The MANX Thread

[ntsqd]

Coming from some experience with race buggies and decades with a 'glas buggy that I played with on rocks long before the "rock crawling" craze, I don't see wheel spin as bad. Buggies don't crawl like 4x4's do. Sometimes you can crawl them and sometimes you need a little wheel-spin. Keep in mind that the best VW transaxle is a relatively fragile part. Hook up the tires too well and then pour some HP into the combo and you've got some expensive shrapnel. BT, DT, several times.

If 33's are what you want I'd suggest looking at the 10.50's rather than the 12.50's. They're lighter so the vehicle will accelerate better and the suspension will work better too.

[Turbo_Manx_Maniac]

If 33's are what you want I'd suggest looking at the 10.50's rather than the 12.50's. They're lighter so the vehicle will accelerate better and the suspension will work better too.

I wrestled with this when building my car. I like the look of a 12.5 better on a manx, gives it a fatter, meaner stance. That said you do need to run a wider wheel and it will be heavier. In the end I went for performance over looks, 33x10.5's. Some like the look of narrower wheels, not me though.

As another data point about tires, PDM and I run the exact same rear tire and it performs alot different on each car. His car is heavier and has alot more power, he claims his car slides around more than mine. You probably have similar weight and power to my car and I love my tires.

So you are running a 30" in front and want to go to a 33"? Will that work without hitting the fender? Mine almost hits with a 31" tire, I'd be suprised if you didn't have to limit travel with a 33". Do you have power steering? With a 33" tire you're going to be wrestling with the steering wheel with just a rack.
I will say I like the bigger tires, they roll over things with alot less drama and make for a smoother ride.

OK last thing.... Can you post a few pics of how you mounted your speakers and sub?

[CentralWAbaja]

And good luck finding 33 x9.50's for the front. They are hard to get your hands on, as they are not discontinued but are not a regular production tire either....and if you do find some....I will take 2 or 3....but would settle for getting my hands on just 1

[KUHLMANX]

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

I am glad you asked this cause I didn't want to hog the thread. I want to upgrade my tires also. The ones I have on the front do not look very durable. They are some brand I never heard of. I have Big-O AT on the rear and can't comment on how they are because I never got it in the dirt. I read many times that moving to a 33 on the rear will put a lot more stress on the already weak transmission especially with tires that hook up. Mostly people suggest that wheel spin is good and not to go with a real aggressive tread. Moving up in tire size will also affect the gearing obviously. I think the raised Manx like ours look better with bigger tires, but also may make the tire come in contact with the body. I actually like the exact tires that are in your picture for mine! Too bad you are not local. I would hate for you to test your roll bar doing a quick turn at 95mph with tires that hook up. Maybe loss of traction is a good thing and you should just get some beadlocks. How is your trans build to allow 95mph anyhow? BTW your Manx is nice!

How do larger tires affect the steering and turning abilities? My Manx is incredibly hard to turn and I am not a weak guy. Driving a mountain road was a bit unnerving because I have to use a good amount of my might to turn. I guess I need to look into power steering. How come Manx builds usually do not have a steering stabilizer? I think it would be a necessity.

For some reason, my Manx had a weight certificate included and it was 1800lbs.

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

http://www.trimlok.com/

Thank you for this link although they want ~$200 for the minimum purchase. With so many choices, I don't want to guess what will look best. Since they are fairly local, I think I will go down there and look at the trims if that is possible.

"Bad Luck" Jim

[ntsqd]

Jim, try looking on mcmaster.com for the Trim-Lok. Should be able to buy it by the foot or so.

[Ol'fogasaurus]

The Trimloc web site really isn't of much help as it doesn't give dimensions or ranges if use as they are too worried about proprietary information which you really can’t blame them for in a way. I remember having to (probably) almost duplicate designs because there wasn’t enough information in their catalogs or from the sales reps to justify purchasing then to find out that the large outlay of $$$ was wrong and getting stuck with all that stock and not be able to use it.

Another thing you need to consider is constant glass thickness where you plan on putting the edge treatment. Formed metal is pretty consistent in thickness but ‘glass stuff seems to be a little less so unless things are held pretty tight by contract. From what little playing with glass I have been doing, buggies can be thick in some places and very thin in others. Also older buggies are usually quite a bit thicker because of the older materials dictated it.

I still think the cheapest way to go may be finding some round tube with an inside diameter you want and carefully splitting it to bond onto the edges.

Lee

[kd6rsq]

Here is my locking sway bar on my Manix

[Turbo60VW]

Thanks for the input on tires guys! im begining to think maybe i should just stick with my reliable BFG All terrains. But I like the looks of fat and tall rear tires, by switching to the 33x12.50 id be gaining roughly 1" in both width and height (i currently have 32x11.50 in the rear). Pending I stick with the same tire manufacturer.... Rubbing on the body could be an issue, so ill need to check my clearance at full compression to see if larger tires will indeed contact the fiberglass.

BFG does make a 33x9.5 for the front-so im good there.

How is 95mph possible? I have stock gearing in my 3 rib (stock ratio 1-4th no close ratio gears) 32" tall tires, and stock ej20 turbo subies redline around 6800rpm(mines not stock). I havent dynoed the car yet, but the tuner who tuned the car told me full bodied Subaru WRXs with the same motor, plus power steering pump, AC, emissions-cat converters, same amount of boost typically produce 240ish hp at the wheels (all 4 wheels that is) at our altitude. So id guess i have at least the same hp. All combined 95+mph is attainable and GPS'd at around 5700rpm. BY NO MEANS is this an everyday practice-nor is it for the faint of heart......

[Busk]

BFG does make a 33x9.5 for the front-so im good there.

True they list them on their website, but good luck finding them anywhere. BFG hasnt made a run on them for while and they are pretty difficult to find. if you find a source for them be sure to share

[Turbo60VW]

Good to know about the BFG 33x9.50s. I was unaware of this-my buddy recently bought 4 brand new ones (ill have to ask him where he purchased them)

[stringtwelve]

Turbo60VW, I just sent you a PM. I think you might be the previous owner of a '60 turbo I bought a few months ago in Albuquerque...

[Getrdone]

Maybe it's just me, the 33/10.5's look ginormous to me!

[Ol'fogasaurus]

I think lifting each one onto a car is going to cost you a hernia! Whoof

[Turbo_Manx_Maniac]

That's not a knife, this is a knife...

[Getrdone]

Sweet, we are back on track, let's see some more Manx's!!