Hi-Jumper 4 seat build

[fl_buggy]

Thanks. After we lengthened it, everyone said it looked goofy because it was so long. Well widening it and making the roof taller really brought the proportions back into shape.

We didn't turn the beam. Around here, you really don't need alot of ground clearance because we don't have rocks or stumps in the trails. It will eventually get a bit of lift when I put longer arms on the front and rear though.

[fl_buggy]

well progress has been slow going since I was laid off in January. I've been working on other projects and being short on money didn't leave much enthusiasm. Well, I went back to work a few weeks ago and we had some extra money around so I went and got an Ecotec today. My friend found a wrecking yard selling them for $325 plus $100 for the harness and computer. We each got one for our projects. It will still be a little while before I get back to work on it because I want to finish some other stuff, but having the motor and harness has got me excited to finish the buggy.

[fl_buggy]

Its finally time for an update. Its funny reading through this thread how much things have changed. I'm not going to run torsions anymore. We put air bags on a friends rail and have been happy so far with them, so it looks like I'll be building arms to use bags and Chevy S10 hubs (same friend uses the Chevy stuff successfully too).

The BIGGEST change is my choice of transmission. I ordered from Ebay, and just received yesterday, a Getrag F23 transmission which is the tranny used in the Chevy Cobalt with the Ecotec. The transmission is brand new, never bolted to a motor, came with the speed sensor and throwout bearing, and was $400 shipped to my door.

Now people have been expressing their doubts about the strength of the tranny, but here's my line of thinking. This transmission is designed to take 170 ft lbs of torque in a 4400 lb vehicle. What were the design goals of a type one or bus box? Half of that. And the VW tranny was never designed to work with 31" tires either. I also really don't beat on the car either. I don't do any high RPM clutch drops, heck, I rarely even do any hill climbing (nothing like the Woodsbuggy.com guys do!) So I figure my chances of this tranny working are better than getting a VW trans to hold up. This tranny was cheaper than the adapter plate too, so if it works, I'm money ahead.

I researched the gearing, and the Getrag gearing is very similar to a 5 rib, with the exception of R&P ratio. The Getrag has a 3.9:1, compared to the 4.8:1 of the VW tranny. I think this will help me though because my friends Ecotec with a 3 rib is WAY undergeared. He can idle up big climbs in second gear. First gear is pretty much useless. The taller R&P should work pretty well in the woods.

I'm looking for a stock shifter assembly from an Ecotec Cobalt to help simplify the install. I've got a line on a guy that makes shift cables custom lengths, but I may try to use Morse cables too.

So work will resume soon. Our goal is to have it riding by January of next year which should be do-able.

Here's a question. I need to buy a flywheel for my Ecotec (the motor I have came from an auto). I see there are lightened flywheels for these motors, and was curious what your opinions are? The motor makes 170 ft lbs of torque, and the weight of the car will be 1700 lbs at the most, plus 4 adults. Tires will be 31" all terrain.

[fusername]

I may know nothing about how those motors tend to preform, however in the woods I would rather the steady speed/power and slow reaction of a heavy flywheel over a light launch flywheel. Momentum is good in the woods, and I think that is what you do, right?

[fl_buggy]

Yeah, we're lucky if we're doing 40mph down the trails, and if we are doing 40, it isn't for long. Lots of accelerating. Not much hill climbing, but there are some pits we shouldn't be in but we are

On one hand, I can see where the heavy flywheel would be nice, but like I said, we do lots of accelerating and decelerating, which I would think gives the advantage to the lighter flywheel. At least I have time before I need to buy one.

[fusername]

in my experience I have never left first, except this one time. anyways I still vote for a heavy flywheel if it were a VW powerplant, simply because when I hit a mud puddle I don't want tofeel the energy sucked right out of my car. and a snappy throttle in the woods may simply cause you to break traction and slow down instead of speed up, not that there is a lot of traction to begin with.

[vw505]

Hey, what ever happend with this build?

[fl_buggy]

life got in the way haha. I decided to go to nursing school so money and time were tight for a year. now I'm working as a nurse but continuing school and we had a baby in december. my goal is to be done with RN school in a year which will give me money and time for a buggy build. I am still deciding whether I want to finish this or build a frame from scratch. if I don't finish it, I have a buddy interested in finishing this frame for his family.

we're still riding with our 2 seater though every chance we get!

[vw505]

How about now

[fl_buggy]

Still sitting in my garage. Want it?

[vw505]

I'm in Texas can you deliver

[fl_buggy]

$5 a mile sound fair?

[Ol'fogasaurus]

I've run light wheels for years but not a big fan of them on long freeway drives or off-road. Off-road they can quickly grab R's when you don't want them such as when bouncing around and your foot isn't ready for it; been airborne off a whoop several times. On long high speed drives (the speed limit) keeping the throttle feathered for a smooth, constant speed can get very tiring.

[vw505]

Next time......