My Dune Buggy Idea

[tmac]

OK so I will thinking to myself this morning. Should I rebuild the engine in my garage, sell it or what? I have always wanted to make dune buggy. So here are teh thoughts. Should I track down an old Honda civic hatch back? Since I know the engine should fit without any major difficulties. Or would it be better to start with something with a shorter wheel base like a golf or a firefly? I will be looking into both options but please feel free to post your ideas or problems you see with my plan. If I find an old 3g accord I would love to make it into a project on the boards.

[87accordlxi]

It may be easier to get one of the old Manx-style buggies, like this..

http://i23.ebayimg.com/02/i/01/08/ea/de_1_s.JPG

http://i4.ebayimg.com/02/i/01/08/bb/42_1_s.JPG

An A20 in one of those would haul ass.

[NXRacer]

i have a couple of friends who are building some tube frames for buggies and putting in built b16's.

a turbo charged a20 would go nicely on one fo those..... :D

[tmac]

yeah I would love to toss a cheap turbo on there. But where would I find a turbo? Are there any cars that have similar? I only want a 2-3psi boost since I probally wont rebuild it yet.

[k-roy]

I like Joe's Idea. Just get a rolling chassis/body and work from there.

If you want just a little bit of a boost just go with NAWZ. A 50 shot is a hell of a lot cheaper than one of Sean's turbos.

[tmac]

for the terrian I have here though, a shot of nos would be too powerful, lots of hills and courners, plus wouldn't that distroy the engine just that much faster?

[NXRacer]

not any faster then a turbo would. Chrysler made some turbo's in the 80's. in fact thats what sean is using on his car right now. it'll boost 2-3 psi just fine.

[tmac]

hmm, wouldn't happen to knwo exactly which types of cars I would be looking for then?

Also decided to go with a rearmount engine, and going to loose the powerstearring just to make that easier

[k-roy]

You can get a "sneky pete" NOS system $215 from jegs
http://www.jegs.com/images/products/NOSPete_large.jpg
It will probably only add 30HP. Plus you can run a strait intake and exaughst. So you can easily get 150HP

[Cyric_accord]

I know it isn't a honda, but my dad and I have been working on converting his old VW Bug into a Dune Buggy. After this summer, it'll look something like this... it's pretty close already

http://www.kitcar.com/fiberjet/fj-enos.jpg

[3vg]

just down my ally. dunebuggys is what i do (frames ect). any honda thats cheap is good inculding an auto trans. rear mount ofcourse. tube frame with custom mount ($$$$$) or some guys just use the honda sub frame and struts. cut away as much of the old sub frame as you can get away with. weld plates back on to pretty it up. then go tube frame or a f/g body. oh yea vw front axle. the problem area is the drive axles one longer than the other. you will tare up the short one. check out (shop talk forums)

[PogiLXI]

Where putting a Suzuki motor with 5 Spd Trans on a Gokart. that thing is going to Do Wheel Stands Ever gear.

[dXsquared]

my best friend has a 1993 Pontiac Firefly Turbo... last summer we ripped all the body off it, took the dash out, doors off, everything but steering wheel, gauges, pedals, shifter and 2 seats...

we put a manual boost controler and bumped the boost to 6 psi... that thing RIPS!!! we have 33 inch mudders on it, and we had it goin 100 mph in 4th gear.. it was wound right out... i dunno how fast it will go in 5th cuz the speedo was pegged!

ill have to get some pics for you guys

Travis