no1gearhead Posted January 30, 2006 Share Posted January 30, 2006 Im wanting to build a buggy out of my 84 4wd turbo wagon, but i cant tear it apart yet to get measurements for the suspension and wheel base engine/drivetrain mounts, etc. I dont want to build a rhino buggy so i cant justify buying those plans, but the basic frame for one would probably work quite well as starting point. Any help would be greatly appreciated. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scott in Bellingham Posted January 30, 2006 Share Posted January 30, 2006 Sounds like a great project, is it for the Sand or wood/field beater? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sweet82 Posted January 30, 2006 Share Posted January 30, 2006 I would think you'd need an idea of what your looking for as an end result in order to get an idea of what you'd need as a frame. You can certainly start with the engine compartment. That measurement would be the current width of the frame rails under your hood. (Where your crossmember is currently bolted to your frame) That won't change! The firewall would need to be in the same basic position for your controls to work as they used to. (pedal box, steering...) Big time & money saver re-using those components! Beyond that it would all be up to your imagination... Length is subjective, it's just a matter of lengthening or shortening your driveline. My buggy, Summer, is 11' 6" long. I took 15" out of the driveline. Knowing what I now know, I'd send off for Rhino plans and change them as necessary to suit your desires-given your end result idea/use. I changed tons of stuff from the original plans. But for the time & grief they saved me by diagraming it and measuring it, it was worth the $!!! Your also getting a tried and tested design, there is a lot to be said for that? Good Luck, Glenn 82 SubaruHummer--frame could be built in 2 weeks, working eves and weekends. 84 GL Mad Max 01 Forester Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
no1gearhead Posted February 3, 2006 Author Share Posted February 3, 2006 Im going to use for sand and wood/field trails, and occasionaly tow it to the mountains in colorado. I currently live in nebraska since laws are kindy leniant here i plan on making it street legal, I only live 1/2 mile from work and there is are river trails between there, lots of sand and wooded areas. I want it to be a four seater with a cargo area for the dog, camping equipment etc. As for tires I plan to due a 6 lug conversion and put 235/75r15 on it before i make the buggy so final tire size will depend on how well it runs on those. The car is a station wagon but that means if i bought the plans from rhinobuggies then I would have to get the humbug plans which i think is freaking ugly. Another question that i have is if it is possible to remove the body and have a frame for measuring off of im pretty sure that is not as i beleive that it is a unibody. Thanks for the input. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scott in Bellingham Posted February 3, 2006 Share Posted February 3, 2006 the simplist thing is to take a sawzall and cut off everything you dont want, leave the floor and firewall and suspension mounts,and leave all the controls alone , then if you want it shorter remove the deiveline and shorten up the floor, OK now everything is in possition level it all up sqaure it up , mount the tires you want , now you have a platform to build from , you dont have to use any of the body thats left but everything is in the correct possition and as you start laying out your tubing framework it will be pretty simple as you know were every component lays, myself I would keep part of the floor and firewall ane dash and all the controls, pedals, steering , seat placement , Im not sure where all the VIN numbers are but if there is still one intact you can probably use the original tiltle for licensing and insurance . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sweet82 Posted February 3, 2006 Share Posted February 3, 2006 ... I want it to be a four seater with a cargo area for the dog, camping equipment etc. As for tires I plan to due a 6 lug conversion and put 235/75r15 on it before i make the buggy so final tire size will depend on how well it runs on those. The car is a station wagon but that means if i bought the plans from rhinobuggies then I would have to get the humbug plans which i think is freaking ugly... Any of the Rhino plans will work with any EA81 Subaru. The Site says they are based of a wagon. But, I built the "Summer" off a Hatch. All your running gear is the same on the Subies so the model just doesn't matter. All the frames on the Rhinos are the same--that is the points that touch the running gear are the same. The only thing different is the cosmetic tubes that form the top "body" parts. The way Rhino is getting the different lengths is by shortening the drivelines. I stretched my plans and made a 4 seater out of the Bandit plans, which is suppose to be a 2 seater. http://www.ultimatesubaru.org/photos/showphoto.php?photo=438&sort=1&cat=500&page=4 I look at the plans as more of "guidelines" rather than rules. My thoughts are, your going to loose a lot of power with a 235 tire? I went with 26" tires and I still feel I have lost power. Good Luck, Glenn 82 SubaruHummer--Rhino Bandit modified 84 GL Mad Max 01 Forester Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LiftedHatchSubie Posted February 4, 2006 Share Posted February 4, 2006 Is there a web site for the Bandit buggies??? If so can someone please post it...I'm very interested. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
no1gearhead Posted February 4, 2006 Author Share Posted February 4, 2006 Here is the website. http://www.rhinobuggies.com.au Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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