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saddlesore1 Samba Member
Joined: November 20, 2006 Posts: 548
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Posted: Mon Mar 28, 2011 4:26 pm Post subject: Saddlesore offroad |
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After watching the progress of "Face Lift" I thought I would document my build.
Its been a very long time and I got my car back today. I am extremely happy with its new cage so let the build begin.
This is the first of many pictures to come.
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locky Samba Member
Joined: May 08, 2008 Posts: 573 Location: Nelson, British Columbia
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Posted: Mon Mar 28, 2011 4:29 pm Post subject: |
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Sweet Looking Cage!!! |
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kubelmann Samba Member
Joined: April 13, 2003 Posts: 3266
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Posted: Mon Mar 28, 2011 5:37 pm Post subject: |
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Oh man what Thing owner (even an off-road wannabe) wouldn't want a cage like that!! Very well laid out. How about a kit that could be welded on-site. Cheap shipping low kit cost high volume sales. I want two or three right now and I have a serious cage in Herr Kubelmann and I like that |
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Captain Spalding Samba Member
Joined: February 19, 2005 Posts: 2519 Location: . . . in denial.
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Posted: Mon Mar 28, 2011 8:44 pm Post subject: |
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Are you going to have shoulder belts or lap belts? |
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Ferretkona Samba Member
Joined: December 03, 2005 Posts: 1306 Location: Columbia, CA
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Posted: Mon Mar 28, 2011 8:58 pm Post subject: |
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I would add a horizontal bar at grab bar height, the windshield will hide it when up.
Cage looks great! _________________ 74 181 Thing
2008 Ford Sport Trac V8 4x4
2008 Ford Escape V6 |
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saddlesore1 Samba Member
Joined: November 20, 2006 Posts: 548
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Posted: Tue Mar 29, 2011 7:51 am Post subject: |
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will use 3 point harness. I hate the crotch belt.
I am cosidering another bar across the bottom of the dash to hold a new steering colum in the future. but not at the top. PRP makes a great grab handle that attatches to the cage via velcro
I removed the windshild handles and am in the process of welding a hollow tube with push pin set up to hold windshield to roll cage. I wanted the cage as close to the dash as possible to help getting in and out.
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Semper_Dad Samba Member
Joined: May 14, 2005 Posts: 3511 Location: Indiana
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It's a play thing Samba Member
Joined: November 19, 2009 Posts: 575 Location: Dayton, Nevada
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Posted: Tue Mar 29, 2011 6:49 pm Post subject: |
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It's the start of a good-looking cage. If possible, it's a good idea to tie your cage into your rear frame horns, and if you're going to build a front bumper, tie it into the cage. See pictures of ours...
_________________ It's not the size of your shop, it's what comes out of it that counts.
I've been playing with my thing ever since I got it... |
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Michael B Samba Member
Joined: November 03, 2006 Posts: 394 Location: Murrieta,CA
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Posted: Wed Mar 30, 2011 8:02 am Post subject: |
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Not to take away from your build, I thought I would add some pictures of my version of a VW Thing cage. This wasn’t built for racing but will perform better then nothing at all!
This cage ties in at 12 locations.
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saddlesore1 Samba Member
Joined: November 20, 2006 Posts: 548
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Posted: Sun Apr 24, 2011 7:00 am Post subject: |
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got a lot done in the past 2 weeks. I have been cleaning up the interior and getting ready for POR 15 befor I can reinstall the cage. I removed all of the interior brackets that are no longer needed for cosmetic reasons. If anyone ever wondered about the strength of factory spot welds but your mind to rest I have gone through 2 wheels ginding stuff off. I have finished my second coat of fiberglass on the new dash. More to go. Cant install the cage until it is finished due to the tightness of the cage to the dash.
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mattt Samba Member
Joined: January 20, 2004 Posts: 1143
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Posted: Sun Apr 24, 2011 6:54 pm Post subject: |
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Nice. Looks like it's coming together well. I noticed you removed the stock rear seat brackets......do you still have them? |
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saddlesore1 Samba Member
Joined: November 20, 2006 Posts: 548
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Posted: Sat May 14, 2011 3:05 pm Post subject: |
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The past 2 weeks have been spent trying to get ready for the POR 15 for the interior. The the roll cage can go back in then done with interior.
Since I am making this a street legal offroad car that I can tow behind the motorhome and use out in the desert for fun it will essentially be an open car. Heater will have little or no effect. SO I welded up all the holes The heater used as ducting. I want to eliminate any areas dirt and cold air can rush through. I hate body work.
The new roll cage is very tight against the dash so I had to fab brackets instead of the lever clamps that hold the winshield up. I do not know how often the windshild will be down but did not want to limit myself with a solid bracket. Cool thing is it also works as a way to secure the custom fiberglass dash i am making. BTW I aso hate working with fiberglass.
I am now ready for the POR 15 the "line X" style topcoat to protect.
If anyone has experence in the pre install of POR 15. How far down in the paint to I need to go. Just a great scuff or all the way to bare metal? The direction say can be applied to bare metal. Is pre primer recommended? |
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locky Samba Member
Joined: May 08, 2008 Posts: 573 Location: Nelson, British Columbia
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Posted: Sat May 14, 2011 5:41 pm Post subject: |
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Looking good. When I Por'd my interior I used a flap disc on a grinder to scuff up the old paint. I ground off any rust that was surface and patched any rotten sections. I used wax and grease remover and then Por15'd the entire interior. I let it sit about three hours on the recommendations of por and then hit it with two coats of 2k high build primer. Sanded that with 320 cleaned it all again and then used the proform bedliner. Turned out great. Very happy with results.
Check it out.
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=383831
And yes bodywork sucks. |
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volksaddict Samba Member
Joined: August 19, 2003 Posts: 1724
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Posted: Mon May 16, 2011 6:46 pm Post subject: |
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Bodywork is great. Make crap look like new with your own hands.
Your por 15 will do no good over any paint, it's purpose is to seal rusted metal that you don't want to take the time to strip to good steel. 2k primer is better than por 15 for bare metal or painted metal. Check out the bodywork forum. Lots of good info there!
I like your cage better than playthings-it fits the windshield and A pillar nice and tight! |
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saddlesore1 Samba Member
Joined: November 20, 2006 Posts: 548
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Posted: Sat Jun 04, 2011 3:22 pm Post subject: |
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Its been another long 2 weeks sanding and prep for the POR15. I have to say I am very impressed with the coverage. I bought 1 qrt $45) thinking I would go back and buy another when needed. I never had to buy a 2nd qrt and have enough left to do the inside of the trunk (hopefully). The directions say wear golves and avoid contact with skin. They are not kidding. I still have a small spot on the back of my leg from 2 weeks ago. I will also say this stufrf is as tough as nails when it drys. sanding back down to bare metal is out of the questions. Now it is time to sand with 600 grit so I can apply the Bedliner. I am almost finished with the fiderglass dash. Another challenging task thus far. Will post pictures soon of that.
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saddlesore1 Samba Member
Joined: November 20, 2006 Posts: 548
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Posted: Mon Jun 06, 2011 1:21 pm Post subject: |
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Got the Bed Armor on today. I like the way it goes on and looks. If anyone is thinking about doing it on theirs I would recommend ditching the roller and use a heavy thick brush to avoid gooping. Wire brush when drywill remove the highs and lows and make more uniform.
Ready to put the cage back in.
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saddlesore1 Samba Member
Joined: November 20, 2006 Posts: 548
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Posted: Thu Jun 30, 2011 4:45 pm Post subject: |
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It has been a very long month getting this dash the way I wanted. The tolerences are so tight I had to take it off and on more than once. I even was able to drop the windshield and broke it. Oh well. next task. I hope to have all the guages in by the end of the weekend.
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locky Samba Member
Joined: May 08, 2008 Posts: 573 Location: Nelson, British Columbia
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Posted: Fri Jul 01, 2011 8:31 am Post subject: |
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Looking good saddle. Keep it rolling. I know how it is hitting the slow periods. Frustrating. What size tubing and how many feet for your bar?? |
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saddlesore1 Samba Member
Joined: November 20, 2006 Posts: 548
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Posted: Fri Jul 01, 2011 1:55 pm Post subject: |
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Ya there are times I am ready to put it down for a while, then I log onto this and the offroad forum and get rejuvinated.I got the dash pads bolted back on top of this custom dash and ready to reinstall the grab handle but reliexed the PO spray painted the grab handle red and it looks like SH>> so I have to strip the paint off the plastic outer coating. got most of the guages and idiot lights in but Tach, head temp and oil presure from Auto Meter are on BO.
As for the cage. It is 1 1/2 steel. Not chromoly. Chromoly is too soft. I believe it was 4 or 5 sticks. around 600 bucks. That is at todays prices. It seems it keeps going up daily |
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saddlesore1 Samba Member
Joined: November 20, 2006 Posts: 548
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Posted: Wed Jul 27, 2011 4:11 pm Post subject: |
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got the new wheels and tires Front BTR 4x15 with 215 75 15 BFG TA 2
Rear BTR 7 X 15 with BFG 30 X 9.5 TA 2.
The rings will be same color as car.
The Rest of the guages came in so I should have the dash complete by next week. I am running out of $$$$$
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