Throwing in the towel - my MarsFab buggy build

untchabl · Feb 22, 2022

Completely forgot that I weighed the bare chassis before we painted it. It's just a cheap $45 mini crane scale but it's all I've got. Planning to weigh the axles and the engine as well just for curiosity. Will put the completed buggy on some racecar scales when it's all finished.

ridered3 · Feb 22, 2022

untchabl said:
Completely forgot that I weighed the bare chassis before we painted it. It's just a cheap $45 mini crane scale but it's all I've got. Planning to weigh the axles and the engine as well just for curiosity. Will put the completed buggy on some racecar scales when it's all finished.

View attachment 160552

That’s awesome on weighing everything as it’s being reassembled!

xjcrawler · Feb 23, 2022

untchabl said:
@ridered3 local guy has a paint booth at his house that I rented out for the weekend and I had a buddy spray it. SPI black epoxy primer is what's on the chassis and the axles. Wanted something that was easy to touch up down the road with some semi-gloss black rattle can.

Is it just epoxy primer with no clear coat?

untchabl · Feb 23, 2022

xjcrawler said:
Is it just epoxy primer with no clear coat?

Yes

xjcrawler · Feb 23, 2022

untchabl said:
Yes

Epoxy primer has no UV protection and it will not last. It will slowly look worse just from washing it.

untchabl · Feb 23, 2022

xjcrawler said:
Epoxy primer has no UV protection and it will not last. It will slowly look worse just from washing it.

Thanks for the heads up. Too late to change it now, that is what my buddy suggested to use. If it gets bad in the future, I'll just rattle can it more.

TBItoy · Feb 23, 2022

untchabl said:
Thanks for the heads up. Too late to change it now, that is what my buddy suggested to use. If it gets bad in the future, I'll just rattle can it more.

Assuming you are going to keep the buggy inside... then it won't be much of an issue.

buddy painted his with DP90 epoxy primer and it looks and matches krylon satin black. Every couple years he'd hit the outside of the tubes that got rashed up with rattle can. Just held a piece of carboard on the back and painted the "face" of the tubes.

xjcrawler · Feb 23, 2022

untchabl said:
Thanks for the heads up. Too late to change it now, that is what my buddy suggested to use. If it gets bad in the future, I'll just rattle can it more.

It's an awesome looking buggy would hate for it to look bad in just a few years was the only reason I mentioned it.

untchabl · Feb 23, 2022

xjcrawler said:
It's an awesome looking buggy would hate for it to look bad in just a few years was the only reason I mentioned it.

No, I really do appreciate the heads up. It will be stored inside when I'm not on a ride and I'm sure it's going to get scratched up because I plan to wheel it alot to make up for the last 5+ years of being rig-less. I'm sure in a few years it will need a repaint anyway from abuse plus I'll probably be ready to change some stuff up by then aka coilovers, stronger axles, possibly rear steer, etc.

xjcrawler · Feb 23, 2022

Hope to see it on the trail somewhere, Mars Fab does beautiful work.

baldduck74 · Feb 23, 2022

untchabl said:
No, I really do appreciate the heads up. It will be stored inside when I'm not on a ride and I'm sure it's going to get scratched up because I plan to wheel it alot to make up for the last 5+ years of being rig-less. I'm sure in a few years it will need a repaint anyway from abuse plus I'll probably be ready to change some stuff up by then aka coilovers, stronger axles, possibly rear steer, etc.

Why, I could never consider powder coat, spray or a brush, for me. Build looks awesome though

untchabl · Feb 25, 2022

Little bit of progress. Drivetrain is back in the chassis, just need to replace the oil pan gasket but that will be easier now that it's mounted in the chassis. Rear axle is in and rear brake lines are on.

Rear axle complete minus the calipers, caliper brackets, rotors and spacers was 172 pounds.

untchabl · Mar 13, 2022

Few more steps closer. Front axle is in, plumbing is 90% complete, exhaust is wrapped and installed, trans and steering coolers are mounted. Hopefully get the air shocks rebuilt this week and it will almost be a roller. Waiting on the long side inner shaft from RCV and I'll have every part in hand to make it a roller.

ridered3 · Mar 14, 2022

Looking good!

51Jeepwillys · Mar 14, 2022

Looking good. You may have mentioned it but i cant find it. What brake line stuff are you using?

untchabl · Mar 14, 2022

It's Ni-Copp stuff for the hardlines and I think Russell for the braided hoses. MarsFab got alot of the plumbing parts.

ridered3 · Mar 29, 2022

Got any updates?

untchabl · Mar 31, 2022

Got the air shocks rebuilt and installed, the rear is back to a roller. I got the knuckles shimmed, bearings packed and the long side RCV shaft finally came in. Need to clearance inside the knuckle balls for the birfs then I'll put the shafts in and install the knuckles and it will be a complete roller.

Radiator is in and now all the plumbing is hooked up. Dropped off the flanges and long travel slip to get the rear driveshaft made. It's coming along, won't be long now until it's ready for wiring and vinyl wrap on the panels.

Beerj · Mar 31, 2022

Good deal. Doing anything cool with the wrap or just a solid color? I've considered it but kinda want to do it myself since A; I'm cheap and 2; I can fix it if/when it gets boogerd up

untchabl · Mar 31, 2022

Beerj said:
Good deal. Doing anything cool with the wrap or just a solid color? I've considered it but kinda want to do it myself since A; I'm cheap and 2; I can fix it if/when it gets boogerd up

Just a solid color on the wrap and I'm doing it myself. Figure a solid color would be easier to do myself since I've never done it before. 1 and 2 both apply to me as well.

untchabl · Apr 4, 2022

Plumbing is done, air shocks are rebuilt and installed. Front and intermediate driveshafts are installed and picking up my rear driveshaft from Oliver's tomorrow. Knuckles rebuilt and installed, RCV's are in.

And best news of all, it's a roller. Even rolled it outside to get a good look at it.

ridered3 · Apr 4, 2022

Gotta feel nice for it to get some fresh air!

jeeptj99 · Apr 4, 2022

Are you worried about this fan/cooler getting hit at all? Or clogged with mud?

untchabl · Apr 4, 2022

Hopefully it won't, it's a bit more out of the way than it looks in the picture. Plus the rear side panel should protect it some as well.

jeeptj99 · Apr 4, 2022

untchabl said:
Hopefully it won't, it's a bit more out of the way than it looks in the picture. Plus the rear side panel should protect it some as well.

ah. the angle of the dangle makes it look rough right there.

ridered3 · May 26, 2022

Got any updates?

untchabl · May 27, 2022

Still slowly making some progress. Going to start adding fluids to everything this weekend. The vinyl for my panels came in this week. And the biggest hurdle left is the wiring but I've had some help and got part of it done. It's gonna get done eventually, believe me I'm dying to get it out on the trails.

jeeptj99 · May 27, 2022

untchabl said:
Still slowly making some progress. Going to start adding fluids to everything this weekend. The vinyl for my panels came in this week. And the biggest hurdle left is the wiring but I've had some help and got part of it done. It's gonna get done eventually, believe me I'm dying to get it out on the trails.

How much wiring does a 22r have lmao i think mine has like 3 wires to make it run and the rest is optional.

ridered3 · May 27, 2022

untchabl said:
Still slowly making some progress. Going to start adding fluids to everything this weekend. The vinyl for my panels came in this week. And the biggest hurdle left is the wiring but I've had some help and got part of it done. It's gonna get done eventually, believe me I'm dying to get it out on the trails.

:dblthumb: