Wheel base?

Gene-C · Post by **Gene-C** » Wed Dec 21, 2005 6:16 am

Do all fiberglass buggies have the same wheel base? If so what is it? If not how can I figure out what mine is suppose to be? I have two chassis and they are different lengths. Any info will be helpful. Thanks in advance.

CairoManx · Post by **CairoManx** » Wed Dec 21, 2005 6:40 am

Most shortened buggies have an 80 inch wheelbase. Most 4 seaters use a stock pan which has about a 94 1/4" wheelbase. There were also some other oddballs that had even different lengths. However, that's not important. What you really care about is how the body you buy fits your floorpan. Measure the length of your floorpans, from the front lip where the body seal gasket goes, to the rear lip. Buy a body that fits that distance. Most people will tell you when you shorten a pan, you cut 14 1/4" out of it. When I do it I take the new body, set it on the pan as far forward as it will fit, then I mark the pan exactly at the rear of the body tub. Then I shorten the pan to fit the body. With fiberglass bodies there's a fairly big margin for error in production. You're always better off cutting the pan to fit the body than just assuming 14 1/4" is the right cut.

jsturtlebuggy · Post by **jsturtlebuggy** » Wed Dec 21, 2005 7:40 am

The original monoque Manx is 78in. The Manx that fits on a VW pan is 80in. Most all the imitations are 80in. The Empi Imp is 82in. I have one body that is 84in. Dino from BugShields like a 87in wheelbase buggy. He stretch a Johnny's Speed & Chrome body. Measure your body before cutting your pan.

CairoManx · Post by **CairoManx** » Wed Dec 21, 2005 8:17 pm

Another odd-ball pan was used on the Berry Mini-T and its clones. The wheelbase was 80 inches but they cut off the top tunnel section with the pedals and shifter and swapped locations with the parking brake section of the tunnel. They had to use an extended rod to connect the brake pedal and the master cylinder.