Water Cooled Manx?

[GrandpaMcGurk]

I wanted to build a Manx with a bunch more beans than the VW engine could muster "reliably" without having to rely on air flow to keep the heater cooled down.

In the foggy recesses of my mind I conjured up an aluminum water cooled 170 cubic inch V-4.

I started with a re-issue AMT Manx kit and swiped the V-6 block from a '77 Revell CJ7 Renegade kit.

On with the pics.......I put a couple of bolts in the torsion bar tubes to look like those old adjustable "select-a-drop" deals, when I add the seams for the center sections they should look cool....yeah I'm old enough to remember them.

Cut the middle 2 cylinders from the V-6 and spliced everything back together.

Edited September 11, 2012 by GrandpaMcGurk

[Davewilly]

Cool cant wait to see some more of this one!

[cobraman]

Nice idea. Looking forward to it being done.

[george 53]

Uh oh, looks like my kinda bug cummim up!!!!

[Draggon]

Nice. Love that "select-a-drop! Ya know, someone, perhaps SCAT, did a water cooled flat four engine for Midgets, something like 300 hp I think. Just going by decades old info

[crazyjim]

A lot of buggies seem to water cooled Subaru engines. Cool build, Don.

[Dr. Cranky]

Interesting. More, please.

[Johan020]

I love it already

Very nice job on the engine great idea to cut a piece out off a v6

[Crazy Ed]

Back when the Manx's first came out a lot of Renault Dauphine's were converted to Dune Buggy service. Water Cooled and at the time VERY CHEAP.

[GrandpaMcGurk]

Many thanks guys........here's a few more pics.

I'll be bending up my own set of tuned pipes.

[GrandpaMcGurk]

A couple of mock-ups checking fit, etc.

[GrandpaMcGurk]

These are photos showing the re-shaped tail section & where I've removed material from the basic Manx tub.

[Ira]

GREAT PROGRESS DON!!!

[crazyjim]

Keep going, Don. It's looking fantastic.

[GrandpaMcGurk]

The gas tank is now going to live just in front of the bell housing.....the idea here is to keep more weight on the rear tires for better traction while keeping it toward the front of the car (ahead of the rear axles) to help control unwanted wheelies...hee.

I'm cutting some flat panels to replace the original molded section of the tub that I removed.

Gas tank in place.

I'll be using a couple of Crazy Jim's resin buckets....

Edited September 12, 2012 by GrandpaMcGurk

[FASTBACK340]

Very cool idea .....very cool.

[jbwelda]

you are not going to be able to keep the front wheels down! kool buggy!

[GrandpaMcGurk]

Radiator is going up front.....I was going to jam it between the gas tank & rear of engine.......but it got looking too clunky back there.

[crazyjim]

With the radiator up front, what are you going to do with the Manx hood?

[cobraman]

That is coming along very nicely.

[GrandpaMcGurk]

With the radiator up front, what are you going to do with the Manx hood?

I cut a few air intake slots in the hood & there's an electric fan under the radiator.

[bryan_m]

cool, cant wait to see more....

cheers

bryan

[GrandpaMcGurk]

Here's the hood in progress.........used a pin vice & some small files, a little clean up and I'm good with it.......although it does kinda make it look a little like a jeep from the front.

Radiator from the top & bottom with electric fan....The water lines will run through the VW back bone....at least that's my story & I'm sticking to it.

Yes, the radiator is upside down.....didn't notice it when I did the mock-up & pic.....fortunately it's not glued in yet.

Edited September 15, 2012 by GrandpaMcGurk

[GrandpaMcGurk]

Oh boy,a roller.....added motor mount to the top of the V-4, it'll tie into the roll bar.

Edited September 15, 2012 by GrandpaMcGurk

[GrandpaMcGurk]

I didn't want all that VW steering linkage taking up space so I fabricated a rack & pinion unit.

It runs thru a hole in the VW backbone.