Bug body + Bronco II frame

Sunk · Sep 3, 2007

Bug body + Bronco II frame PICS!!!

A friend and I were talking earlier, then started looking on craigslist... Anyway we decided it would be a good idea to put an old bug body on a bronco II frame. So we're going to look at a 86 bronco II that won't turn onver for $225...And we have our eyes on a old non running bug with good pans for $100.

We're thinking stock suspension with 33's...

What do you guys think? We think it's cool, but can you think of any problems... I'll keep you posted with what's up.

CopyKat · Sep 3, 2007

Been done before.

Would be cool it see build pictures.

Sunk · Sep 3, 2007

Was it a member of the site or just something you've seen?

Loanranger · Sep 3, 2007

Back when I had my bug, I used to read all the VW mags, and some company had a fiberglass splitwindow body that would bolt right up to a heep chassis.

85_Ranger4x4 · Sep 3, 2007

Several forum versions ago someone put a bug body on a BII frame, they said the wheelbase was the same (or close enough) between the two. They cut the floor out of each and used most of the BII floorpan to mount a minimal amount of the bug floorpan to so all the body mounts would stay the same.

PARKINGLOT · Sep 3, 2007

yea, I've seen a yellow one before...looked pretty cool...

Sunk · Sep 4, 2007

I checked, the bug has a .5" longer wheel base so it'll work real well. Plus we'll be using baja fenders so that makes clearance a lot easier.

That's a good idea to use the BII floorpan. We were planning on making custom mounts and possibly incorporating a sort of progressive body lift if needed to accommodate for the rise in the frame towards the front.

Sunk · Sep 4, 2007

We picked up the bronco today for $200. It had a bad starter solenoid and some funky electrical. Its an 86 Eddia Bauer with the 2.8 and a 5spd with 3.73 L/S. Its almost 100% straight and rust free. One hell of a deal.

85_Ranger4x4 · Sep 5, 2007

If it has a 2.8 from the factory it is an '85, and yours does have a 2.8. Now 20+ years later it is hard to guess who swapped what for what reason however.

That is a nice find, that would make a great dd/wheeler as it is, I hope there are no VW plans with this truck???

Sunk · Sep 5, 2007

Yeah, I was wrong, its an 85. And that will be the one we use with the VW. The body will probably stay mostly, if not completely intact though, so maybe somebody else could get some use from it...

Sunk · Sep 5, 2007

Its also got some kind of funky electrical....wipers will come on, but not shut off, blinker worked, but now don't and neither do the brake lights.... So we'll be keeping the bug's electrical for all that.

85_Ranger4x4 · Sep 5, 2007

Word of warning, VW's have fairly weird wiring setups. My brother has a '68, the windshield washer pump is driven by the spare tire pressure (tire is kept in the front) from the factory and strange stuff like that. They also have a pathetic heating system that runs air thru heat exchangers and attempts to pump it into the passenger compartment, I don't know how you would get a RBV heating system to work with this setup if you wanted to.

I would also Duraspark that 2.8, it would really simplify things up there as your engine compartment will be getting alot smaller. Keeping it cool will be something else to work out, VWs are aircooled with the engine in the rear so there is no way for air to get thru the front for your 2.8.

Aside from outside looks a BII is a much better 4x4, longer doors with more glass area and a lower beltline make them easier to get in and see what is going on, more room in the back for either passengers or cargo and soforth. Bugs are a nice car, reliable as a hammer and get good milage (bro gets 45+ with his) but they are borderline claustraphobic for me driving around in one, I can't imagine trying to wheel one at low speed and keep track of what all is going on around it.

Just some thoughts I had, my bro had a magizine that someone plopped a 460 in their bug for a drag car, so about anything is possible with them. If it was a typical $200 BII I would say go for it, but heck if you fix the lights and wipers you could probably get a grand pretty easy out of it right now.

Sunk · Sep 5, 2007

We are planning on having a rear mounted radiator, where the engine used to be, since that area is already set up to draw air into it. It will also have electric fans. The friend Im doing this with had a baja, and they're not too bad to wheel in, and I'm 6'4". We've looked at some bugs in local junkyards, and there actually seems to be quite a bit of room up front... We'll deal with a lot of these issues when ewe come to them.

Sunk · Sep 6, 2007

We got the body pulled off tonight in just over 2 hrs, and the frame rolled back into the shop. We spent most of the day trying to track down a VW pan and body. We've got a lead on one, with a bunch of baja goodies on it for $450. We may look at it tomorrow. I have pictures, but photobucket sucks usual so not right now.

Sunk · Sep 7, 2007

I have pics!

No that is not how we moved the body, just a funny pic.

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Bug body + Bronco II frame

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