Jbuggy’s Madmax buggy

[Jbuggy21]

I got this car from a race shop that used it as a prerunner. It has seen a lot of miles but it’s been modified over the years to make it pretty capable. I’m still working on the history but it started out life as a Chenowth chassis. As the story goes a well known race team owned it and cut and stretched it, added the big fuel cell and used it as a prerunner for several years. Clearly adding shocks was with the times instead of bypasses in the back. The front end was redone not too long ago with what look to be foddrill arms, combo spindles, and proam hubs and discs. The rears are custom 3x3’s, I think, with drums. Vw 1776 or 1835 tbd with single 44. From the looks of it I’m saying 091 trans, don’t no anything else’s about it. Car does have hydraulic power steering which you don’t see much, should be interesting to see how that works out. The thing has sat for almost two years. So most everything needs to be freshened up. Fuel system is out of it now, carbs being rebuilt, shocks will all be rebuilt, brake cylinders replaced. Engine service and hopefully get it moving after that. Pretty pumped about the car though as a whole. Lemme know what you guys think. I’ll post more pictures as I dig into it.

And I’m not a vw expert so forgive my ignorance with tech vw stuff. Why would they run a electric fuel pump pre-mechanical pump? Is this for fuel regulation?

And tell me how to fix my sideways pictures lol

[Leatherneck]

The crooked pics are a pain. Once you click on them they display correctly. Don’t sweat it, for now.

Cool looking buggy, you have enough rear shocks to sell to purchase a set of coil overs. Looks like it’s going to be a blast to drive.

[Ol'fogasaurus]

B4CA240A-7F5B-4BF2-B292-E1D228493A26 copy.jpg

Looks like a heck of a good start. A lot of the good stuff has already been done and is ready to be changed for your use... if you need to.

Lee

[rubenski]

Nice one! What's a prerunner?

Verstuurd vanaf mijn SM-A515F met Tapatalk

[chuckput]

Nice one! What's a prerunner?

Verstuurd vanaf mijn SM-A515F met Tapatalk

In off road races like the Baja 1000, race teams are allowed to survey the course before the race - they are allowed to prerun the course. They don't want to use their race vehicle to do this, so they have a capable car (a prerunner) that can hold their gear and travel at a good speed. Teams use this prerunning to document hazards on the GPS to use during the race.

[rubenski]

Cool! Thx for explaining.



Verstuurd vanaf mijn SM-A515F met Tapatalk

[Jbuggy21]

So I determined the dual fuel pump setup is Incase one goes you have a back up. No other reason to have two pumps. I’m going to run the mechanical and have electric for backup and fuel transfer.
What do you guys think about the four rear shocks per side set up? I’m leaning toward coil overs but I might see how this setup works. It’s about $75-100 per shock to rebuild. Car has 10 shocks... one coilover vs. four shocks valved correctly, I’d bet the four shocks works better.

[Leatherneck]

Dual fuel pump throw back from redundancy of racers, ask CWB. . As far as shocks go, ditch the numerous moving parts and go with Coil Overs. You’ve got a fun setup.

[Jbuggy21]

Tranny case strengthening? And did they factory stamp the gearing or is that aftermarket?

[Leatherneck]

Aftermarket plate on the tranny for mounting and I think whoever was in the tranny stamped the gear ratios on there. Nice to have and know. Just keeps getting better. BTW I would go with a good quality electric pump over an mechanical clacker.

[chuckput]

Is the starter cracked (picture #3)?

[Leatherneck]

Is the starter cracked (picture #3)?

I’ll put in my 2¢ Just because. I think that is the separation between casting and actual motor. Let’s see.

[Jbuggy21]

Yes I checked it’s not cracked. Thanks for pointing it out though.
I did get it running. But I’m having issues with it idling. The electric pump works great and I’m getting fuel into the bowl. It runs when I pump it three times and start it but it won’t stay running unless I keep pumping or keep it at a higher rpm.
So I’m not sure if it’s the idle circuit or if it’s got a vacuum leak not letting it create vacuum to pull the fuel through. Car revs to the moon real quick. So more messing with it to get the idle figured out is next.

[Jbuggy21]

Ok guys I’m struggling a bit with this running issue. It’s reminding me why I swapped to FI on my last project.
Vw motor with Weber 44. New fuel pumps, rebuilt, and rechecked carb. Also has new cap plugs wires rotor condenser and points.
I can start the car when I pump it two, three times. But unless I keep pumping it, or rev it to the moon it dies. Will not idle. No backfiring or popping. I just check all the valve lash yesterday and tried messing with timing. Same exact result.
My next course of action will be to tear the intake down and replace manifold gaskets in hopes it’s a vacuum leak. While I had it running I tried spraying carb clean over everything and found so signs of a vacuum leak.
Any ideas. Thanks guys
-Jesse

[Skidmark]

I heard Weber's are notorious for getting the idle jets plugged. I would try to clean those out first.