Questions regarding 2+2

Siggymanx33 · Post by **Siggymanx33** » Wed Dec 06, 2006 9:17 pm

Well, I have been thinking about it long and hard and I am about to order a Manxter...... I have a few questions that i was hoping someone could help me with. First off, does anyone have a picture of the backseat area and more specifically the PRP covered fiberglass rear seats that you can buy with the kit? I understand that they are somewhat propriatary to the Manxter and I am going to order them with the kit but I want to make sure that they are the best way to go. Winnie mentioned that they are the perfect solution but I just want to make sure the kids will be comfortable in them? Also, will the full size Beard Super Seat or PRP equivelent fit up front? They do in my classic manx but Winnie mentioned that I may have a problem there? Also, I am unsure right now which engine I will go with. I am picking up a 2 liter type 4 this weekend that will need some work. I could also go with a stroker type 1 or the intimadating (to me Suby). While I have the skills to put together the kit and the car, fabricating for the watercooled engine is out of my reach as I am just getting comfortable with VW engines. I kind of need to figure this out as I am going to have to make a side pod choice soon. I really like the original side pods and would only go the vented route if I planned on going Suby. (now or in the future.) I realized that this is completely a personal choice and not really a question, but I would love to hear input? I am also slightly concerned about putting a type 4 back there because if I remember correclty Manxter Mike had to do a good amount of work to make it fit on his buggies. Third, if I wanted to put a one or two inch lift on it, what would the possible engineering ramifications be with regards to the rollcage and side bars? I like the higher stance of the DualSport, but Pennsylvania vehicle codes wouldn't have it. Anything else I should know? Thanks,

Tom-Kathleen · Post by **Tom-Kathleen** » Thu Dec 07, 2006 12:01 am

Hi Dave, I say buy the Manxter!! I have #16. But you are right, there are several things you will need to work out. The first would be the engine. If you have sidepods made @ a later date, the fiberglasser will NOT guarantee they will match. So my recommendation is that you should pick the manxter power you want and order the pods @ the same time as the body. VW or Subaru? If you like VW, stay with it. I drive my manxter ALOT! I can only tell you my experience. I have been driving a 1914 cc type I for the last 2 years. I find it somewhat temperamental. The valves need to be adjusted on a frequent basis. The thing is an oil dripper no matter what we have done to try and correct that. You can purchase (it's only

) the subi engine newly rebuilt, with a wiring harness and the computers and an adaptor ...so it should just drop in, right? Haha! Of course the water cooling system has to be made. This engine is more reliable, so I am making the switch next winter. Mike @ ECR, put in the type IV and he had to modify the rear bumper (lower mounts) and he made his airbox deeper. I don't think a manxter seat can be "supersized". There is definitely limited space in the car. The PRP premier highbacks fit in very nicely. I don't think you could possibly fit a larger seat in there. I do have my seats VERY low so it is narrower the closer to the floor you get. The rear seats are specific to the car. They are designed to fit into the space perfectly. There are actually indentations in the body that the seats rest on. The covers for the rear seats came out nice. I can't comment on the comfort level as we never sit back there. The slanted roof support system makes it hard for a tall person to sit back there. I'm 5'7" and I bump my head. One person put a lift kit in his manxter. He may be able to better answer your questions about that. Tom says you will have problems with the front mounts of the side intrusion bars because of the way they attach to the front axle. You may also have problems with the steering column mount under the dash. If you are looking for head room, he says you may be better off to cut the flooor pan and lower the seat mounts. Kathleen

Olli · Post by **Olli** » Thu Dec 07, 2006 4:02 pm

IMHO the ducted pods give the Manxter a much "sportier" and aggressive look. It doesn't make a difference as to what engine you will use. Get the pods with the car. Don't be intimidated by the Subi engine. I am pretty sure that I am the only one here that has taking the plunge and gone the Subi route. But who knows? Nobody posts about their Manxter builds ......(?????????) You can ask me as many questions as you care to. I won't mind. A couple thoughts on the Subi install. Cooling; you can go with dual radiators in the pods or a single mounted up front. When I decided to go water cooled there were no ducted pods so mine is up front. You will need to find a place to mount the engine management ECU and run the harness. Sounds simple, but the harnesses are made for sandrails so you are stuck with dealing with what you get. Sure you can cut n' splice the harness, but then you have just assumed full liability of that $1200. ECU. So your routing options are limited. Also, there aren't too many good egress points at the lower rear of the Manxter body. I am still trying to find a good route. The rear bucket seats do fit well and will give you the maximum amount of room for your passengers. Fitting seatbelts? You are on your own. The red Subi powered Manxter had the mounting points of the belts bolted to the fiberglass. I can't agree with that.... The Beard seat covers that I paid good money for to Meyers Inc however fit like crap. They looked like potato sacks. They have since been recovered. Just buy the shells and have Tijuana Kustoms cover them to match your seats. All in all, I say "Go for it!" Olli

Siggymanx33 · Post by **Siggymanx33** » Thu Dec 07, 2006 4:54 pm

Thank you all for the input so far........ With regards to the side pods, I agree on the sportier look. (in the ferrari sense?) I was considering taking the car in a sligthly different direction (old school hot rod look, well as much as I could with a fiberglass wedge?) but either way I think it will look great. Truth be told, I'm worrying about his when I told myself that it will be a long term build and I have a million things to think through before I come remotely close to picking an engine. Power to weigth ratio of a Viper is very intriguing........ Thanks for the heads up on the seat covers, that is exactly what I was wondering. The covers aren't cheap however it sounds as if I should definitely pick up the shells and associated hardware. Tom @ TJ isn't that far from Philly when the time comes. FYI: I spoke to Winnie regarding the side curtains and everything is done but the current supplier is far to costly (retail=$1200) and they are searching out a more cost effective supplier.

GotManx · Post by **GotManx** » Thu Dec 07, 2006 6:15 pm

As far as the lift kit goes, you would have to modify the rear yolk from the engine/trans mount to the cage and the side intrusion mounts to the front end. You could probably just change the angle of the steering shaft and make that work. I have the standard Beard seats in the front of mine and they fit fine. In the rear I used the Beard Lil Sportster's. Not a lot of leg room with them - but my kids are still small.

Siggymanx33 · Post by **Siggymanx33** » Thu Dec 07, 2006 6:48 pm

That car is soooo sweet........ I'm not even sure why I worrying about side pods when it looks that good without them......

manx1111pla · Post by **manx1111pla** » Fri Dec 08, 2006 2:33 am

Ya Jon, i sure love your car i'm planning on building one but don't have the skills to fab a chassis so i'll probably stay vw pan. what was the link to your manxter build again please, id like to check it out

GotManx · Post by **GotManx** » Fri Dec 08, 2006 6:03 pm

Here's the link to some of my Manxter build pics along with the build of the Baja Manxter: http://pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/gotmanxjon/my_photos

Siggymanx33 · Post by **Siggymanx33** » Fri Dec 08, 2006 6:18 pm

Winnie was telling me that the fiberglass seats are the way to go, however neither of Bruces cars seem to use them? Any idea of what it would take to get these in the back?

gary dam · Post by **gary dam** » Fri Dec 08, 2006 7:41 pm

The seats that are in the back of the red Manxter are the ones we got. We just have the fiberglass shells right now. Winnie told us that the covers have the headrests built into them. I hope she is right. They are made by PRP. That was the look we were looking for. Gary and Annie

DelSurf · Post by **DelSurf** » Mon Dec 18, 2006 2:13 am

Dave, If you want to take a look at my Manxter feel free, I live nearby in Wilm., DE. I had Mike at ECR build my Manxter (#23) a couple years ago. Mike

Olli · Post by **Olli** » Tue Dec 19, 2006 2:36 pm

Hi Mike and welcome to the Forum! It would be really nice if you could start a new thread and tell us about #023 and your experiences with it. Please post pictures too. Olli

DelSurf · Post by **DelSurf** » Thu Dec 21, 2006 7:41 pm

Hi Olli, When i get some time I will post some pictures, in the mean time here is a link to the build pictures that Mike at ECR took a few years ago: http://www.eastcoastrover.com/MXTR023.html Not much has changed, although the engine went bad and I am having it replaced at the moment

. I keep the buggy at my beach house in South Jersey and use it daily during the summer to haul me and my surfboard to the beach. Mike

Olli · Post by **Olli** » Fri Dec 22, 2006 6:03 pm

Hi Mike, Thanks for posting. It really is nice to hear that you are enjoying your Manxter. I really like that color too! Bummer about the RAT engine. What happened? Olli

DelSurf · Post by **DelSurf** » Sun Dec 31, 2006 5:14 am

Olli, You're sharp for knowing it was a RAT engine. Jake, the builder, has always been very helpful and I subscribe to the esting and possibility that anything could have happened, but based on what I have seen after we torn down the engine the build was of poor quality. I'm waiting for a full report from the builder but there was a list of obvious build issues. Mike

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Questions regarding 2+2

Questions regarding 2+2

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