Manx Club

Just want to say hi guys!I have a 68 Manx that was basically my first car 30 odd years ago.Its been tarped down in the barn for almost as long.It's built on a 63 pan so its a swing axle/king pin.It had a 40hp in it when I got it,long gone now.Last motor was a type 4/914..Now my delima,my dad sold the swing axle trans and bought a IRS to put in it,didn't like the way the wheels angled.The IRS is still setting beside it,never installed.With the collector interest in these cars now do you think I should leave it a swing or convert it?I have 2 boys now 9&7 who just discovered this in the barn and want me to fix it up again.thinking about ditching the type 4 and building a 1835.The buggy looks just like "blue buggy" except its a raspberry ,fuchsia color molded in not paint.Has white side pods and all.
Open to Ideas ,What do you think?
Russ

Hello and welcome!

To install irs rear you'd need to modify the frame at the rear and clearance the frame horn sides in order to fit the (acurately possitioned) brackets, possible but hard to do with the body still in place. There are plenty of internet articles documenting the procedures necessary. You'll also need to modify the spare wheel and battery mouldings for clearance. As for 'collector interest' it's really your call, if the work's well done it won't harm the car's value; would you really ever sell it anyway given the family history?

I've only ever run swing axle rear ends on my Buggies, they're lighter, stronger and simpler than 4 joint irs and are virtually maintenance free. I prefer them but again it really is up to you if you want to convert then do it.

Engine-wise again, it's your call. T4 motors are great but in my opinion heavy, ugly and hard to find decent exhaust systems for. For what I use my Manx for; strictly a street cruiser, a 1600 T1 engine with twin Baby Dell carbs does my fine.

Welcome back to the asylum!!!

If the car is apart/not running now, now is the time to go for it! We ran swing axle for years. Had the camber cranked all the way up for ground clearance. After about 4 years of mostly off-road use, the inside ends of the axles and the fulcrum plates in the transaxle were all chewed up. At that point we converted to IRS. The IRS handles so much better on the street, and much smoother off-road. Hot VW's just did a piece over a couple of issues on IRS conversions. So far as a motor, I would look at a 1776 or 1915, as they will be more reliable and run cooler than an 1835. Weight in a buggy isn't that much of an issue either (remember, the tin body is gone reducing the chassis weight substantially). A project like this is great to get the kids involved with. Is the body a true Meyers Manx, or a clone? A large number of people in the club run clones (I for one), and the issues with body clearance are different than on an actual Manx body. Consider a 3" body lift to help with some of the clearance (both for an IRS conversion, and for running off-road). Makes a huge difference. Collector interest isn't going to make you a ton of money, so you might as well just make it yours and do things as you see fit. The pay-back is the fun you have building and running it. Every buggy is an individual expression of it's current owner, so go for it!

Welcome to the Club.
5150 Bossman hit the nail on the head.
Good advice.

X2 what Michael says... It's all down to what you want to use the car for, what your budget is, what your mechanical capabilities are and how much time you can devote to working on it.

Sure, a high spec Buggy with totally rebuilt everything would be great but as with any project, everything will take at least four times longer than you first figured and will cost at least three times as much.

Just make sure you get it running while the kids are still kids...

Didn't realize there were clearance issues with irs.Have to think about that.I worked at a local garage for 8 years that specialized in bugs.23 years ago!Supervisor in machine shop now with my own small shop at home ,lathe,2 mills.Built a 2085 stroker for a rail I once had.Right now I'm looking for it to be next winters project.Just trying to get it in my head what I want to end up with.
It is a real Manx also Serial #M2898D912E or F having trouble reading the last letter.Ive been on line alot looking and reading seeing how things are done nowadays.
Thanks for the input and direction guys!
Russ

#M2898D912E



M = Manx

2898 = number in production

D = Month = April

9 = year of production = 1969

12 E = Fuchsia

Sounds like a cool project. I would decide what you want to do with it before making any mods. Street, strip or offroad? That will help you with the suspension decision.



--louis

Years ago I remember weld in brackets that would allow the irs change.Any good,still available or junk?I'm really not sure about the body mod to fit irs.Just hate to cut that fiberglass!I read a post here or on the samba about a body lift with alot of pics ,but I believe it was ony 1 inch.I know 3'' would be done the same way but just seems like alot.
The buggy would be street very mild off road,just going to the pastures to check on cattle.
I had desert dog caps on it then,probably go with something much more street friendly now.
Thanks Russ

A 3" lift is reasonable for off-road (that is what we run). It makes the stance look more aggressive and gives room under the skirts for suspension modifications as well as beefier tires if that is the direction you want to go. I figure that a good off-road buggy will still drive well on the street, but a street buggy doesn't do well going over large ruts and boulders. So the choice for us was obvious. They still sell the cut-in/weld-in brackets (which work fine), and you would need a jig to get the alignment right. Ask around for a shop that has done the conversion before, or ask someone in your area that might have a set of jigs you could borrow for the install. If you are looking for a just a basic street buggy and are worried about cutting the glass, leave the SA, adjust it to a neutral camber, and you will still be able to drive on dirt roads or relatively smooth open fields. You will just have to be careful going slowly over any ruts or rocks in the road. You could also put on a camber compensator if you are worried about how the SA acts on the street when driving curves aggressively. Again, each buggy is a reflection of it's owner. The possibilities and combinations are endless!

Let's see it then!!!

K.I.S.S.  Keep it simple...well you know the rest.  If it were me and I wanted to get the buggy up and running, I would keep the swing axle in it.  I've got over twenty years running a swing axle in all kinds of terrain and it has held up great.  For a mild off road, and even more, it wil be fine.  The key is to get it going so you and your kids can enjoy it.





(Pictures added for ManxDavid) 

http://s1104.photobucket.com/albums/h325/Russ_Carr/
Wow never got into photo bucket before,that made my head hurt!One pic is as it is now in barn the other is around 1980.

Ok .... I see the way you are ... just tease us with a pic here & there.
It look like a great project from what I can see ....