The MANX Thread

[ntsqd]

Were you a Kawi rider?

[Turbo_Manx_Maniac]

KUHLMANX, did you buy that car near/in Lakeside?

[MGMFRP]

Hi everyone! First post and new to the VW crowd. I wrecked my motorcycle offroad in October and badly broke (shattered) my right ankle. I haven't walked since then...hopefully soon! So long story short, I realized I would not be riding those kind of toys for a while so I started looking at Manx buggies since I have wanted one ever since I was a kid. After looking at literally thousands of buggy pictures, I saw a couple that I liked and they were the more modern builds with partial tube frames and a nice rollbar. I knew we would be using this for primarily offroad adventures, but on the street a bit also. My mechanical skills are pretty limited since all I have every worked on was motorcycles and I am not into huge projects. I found this cool Manx for sale fairly locally that I just could not stop looking at. It was my favorite color for a buggy, Kermit green! I knew if I didn't buy it I would be comparing all the ones I look at to it, so we wound up buying it in early January. The car has not moved since we towed it home, although I have started it and let it run for a while. The previous owner did take me for a ride prior to purchasing it.

After a bit of research, I found that it is an FRP Manx, assumably build by MGMFRP and company. Since I saw your post here, I thought I would commend you on the beautiful work you do. This buggy is truly a work of art in my mind. I love to look at the detail of this build and marvel over it constantly. I have read many of your forum posts and your company seems top notch to deal with. Any information you can provide on the build would be greatly appreciated. The seller said there might even be pictures from the build somewhere even though I did not find them online.

The guy I bought it from didn't know too much about it even though he had a few things changed. What I know is from all the reading on the forums and I have read a lot because of my condition! Here is the information I was given for the specifications of this Manx. I would love any help with the missing details!

2232 (or 2332?) with CB fuel injection. H beam rods, straight cut cam gears, CB 0-44 heads, ceramic exhaust. (I would love to have a build sheet!)
KEP clutch
Tatam 4 wheel disc brakes, with steel braided lines
CNC master cylinders.
BTR bead lock wheels.
PRP seats.
Eagle rear arms. 3" x 5"
Tweed front end. 2.5" arms
CNC turning Brakes.
Hydraulic clutch. power pulley. all steel braided lines for fuel and oil.
Remote oil filter.
Bus pro sand trans.
Rhino lined pan top and bottom.
Crow belts.
Scat shifter.
16 RCI gal fuel cell.
Autometer gauges.
LED dome light.
LED tail and third brake lights.
Turn signals with motor cycle style electronic turn signal module (buttons on steering wheel).
Hydraulic park brake.
Fox 2.0 shocks front piggy back, rear remote reservoir.
930 CVs.
Pioneer mp3 stereo
4 HID lights
Lots of billit parts,( light mounts, brake line mounts).
Big O AT tires.
Car is titled as 1970 VW bug, and is street legal.

Again, this is information I believe to be correct.

And some pics...they are from the previous owner aside from the one in my garage next to the T-rex...

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It's not easy being green!

Hey KUHLMANX, Yes, I know that buggy well. One of the cleanest, best running vw's I have had the pleasure of working on. It's been a while since I've seen it, but that car was the only vw I had ever seen that didn't leak a drop of oil. The fuel injection was awsome as well.
I originally built the body and a buddy of mine built the frame as a custom one off. The original owner did allot of his own assembly though, so I can't take all the credit. I took that car back in trade for a long travel v8 car that I had. The old owner was ready to step up with the big boys!! I do have some build pictures of that car as well. Call me any time and I can give you the run down up until I sold it to the last guy.

[MGMFRP]

KUHLMANX, did you buy that car near/in Lakeside?

Yes, that's the same car. It went from Escondido, to Utah, Back to San Marcos, Then to Lakeside, and now looks like San Dimas.

[Turbo_Manx_Maniac]

KUHLMANX, did you buy that car near/in Lakeside?

Yes, that's the same car. It went from Escondido, to Utah, Back to San Marcos, Then to Lakeside, and now looks like San Dimas.

Cool, I went and looked at that car when I was in the market! Very clean and love the green, looked almost new when I saw it.

Scott, you might not remember but I called you and asked about it's history when I was interested in buying it. Was cool that you had the entire history of it.

[KUHLMANX]

Were you a Kawi rider?

Haha nope, I seem to like Suzuki better for no good reason, but my T-Rex has the Kawi 1400 motor out of the ZX-14. I do love the Kawasaki green though, obviously.

Hey KUHLMANX, Yes, I know that buggy well. One of the cleanest, best running vw's I have had the pleasure of working on. It's been a while since I've seen it, but that car was the only vw I had ever seen that didn't leak a drop of oil. The fuel injection was awsome as well.
I originally built the body and a buddy of mine built the frame as a custom one off. The original owner did allot of his own assembly though, so I can't take all the credit. I took that car back in trade for a long travel v8 car that I had. The old owner was ready to step up with the big boys!! I do have some build pictures of that car as well. Call me any time and I can give you the run down up until I sold it to the last guy.

That's great! I really would appreciate any information that you can provide and I love the pictures! I will give you a call soon. I did purchase it from the guy in Lakeside that you sold it to a few years back at the sand show. The buggy looks like it didn't have too much use, as it is still in excellent condition. It has 2-3 small chips along the edge of the body from rocks and the metal needs a little polishing, but thats pretty much it. Funny, the first thing the seller said was that it didn't leak oil, but with a sump and skid plate below the engine, it might just not leak to the ground. I can't really see too much to add to the thing and that's another reason why my wife let me get it. The seller was 6' 7" and the steering wheel is a bit high for my liking, but I assume that I can rotate the steering mount to lower it. Mostly, I need to get the engine checked out and figure out what the valve lash is supposed to be and how much oil it takes. Any good place to take to take an engine like this around here to work on or should I try to entice someone with a 12 pack to come help me out? I know it is running rich by the smell, but I have a bit EFI tuning experience and the system is easy to tune.

Regarding the chips on the edge of the body, has anyone put moulding around the edge of the fiberglass buggy to prevent this from happening? If so, where did you get the moulding?

Again, thanks for the information and comments guys!

Jim

[hotrod100]

Any good place to take to take an engine like this around here to work on or should I try to entice someone with a 12 pack to come help me out? I know it is running rich by the smell, but I have a bit EFI tuning experience and the system is easy to tune.

Jim

I have some free time next week and I'm just down the street from you. If you would like some help with it just shoot me a PM.

[Ol'fogasaurus]

Regarding the chips on the edge of the body, has anyone put moulding around the edge of the fiberglass buggy to prevent this from happening? If so, where did you get the moulding?Jim

I've seen what looks like the chrome door edging put on glass bodied cars before. My opinion is that is distracts from the rest of the body lines of the car but it should protect the body edges. I am not sure just how wide the slotin the door edging is though but they seemed to be able to get it to work.

Lee

[KUHLMANX]

I was cleared by the doc to put full weight on my ankle this week, so I took the Manx out yesterday for the first time with my wife. It didn't end up going so well. I will create a thread so I don't hijack this one.

BTW I forgot to mention that all the Manx posted in this thread so far are BAD ASS!!!

I have some free time next week and I'm just down the street from you. If you would like some help with it just shoot me a PM.

I appreciate that and will shoot you a PM. I wish would have had someone look at it before I drove it. See my thread about what happened on my first drive yesterday.

I've seen what looks like the chrome door edging put on glass bodied cars before. My opinion is that is distracts from the rest of the body lines of the car but it should protect the body edges. I am not sure just how wide the slotin the door edging is though but they seemed to be able to get it to work.

The chrome might be a little tacky for my taste and yeah I don't to distract from the original looks. Black would be fine. I went to all the auto parts stores around but only found the door edge guard which is too narrow to fit. They also had flat side moulding, but I think that would only cover the chips not prevent it from happening.

Thanks guys,
Jim

[Ol'fogasaurus]

I read your other thread, sorry about the bad luck.

One thing that is a possibility and that would be to split some plastic or rubber tube and use that. Still not the best of ways but it is much better than the chrome door guard material.

Lee

[ajdenette]

Try finding the stuff for the edge of the VW Pop Top luggage trays it usually does not have the seal and is more for noiase vibration, it should have the right sized opening and usually has a metal core to help it hold on, if you need any help finding sources I will look at my usual suspects and get back to you.

[ntsqd]

What I *think* that you're asking for is called Trim-Lok. Can buy it from McMaster.com

http://www.trimlok.com/

[Turbo60VW]

Being a Manx Forum, i thought i'd get get some opinions on rear tires for our Manx? Pardon the picture, as it was taken from a "CrackBerry" with a dirty lens. As you can see, I currently have BFG All Terrian KOs 32x11.50r15s, i'd like to upgrade to 33x12.50r15. Several reasons for the change;
First and Foremost! it needs more traction! my last manx (the one i had to sell in order to complete this 4-seater) could climb practically anything. It was powered by a VW 1600 single port, all stock except the turbo i strapped on it with 7.5 psi boost, new Solex pict 30 carb, oo9 Bosch dizzy, blue coil, 4.12 IRS R&P and 30x9.50 BFG Old School Mud Terrian tires seemed to climb hills easier??? This new car is incredibly FAST and has tons of power! I easily breaks the tires loose in any gear, not only dirt/sand but even street. Ive taken the tire pressure down, ive tried different PSI to see if i can get more traction. Ive run as low as 13psi- not really all that low, untel you blast down a ditch bed at 95mph and try to make a quick turn (I de-beaded a rear tire last weekend, simply making a hard left turn at 35ish mph.) I know this new manx is a considerably heavier car, id guess my old 2-seat manx weighed 1400+ lbs and this new one weighs around 2000+lbs but ive got a lot more power..... Lastly, it would look better with the larger rear tires, as would the fronts-but ill address that later.

My thoughts; buy some new 33x12.50r15 rear tires. Im looking at the Mickey Thompson Radial Baja Claws and i plan to run them backwards. Thoughts????

FYI-for the front i plan to switch to 33x9.50r15 BFG All Terrain KOs

[Turbo_Manx_Maniac]

Quick turns at 95 mph?!?! You're crazy!

My $.02, I'm running the BFG KM2's front and rear and love them. They ride great and seem to hook up good in corners and on the straight aways. Check the first pic in this thread. Get yourself some bead locks.

PS, I like your Manx, well, except for the wheels (being honest).

[Big Dave]

I ran 33" MT baja claws on the back of my baja (2.5 subaru), and while the traction in mud and rocks was great...they had zero lateral traction. The rear end was ALWAYS sliding out. With the rear of the car being so much heavier than the front, I couldn't go around a corner in the dirt without looking like I was drifing.
So while I like mud terrain tires, try to find one that had as much lateral traction as forward traction.
I went from the baja claws to these http://www.bigo.com/item.asp?id=267 and it behaves 1000% better. They also work better in the snow since there is a little siping, the baja claws sucked on icy roads! after cutting the sidewall on one of my claws, I had a friend who hooked me up on the Big Os. Three year road hazard, even if I abuse them.