Custom made volkswagon powered 8x8 with sea doo pump

[chris davison]

Yes Ray, thats a fish finder. The battery ended up under the rear seat on the passenger side just like a beetle. Ive got a new clutch disc coming so I will remove the engine again, just put a 4x4 across the windshield and roll bar with a come along and its only about 1.5 hrs work. There is a key switch in the dash also just like a car for starting, its key fob is the wireless remote for the winch. It was sure nice to watch the brakes lock up each disc. as the starter motor was turning. I did some ajustments to all the steering brake linkage and it really works good now. The brake pedal only goes down about 1.25 inches. I Filled the engine with oil before I ran the starter.

[chris davison]

replacing the clutch prior to starting the engine

[chris davison]

[Finally started it up on the 3rd no pumping the throttle it starts right up with just the key switch.I will have to check timing though its idle is a little fast even with the electric choke all the way down its like 1000 rpm. I did a video walk around with it running in first so you can see all the diff axles rotating ( final drive not hooked up) need to post it on youtube first though.

[chris davison]

Hey mike I tried to post this video on you tube but Im so slow it would take 2 hrs for 4 min of video it just times out and stops. Just instaled the last 4 # 80 sprockets on the jack shafts so I can finish the final drive and get it rolling under its own power.

[chris davison]

Finally started hooking up the final drive. this is looking toward the rear with the the tranny output shaft and jack shaft # 80 chain to axles. just bought 10 feet of Diamond # 80 chain for $52.00 new in box.

[mudbug3]

chris davison

Looks good Chris! Won't be long now! Diamond is my choice for chain too.

[chris davison]

Jacked up the passenger side and ran the tires for the first time under power. I still need some idlers on the three chains on the jack shafts. When I turned the steering wheel with very little pressure the tires at 30 rpm locked up instantly and jerked the whole car. Looks like the turning will work very good and it might do 50 mph not sure but the tires were really going fast when I reved it up.

[chris davison]

Jacked up the whole machine and ran all the tires and chains in first gear today cant wait to test drive it just need 2 more idlers installed they are in the mail. I also need to put a brake shoe adjuster ( also in the mail) on my trailer the tire is off right now and the machine is on top of it.

[mudbug3]

chris davison

If you could post a video of your machine in action I'm sure that the forum members would really enjoy it. I know I would.

[chris davison]

I fabricated the last two chain tentioners and welded in one. The other one I will weld in tomorrow then its test running this week end. Short week end though I get off sat at 5:30 AM and back to work sun at 8:30pm. Next week its PLC 4 school. My internet is slow I cant post films. I have about three of the running drive train just can't post them.

[mudbug3]

chris davison

Its really a shame that you can't post any video's of the unique 8x8 that you built.

[Rock Doctor]

Hi Chris, I really love this machine, and would really like to see it in action. You've done a fantastic job of it.

Just wondering, you said you can't post vids to YT? You mentioned that it takes too long and "times out"?
I've uploaded some vids to YT that took several hrs, and had that same problem. I tracked it down to my computers "sleep Timer". After so much inactive time, the computer goes to sleep, my solution was to disable the timer so my Laptop will not go to sleep on it's own. Maybe this is your problem as well

Anyway, keep up the good work, I think it's awesome

RD

[chris davison]

Thats my wifes complaint I love it and spend more on it than her. I think thats the problem also I usually set up internet with a 30 min no action shut off. This comes from raising daughters that leave the computer on the internet for a $ 700.00 phone bill. Now they have teenage daughters of thier own. Maby I will just try from my laptop and not my home computer.

[chris davison]

I posted a movie to youtube the only way I can find it is to search FILE0159.mov then it gives you a list look for volkswagon powered 8x8. Well I finished a few things and pulled the trailer out of the garage unstrapped the machine and unlatched the tilting ramps, as I stepped up to get in it the ramps tilted and the machine rolled off to the grass in front of me and stopped 2 feet from the ramp wow I have automatic unload also. Got in and started it up found first (got to work on that linkage) gear and let out the clutch yeha Im moving forward under my own power looks like it will do about 8 mph in first. Try gingerly to turn right and it starts to but the eng is under a strain so I give it gas and crank the steering and did a 90 degree turn in about 8 feet this machine is 13.6 long drove it up on the gravel road at 8 mph and hit the steering and it just spun sideways and slid across the gravel sideways then gave it gas again to do a 180 in a single lane gravel road. I was beginning to trust it now so I drove it down to the white river 3/4 mile. as I drove I found 3rd gear and did about 28 mph no sweat. I noticed it being very stable because of the width and the low center of gravity so I drove down the bank and into the gravel bed of rocks turning right and left driving thru the 6 inch deep water and all over the 6" and 10" rocks. On the way back I noticed it takes steering correction at high speed very well just a turn of the wheel and the nose jerks across 6 to 8 inches. It did splatter chain oil on the exhaust header so I smelled burning oil the whole trip but that didnt stop my smile. Next time I will try it with the rear seat in so I can hear myself think.

[amphibious drew]

I took the liberty of posting the video for everyone. Nice work Chris!!!! You have done an outstanding job on this build and the machine looks great. Any chance you can bring it down to Busco for our fall ride. I would love to see it in person.