Thread: Buggies are loop-hole!

Having owned a couple buggies and now a truck, Id still rather have a truck. Prep wise in my case theyre about the same, but Im sure when I do a full tear down on the truck it will be more (more heims, bushings etc). I miss the buggy in the technical stuff but open straights and bigger whoops I dont miss it at all. Truck is more recognizable and Ive worked a few more deals since Ive had the truck. Id still kill for a single seat 12 car to race in Baja though.

Originally Posted by TMorf

Having owned a couple buggies and now a truck, Id still rather have a truck. Prep wise in my case theyre about the same, but Im sure when I do a full tear down on the truck it will be more (more heims, bushings etc). I miss the buggy in the technical stuff but open straights and bigger whoops I dont miss it at all. Truck is more recognizable and Ive worked a few more deals since Ive had the truck. Id still kill for a single seat 12 car to race in Baja though.

You are starting to sound like Keith. More deals? When's the 2 year prep thread start?

Originally Posted by cuz_im_CR

You are starting to sound like Keith. More deals? When's the 2 year prep thread start?

Hahaha I knew someone was gonna give me shit. At least it has half a dozen dezert trips and a "race" under its belt.

trucks cheaper than bugs? ok ok ok, how much is full LT kit, including shocks (bypass, coilover, bumpstops)? throw in a little more and you could get a capable bug in there..

Originally Posted by promoto164

Hows that "bro" truck coming?

Mitch?

Holy crap! I forgot about this thread, how'd you manage to dig this one up? Lol.


What he is referring to is the new replacement for the bug:
I sold the bug and picked up this 1994 4.0L 5spd 4x4 ranger and had $800 extra in my pocket
The cage is coming along and I've been shopping for parts. I may be visiting Tommy for ttb 44 beams this weekend.

I guess I had the bug for long enough to realize I hated how loud and uncomfortable it was. Fun for the street, an ear and spleen buster off road.
I'm a bro now :/

Originally Posted by royrjs

trucks cheaper than bugs? ok ok ok, how much is full LT kit, including shocks (bypass, coilover, bumpstops)? throw in a little more and you could get a capable bug in there..

How much does a Fodrill beam, arms and spindles go for? Obviously you have never priced them........ The theres all the bushings and shims you have to replace regularly....

how much does a stock beam,arms,spindles cost that can pul 10in??

Originally Posted by THORrider05

how much does a stock beam,arms,spindles cost that can pul 10in??

Max you can pull with stock shit is 9..... If you cut off the stock bumpstop......... Then put some 31" traction tires on it and beat the piss out of your bushings in a single trip.........

Originally Posted by partybarge_pilot

Max you can pull with stock shit is 9..... If you cut off the stock bumpstop......... Then put some 31" traction tires on it and beat the piss out of your bushings in a single trip.........

10 1/4 is the max. and it actually is very reliable. have you seen the guy that does tech for mdr and more his bug has 10 1/4 up front on stock arms without the lower shock extension, he just made a new shock mount that ties into the cage. and i think his shocks are kyb if im correct. nothing special

before paint

complete

Originally Posted by partybarge_pilot

How much does a Fodrill beam, arms and spindles go for? Obviously you have never priced them........ The theres all the bushings and shims you have to replace regularly....

i've never priced them cause all i needed in my bug was a lift and longer kybs to prerun (at a limited bug pace) Ens-San Felipe, and get it back on its feet, with no worries. Is a stock, cheap truck capable of doing so? I don't think so.

But this is the minimal we are talking about. If you want to go big, let's put a Mendeola tranny in. $5350 for just the tranny is more than the price of a stock '03 Ranger, just to start with.

Originally Posted by THORrider05

10 1/4 is the max. and it actually is very reliable. have you seen the guy that does tech for mdr and more his bug has 10 1/4 up front on stock arms without the lower shock extension, he just made a new shock mount that ties into the cage. and i think his shocks are kyb if im correct. nothing special

Somebody needs to get a tape measure. With either the Bilstien or KYB shocks, max wheel travel is 9" mounted to the stock shock mounts. Period. I just did a stock beam last month and tested both shocks. Either way, the arms are so short, anything over 9" creates some pretty bad angles and wouldn't improve your ride any. New German shims? loose after after new years run. Need to start working on the A-arm car again and put the beamcar back on street duty, thats about all it's good for.

Originally Posted by royrjs

i've never priced them cause all i needed in my bug was a lift and longer kybs to prerun (at a limited bug pace) Ens-San Felipe, and get it back on its feet, with no worries. Is a stock, cheap truck capable of doing so? I don't think so.

But this is the minimal we are talking about. If you want to go big, let's put a Weddle tranny in. $6500 for just the tranny is more than the price of a stock '03 Ranger, just to start with.

Fixed......

I would bet money that a stock I-beam 2wd ranger would go faster and last longer than a stock bug off-road. Why do you think all the Baja locals drive I-beam fords?

Originally Posted by partybarge_pilot

Somebody needs to get a tape measure. With either the Bilstien or KYB shocks, max wheel travel is 9" mounted to the stock shock mounts. Period. I just did a stock beam last month and tested both shocks. Either way, the arms are so short, anything over 9" creates some pretty bad angles and wouldn't improve your ride any. New German shims? loose after after new years run. Need to start working on the A-arm car again and put the beamcar back on street duty, thats about all it's good for.

were you using the stock shock tower??

Ya he was

and thats why he couldnt get any more travel.

I missed the the longer tower part. Still, when you angle the shocks back like that you make the crapy stock shock geometry even worse. Once your arms pass 45* on droop your wheel is moving more forward than down. This puts a lot of extra load on things and doesn't really help the overall ride quality.....

you are partially correct. where that shock is mounted it has no negative affect on how the suspension cycles, i myself have not cycled that front end but i have rode in it. i have also built a few beam cars aswell and an a-arm bug.

To hell with you guys! This is the buggy section. My car will smash on you're POS trucks all day long.