Crashed My Buggy

Dune-Buggy-Archives · Post by **Dune-Buggy-Archives** » Wed Jan 25, 2006 6:02 am

[QUOTE="Mvovr"] Dam Dam DAm!!!!

[/QUOTE] Glad to hear your okay. If there is anyway to help out let the group know! John

Mvovr · Post by **Mvovr** » Wed Jan 25, 2006 6:02 am

Looks like the body has seperated from the pan by the drivers side gas and brake pedel. There is a 1" gap from the pan to the body I can stick my hand in. Bolts are still in the floor they have not pulled through but the pan seems to have a buckel in it right under the master cylinder. It also cracked the beam on my ball joint front end. So far looks like I need: 1a. Stock up on beer!!!!!:drinking: 1. Pull the body, hood, dash to expose the pan. 2. Repair the pan and get it straight. 3. Replace the front axle beam and ball joints. 4. Repair the hood and fender damage. 5. Paint the body. 6. Put it back together. 7. :driving: One cool thing out of it so far is I found out my buggy used to be heavy duty metelflake red/orange. Oh and Chuck I found my dang squeek!!! It's the fuel tank bracket!!! Don't let my humor fool ya I am still

Thanks to everyone so far and John don't worry I will have you guys wore out by the time I get it back together. This is my first ever build since I bought my buggy mostly finished.

Mvovr · Post by **Mvovr** » Wed Jan 25, 2006 6:12 am

WOW!!!!:eek: I hope you were not in it!!!!

Gene-C · Post by **Gene-C** » Wed Jan 25, 2006 3:21 pm

[QUOTE="Mvovr"] Oh and Chuck I found my dang squeek!!! It's the fuel tank bracket!!! [/QUOTE]

If that's what it takes to find a squeek I'll just let mine squeek. If your tunnel is not bent or kinked you can probably save it. Need to get the body unbolted from the pan as soon as possible since the pan will keep the body bent. Hopefully once released from the pan the fiberglass will go back to the original shape. That being said the insurance company needs to look at it in it's worst condition. Good Luck

dpauli · Post by **dpauli** » Wed Jan 25, 2006 3:38 pm

Glad you?re OK! Broken cars are a lot easier to fix than broken bones. Take it easy

MickeyUSA · Post by **MickeyUSA** » Wed Jan 25, 2006 3:42 pm

Mvor if you are going to replace your hood there is a company in Acworth Georgia Super Sport Fiberglassthat will sell a Manx style hood with a dash (SS Max Dune Buggy). Shipping should be cheaper.

Mvovr · Post by **Mvovr** » Thu Jan 26, 2006 4:14 am

Thanks Mickey, I may go that route. It all depends on what I find when it's apart. I unbolted the body from the pan last night Chuck and removed the front bolts from the bent front axle housing. This released the tension and the body looks ok with minor repairs needed to the front edges. Looks like the pan is bent only on the drivers side so far as I can tell. Here are a few pics after I took the bumper off. See how the Pan pulled away from the body Fiberglass damage

Mvovr · Post by **Mvovr** » Thu Jan 26, 2006 4:23 am

You can see the cracks in the welds Also the broken glass with the steering wheel pushed forward about 2" . Whats left of the bumper

OUCH!!! Look glitter!!!!

UncleBob · Post by **UncleBob** » Thu Jan 26, 2006 4:27 am

Ouch. Glad you're OK. hey, aren't you supposed to 'yield' when turning left on Green?

Mvovr · Post by **Mvovr** » Thu Jan 26, 2006 4:32 am

You sure are UB!!! Bet your backside I will from now on.

Although we had a green arrow and 2 cars already went through the light before the guy decided to cross the road.

Maybe he was looking at my buggy and did not see the oncoming traffic he walked out in to.

Not really sure what he was thinking at that moment however right after that be the speed in which he was running away I can bet I know what he was feeling in his pants...........

Gene-C · Post by **Gene-C** » Thu Jan 26, 2006 7:03 am

I feel you pain and probably a little more. Here's a few of the pics that show the main damage to my buggy.

I had to eat the cost. I let a friend drive it for the first time and she totaled it. As you can see. I figured it was worth around 8k at the time of the accident as well as I broke my back and jaw. I'm still healing and will have effects from it for the rest of my life. The nerve damage is supposed to take 2 years to fully heal. I've got 18 moths left to go before I know if I'll ever get full felling back in my left leg.

Gene-C · Post by **Gene-C** » Thu Jan 26, 2006 8:48 am

I would of beat that guy sensless

Gene-C · Post by **Gene-C** » Thu Jan 26, 2006 12:41 pm

Good thing you had that big bumper. However, it looks like that may be what bent the beam. Beam is easier to replace than pan head or really smashed body. If that is the extent of the fiberglass damage I wouldn't worry about replacing the hood. Half a day and a I bet less than $200 a fiberglass man would have it looking like new (minus paint). How does the frame head and tunnel look? I'm not quoting fiberglass repair prices just guessing.

Mvovr · Post by **Mvovr** » Thu Jan 26, 2006 1:37 pm

It's hard to tell how the tunnel looks on the top bout on the bottom it loks good. My pan has been completely fiberglassed so it is hard to see thes tressed areas. I do hvae one tear in the fiberglass on the first rib fom the front back right under the master cylinder. Once I get the hood off I will be able to see more. I am thinking I may take the buggy over to a local frame shop to get see if they can straighten it before I pull the body off. Maybe I can get away lucky and be ready for March. Right now I am going to replace the axle beam, balljoints and bumper then take it to the frame shop to have it checked. I may even wait to do the body work until after March just in case I get silly.

D.Awesome and Manxter10 I feel so lucky compared to the damage I see on your buggy's. I can not imagine how you guys must feel. I do know that my buggy will have disk brakes and three point harnesses installed before it hits the street again. I was also thinking about designing a roll cage from the front to the back including the sides. I think the bumpers need to be mounted to something more solid than an axle beam. Especially for street use. :2cents: