Custom made volkswagon powered 8x8 with sea doo pump

[jpswift1]

Wow, just look at all the work and custom engineering that went into this machine! Absolutely amazing, it seems like there was no detail of the build overlooked. And the jet pump sticking out of the bottom and the stick shift adds so much to the coolness of the machine.

[mudbug3]

amphibious drew

Thanks so much for posting the video for Chris! I've really been looking forward to watching a video showing all that Chris has done so far. Outstanding work Chris! I can't wait to see your creation in action! Two big thumbs up!

[argoford]

very cool well done .

[chris davison]

Thanks a lot for the Kudos guys and thank you Drew for posting this for all to check out. When I get time I will post a vid of it in action. But all this week my sched has changed again. I need to go thru all the set screws and make sure the chains are tentioned. Then weld in an ajustable stop for the jack shaft pillow blocks as I thought they might they did and slid in the slotted hole misalinging the chain. I guess 4 1/2" bolts cant hold the 1200 fpt on the trans axle shaft. Next time I will take the GPS and know for sure the speeds.

[chris davison]

Has anybody tried a turnbuckle for a chain tentioner? wrap a 1/16 cable around the rotating body and attach a spring to it to rotate the body to take up slack in the chain. You could even put one spring between two cables for two turnbuckles

[trebmaster]

they make a turn buckle chain binder for just that purpous

[Kohler cowboy uk]

That's terrific Chris.

You are a very clever engineer to build that from scratch.
For me the most complicated part would have been designing and setting up the multiple chain drives.

Probably you've already thought about it, or maybe the back seat covers it? If not you could fabricate a chain guard to stop the oil throw onto the exhaust. Remember like the old fashioned ladies bikes used to have?
But there again, once its run for a while, it wont throw so much off anyway except when you re oil it.

Other thing was in light of the learning experience of the self unload, should she have a park brake?
Easiest way might be like the 1950's -60's farm tractors used to have. A clip on the pedal arm that engaged a ratchet.

Only thing we'd probably have done different here in England would have been to use a diesel engine out of a VW Golf then it could be run on cheap farm (red) diesel. I know small diesels aren't so readily available over there and you're gas is so cheap anyway. About $8.60 a US gallon here now.

I'm looking forward to seeing the river trials :-)

[chris davison]

Actually the chains were the easy part Its just welding and fitting and math. To be able to fabricate a chain guard you must be sure all the drive is done and your not going to move anything then I will guard all with 18ga aluminum diamond plate. Like has been said in other posts these machines have a high resistance to rolling, if I left it in 4th gear it would be real hard to move it. The brake calipers are from a cadilack rear and have the emergency brake levers if I need to use them ( thinking ahead) The vw transaxle is very versitile virtually everthing has been coupled to it so there is an adapter kit even for straight 4 cyl 6 cylinders V6 and V8s. I think it is illegal for us to run the farm diesel in anything but farm equip. Gas here in Arkansas is about $ 3.59 and going down.

[chris davison]

The latest work on chain idlers. When loading Walley on the trailer I needed to work on the trailer also, so for convience I loaded it nose first that is the opposit of how Walley and the trailer were designed to work together. Walley is 65% rear weight and 45% front that gives the trailer tounge weight. When loaded correctly I can stand on the ramps in the rear and it wont tilt until Walley rolls 14" rearward, when off the trailer the ramps stay down. This setup towed great all the way 2200 miles from Calif.

[chris davison]

There are 3 videos on youtube now. One is running around in first gear the other is unloading off the trailer.

[racerone3]

Looks great. Here are direct links to the movies

[amphibious drew]

That looks sweet. loved both vids. I want to see her swim next.

[Mike]

Thanks for posting those. It sounds great. I can't wait for the jet pump or high speed test videos.

[Stonewall]

Looks awesome!! It looks to me like with the nose sticking so far out in front of the front axle, that it will be more likely to get hung up. Especially in a steep water exit. Maybe not?

[Kohler cowboy uk]

She certainly sounds well.
You sure got the axis point on the ramps in just the right place.

By the way, putting it in 1st or reverse will prevent roll away much better than 4th.

(Use to put vehicles in 4th to push 'em along to turn the dizzy rotor to check the points gap).