While my brother and I are in the middle of our little budget build, I am curious if anyone else has spent any time lately on their own build on an old school rail! Stories, pics, or even tips on how you were to save some coin. In todays economy I cant immagine everyone can afford a $45k long travel.

Craigslist, Nickel ads, GD and various other classifieds are your friend.

My budget build consisted of non-paint rust color (not even primered). Temporary plywood floors and of course the Ecotec. It sure got some funny looks in St Anthony's last summer but it ran good (less one broken shock) and we had fun. Right now I am in the tear down phase to polish my turd.

My build went from this:

To this in two weeks:

try clicking this

Can you afford a LT at under $18,000 ??? We did it last year for the wife, posted under

Nanette's Car, She lives on dyno!!! in this forum...

I will bump it up for you...




Buddie

Done a couple in the last 4 years one was a hi jumper 2+2 frame wit a swing axle and a 1776 motor.I spent about 5k on that one with buying quite a few new parts for it doing the build. 1200 was on the trans and axles for it(close ratio rancho).One thing i learned on that one is buying parts some may seem cheaper at first only to find out they suck only to go out and buy the better parts so on a few things its better to spend a few extra dollars.I later built a 1914 motor from all new parts spent about 1800 on that but motor has been very good to date

Recently did another build since i needed more rear seat room for growing kids so i bought a bare frame and went to work but decided on upgrades right from the start and was able to use some parts off old car(motor,had trans converted to irs,wheels,spindles)But ended up buying suspension seats,new pedals new steering components,etc spent about 5k on that car and did all the labor myself minus trans and tie rods.

decided to step up suspension right off the start was able to find some used fox shocks and a couple other parts used to save some money.But still have a couple of other things i want to do have a bus trans for it that i got a good deal on just havent installed it yet,and want to go to a 6 inch wider beam up front

red car is the latest one i have pics of my old car on another pc so i have to find them

Let me explain it to ya...

It boils down to desire.. If you believe you can, you will. If you believe you can not, you never will.

Everything else is just details..

Our first trip to the dunes was many years ago, and like most, we just rode down to Cantamar in the Ranchero..

No buggy, no bike, no nothing but a tent and two sleeping bags.

This entertainment continued for some time.. Begging rides with more affluent folks..

However, we were hooked instantly..
I started collecting "Stuff".
A noisy VW crash box, free.
A 40 HP engine, free and frozen.
Stock rims and beater tires.

Checking the ads every day, I found a crashed 1968 VW for sale, no trans, no engine, no wire loom no tires/rims. $25.00...

Dragging that home, and the race was on..

In those days, VW had very good prices for parts.. main and Rod bearings, and gasket kit $25.00. (Those days are long gone)

Next month, I had a road worthy Baja bug.. Yes, I used a gig saw to remove anything that didn't look like a Baja.. No fiberglass..

I simply removed the bent metal..

That Baja ("Betsy") made many trips to Baja, Pismo, and finally, Mother Glamis.. Nirvana indeed.. Total build cost, $50.00 and a lot of sweat..

Clearly, we spent more as time wore on. But budget never left our focus..

If you believe, you can do it..

My first car cost $600 and that included the extra gas for the weekend. And it was a partnership with a buddy.
Got the black pipe frame with a reverse rotation corviar out of the trader. Transmission with gear reductions out of a bus at Ecology. Ran great for two seasons. Even with the worn out recovered out of the trash paddles with tubes we were running. The year was 1993.
Moved up to an a-arm Mazzone mid engine car. We took the engine and trans from the first car.

When I first saw this thread I missed what the theme was. My Car Was WOB WAY OVER BUDGET. Wife still reminds me weekly!!!!!!!!!!!!

I traded working on the undercarriage on a 953 Caterpillar trackloader for my first buggy. It was a warrior knockoff with 2.3 ford, 6 rib bus box, 28 mm torsions and springover shocks. My wife and kids loaded up and went to the dunes with the guy I got the car from. We had the time of our lives. Around here you can find a runable car for less than $1500 all the time.

Stick to a real budget and you will never quit.

Time in the dunes with family and friends.......................................priceless.

Oh yeah I ruined that frame (lawndart) and removed the components and bought a weld together frame. I started it 3 days before we were supposed to leave on vaction and pulled an all nighter the day before we left. Great time was had by all.

For anyone interested in building their own efi to save, check out megasquirt.info . I built 3, the first two I sold on ebay to cover the cost on the third. It works like a champ on a vw with turbo. It would work on any engin for that matter.

Super clean rail. Nice.

Yep me too started out 7 years ago with just a 2 wheel drive POS chevy and a 350 warrior.After that z-400,21foot toy box ,Ford crew 4x4 f-250,LTR-450 and just enough room for a 2 seater VW 1914 Buggy for 4000.00. Good FOR now i just need to some one to ride with

I paid 6K for my first buggy, but it was already a runner. Johnny speed and chrome 2 st middy with a 1914cc VW in it. Had a couple good seasons on that car then went thru the motor and added a turbo which blew the trans (well not the turbo, but boosting and dumping the clutch), so that go rebuilt and then sold it to my pops when I bought an LT car.

Click to view attachment

This isn't the lowest budget buggy I've built but the only one I really kept track of. Most of the parts were bought off people on GD, Race-Dezert, and the Samba. Bought this frame after a race in Lucerne, Oct '07. Finished it June '08. It really helped me to clear out a bunch of VW stuff I've had laying around in my shop.


frame $100.00
Aluminum beam- chrome spindles $120.00
rack, mount, tie rods- chrome $100.00
trans-IRS, torsion bars, plates, axles $100.00
IRS pivots- weld in $25.00
rear brake hoses- rubber (2) $11.00
trailing are bushings (2 sets) $20.00
CV boots, grease, new bolts (2) $20.00
shift rod bushing $2.00
EMPI shifter w/reverse lock out $45.00
turning brake-single handle push/pull $15.00
Oh Sh*t handle- billet w/mount $25.00
fuel tank- 8 X 30" $15.00
Pedals $195.00
steering shaft (chrome) $18.00
steering shaft bearing w/carrier $10.00
rear tires 31 X 10.5 X 15 $100.00
front tires 7.00 X 15 $100.00
tail lights $15.00
U joint for steering (2) $70.00
small dash $15.00
brake hoses & connectors (2 sets) $60.00
brake light switch $7.00
brake/clutch line 3/16" steel $13.00
fuel tank petdaffyduck $16.00
$1,217.00
Freebies/ parts on hand
switches lts/start $20.00
crash light $10.00
front wheels 15 X 4 $50.00
rear wheels 15 X 10 $50.00
rear torsion housing $100.00
seats- polly w/covers $50.00
steering wheel $10.00
brake lines- hard $20.00
lights- 8" chrome $50.00
rear shocks $20.00
starter $25.00
1600cc $100.00
oil cooler $10.00
Belts 3" X 3" 5 point $150.00
$665.00

im finishing up my build and i have found that there is many ways to make things... you need to open your mind and not just look at "sand rail" parts but any type of automotive/ heavy equipment part to make something work.

Hey! If your need people to ride with, we are always looking for other duners to camp with us! Our camp has gotten alot thinner lately and we have been looking for others to join us. PM sent.

Cool i am up for new freinds my son and I will be leaveing saterday before thanksgiving and will be there till wensday.And back home before the crazyness starts.WE like to camp off the gecko camp ground loop.A little crazy there and loud but thats why iam there for the horse power.My son is 17 and cant get enough rideing so just us.and our toys