Hi all.

In a complete change of direction I have bought a Predator buggy in need of a rebuild. I was going to go down the new LWB GT 4 seater build but this turned up locally at a fair price so I decided to go for it.
Its on a 1972 chassis with a V5 stating 'Volkswagen Convertible' so hopefully no future issues.
It consists of a bodyshell and rolling chassis with a few other odd bits thrown in.
It needs the floors replacing and everything else restoring.
I am not the best with pictures but will try and keep a rebuild thread going here so you can all keep an eye on me and check I am doing it correctly 

Here are a couple of pictures of the buggy as delivered to me.







First job is to start the strip down. I will remove the cage, shell and running gear this week and crack on with floor replacement.

Cheers
Steve

A nice little project.

Sounds like you know what you have and will need so a great start.

There should be plenty of help on this forum especially at this time of year as many other owners are deciding to make a few adjustments to their own buggys over winter.

I look forward to seeing if you build back to look classic GT or get distracted down the many many other combinations of lights, wheels, engines etc !

When you take it to bits plenty of photo`s and notes and tag each bit as to where it came from..... Saves lots of headache,,, I have learn`t this the hard way 

Evening all.
Thanks for the comments.
I plan (at the moment) to go down the traditional route. I have been looking around and I really like the look of James May's Beach Buggy. Something along those lines would be great.
I will definitely take lots of pics and lots of sketches as I go. After a couple of sleeps my memory does start to fade 

Body off saturday if all goes to plan.

Cheers
Steve

Evening all.

Cage removed and body shell lifted off.
Both floors definitely need replacing but other than that it looks okay. Frame head seems fine as does the spine.







]





I will try to remove the gearbox tomorrow. I hope  to save the handbrake cables but those rear hub nuts look very rusty. I expect a good battle.

Cheers
Steve

mmmm... If the rear hub nuts have been in place for ages at correct torque tightening you may have a fight on your hands. Ideally loosen these nuts when the wheels are on and body shell weight if possible.... A torque multiplier will make removal of these nuts a one handed job no matter how tight they are.

Quote from: Paul1953 on September 10, 2022, 06:57:38 PM
mmmm... If the rear hub nuts have been in place for ages at correct torque tightening you may have a fight on your hands. Ideally loosen these nuts when the wheels are on and body shell weight if possible.... A torque multiplier will make removal of these nuts a one handed job no matter how tight they are.

I use a 3/4 socket set (that's 3/4" I did buy the whole set) and a bit of scaffold pole.

Wheels on and chocked, handbrake on and in gear.

TOP TIP
Mark the nuts L and R and mark position of castellations and centre with tippex or paint. Tightening correctly is then pretty easy

Hi all.
As suggested I borrowed a torque multipler from a fellow VW man (thanks Mike) and WOW What a bit of kit.
Both nuts undone with no drama at all.





The tyre lever stopped the hub spinning as no engine installed and the handbrake is awful.

Full steam ahead

Cheers
Steve

Hi all.

Bit more progress on the strip down tonight.

Gearbox removed sunday early evening.



Tonight I have managed to 'hang' the bodshell from the roof to allow access to the chassis for repairs without carrying the shell outside every time.





Its not at all heavy as its a bare shell, I don't see any issues with it being up there for a few weeks.

Next job will be out the cutting tools to remove the floors.

Cheers
Steve

Evening all.
Its been a few weeks since my last post so here is a quick update on the Predator rebuild.
Not as much progress as I had hoped (always the way) but both rusty floors are now completely removed and all the mating faces cleaned up ready for the new floors to be fitted.







It took 4x flappy paddle sanding wheels and many hours annoying the neighbours to clean up the mating faces as the old floors had been seam welded in all round.
Thankfully no other rust spotted underneath or around the frame head.

Onto floorpan trimming and fitting next week.

I have also recieved a bit more info on the shell.
I have been told it was collected from Mel Hubbard in november 2000 and put on the road in May 2001.

Cheers
Steve

It may be slow progress but looks solid and tidy.

Love the 'Buggy' label - is this to ensure you don't build the chassis into some other vehicle ?!

Quote from: Hugh on October 08, 2022, 06:30:27 PM
It may be slow progress but looks solid and tidy.

Love the 'Buggy' label - is this to ensure you don't build the chassis into some other vehicle ?!

Hi Hugh.

I am covering the chassis number as I am a bit paranoid about showing the number via the internet.
Especially as its registered as a VW Convertible.
Probably over thinking it.

Cheers
Steve

'Convertible' is fine but I actually thought it meant you had several car builds on the go and you didn't want one of your assistants putting the Lamborgini parts on the buggy etc !

Looking good and VW Convertible is exactly what it is so don't be worried about that. Same designation as mine and many others

Dave