I got this Buggy late last year, from Sawmilljim:




I promised I would look after it well and enjoyed driving it around for a few months, in sun, rain and snow. Then a friend of mine gave me a whip aerial for it. I didn't want to detract from the looks of the buggy and wanted to avoid making any more holes in the body, so decided to use the numberplate bolts and made up my own bracket:




Cut out



I modified it a little bit, as the first design seemed a bit chunky



Once I had tested the prototype,  the design was transferred onto some Alu:





Then the very long process of cutting out the bracket started, using an angle grinder and a ton of patience



And finally, the bracket, finished, polished and folded:



Installed on the buggy:

Looks really good Baz, really like the cb aerial bracket Not fitted my cb yet but youve given me a good idea for fitting my earial

Things were going so well, then an issue which I've had since I first got the buggy got to the point where I had enough. The front beam adjusters have been welded in so that the highest setting still results in the tyres hitting the body. My options were to re-weld the adjusters, fit raised spindles or fit coil overs (cheers Jim for the latter suggestion). I went for the fourth option:





This should give me more clearance between the front tyres and the wings. And the front tyres and the road 

I'm in the process of sorting out the engine mounts, more pictures of that when it's in and running.

I love the turbovecs currently on the buggy, but I have some shinier wheels that were for another project of mine which has taken a change in direction:




However, the four I have are all 10x15 and I can't really see 10's working on the front, they'll stick out too far and/or have the turning circle of a lorry. So that's still up in the air.

The only other subtle change will hopefully be one of the hardtops from your resident roof maker. I need to ring Moss at some point to sort that out, it was not fun being snowed on!

Cheers Bigdog, turns out after all that work the aerial will interfere with the new engine so it'll be coming off again. Gutted!

It's a fine plan mate, I LOVE that motor.
Only problem I can see - as you brake hard to slow down from 250mph the front tyres may still rub 

The arial bracket isuue is a real duffer.  It's one off touches like that that make one buggy stand out from another.

As for the engine, to save you on hiring a skip to put the old engine in I'm volunteering to take it away for you.  I won't even charge a disposal fee    

Whats the engine you are putting in, it sure looks meaty

Quote from: Buggybaggy on March 20, 2013, 01:16:56 PM
The arial bracket isuue is a real duffer.  It's one off touches like that that make one buggy stand out from another.

As for the engine, to save you on hiring a skip to put the old engine in I'm volunteering to take it away for you.  I won't even charge a disposal fee

I dont no i think i might give him a couple of quid and a pint for it Might stretch to 2 pints with the arial bracket

When u put that blown lump in don't forget the parachute   

Quote from: Big Clem on March 20, 2013, 06:08:07 PM
When u put that blown lump in don't forget the parachute 

And a wheelie bar!

Yeah so what is the lump going in then?! And power?

Quote from: Buggybaggy on March 20, 2013, 01:16:56 PM
The arial bracket isuue is a real duffer.  It's one off touches like that that make one buggy stand out from another.

As for the engine, to save you on hiring a skip to put the old engine in I'm volunteering to take it away for you.  I won't even charge a disposal fee

Buggy's engine is now pushing my van along nicely 




The new engine is a blown Rover 3.5 so just a baby v8. Power is estimated to be around 350bhp, it should be able to keep up with traffic.. 

Wheelie bars might be a good idea. Not keen on how they look though, might have to put a rev limiter on for around 2000 rpm. That should keep the front down 

Given that I can't use that bracket anymore, it's up for grabs, although I have no idea what to value it at!

Spent today installing some of the conversion stuff on the engine, metal for the engine support turned up too, so hopefully it won't be long before the engine is bolted in and running.

It occurred to me today that to run the current wheels there are adaptors on, I have a feeling they will be a weak link, so now having to think about getting some drums drilled to the right PCD. Oh yeah, I forgot, I'm running drums. 

Time for discs all round then mate 

Rekon if I play my cards right I'll be able to buy my buggy back bit at a time

What do you rekon?  36 Random monthly payments 

I reckon you might be onto something there. Will need to replace gearbox too I'm sure. Pretty much leaves the body and the pan original. 

The V8 should stop your front wheels rubbing the wings, and the tarmac