MQ based buggy

[Tiny]

So, after way to many standard drinks on Saturday night at WEROCK, Jeff (Screwy) and I discused using an MQ chassis thats on its way to base a buggy off.

The plan at this stage is:-

MQ Chassis, using a chassis allows ease of motor fitment, pedals etc

60 diffs as we have them, welded rear and air locked front

253 V8 = V8 sound and should be a reasonable powered donk while keeping the weight down from say a 308

FOX AIRS or Coilovers, coilovers less to think about, FOX cheaper to buy more to set up / maintain

I am thinking 37s and go legends but as Jeff has 38s and we can use one set of tyres for a bodies rig and a crawler then we do this bu then we may as well go full tube, forget plaing around with bonets and gaurdes etc

an auto (T400?) with a 60s transfer and gearing

What are anyones suggestions / comments? please keep this constructive, I dont want why use a chassis or why MQ or why 60 diffs!!!! Jeff has these allready and it is pointless to fork out more coin for the hell of it. what I am looking for is what box tranfer keeping in mind we looked at the 60 transfer for drivline ease, gearbox mount straight to the chosen engine must be V8 petrol (ask Screwy )

[80lsy gq]

if you wanna use a 253 then you would have to get an adapter to suit the turbo 400 or get the block redrilled to suit the turbo pattern..this can be done but be wary that you can drill into the water jackets when doing this...would be far easier to get a turbo pattern 308 and turbo 400 and mate it to the transfer from that...i am using a turbo 400 to gq transfer in my buggy and am in the stage of getting an adapter made to suit,or you can buy one from marks for 900 which is a bit rich

[Slunnie]

I thought the 253 and 308 were basically the same. For the power of a 253, wouldn't you be better off with an alloy Rover V8?

[N*A*M]

i would just make a new chassis from tube. you will waste a lot of time cutting off the bracketry off the old one. most of it will have to be redone anyway.

[Eddy]

308 and 253 are same weight, if anything 253 may be a little heavier as it has longer pushrods

All tube frame would be neater finished product but sooo much easier to build onto a chassis

[turbo gu]

a 253 and 308 are identical except bore and stroke if there is any weight difference it would be only a kilo or so. go the 308. if you can.t get a turbo pattern they do sell bellhousing adaptor plates for the same money as redrilling. its easier to get it redrilled. its on 2 bolts that have to be redone and there is plenty of meat in that part of the block
as for adaptors for t400 to the transfer try castlemain rod shop. good products and usuall cheaper than other shops

[bubs]

definately start a frame from scratch

[Mad Cruiser]

wouldn't go for a 253.... pretty gutless compared to the 308

[Tiny]

hmmmmm 308 seems like the go, so RHS chassis from scratch?

[Screwy]

well i happen to have another 308 turbo pattern sitting here that all i need to buy is rings and bearings and put it back together.

i already have the block all machined and honed etc.... i new there would be a reason to put it back together some day

might go that way, with straight LPG ofcourse

i would prefer to use front half of the chassis and firewall design.

that way i dont need to stuff around wiring, pedals braking componants etc etc. its all there.

for the small hassle of oxy cutting some mounts off....

i believe its easier to build from half a chassis then tube the back.

the other side is, i have a motor, i have diffs, and i have a complete MQ im willing to donate.

no cost cept in gearbox and transfer/ shafts drive train wise....

then its just suspension and tube work.....

i need to keep the costs on this project down as my full bodied MQ ( which stays complete ) has sapped my money and comp fees and 2 lots of rego etc are keeping money low.

screwy

[Tiny]

have ya got a gas sys as well Jeff?

[Screwy]

have ya got a gas sys as well Jeff?

got a tank and the lines, got some soleniods. will make a a copy of the custom setup on my motor, and all i need is a converter

[Tiny]

have ya got a gas sys as well Jeff?

got a tank and the lines, got some soleniods. will make a a copy of the custom setup on my motor, and all i need is a converter

when do we start

[Screwy]

have ya got a gas sys as well Jeff?

got a tank and the lines, got some soleniods. will make a a copy of the custom setup on my motor, and all i need is a converter

when do we start

gunna go get it prob saturday

SUNDAY???

[Tiny]

have ya got a gas sys as well Jeff?

got a tank and the lines, got some soleniods. will make a a copy of the custom setup on my motor, and all i need is a converter

when do we start

gunna go get it prob saturday

SUNDAY???

sounds good at this stage

[mkpatrol]

Here is an Idea for ya, If you are concerned about weight, go the Rover V8, Reasonably cheap to repair & can be stroked to 5lt (almost) pretty easy. Then go the Range rover gearbox & transfer, fairly cheap & easy to get hold of early model stuff.

PM auto_eng, he has a complete running Rover V8 with electronic ignition he only wanted about 300 bucks for last time I spoke to him. If you cant get onto him I will for you. It was out of a RR so the bolt pattern should be OK.

Just an idea, no stuffing around with adaptor plates & the like for the drivetrain.

[Screwy]

308 will bolt to the auto no dramas, and ive got one

just adapt the transfer, not a big problem.

i have a motor, and gas system, also i dont want injected petrol, i also know my MQ wiring looms and its easy to set up as ive done it all before quite a few times.

the other reason i dont want rover V8 is cause everyone else has one.

i like to be a little different with my build ups, kinda half the reason im doing up MQs

[Tiny]

Here is an Idea for ya, If you are concerned about weight, go the Rover V8, Reasonably cheap to repair & can be stroked to 5lt (almost) pretty easy. Then go the Range rover gearbox & transfer, fairly cheap & easy to get hold of early model stuff.

PM auto_eng, he has a complete running Rover V8 with electronic ignition he only wanted about 300 bucks for last time I spoke to him. If you cant get onto him I will for you. It was out of a RR so the bolt pattern should be OK.

Just an idea, no stuffing around with adaptor plates & the like for the drivetrain.

anything is an option, just has to be as cheap as posible

[Screwy]

For u guys to keep in mind.....

i have my comp MQ pretty much finished minus Engineers, and ill be competiting it in trials, willoglen, TTC and maybe pecker...... so im happy to wheel it and have fun.

this buggy is on the side, and i have no intention of it being finished anytime soon, and i cant let it sap much of my money....

so i would like to run wat i have.

the main thing i havent got is a gearbox/ transfer

i only have MQ 4 speed manuel and trasnfer, and i want AUTO.

the other thing i have looked at is i have a divorsed MQ transfer here as well........

so maybe auto and transfer then another divorsed mq one behind that?

screwy

[Tiny]

I dont see any reason why not except maybe length??? I would rather a 308 for noise factor over rover and you have one there anyway Jeff

[Screwy]

I dont see any reason why not except maybe length??? I would rather a 308 for noise factor over rover and you have one there anyway Jeff

yep

also my experiance is in holden V8s, and the wiring and conversion stuff to MQs. also if i blow one i can take it out of my comp rig and switch if i need it.

thats the other thing.

i cant fit the duel in my SWB with new 104 inch wheelbase, but a tube rear section buggy frame who knows.....

[Patroldude]

Oh - Sounds like good fun. I always wanted to go to the different approach - 2 front ends off an MQ with rear steer etc - won't start on my ideas as they usually half assed n not well thought out on the technicalities etc...

I got a turbo pattern V8 conv kit to the gearbox you are using in the rest of the truck.... just means no auto for you guys.... U already getting th erbox with truck etc anyway....

Mk

[Wendle]

i know you don't want to hear it, but don;t bother with a chassis. you have nothing to gain, you are going to need different engine and trans mounts, different suspension mounts, everything. if you want to go legends class, buy some 100x50 SHS and make two new rails from that. you will have them made and be starting to mount your drivetrain quicker than what you will be able to cut all the other crap off the chassis and tidy it up. you can then really keep it tight to your drivetrain and make it as skinny and small as the rules will allow.

[Tiny]

i know you don't want to hear it, but don;t bother with a chassis. you have nothing to gain, you are going to need different engine and trans mounts, different suspension mounts, everything. if you want to go legends class, buy some 100x50 SHS and make two new rails from that. you will have them made and be starting to mount your drivetrain quicker than what you will be able to cut all the other crap off the chassis and tidy it up. you can then really keep it tight to your drivetrain and make it as skinny and small as the rules will allow.

I know what you are saying, but the reason why we are looking to do it this way is fire wall, steering and pedal box. IMO so much easier plus motor bolts up easy and then chop the arse off and tube from there

[dave]

You dont even have to have box chassie now for legends can run full tube frame for that to.

[Wendle]

i know you don't want to hear it, but don;t bother with a chassis. you have nothing to gain, you are going to need different engine and trans mounts, different suspension mounts, everything. if you want to go legends class, buy some 100x50 SHS and make two new rails from that. you will have them made and be starting to mount your drivetrain quicker than what you will be able to cut all the other crap off the chassis and tidy it up. you can then really keep it tight to your drivetrain and make it as skinny and small as the rules will allow.

I know what you are saying, but the reason why we are looking to do it this way is fire wall, steering and pedal box. IMO so much easier plus motor bolts up easy and then chop the arse off and tube from there

firewall, pedals, and steering column have nothing to do with the chassis. are you going to run a body on it? it's not really a buggy then is it?

standard engine mounts are not much chop in something that you are dropping on it's side or its roof all the time either. you'll be making something better in no time. just ask nam.

[Tiny]

i know you don't want to hear it, but don;t bother with a chassis. you have nothing to gain, you are going to need different engine and trans mounts, different suspension mounts, everything. if you want to go legends class, buy some 100x50 SHS and make two new rails from that. you will have them made and be starting to mount your drivetrain quicker than what you will be able to cut all the other crap off the chassis and tidy it up. you can then really keep it tight to your drivetrain and make it as skinny and small as the rules will allow.

I know what you are saying, but the reason why we are looking to do it this way is fire wall, steering and pedal box. IMO so much easier plus motor bolts up easy and then chop the arse off and tube from there

firewall, pedals, and steering column have nothing to do with the chassis. are you going to run a body on it? it's not really a buggy then is it?

standard engine mounts are not much chop in something that you are dropping on it's side or its roof all the time either. you'll be making something better in no time. just ask nam.

hmmmm i will look into it

[Screwy]

were going to run MQ fire wall only. not the compete body, nothing even close.

ill make engine mounts and they locate very easily, trust me

will think about it this way, but we will only be running boxx section at or close to the same width as the current chassis, so that we can run the firewall for easy for wiring / piping / pedals etc etc etc....

just getting ideas at this stage.

screwy

[basketcase]

You dont even have to have box chassie now for legends can run full tube frame for that to.

Has that been finalised?? Thought it was all still up in the air??

[Strange Rover]

You dont even have to have box chassie now for legends can run full tube frame for that to.

Has that been finalised?? Thought it was all still up in the air??

Yep - still up in the air but is certain to happen. Also looks like they will be dropping the steering box requirement.

So the spec would be front engined, two seat, 37in tyres, body panels to make it look like a 4wd.

So for the buildup it wont really matter if you use part of a chassis or not. At least if you use a chassis it gives you something easy to start with.

Also I would try to use a T700 auto cause its got a 3:1 first gear instead of 2.5:1 So with the 60 series diffs with 4.1:1 you really only would need transfer gears around the 3.3:1 up to 4:1 say to give 40:1 up to 50:1 overall.

Sam