FireBug update... - Page 2 - AUSJEEPOFFROAD.COM Jeep News Australia and New Zealand

Butt Craic · #8 08-03-2006

Quote:

Originally Posted by goodie

is pip the bloke the the 40 series buggy thats red?

Not sure whether he built that buggy or not but I am pretty sure he is the one that built the 2 ABT buggies that the yanks competed in at the last WE Rock round. I think he is based down at Taralgon (or at least some where down in East Gippsland towards Sale).

FireTruck · #9 08-03-2006

Yep, he built (and ownes) that sweet red/orange 40... it's a wicked truck (think it's in TTC this year).

He also built the ABT buggy (he is now 'ABT4x4 Fabrication') that Jody Evering and CTM Jack used at the WERock finals. That was the only buggy they built for the guys from the US.

Pip now drives that buggy in comps (you will have seen it in all the OZ Rock coverage).

And yes, his workshop is in Taralgan.

S.

maddog · #10 08-03-2006

Whats your rough budget if you dont mind me asking?

FireTruck · #11 08-03-2006

As you know I try to go for quality and strength... so I use the best components I can afford.

I am of course re-using some (expensive!) stuff like the axels, steering, Atlas etc... and the wheels and tires to start. If I went new on this stuff it would more than double the required budget.

New stuff includes the chassis with firewalls, floor, roof, panels, motor mounts, suspension brackets, etc. New engine, tranny, airsocks, antirock, seat, harnesses, fuel cell, suspension links and joints, brakes and pedels, cutting brakes, and a bunch of miscellaneous bits.

Budget around $25k... been saving for a while as you can imagine, and selling the FireTruck needs to take care of a big chunk of this.

Building it so that in the future (when I can afford/justify it) I can add rear steer and a few other trick bits... budget doesn't stretch that far though this time around.

S.

FireTruck · #12 08-03-2006

Oh, and I should say that I have sponsors that help me out in keeping the costs down... otherwise you could add about $10k to the budget I guess.

S.

maddog · #13 08-03-2006

Big dollars

FireTruck · #14 08-03-2006

...not when I consider what I have put into my Jeep over the years... sheesh...

And it's much cheaper to keep it running too... easier to tow... no rego to pay... less stuff to go wrong... no expensive panels to keep fixing... when I did the math, building the buggy saves me a shite load and gains a whole lot of performance for the stuff I want to do.

S.