In this video I show how to take the body off of my bug and what went into designing it to be able to do this. Here's a link to the winch I have. amzn.to/2vopJcm
Dude Doug. All this video you're posting is helping me so much with my build. Even though I'm setting up my suspension differently you've given me a lot of information that's been super helpful. Bless you. Can't wait to see it running
lokua Kai, I'm glad the videos are helping. Thanks for sharing that. Not to worry on the different suspension, most concepts will carry over from one type to another. Good luck with the build.
Man this is sweet. I have a buggy now, with a Baja sitting out back. In the research stage. Wanting to go long travel, subi gears, and subi engine with heat and ac. My door pillars and floors need to be done. Not worried about keeping this thing a purist car might be time for me to learn to weld. Also you're obviously skilled at this where is your electric ratchet lol.
@@DougBugBuilder.. Hey. What do you think of solid mounts for off road?. I have a home built off road woods buggy. With a 1959 bus transaxle and reduction gears. Not meat for speed. Just trails hill. Stuff like that
Dr. Crankenstein, No problem buddy, ask and ye shall receive. lol I remember you asked for a video on it a while back. I hope it helps with your build!
Man, I go back on your old vids like this and keep learning. Is there a way you could share a drawing or template of your rear fenders? I mean, maybe a pic or other type of file via e-mail or a link where I can find it. Thanks in advance.
Really nice..... my car is the other way around... I have dismantle the cage at various fastening points in order to remove the body... ... your car rocks! 😃
Hey Mike , Happy New Year!!! I am a couple hrs. away from having the welding cart finished then i can unbox all the accessories, i have had the welder out a few times so i could dry fit it and make a tray so it sits level, so far i have just been stick welding and have got quite abit better at it. I didn't want to try tig untill i set up some small pieces to practice on in a clean and more controlled enviroment. i did have a question i understand the gas pre flow and post flow what i don't get is to keep ark seperate from gas flow when you come in and leave the weld, i hope i put that in a way that you understand what i mean. i will be putting up a third video on the finished cart today. Thanks Mike
You are correct, when you get the body off you see how much weight it adds. This summer I will be designing/building a new chassis that is basically what you say. It will look somewhat similar to this one, but it won't use the body. Aluminum panels on the sides and roof, and still the fiberglass front end.
Excellent! I would be interested in your plans/drawings since you have developed so much knowledge on what works and what doesn't. Someone on my island of Grenada who built a buggy said it's much easier to buy a vehicle with all the parts rather than try to put bits and pieces together. Steering racks/brakes/suspension etc can then be bolted on from a factory car without all the engineering work and costs.
I still have this bug and still bug it around. But if you look at my current videos I'm in the middle of building another bug that is stronger than this one in every way. Thanks for the comment.
Hey Doug, Im not gonna do a full shock and strut build like yours right now, but I have a stock beetle baja, my question is: How do I raise the suspension to get more height so I can add larger tires and wheels, say 35x12.5 R17s on 5x205 17x9s?
My son and I are going to do his bug and have gotten a storage shed to act as our "garage". Thanks a million for your videos, they are fantastic! Would there be a chance you could do a few videos with the "main" frame and the "inner" frame along with some rough dimensioning? We certainly dont want to copy but his bug doesnt have all the rust that yours did, so I am looking to do the frame a little different. THANKS AGAIN!
Brad Simcox, Thanks for the kind words and it's fantastic that the video can help you guys with the build. If you can wait a month or two I'll be taking the body off again during teardown for paint. At that time I can do another video going over how I fabbed the inner frame and outer frame onto the body and chassis. I can't do it now as I'm in the middle of wiring and the wiring harness is all over the place so currently the body won't come off with the wiring in place.
Thanks again and if you can that would be awesome! We are in Utah and if it's not to much to ask maybe we could see the finished bug when done? Thanks a million!
Great videos Doug!! ...how did you configure the replacement for the torsion bar? And, what did you do with the original transmission mount ... It's not clear from the video how the new square brackets are fixed to the rest of the frame...! Could you share? Cheers!
So before I removed the factory torsion tube I installed the square tube right in front of it. Same elevation. This way I was able to use the existing tube as a straight line to square the new square tube off of. Once I had the square tube installed I cut out the factory torsion tube. The square brackets actually run under the chassis and are welded to the last two supports under the chassis. So the transaxle supports are actually the lowest part of the chassis. This works well for getting the transaxle as low as possible, but I wish the chassis was flat all the way across. As it is now these transaxle supports are lower. If you email me at dougbugbuilder@gmail.com I can send you some photos of how the transaxle supports connect to the chassis.
Right now it does sound like a steal mill. Once I tear it down for paint and do the final assembly I will insulate most of the aluminum and put some carpet in there. Hopefully that keeps it pretty quiet.
Ethan K, Typically I usually have some other projects going on. Usually something on one of the motorcycles, or radio control cars. I've played with RC cars most of my life. I used to tinker with Jeeps and 4x4 trucks when I was younger. I took about a 15 year break on those. But the last two years this darn bug has consumed most of my free time. lol Thanks for the comment, good things to you.
If you're talking about the front the reason I boxed them is because the clearances were so tight between the steering shaft, shock absorbers and chassis. That I was able to make it more precise by boxing it. But it could have been just as well out of tubing.
+Doug Bug That would be great:) Im kinda a newbie when I comes to cars but working my way up with in knowledge. The bug has been a dream car of mine for many many years and didn't realize it would be a perfect for starters.
Dude Doug. All this video you're posting is helping me so much with my build. Even though I'm setting up my suspension differently you've given me a lot of information that's been super helpful. Bless you. Can't wait to see it running
lokua Kai, I'm glad the videos are helping. Thanks for sharing that. Not to worry on the different suspension, most concepts will carry over from one type to another. Good luck with the build.
Love what you do I am building a Baja bug planning on putting a Chevy 3.6 in it...great work and I get so many ideas from you thanks
That's a great engine, good choice!
Thanks for the comment.
Been following along gaining ideas for my own project. Yours is a well thought out & executed build.
Ognibvid, Thanks for the kind words, I hope some of these videos can help you with your project in some way!
Man this is sweet. I have a buggy now, with a Baja sitting out back. In the research stage. Wanting to go long travel, subi gears, and subi engine with heat and ac. My door pillars and floors need to be done. Not worried about keeping this thing a purist car might be time for me to learn to weld.
Also you're obviously skilled at this where is your electric ratchet lol.
Thanks!
I'm not quite ready to go electric yet. 😉
Very nice. Awesome engineering. And Craftmanship. I like your work
Thank you very much!
@@DougBugBuilder.. Hey. What do you think of solid mounts for off road?. I have a home built off road woods buggy. With a 1959 bus transaxle and reduction gears. Not meat for speed. Just trails hill. Stuff like that
Your fabrication is badass.. much props
Thanks!
This will make it super nice when it comes time to paint it and do all the finish work.
Alvarez Metal Works, Got that right buddy. I plan to paint the chassis one color and the body another color. This should make it pretty simple.
I'm amazed at your skill. I'm going to making a chassis for a VW I have. This is very helpful.
Excellent, good luck with the project and thanks for the comment.
Thanks for posting this video. Answered a lot of my questions I had about how you were mounting the body to the chassis.
Dr. Crankenstein, No problem buddy, ask and ye shall receive. lol I remember you asked for a video on it a while back. I hope it helps with your build!
Man, I go back on your old vids like this and keep learning. Is there a way you could share a drawing or template of your rear fenders? I mean, maybe a pic or other type of file via e-mail or a link where I can find it. Thanks in advance.
Hey bud, I sent you an email.
Really nice..... my car is the other way around... I have dismantle the cage at various fastening points in order to remove the body... ... your car rocks! 😃
Nice! There are many ways to skin a cat. lol
Hey Mike , Happy New Year!!! I am a couple hrs. away from having the welding cart finished then i can unbox all the accessories, i have had the welder out a few times so i could dry fit it and make a tray so it sits level, so far i have just been stick welding and have got quite abit better at it. I didn't want to try tig untill i set up some small pieces to practice on in a clean and more controlled enviroment. i did have a question i understand the gas pre flow and post flow what i don't get is to keep ark seperate from gas flow when you come in and leave the weld, i hope i put that in a way that you understand what i mean. i will be putting up a third video on the finished cart today. Thanks Mike
Well thought out. Thanks for sharing.
Thanks for watching!
The chasis looks pretty cool without the body. What about going to canvas top or fiberglass bimini and getting rid of all the weight?
You are correct, when you get the body off you see how much weight it adds. This summer I will be designing/building a new chassis that is basically what you say. It will look somewhat similar to this one, but it won't use the body. Aluminum panels on the sides and roof, and still the fiberglass front end.
Excellent! I would be interested in your plans/drawings since you have developed so much knowledge on what works and what doesn't. Someone on my island of Grenada who built a buggy said it's much easier to buy a vehicle with all the parts rather than try to put bits and pieces together. Steering racks/brakes/suspension etc can then be bolted on from a factory car without all the engineering work and costs.
Sure thing man, when the design is done I will share the design with anyone who wants it!
I think I found my build. Check out this Ariel Nomad tactical. www.arielna.com/arielnomad.
These things are $100k US. Ridiculous!
Hey Doug! I have the same idea for my bug! Do you have plans for sale of the floor and cage? It would be a huge jump start for my project!
Email me at dougbugbuilder@gmail.com and I can share some plans with you.
Way cool! About how much does that section of the bug body weight?
Guessing I'd say around 200 lbs.
Cool bug. I see this is 3 years old, have you updated the powerplant yet?
I still have this bug and still bug it around. But if you look at my current videos I'm in the middle of building another bug that is stronger than this one in every way.
Thanks for the comment.
Thanks for sharing man, you're definitely an inspiration!
Sure thing bud!
Hey Doug, Im not gonna do a full shock and strut build like yours right now, but I have a stock beetle baja, my question is: How do I raise the suspension to get more height so I can add larger tires and wheels, say 35x12.5 R17s on 5x205 17x9s?
Do a Google search for Torsion bar indexing for VW bug. Without doing major suspension work that's how people get some lift.
@@DougBugBuilder thanks man👍
Great video. All your videos are.
Thanks!
My son and I are going to do his bug and have gotten a storage shed to act as our "garage". Thanks a million for your videos, they are fantastic! Would there be a chance you could do a few videos with the "main" frame and the "inner" frame along with some rough dimensioning? We certainly dont want to copy but his bug doesnt have all the rust that yours did, so I am looking to do the frame a little different.
THANKS AGAIN!
Brad Simcox, Thanks for the kind words and it's fantastic that the video can help you guys with the build.
If you can wait a month or two I'll be taking the body off again during teardown for paint. At that time I can do another video going over how I fabbed the inner frame and outer frame onto the body and chassis. I can't do it now as I'm in the middle of wiring and the wiring harness is all over the place so currently the body won't come off with the wiring in place.
Thanks again and if you can that would be awesome! We are in Utah and if it's not to much to ask maybe we could see the finished bug when done? Thanks a million!
Great videos Doug!! ...how did you configure the replacement for the torsion bar? And, what did you do with the original transmission mount ... It's not clear from the video how the new square brackets are fixed to the rest of the frame...! Could you share? Cheers!
So before I removed the factory torsion tube I installed the square tube right in front of it. Same elevation. This way I was able to use the existing tube as a straight line to square the new square tube off of. Once I had the square tube installed I cut out the factory torsion tube.
The square brackets actually run under the chassis and are welded to the last two supports under the chassis. So the transaxle supports are actually the lowest part of the chassis. This works well for getting the transaxle as low as possible, but I wish the chassis was flat all the way across. As it is now these transaxle supports are lower.
If you email me at dougbugbuilder@gmail.com I can send you some photos of how the transaxle supports connect to the chassis.
i'm brazilian, and I wanted to know if l had this project for you
Love the build getting ready to start my on! What is the thickness of the 1x2 and 2x2 tubing?
chadd snoddy, any of the square or rectangular tubing on this bug is 14 gauge thickness. All of the round tubing is .095".
Good luck with your build!
Thank you for getting back to me! Can’t wait to see the Ecotec finished up!
Since most of the roll cage is bolted and u have the aluminum floor how do you stopped the rattling? When I had one it sounds like a steal mill
Right now it does sound like a steal mill. Once I tear it down for paint and do the final assembly I will insulate most of the aluminum and put some carpet in there. Hopefully that keeps it pretty quiet.
Sweet build btw I’m looking into building another one and this has given me some really great ideas!
Amazing build
Nice workmanship , subscribed!
Good to have you on board Stevie C. Thanks for the kind words.
Do u have videos of when u started doing anything to it?
Unfortunately I don't. I didn't start my channel until I was working on the suspension of the bug.
That looks like 1.5x3" rocker panel, not two inch.
It's a 2" x 3". The tubes I welded inside the chassis are 1.5 x 1.5, but the rectangular used for the rockers is 2 x 3".
Other than the Baja bug do you have any other projects
Ethan K, Typically I usually have some other projects going on. Usually something on one of the motorcycles, or radio control cars. I've played with RC cars most of my life. I used to tinker with Jeeps and 4x4 trucks when I was younger. I took about a 15 year break on those. But the last two years this darn bug has consumed most of my free time. lol
Thanks for the comment, good things to you.
Doug Bug Thanks for replying and that bug is sick - love the videos and hopefully you get it done soon -
Cade as legendas em portuques
I’m not that smart but why not use tube on the upper a arms as well. Just use some plate in the corners from strength.
If you're talking about the front the reason I boxed them is because the clearances were so tight between the steering shaft, shock absorbers and chassis. That I was able to make it more precise by boxing it. But it could have been just as well out of tubing.
Doug Bug ok was just curious cause I’m trying to fine a bug for a “bug out vehicle” no pun intended lol.
you gotta make a low budget bug build video,
Indeed I do! I might focus on that at some point. Seems like a lot of people would be interested in that. Thanks for the comment.
+Doug Bug That would be great:) Im kinda a newbie when I comes to cars but working my way up with in knowledge. The bug has been a dream car of mine for many many years and didn't realize it would be a perfect for starters.