My Australian / US Tow'dster

Oz-Towdster · Post by **Oz-Towdster** » Sun Jul 07, 2013 1:15 am

Hi all thought it was about time that i show you my Tow'dster , if you haven't seen it before around the forums .
This car was originally built in Fountain Valley and has tag # TFXXXK912E and if you know your tags was Built in in Nov 69 .

Yes it is a pretty crazy build for a Tow'd based car and even crazier if you know how strict the Vehicle rules are in Australia , but being the only known one road registered in Australia at present it is something dear to me .

Here's a link to one of the build threads on the car , i hope you enjoy

http://shoptalkforums.com/viewtopic.php?f=28&t=138302

manxvair · Post by **manxvair** » Sun Jul 07, 2013 6:30 pm

Nice looking project, keep up the postings.

Oz-Towdster · Post by **Oz-Towdster** » Sun Aug 04, 2013 2:28 am

Bit more work on The Towdster yesterday as Paul and i have been building the rear engine cage which on a Towdster with an engine lid is no mean feet .
Am also going to be running a 1 5/8 Trimil bobcat exhaust as pictured with a slightly modified collector .
Tail lights will be LED units mounted between the twin bars on each end

Oz-Towdster · Post by **Oz-Towdster** » Sun Aug 04, 2013 2:48 am

And for those of you that don't want to venture over to shoptalk a few other random pics of the build .
The engine is to be a 2387cc Type 1 that i have ready to assemble fitted with some 45 DRLA Dellorto's , an 1800 bus transaxle fitted with a syncro diff lock , and the stopping is up to a set of Grey Area Technoligies disc brakes with 4 pots on the rear and 2 pots on the front .
In regards to the suspension components the front end is a 6" wider warrior beam with TI design 2 1/4" x 1" longer trailing arms and TI combo stub axles ( lifted ) with some 10" fox emulsion shocks handling the bounce and a SACO rack pointing it in the right direction on the odd ocation that the front wheels may be touching the ground .
The rear suspension is a stock IRS subframe minus all but the essential bits and fitted with some 3 X 3 Avery's Air Cooled rear arms , again fitted with Fox emulsion shocks but 12" travel

Oz-Towdster · Post by **Oz-Towdster** » Sun Dec 22, 2013 4:10 am

Finally recieved our container from the states so Christmas has come early here

My HID headlight kit which will be fitted into a pair of genuine KC Stainless Steel Daylighters

Speed hut Gauges , including a combined Tacho / GPS Speedo , Oil pressure , Oil Temp , Cyl Head Temp , Volts , and Fuel , with all senders

A genuine Bosch Alternator and tig welded wide fan

A Jamar Pro X shifter with reverse lockout

Also unpictured at present is a set of Jamar hydralic fiddlers/ turning brakes , various size bump stops , some new cylinder tinware that i will insert the cylinder head vane out of a german set into , a 36 hp doghouse fan shroud and some LED tail lights

manxvair · Post by **manxvair** » Sun Dec 22, 2013 9:11 pm

Good news Andrew! That's got to be 1 "BIG" Christmas present!

Ed-Chenal · Post by **Ed-Chenal** » Wed Dec 25, 2013 7:09 am

Very nice...

Scott-Drolet · Post by **Scott-Drolet** » Tue Dec 31, 2013 6:37 am

Wow Andrew, you do great work! What a beautiful job, and with top quality parts. It'll be a pure joy to drive.

Oz-Towdster · Post by **Oz-Towdster** » Sat Feb 01, 2014 10:22 pm

Bit more work , have set up the upper bump stops and limit straps in the rear

And cut out my centre consul to fit in the hydralic turning brakes , sorry forgot to take anyphoto's of the finished mounted item

Manxiberty · Post by **Manxiberty** » Mon Feb 17, 2014 8:23 pm

turning brakes and bracket

jsturtlebuggy · Post by **jsturtlebuggy** » Wed Feb 19, 2014 6:40 am

That is a big picture Paul. It took awhile to download with my DSL.
Looking at it, it appears you are going to mount the cylinders under the tub and have the handles come through where the mechanical steering brake handle would normally mount. Is that correct?
When you and Andrew get it done it sure not going to be a 900lb Tow'd like what Bruce design.

Oz-Towdster · Post by **Oz-Towdster** » Thu Feb 20, 2014 9:27 am

But Bruce didn't have a 2387cc Type 1 in mind at that time hehehehe ,but seriously the pipe work in the car is not all that heavy and i'dd rather have safety over crazy light , hell a stock Towd dosn't even have anywhere to bolt seat belts too apart from fibreglass and we all know how that would end .

Ed-Chenal · Post by **Ed-Chenal** » Thu Feb 20, 2014 4:58 pm

I like your build. It's safe and sturdy.
Keeping things original is nice if all the vehicle is going to do is sit on display or be in parades. If you're intent is to drive a buggy off-road or on the street, I think it's prudent to incorporate proven safety features and durability in the vehicle. I encourage people to put cages on their vintage buggies. As we know, a single roll bar offers little protection.

jsturtlebuggy · Post by **jsturtlebuggy** » Thu Feb 20, 2014 11:03 pm

Andrew,
Is this Tow'd going to have a vent for the fuel tank? After what happen on the Sea2Sea run I think it would be a wise move.
And make sure the king pins fit are not to tight.
You four made the trip quite fun and interesting with your antics.

Oz-Towdster · Post by **Oz-Towdster** » Fri Feb 21, 2014 6:46 am

Joseph , it wasn't the vent that was the problem on either of the USA Towds in the end , on the green one onthe first day it just ended up being a peice of rubbish in the outlet on the tank and the blue ones problem was eventually traced to the fuel cut off solinoid in the pict 34 not opening properly .
King pins are all sorted as i'mm running TI Design lifted spindles which have nice bearings .
As for this car , as with the rest of it , an alloy custom triangular fuel tank is to be made with a vent pipe , large capacity outlet , and a fuel return pipe for possible fuel injection later on .
And as for entertaining , if you havn't read somewhere , i'mm comming back to the USA for Big Bear this year with some fresh aussies and more antics