Author Topic: Takin' the little bus to Bonneville  (Read 16961 times)

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Offline Boxrod

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Takin' the little bus to Bonneville
« on: November 13, 2007, 02:04:01 AM »
Through a strange series of events, it looks like the Bonneville Bus will come to reality. This bus was always one of those what-if projects. Chris Clark, of Clarks Customs, penned this awsome rendition of this way cool dream bus. Now, dream no more. I have become the new owner of the  KCW "shop truck" project. Photos of the chassis work can be found here http://kustomcoachwerks.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.ShowItem&g2_itemId=23646 . The torsion housing has been raised and narrowed, front beam narrowed, 5 inch dropped spindles, raised box, wheel tubs, barndoor rear decklid and engine compartment. A great start for this project. I plan on building this as I get time and money, and plan to actually take this to the salt flats and/or the dry lakes to make real top speed passes. I'll start documenting the progress soon and will start a new folder in my gallery to show the progress. I'll keep you up to date. Here's the artwork
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Go to www.volksarama.com for kool stuff

Offline Boxrod

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Re: Takin' the little bus to Bonneville
« Reply #1 on: November 13, 2007, 02:05:23 AM »
Pleaae support the shops that support that project,
Let them know you saw them on Volksarama.
Go to http://volksarama.com/BonnevilleBuildup1.html to see what we still need if you want to get involved in this project
R/C Trans- (702)221-4363 - http://rctrans.com/ - rebuilt HD transaxle.
The Wagen - (702)699-wagn - sheet metal install
Sand Freak Fabrication - www.sandfreak.net - Safety cage/roll bars
KCW - http://www.kustomcoachwerks.com/ - body and paint labor, front beam, raised box, narrowed torsion housing
Type 2 Parts.com - http://www.type2parts.com/ - sheet metal repair panels
Chirco VW - http://www.chircoestore.com/catalog/index.php - Crow 3x3 safety harnesses, Crow gloves
Old Speed - http://www.oldspeed.com/ - 944 Porsche rear hubs, backing plates, calipers, cables etc.
Grease Monkey Racing - http://www.greasemonkeyvw.com/ - Aluminum high roof engine case, other items TBA
Econo International Supply E.I.S - http://eisparts.com/Merchant2/merchant.mvc? - new bus nose skin
DPR Machine Shop - http://www.dprmachine.com/ -  84 mm C/W crankshaft.
Speedwerks - http://www.speedwerks.net/ - MSD 6AL box with soft touch rev limiter.
Engle Cams - http://www.englecams.com/index.php - Engle turbo camshaft
MOFOCO - http://www.mofoco.com/  - 050 heads, 42x37, dual springs, opened for 94s, fully ported and polished
« Last Edit: November 19, 2007, 11:23:54 PM by Boxrod »
Go to www.volksarama.com for kool stuff

Offline bigtim44

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Re: Takin' the little bus to Bonneville
« Reply #2 on: November 13, 2007, 10:30:08 AM »
Thats a great project,which class will it be running in?

Tim
Salty Box Racing #622 B/DT

Offline frogpirate

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Re: Takin' the little bus to Bonneville
« Reply #3 on: November 13, 2007, 12:51:41 PM »
How slammed is that?! Old busses are Cool with a capitol 'C'. I had one a few years ago I used to haul my Son's XR100 race bike in:
http://www.geocities.com/ldslowpoke/mrhappy

I ran it out of gas in Spokane, WA (gas gauge no workie) and it ran like crap all the way home to Vancouver. I assumed I'd sucked crud into the carb, but it turned out to be bad points. I really hate points. It's long gone now, but will never be forgotten. Post more build pic's - captions would be nice too!

Ken
"On the other hand, with a single thumper, run it till the valves float, then SHIFT." Dean Los Angles

Offline RichFox

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Re: Takin' the little bus to Bonneville
« Reply #4 on: November 13, 2007, 02:16:08 PM »
Chopped post '49. Engine in stock location. I would guess it's going to be a comp coup/sedan. Mid engine and I would guess it's going to be running with the NASCAR time only guys.

Offline Jonny Hotnuts

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Re: Takin' the little bus to Bonneville
« Reply #5 on: November 13, 2007, 07:02:56 PM »
Great project, hope all goes well.

You do know however there are better choices aerodynamically!!!!

LOL

JH
jonny_hotnuts@hotmail.com

"Sometimes it is impossible to deal with her, but most of the time she is very sweet, and if you caress her properly she will sing beautifully."
*Andres Segovia
(when Im not working on the car, I am ususally playing classical guitar)

Offline Dr Goggles

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  • The Jarman-Stewart "Spirit of Sunshine" Bellytank
    • "Australian Bellytank" , http://thespiritofsunshine.blogspot.com/
Re: Takin' the little bus to Bonneville
« Reply #6 on: November 13, 2007, 08:07:29 PM »
Mein Gott!!!

I got tricked into doing a resto on one of those once....a hippy girl  owned it ( duh)It got into me in a big way....took too long , paid too little , she took it somewhere else ,they ripped her badly , she brought it back!!!!! I painted it..sheesh, then I drove it once , and I mean once. A combination of things made me feel very unsettled in it at anything approaching the speed limit or when I was near another vehicle or fixed object , or when the wind blew. Still , it was a good looking thing.

Great photo's of the chassis work that's been done and if it winds up looking half as crazy as the render then you'll be in possession of a real nice thing. Different vehicles give one a different "sensation" of speed .....I reckon you'll feel like you're going a million miles an hour in that......it just needs a Dead-Head sticker.....
Few understand what I'm trying to do but they vastly outnumber those who understand why...................

http://thespiritofsunshine.blogspot.com/

Current Australian E/GL record holder at 215.041mph

THE LUCKIEST MAN IN SLOW BUSINESS.

Offline Boxrod

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Re: Takin' the little bus to Bonneville
« Reply #7 on: November 21, 2007, 11:13:56 PM »
I picked up a couple more sponsors today:

Mooneyes - http://www.mooneyesusa.com/Store/index.php - complete set of moon disks with dzus fastner kit. These are a must for the right "LQQK". Take a look at their website for tons of kool parts and accessories. Thanks to Bob and Chico for the support.

Big Wig Race Cars - http://www.bigwigracecars.com/ - Ric and crew donated a set of aluminum front door panels and kick panels for under the parcel tray. These guys do some awsome work with steelmetal. They can do wings, door panels, firewalls, dash inserts,etc. Thanks guys

Go to http://volksarama.com/BonnevilleBuildup1.html to see what we still need if you want to get involved.
Go to www.volksarama.com for kool stuff

dwarner

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Re: Takin' the little bus to Bonneville
« Reply #8 on: November 21, 2007, 11:40:10 PM »
Have you read a rulebook yet? I noticed that you are requesting donations of items that cannot be used when running on the salt.

In the configuration shown in the rendering I would like to suggest you run at the World of Speed 130 club event. The rules are more relaxed and you will not have to conform to any strict class standards.

DW

Offline Boxrod

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Re: Takin' the little bus to Bonneville
« Reply #9 on: November 25, 2007, 09:43:47 PM »
Hey DW, which items can't be used at BVille. I looked at the World of Speed event and found it a little more relaxed. Any input is appreciated. I am definitely a newbee and obviously need to learn alot. Thanks...........................................Derek
Go to www.volksarama.com for kool stuff

dwarner

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Re: Takin' the little bus to Bonneville
« Reply #10 on: November 25, 2007, 10:48:32 PM »
Derek,

I suggest you have  a Rule/Record book in hand as the build moves forward.

I still want to point you to the World of Speed meet in Sept. You may be able to meet your sponsership goals there.

DW


Offline SPARKY

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Re: Takin' the little bus to Bonneville
« Reply #11 on: November 27, 2007, 10:45:57 AM »
For risk of throwing rocks in Glass Houses  :evil:----I think that DW is trying to say nicely :-D----without a specific "CLASS"---you are just building something that may look cool to some but looks like a crass attempt to get exposure for commerical ventures :-(---and you will end up being able to run time only at best at a SCTA event :-o---if at all---because it dosent conform to any "Class :?"---
Miss LIBERTY,  changing T.K.I.  to noise, dust, rust, BLUE HATS & hopefully not scrap!!

"Security is mostly a superstition. It does not exist in nature, nor do the children of men as a whole experience it. Avoiding danger is no safer in the long run than outright exposure. Life is either a daring adventure or nothing."   Helen Keller

We are going to explore the racing N words NITROUS & NITRO!

Offline Boxrod

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Re: Takin' the little bus to Bonneville
« Reply #12 on: November 27, 2007, 10:20:36 PM »
I'm fine with a time only attempt. I'm not looking to set any records. This IS a commercial venture, but it is still something I've always wanted to do. I want to be able to take this to both races and car shows and hopefully get lots of attention. Maybe if I get bitten by the bug I will build another "race " only" vehicle to compete with. Should be fun either way.
Go to www.volksarama.com for kool stuff

Offline Boxrod

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Re: Takin' the little bus to Bonneville
« Reply #13 on: November 27, 2007, 11:03:10 PM »
Here's the newest supporters.

Bugpack - http://www.bugpack.com/ - No stranger to anybody in the VW community. Rick, at Bugpack, has offered up a set of their chromoly H beam race rods, a set of their race lifters, and a set of their straight cut cam gears. I think they put out some high quality products and am proud to have them on board. Thanks Rick.

Dynamat - http://www.dynamat.com/ - Dynamat is considered by most to be the industry leader in sound and heat absorbing materials. Go to their site to see all the uses for their products. Thanks Ben.

Go to http://volksarama.com/BonnevilleBuildup1.html to see what we still need if you want to get involved.
Go to www.volksarama.com for kool stuff

Offline PJQ

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Re: Takin' the little bus to Bonneville
« Reply #14 on: November 28, 2007, 12:08:32 AM »
This is a great build, and the promotion to attract sponsors doesn't try to pull the wool over by making go-fast record breaking claims. You've got my respect for the effort and your business smarts. On the other hand, from experience, the promotional race vehicle is difficult to take seriously.

Friends of friends pitted with us a couple of years ago. Their bike was a pretty little SR500 with bolt-on Cafe Racer bits from Japan. They spent the week taking thousands of photos and making a few runs. They had an adventure, they're great blokes, and there was nothing annoying about it. But still....

It's similar to hot rods built by magazines as project articles. I guess these things have a place and serve a purpose.

Deus bikes.
http://www.deus.com.au/
Regards,
PJQ
Velocity Science Laboratories