Sand Rail buggy build

[ibrooks]

Won't be modified chassis as assume it's just the channels he's going to be replacing for box I'd thought

That's why I just said beware rather than something like that WILL cause problems. I'm not familiar with Beetle chassis and floorpans but given that he went on to say 40x40 would look close to original I'm guessing the 50x50 would be bigger than "the channels". So long as it's not obvious that it's different to standard then there's little chance of problems. Similarly with the floorpans - if the sheet steel that's used to replace the original doesn't have the right ridges and whatever formed in it and the inspector is familiar with Beetles then you could land yourself with a £500ish test and all the hassle involved with passing it for the sake of what he later says are £140 worth of new panels.

None of it's dramatic but something to be aware of to avoid giving yourself a nightmare at a later date for the sake of a probably sound engineering decision that gives a bureaucrat an excuse to stop you getting the thing on the road.

Iain

 

[Nick9one1]

That's why I just said beware rather than something like that WILL cause problems. I'm not familiar with Beetle chassis and floorpans but given that he went on to say 40x40 would look close to original I'm guessing the 50x50 would be bigger than "the channels". So long as it's not obvious that it's different to standard then there's little chance of problems. Similarly with the floorpans - if the sheet steel that's used to replace the original doesn't have the right ridges and whatever formed in it and the inspector is familiar with Beetles then you could land yourself with a £500ish test and all the hassle involved with passing it for the sake of what he later says are £140 worth of new panels.

None of it's dramatic but something to be aware of to avoid giving yourself a nightmare at a later date for the sake of a probably sound engineering decision that gives a bureaucrat an excuse to stop you getting the thing on the road.

Iain

thanks for your advice. I've decided to just go down the new stock floorpan route as you suggested.
the frame will be adding a lot of rigidity, so although box section would be nice, its not really needed.

 

[CompoSimmonite]

thanks for your advice. I've decided to just go down the new stock floorpan route as you suggested.
the frame will be adding a lot of rigidity, so although box section would be nice, its not really needed.

The BIVA test will probably be required anyway as the body is part of the front suspension mounting on the Macpherson strut model Beetles and that is why nobody ever bothered using them as a basis for kit cars.
Remove the body and there is no way of locating the front suspension hence it's will be deemed as part of the "chassis" for test purposes. Been there and got tee shirt with DVLA about this when I considered using a Minor van chassis as a basis for a special and found exactly the same problem as the suspension upper mounts are on the minor cab.

 

[Nick9one1]

The BIVA test will probably be required anyway as the body is part of the front suspension mounting on the Macpherson strut model Beetles and that is why nobody ever bothered using them as a basis for kit cars.
Remove the body and there is no way of locating the front suspension hence it's will be deemed as part of the "chassis" for test purposes. Been there and got tee shirt with DVLA about this when I considered using a Minor van chassis as a basis for a special and found exactly the same problem as the suspension upper mounts are on the minor cab.

You might think so, but as the super beetle chassis isn't considered Unibody or Monocoque, and suspension pickup point aren't considered part of the chassis, the IVA/BIVA isn't needed.

 

[ibrooks]

That's what all my experience would suggest too - so long as you've used the chassis complete and unmodified then it doesn't matter what else you might need to bolt to it for suspension mounts, it doesn't need an IVA test. You would still need to meet the necessary "points" criteria for it to be considered the original vehicle but the chassis plus engine and box should be enough points so even if it's changed to wishbones then so long as it hasn't required a modification to the chassis there should be no problems.

 

[Nick9one1]

and just received confirmation from the top guy at VOSA...

Hi Nick,

The Super Beetle chassis is an interesting concept, that requires very
careful consideration. The reason for this is that it can only be
considered to be an original chassis (and therefore not requiring IVA) if
it remains complete. This of course requires the original frame head to
remain intact, rather than replacing it with the earlier type 1 frame head.
Many of these conversions require the removal of the suspension struts and
steering gear from the Super Beetle chassis, which entails changing the
frame head. If this conversion is carried out, the vehicle will require IVA
as the original chassis has not remained intact.

Therefore, if you are building a vehicle that retains the front suspension
struts and frame head from a Super Beetle chassis, then IVA is not
required. If however you are simply using the floorpan and changing the
frame head for a standard type 1 frame head, then IVA would be required.
This will of course depend upon the type of Sand Rail you decide to build.

I do hope that you have found this information to be of use. However, if
you feel that I can be of further assistance in this matter, please do not
hesitate to contact me.

Best regards,

Mark

Mark Vickers Eng Tech MSOE MIRTE | Technical Officer IVA M1 N1 O1
Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency | Ellipse, Padley Road, Swansea, SA1
8AN

​

 

[ibrooks]

Hinges around what the frame head is like on the Beetle chassis and I'm not familiar enough with them as I said before. It does bear out what I said earlier about the chassis being "complete and unmodified".

His implication is a bit iffy - he sort of implies without actually saying that the struts would have to be retained. By the letter of their regulations they shouldn't be required - if you can create wishbones or similar that bolt to existing mounts on the Super-Beetle chassis then you have still met the "complete and unmodified" chassis requirement. You could also in theory build a frame that bolts to the original chassis and has it's own suspension mounts. So long as that chassis isn't altered then you've met their requirements.

 

[Nick9one1]

just got a few parts back from shotblasting. I'm really pleased with how they turned out! £100 well spent.

just need to patch up a few parts on the chassis that have rusted through. Then floor pans, prime, paint and reassemble.