuild an existing swb a good choice but you must check chassis vin number in relation to V5C and be sure what you get is legitimate in registration.
;-)up
LWB has no issues with IVA as long as the chassis is completely standard including the floors which can be replaced but only with stock replacements.
When you send the V627/1 form off to get the description changed you may have to use a little 'poetic license' when it comes to some of the answers.
This is how I send one off recently, they took 'Beetle 1300' off the logbook altogether and changed saloon to convertible so it's just down as VW convertible, correct but nice and vague as well, result!
(https://i.postimg.cc/Kz0HB1x8/IMG-20210418-154651694-1-1.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/7GT9yY5F)
(https://i.postimg.cc/SQtPKYgZ/IMG-20210418-154716846-1-2.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/9zZb805T)
(https://i.postimg.cc/15qv5Cnt/IMG-20210804-122428086-1.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/GHbFXjjw)
(https://i.postimg.cc/25zGGCHb/IMG-20210804-122440098-1.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/cvbf4GG0)
£450 for an IVA test ?
Quote from: Myfirstbuggy on February 04, 2022, 03:55:05 PM
£450 for an IVA test ?
Yep ;-)up
(https://i.postimg.cc/15WRSV3R/Screenshot-20220204-161945.png) (https://postimg.cc/svhC9XWb)
How does the car tax work out on an IVA registered ( Q plate I'm assuming ? ) buggy
IVA.... Q plate which cannot be changed. No MOT for 3 years per new production vehicle. Car Tax.... very good question and to be honest I have not thought of this and I do not know what criteria applies here.
If you decide to go down the IVA route do your homework thoroughly. Vosa test station just down the road from you at Blyth.
Quote from: Paul1953 on February 04, 2022, 05:35:34 PM
IVA.... Q plate which cannot be changed. No MOT for 3 years per new production vehicle. Car Tax.... very good question and to be honest I have not thought of this and I do not know what criteria applies here.
If you decide to go down the IVA route do your homework thoroughly. Vosa test station just down the road from you at Blyth.
there's a Test station showing at sandy lane Gosforth , which is very close to me
How much should I pay for a donor vehicle or do I shop around for the parts , donor cars seem as rare as hens teeth and certainly not cheap , what's the best road to go down ?
A lwb on facebook beachbuggy.info 80% completed £2750 ono in Wales.
LWB all day long for me. No IVA or other issues. MOT exemption is lost as classed as modified so from when you build it and change the V5 to something other than beetle you'll have 30 years to get MOT exemption back. It's still tax exempt unless its put on a Q plate (SWB)
LWB seem to behave better on the road and no issues with chopping cables down or geometry issues with the front. Maybe i'm biased as i love my LWB but it causes a lot let problems and you have room to take stuff in the back if needed
(https://i.postimg.cc/02hs1Ptv/248205361-10158749074687198-5549592522318042385-n.jpg) (https://postimages.org/)
Quote from: cunningstunt on February 05, 2022, 07:33:10 PM
LWB all day long for me. No IVA or other issues. MOT exemption is lost as classed as modified so from when you build it and change the V5 to something other than beetle you'll have 30 years to get MOT exemption back. It's still tax exempt unless its put on a Q plate (SWB)
LWB seem to behave better on the road and no issues with chopping cables down or geometry issues with the front. Maybe i'm biased as i love my LWB but it causes a lot let problems and you have room to take stuff in the back if needed
(https://i.postimg.cc/02hs1Ptv/248205361-10158749074687198-5549592522318042385-n.jpg) (https://postimages.org/)
Thanks , starting to come around to LWB , it does seem a lot less hassle
Quote from: Paul1953 on February 04, 2022, 05:35:34 PM
IVA.... Q plate which cannot be changed. No MOT for 3 years per new production vehicle. Car Tax.... very good question and to be honest I have not thought of this and I do not know what criteria applies here.
If you decide to go down the IVA route do your homework thoroughly. Vosa test station just down the road from you at Blyth.
Apologies Gosforth it is not Blyth...
A bit of advice learned from experience...... From the donor vehicle keep and re-use as many original parts as you can. Anything left over keep for the future or put on ebay.....
Having built at least 4 swb buggies and 2 lwb buggies completely from scratch I know that at my advanced age, if I started to build an IVA compliant swb it'd never get finished and would never make it onto the road and I'd get damned annoyed at putting unecessary stuff on the car just because the government says... demisters, really!?
Conversely I could put a good, solid, basic lwb car together and on the road in a week or two as long as I didn't have to rebuild the engine and the floors were good.
I'm with cunningstunt on this one these days I'm afraid.
I see the IVA test as a way to slowly remove modded, home built and low production cars from the road by discouraging new builds as it gets tougher with every amendment added and the older cars will get laid up or broken so off the road, we will end up with a few specialist kit firms like Caterham selling complete or nearly completed cars with parts to pass the test.
From things in the past I understand some production cars which are certified and have vin numbers would fail an IVA test.
As David says re-bodying like a lwb buggy is the easy option to something different.
If I were starting from scratch I think I'd go for an existing buggy that needs a re-body/refurb. If you started collecting odd parts you can really get bogged down by little missing bits and pieces, especially as there are so few autojumbles and grass roots shows these days, forums have gone quiet and eBay ain't what it was.
My other credo is when starting out keep it as standard VW as possible, don't feel you automatically need a big motor, four wheel discs etc. They can come later but are by no means necessary.
I'm with the other Buggy Old Timmers on here and would say LWB if you are thinking building yourself.
As others have said really.
1. Easy to register
2. Easier to build as parts don't need modifying etc.
3. Less harsh and twitchy ride
4. More space to carry stuff.
Chad
Quote from: Chad on February 06, 2022, 07:00:34 PM
I'm with the other Buggy Old Timmers on here and would say LWB if you are thinking building yourself.
As others have said really.
1. Easy to register
2. Easier to build as parts don't need modifying etc.
3. Less harsh and twitchy ride
4. More space to carry stuff.
Chad
Thanks , Jon
If you wanted to look at one in progress, I live about 20 minutes away in Wideopen. Just give me a shout
Quote from: pete on February 07, 2022, 04:51:37 PM
If you wanted to look at one in progress, I live about 20 minutes away in Wideopen. Just give me a shout
Thanks for the kind offer , what are you building ?
Quote from: Myfirstbuggy on February 07, 2022, 10:18:28 PM
Quote from: pete on February 07, 2022, 04:51:37 PM
If you wanted to look at one in progress, I live about 20 minutes away in Wideopen. Just give me a shout
Thanks for the kind offer , what are you building ?
It's a SWB, shell is called a Retro Surf. Been a very long term project ;D
I went down the LWB route 19 years ago, they drive well on a long trip and as others have said you end up using standard bits
(https://i.postimg.cc/50bK707b/DSC-0767.jpg) (https://postimages.org/)
What ever you build they are great fun to own
Chris
Quote from: Doon L004 on February 11, 2022, 09:46:09 AM
I went down the LWB route 19 years ago, they drive well on a long trip and as others have said you end up using standard bits
(https://i.postimg.cc/50bK707b/DSC-0767.jpg) (https://postimages.org/)
What ever you build they are great fun to own
Chris
Looks good , can I ask where you got the roll cage from ?
The roll cage was custom built and fitted by Volksmagic after I had completed the build of the buggy
(https://i.postimg.cc/sX37G0qy/2006-3-5.jpg) (https://postimages.org/)
There some more photo's on my web site, the link is at the bottom of this post
Chris
Ok , I have stated my buggy journey , bought a rolling chassis from a 1972 Marathon ,1600 TP , disc brakes ( standard issue I assume ? ) front beam is in excellent condition , sadly the chassis is not quite so good , someone has started to renew the floorpans and made a bit of a mess of it so it needs a bit of welding , and on that subject , who do you guys recommend for panel suppliers and also the front beam has an anti roll bar , should I leave this on or take it off ? The Wifes comments about the chassis are not for public consumption !
Full length pans the cheap ones £70 ish are ok but need a strengthening box around them as they are floppy the £250 ones are far superior in strengt. Being a new build the floor can have extra strength added but must be as factory look.
Anti roll bars can be binned.
Quote from: snoopy on February 12, 2022, 07:29:56 PM
Full length pans the cheap ones £70 ish are ok but need a strengthening box around them as they are floppy the £250 ones are far superior in strengt. Being a new build the floor can have extra strength added but must be as factory look.
Anti roll bars can be binned.
Thanks
I'm mid drama viz a vi floor pans.
I've returned some that were not a thick as advertised.
I've enquired at limebug, they no longer supply 1.1mm pans.
So my options are JK cheapo which are slightly thicker than other cheapos and also cheaper, or go into the £250 + per side pans.
Quote from: Myfirstbuggy on February 12, 2022, 07:04:05 PM
Ok , I have stated my buggy journey , bought a rolling chassis from a 1972 Marathon ,1600 TP , disc brakes ( standard issue I assume ? ) front beam is in excellent condition , sadly the chassis is not quite so good , someone has started to renew the floorpans and made a bit of a mess of it so it needs a bit of welding , and on that subject , who do you guys recommend for panel suppliers and also the front beam has an anti roll bar , should I leave this on or take it off ? The Wifes comments about the chassis are not for public consumption !
The 1972 Marathon's all had drum brakes at the front and were 1300cc engines, so you rolling chassis has had some updates done to it, my Doon was build from a 1972 Marathon that had more filler in the body than metal!
As Snoopy said you can get rid of the anti roll bar
Chris
or go into the £250 + per side pans.
All things are subjective, open to each individuals view, which is fine... For me, and I do understand being on a tight budget as many are and having been on the tightest of all budgets myself way back in the mists of time, I would opt for the best you can afford. It`s a one off thing that will last you for years. ;D ;D
Schofields (not far from where I live) has a good reputation for everything he sells (though he can be a bit expensive). The full size pans halves are £210 plus VAT and 1.2MM thick. Never used them myself but I know a few Beetle owners who have used them and they were really happy.
https://www.alanhschofield.com/ourparts/prod_6371250-Beetle-Floor-Pan-Half-Left-7379-111701061Q.html
https://www.alanhschofield.com/ourparts/prod_6371254-Beetle-Floor-Pan-Half-Right-7379-111701062Q.html
Quote from: Krug on February 13, 2022, 04:16:04 PM
Schofields (not far from where I live) has a good reputation for everything he sells (though he can be a bit expensive). The full size pans halves are £210 plus VAT and 1.2MM thick. Never used them myself but I know a few Beetle owners who have used them and they were really happy.
https://www.alanhschofield.com/ourparts/prod_6371250-Beetle-Floor-Pan-Half-Left-7379-111701061Q.html
https://www.alanhschofield.com/ourparts/prod_6371254-Beetle-Floor-Pan-Half-Right-7379-111701062Q.html
Thanks for that , it's surprising the variation in quality of these panels
I've always used the thinner, cheaper pans, I've just found they need some reinforcement in the areas of the seat mountings. You could also add a square or round reinforcement under the outer lip of the chassis, this is what Bruce Meyers recommend in Manx instructions.
(https://i.postimg.cc/pXcv8Hg8/manxscan.jpg) (https://postimages.org/)
I've always been a advocate of the thick pans. My last set came from GSF and they were the highest gauge I could find at the time (again about £250)
Probably the best place to look for them now would be Custom and Commercial. Their panels seem to be superior to other manufacturers.
Always worth signing up to their newsletter.
If you decide to go down the route of buying a LWB FF buggy we have a metallic blue colour available which is very close to the original Marathon Beetle colour.
Quote from: Roadrunner on February 22, 2022, 11:16:50 PM
I've always been a advocate of the thick pans. My last set came from GSF and they were the highest gauge I could find at the time (again about £250)
Probably the best place to look for them now would be Custom and Commercial. Their panels seem to be superior to other manufacturers.
Always worth signing up to their newsletter.
If you decide to go down the route of buying a LWB FF buggy we have a metallic blue colour available which is very close to the original Marathon Beetle colour.
Must admit I'm strangely drawn to a LWB FF with the freaky looking roof , anyone got one , what are peoples thoughts , pros and cons ?
Quote from: Myfirstbuggy on March 03, 2022, 11:30:32 PM
Must admit I'm strangely drawn to a LWB FF with the freaky looking roof , anyone got one , what are peoples thoughts , pros and cons ?
Speak with Gordon - Roadrunner ^^^
He will answer anything you want to know as he not only has one, but He makes them too !!
(http://www.ffbuggies.co.uk/uploads/5/6/6/8/56687007/img-0419_orig.jpeg)
And from first hand experience, I can tell you that the roof is so easy to fit and remove as necessary ;-)up
As Dave says speak to Gordon. I really like the design, nice and low for getting in and out and that roof reminds me of a Herman Munster hot rod model I once had
An FF moulded in pale blue flake with a cream roof and wide Marathon wheels would be so cool... :D
I don't have the roof but I do have a LWB FF. Best looking shell there is, that's why I bought it..... in 1985 (it's a mk1) ;-)up
Quote from: Zip Buggy on March 04, 2022, 04:58:44 PM
I don't have the roof but I do have a LWB FF. Best looking shell there is, that's why I bought it..... in 1985 (it's a mk1) ;-)up
How many marks are there? What are the differences?
Quote from: Myfirstbuggy on March 03, 2022, 11:30:32 PM
Quote from: Roadrunner on February 22, 2022, 11:16:50 PM
I've always been a advocate of the thick pans. My last set came from GSF and they were the highest gauge I could find at the time (again about £250)
Probably the best place to look for them now would be Custom and Commercial. Their panels seem to be superior to other manufacturers.
Always worth signing up to their newsletter.
If you decide to go down the route of buying a LWB FF buggy we have a metallic blue colour available which is very close to the original Marathon Beetle colour.
Must admit I'm strangely drawn to a LWB FF with the freaky looking roof , anyone got one , what are peoples thoughts , pros and cons ?
Yes as said the black one is mine. We haven't sold many of the roofs, 2 out there other than mine and one of those is in the Netherlands. The roof was moulded from Buggy Pete's which was an original late 80s one.
We have done the roof in flake before.
Pros and cons.
Pros: It fastens tight, holds down at high speeds. and is very good at keeping you dry even without doors, also helps with the wind noise/chill. Strong enough to fit roof bars and mount a roof box filled up. The hard top is much cheaper than a custom soft top.
Cons:
Currently no doors so you do get wet in side wind conditions and rain does have a tendency to follow the body lines inside. Weekend trips where you don't want to risk it you have the roof on in glorious sunshine, taking it off when you arrive.
Quote from: Roadrunner on March 04, 2022, 07:23:29 PM
Quote from: Myfirstbuggy on March 03, 2022, 11:30:32 PM
Quote from: Roadrunner on February 22, 2022, 11:16:50 PM
I've always been a advocate of the thick pans. My last set came from GSF and they were the highest gauge I could find at the time (again about £250)
Probably the best place to look for them now would be Custom and Commercial. Their panels seem to be superior to other manufacturers.
Always worth signing up to their newsletter.
If you decide to go down the route of buying a LWB FF buggy we have a metallic blue colour available which is very close to the original Marathon Beetle colour.
Must admit I'm strangely drawn to a LWB FF with the freaky looking roof , anyone got one , what are peoples thoughts , pros and cons ?
Yes as said the black one is mine. We haven't sold many of the roofs, 2 out there other than mine and one of those is in the Netherlands. The roof was moulded from Buggy Pete's which was an original late 80s one.
We have done the roof in flake before.
Pros and cons.
Pros: It fastens tight, holds down at high speeds. and is very good at keeping you dry even without doors, also helps with the wind noise/chill. Strong enough to fit roof bars and mount a roof box filled up. The hard top is much cheaper than a custom soft top.
Cons:
Currently no doors so you do get wet in side wind conditions and rain does have a tendency to follow the body lines inside. Weekend trips where you don't want to risk it you have the roof on in glorious sunshine, taking it off when you arrive.
Do the roof bars in the picture come with the kit , and what is the biggest size wheel Tyre combo that I could fit ( thinking about banded steel with standard offset )
No the roof bars and windows don't come with it. The rear has an oval indent where the window would go and the sides are smooth, I cuts the round holes in myself.
The roof bars are from an Auda A4 advant and dust down by 140mm to fit.
I'm running 275/60r15non the rear on a 8j wheel. You should be able to get 10j and 315 wheels to fit, depending on the offset.
Fronts I was running 205 wide on and 8J, now back to 195
Quote from: Manxdavid on February 02, 2022, 11:03:50 PM
If I were building a new buggy from scratch it'd have to be a lwb, I'd never consider a swb with all of the IVA test and registration hassles. There have never been so many good looking lwb buggies out there as there are nowadays.
I built this a few years ago from spare parts that I had lying around and a reject body, it was a truly great car!
It's an early shape Jas buggy.
(https://i.postimg.cc/vZSzgqQw/Screenshot-20220129-103511-2.png) (https://postimages.org/)
(https://i.postimg.cc/7YHMB8hy/IMG-20130711-00199-zps4e814e93.jpg) (https://postimages.org/)
Can I ask where the battery sits in this , what size wheels/tyres were fitted and what windscreen did you use ? cheers Jon
The battery was mounted in a fibreglass box sunk into the offside rear shelf/seat area, a bit like this.
(https://i.postimg.cc/Y0sSVcY4/Screenshot-20220314-080357.png) (https://postimg.cc/ctfZgbDZ)
Wheels were 8 1/2 X 15 and 6 X 14 1970s American slot mags (Appliance make) fitted to wide 5 (66-67 Beetle) drums with adapters. Tyres were 275/60 X 15 and 185/60 X 14.
The screen was a bit tricky as the Jas scuttle is a little narrower than most at 41 1/4" wide but I was lucky as Buggypete off this forum had a second hand one possibly off an old Manta Ray? I got the glass cut by a local forklift truck dealer.
https://www.carbuilder.com/uk/small-glass-fibre-red-battery-box-320mm?gclid=Cj0KCQjwz7uRBhDRARIsAFqjulnacOzYoaHGsbTNYwPWQHZkoaMPQ3tbxHubyRIcziMSB5__DR1Jr94aApkdEALw_wcB
Thanks , do you get any trouble with the speedo readings with the 14" wheels or did the 60 profile compensate for that ? cheers Jon
Quote from: Myfirstbuggy on March 14, 2022, 10:16:42 AM
Thanks , do you get any trouble with the speedo readings with the 14" wheels or did the 60 profile compensate for that ? cheers Jon
I suppose it'll read a little faster but speedos were never that accurate in those days anyway.
Quote from: Manxdavid on March 14, 2022, 03:15:38 PM
Quote from: Myfirstbuggy on March 14, 2022, 10:16:42 AM
Thanks , do you get any trouble with the speedo readings with the 14" wheels or did the 60 profile compensate for that ? cheers Jon
I suppose it'll read a little faster but speedos were never that accurate in those days anyway.
Or go electronic speedo and adjust it to whatever wheel size you want ;)
Are they hard to fit and calibrate ?
Not at all - you will need some form of sender unit, I started with a cable driven one and have now moved over to a pulse on the gearbox
Have a read here of my build thread, and you will also find a handy spreadsheet to download that I wrote for calibrating them
https://www.beachbuggy.info/index.php/topic,20.msg141417.html#msg141417
.....or track your actual speed on a sat nav and put some little blobs of Tippex on the speedo's outer rim at 30, 50 and (God forbid!) 70 mph.
Keep it simple... ;D ;D ;D
I had a smiths gauge built and calibrated by speedy cables.
The ask for the rolling circumference and input rotation ratio (1:1)
Quote from: Roadrunner on March 16, 2022, 02:02:15 PM
I had a smiths gauge built and calibrated by speedy cables.
The ask for the rolling circumference and input rotation ratio (1:1)
Fine but that won't work for me as I've had so many different sizes of wheels and tyres on the car over the years ;-)up
If you want an accurate speedo David the only way for you is digital, then you can recalibrate at will. My fronts actually match the original rolling circumference almost exactly do mines more accurate than my daily.
Still use a navigator as it warns me about speed limits and cameras and recalibrates to km/h for the continent
Quote from: Doon L001 on March 16, 2022, 04:59:18 PM
If you want an accurate speedo David the only way for you is digital, then you can recalibrate at will. My fronts actually match the original rolling circumference almost exactly do mines more accurate than my daily.
Still use a navigator as it warns me about speed limits and cameras and recalibrates to km/h for the continent
Not me, I'm not that bothered thanks, near enough is good enough for me.
If your unsure about your tyre size speedo combo use the patented tyre size calculator. Even a big change of tyre size may struggle to give 10% difference. 3mph @30 5@50, etc. I won't bother with the calculation for 70mph. ;D
Also the speed of traffic around you will likely give an indication of your actual speed.
Quote from: Manxdavid on March 04, 2022, 05:55:13 PM
Quote from: Zip Buggy on March 04, 2022, 04:58:44 PM
I don't have the roof but I do have a LWB FF. Best looking shell there is, that's why I bought it..... in 1985 (it's a mk1) ;-)up
How many marks are there? What are the differences?
I don't know David. It was the first incarnation when I bought it from FF back then, Tim somebody owned it. It was Gordon that referred to it as a MK1 when he saw it, he'd know what number they're on now.
Not sure what mark the current moulds are sorry. Not even sure if there were ever modified from the original.
But as Marks is an early shell, that's why I referred to it as a Mk1 at the time.
Quote from: Roadrunner on March 17, 2022, 11:15:31 AM
Not sure what mark the current moulds are sorry. Not even sure if there were ever modified from the original.
But as Marks is an early shell, that's why I referred to it as a Mk1 at the time.
Thanks, I was never aware of any changes being made since they altered the El Lobo bonnet to make it 'more Manx/GP like'. I have seen one yellow one that retained the El Lobo bonnet style (that was actually registered as an FF Buggy) but I always presumed this was the one that they used for the original mould.
You need to talk to Jazzy. They have a buggy which is left over bits done by FF kit cars and conversions, it's a GP shell with a El Lobo bonnet.
I think when they did the FF bonnet, they based it off a GP one and grafted on the dash.
Bitten the bullet and ordered the early style JAS LWB in Poppy red , a toss up between that and the Marathon blue colour, OMG what have I done !
Nice shape kit and good colour. The only problem I had with the Jas was finding a screen frame as the scuttle is a little narrower than most buggies, 41 1/4" iirc (possibly the same as a Manta Ray?), compared to the GP at 41 3/4" and the Manx at 42 1/4". I'm sure the makers or someone else on here could advise or it would be easy to narrow the bottom of an existing screen and have a glass cut, or make some spacers.
My screen was bought second hand from Buggypete on here.
Here's how they look before you take a drill to them! ;-)up
(https://i.postimg.cc/C5mXdzD0/jaskit-zps1285e4b2.jpg) (https://postimages.org/)
What size screen did you go for , 12" 14" or 16" ? cheers Jon
16 for a lwb, anything shorter will visibly lengthen an already long car.