1000cc Buggy

[Nobi-wan]

I'm new to this site, I just joined for some help with making my first street legal project. I've been building motorized things for years, and have some experience in working with cars. Here's some pics of my project (powered by a Geo Metro 3 cylinder). The pics show it as a modified golf-cart frame, but I am working on a complete custom frame for it. My objective is to have something less than 50" in width, seats two, and has very little unnecessary weight.

[cheapracer]

Speak to others who have gotten homebuilt's registered, often it's more down to getting a fair minded inspector, get names.

[cheapracer]

You'll do 18 holes at least an hour faster!

[joeytwomugs]

Why so narrow?

I'm sure you will be able to do it with the experience you havebut the outside edge of the wheels would be pretty much in line with the outside of the seats. Personally I wouldn't put the width restriction on the design because the wider the car the more stable.

Have a look at the rocket at http://www.mevltd.co.uk for design ideas for the chassis. You'd basically want that chassis but smaller and with the sides protruding more so that you still have room for seats. Or have you thought about staggered seating or putting one seat directly in front of the other?

How come you went with a geo instead of a motorcycle engine?

Do you have a decent budget for it?

[Nobi-wan]

The reason I have the width restriction is because I want to take it on some national park trails that are open to any registered vehicles 50" or less (usually just quads and bikes are the only things that will fit). So basically this will be an on/off road buggy.

the Rocket is quite interesting, so far its the most similar design to my design drawings that I've seen. Also, side by side seating seems to be the most space conserving (lengthwise), which is why I've chosen it, but I did consider front/back seating at first.

And my buddy's had the Metro when the a-arms rusted off of the body, rendering the car useless, but still running- so I yanked the motor and 5-speed for my project. Not to mention that the car got 45mpg, so my project will be a fuel-sipper.

My budget is that of a college student (as I am one), so the cheaper the better. This also means that its going to take awhile to finish the project with my busy schedule. I usually design things with the parts I can find for free/cheap.

[Nobi-wan]

I wouldn't consider front wheel drive if it could be avoided, I just can't stand how front wheel drive cars handle, I think real cars were meant to be mid-engine/rear drive.
I am open to suggestions, and I am curious to know why you suggest front drive? What benefits would I recieve by switching my design?
The car must be very capable off road, meaning that grip, overall size and weight are important factors.

[cheapracer]

I can't fully comprehend what you want to use the car for. FWD is a packaging advantage with all systems at the one end and the rest just drags along - thats why most manufacturers use FWD and you already have all the components for this.

Mega use of the handbrake can be serious fun in a FWD car but upon saying that I would always build RWD because of my passion for going sideways but as I mentioned, I am unaware of what your requirements are - trail driving can be an exploring, sedate type of thing as well. In tight trails its likely a FWD would be faster by the way, many slalom cars are FWD, you just keep the power on and steer with the handbrake.

By the way, I did 1 year rallying a FWD (Honda Civic) and I was no slower but I didn't enjoy it, some do - each to his own.

[Gage]

CheapRacer is right about nearly everything he said.

[cheapracer]

Nearly? NEARLY!!! :D