Class 11 and wide-eye mix

Post subject: Class 11 and wide-eye mix Posted: Wed Jan 09, 2013 10:37 PM

Hi folks,

I am experienced with things(181) and bugs and am planning to build a car for intensive offroad-driving.

I am thinking about a baja-bug but:
as we cannot register new bajas legally in Germany anymore, I wonder, what a bug with stock hoods, just having the wide-eye-fenders front and back would look like. Means a mixture between class 11 and wide-eye, based on a standard bug.

It will have 181-axles,
185/80 R14 (stock 181 rims & tires) front or 195/70 R15 (rims 356-style) and
235/70 R15 back tires (on welded 8x15 rims).

These parts are "left overs" from previous projekts.

Do you know a car that ist styled similar? Would be great if you could provide me a link or a pic to get a first impression.

Thanks.
Phulc

Post subject: Re: Class 11 and wide-eye mix Posted: Thu Jan 10, 2013 04:22 AM

It should look good. It would be different. Some tubing and thin cardboard miht be good for seeing what looks best.

Last edited by phulc on Thu Jun 27, 2013 03:19 PM; edited 2 time in total

@mods: pls delete, was a douple post. thx

Last edited by phulc on Thu Jun 27, 2013 03:39 PM; edited 1 times in total

Hi guys,

I still am trying to configure a legally drivable offroad-bug. The front will remain almost stock - just with a 181-axle, but in the back I want to use the fat 235/75R15 tires. So a wide fender with enough clearance is needed.

Just two questions:

1. How about using front-fenders in the back? I recently saw that in a video (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CwPcl-BgVkk), but they cut away a lot from the fender.
Does a front-fender completely fit in the back or only the round section of it?
How much wider does such a front-fender in the back come out?

2. What would you prefer driving in the rear: a 181-swing-axle or a bug irs? I have both options.

Thanks 4 reading ...

Phulc

SGT. 1st Class Joined: Feb 16, 2009 Posts: 1345 Karma: +12

Try these:

www.markvfiberglass.co...erfat.html

www.markvfiberglass.co...f603w.html

Post subject: Re: Class 11 and wide-eye mix Posted: Thu Jun 27, 2013 03:57 PM

In Germany the fenders have to be that way, that the wheel is completely covered in the section A.

In the front, this won´t be a problem as the 185/80 R14 aren´t much wider than stock.

In the back things are more difficult.
We can buy wide fenders in Germany as well (8cm widened fenders), but they don´t look very robust to me - so I´d prefer sheet ones. That´s why I consider the idea using part of front fenders in the back ...

Post subject: Class 11 and wide-eye mix Posted: Thu Jun 27, 2013 06:32 PM

You could always use a cutt-off wheel to cut the fenders in half and then add whatever width metal you need to make it the size you need. I think that's easier than trying to configure front fenders for the rear. If you use another set of fenders to donate the metal from then the curve and bend should already be in it. This is commonly done on Vehicles to "Tub" them out for wider tires on HotRods, etc.

I always get a kick that AZBaja has a following outside of AZ! Thanks for sharing with us. Smile

Post subject: Re: Class 11 and wide-eye mix Posted: Thu Jun 27, 2013 06:39 PM

To give you an idea, what I am talking about:

The fenders of my "chocobug" are widened 4cm (i.e. 1.6inch) and the wheel is still comes out another 3-4cm. This means that I need some fender being about 7-8cm (i.e. about 3inch) wider than stock. Do the stock front fenders being adapted in ther rear provide that additional width?

Post subject: Re: Class 11 and wide-eye mix Posted: Thu Jun 27, 2013 06:47 PM

Conundrum wrote:

You could always use a cutt-off wheel to cut the fenders in half and then add whatever width metal you need to make it the size you need. I think that's easier than trying to configure front fenders for the rear. If you use another set of fenders to donate the metal from then the curve and bend should already be in it. This is commonly done on Vehicles to "Tub" them out for wider tires on HotRods, etc.

Thanks for your idea. That´s exactly what I did for the brown one and that´s a lot of work. Especially because the only horizontal part is close to the body. That´s why using two fenders for one does not work with the bug ...

Post subject: Class 11 and wide-eye mix Posted: Thu Jun 27, 2013 07:12 PM

I hope those are not pop rivets! LOL

Yeah, cutting and combining parts to make something new that looks cool and right is not easy and takes a lot of patience. The right tools help tremendously.

Example of what I'm saying, maybe not the best, but just one I found with google images.

Last edited by phulc on Thu Jun 27, 2013 07:36 PM; edited 2 time in total

What is that about, what these guys in the video do? It doesen´t look bad to me. Suits fine Wink

Does anyone know 'Bob & Eric'? They refer to azbaja.com in their description under the vid. For sure, 1999 is a long time ago. They uploaded the vid 2009, so perhaps they still have/know the rimsize they use(d). Does this green bug mean anything to you?

Post subject: Re: Class 11 and wide-eye mix Posted: Thu Jun 27, 2013 07:21 PM

Conundrum wrote:

... pop rivets ...

Definitely not Laughing

Post subject: Class 11 and wide-eye mix Posted: Thu Jun 27, 2013 07:36 PM

LOL I hoped not! Damn that's what you see from the country to the south of me. Smile

I didn't see a link for the vid!

Post subject: Class 11 and wide-eye mix Posted: Thu Jun 27, 2013 07:55 PM

The link is in today´s first post:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CwPcl-BgVkk

Might be from AzBaja, "founding officer and CEO" of AzBaja.com:
http://s1169.photobucket.com/user/AzBaja/library/?sort=3&page=3

Post subject: Class 11 and wide-eye mix Posted: Thu Jun 27, 2013 08:01 PM

I'm pretty sure Eric is DirtJunkie on this site. I'm sure he'll see this in the next day or so and comment.

I watched that Video a long time ago, fortunately all that work was already done to mine when I got it. It just hadn't been used in a Decade or so. I'm not sure how much wider they were and you also have to have a lot of the tire covered and it might be cut too high or you'll have to add metal anyways to bring it back down or use a mudflap?

Good luck on your project!