| Bond Bug ZZR1400 Project |
My custom Bug back in 1984 at the Burford Micro Car Rally
I have owned TUF415J since 1983 when I bought her for a princely sum of £100 back then. It was in very poor shape and I spent the whole of the next year completely restoring it from scratch.
The original engine was a 700cc Reliant alloy engine developing 28bhp. I replaced it with an over-bored 850cc Reliant engine with as many performance upgrades I could do. I had a 'Mike the Pipe' extractor manifold and exhaust made,
engine head was skimmed and gas flowed, electronic ignition, twin 28/36 weber carbs fitted etc which after a rolling road test developed 60 bhp. In 1984 I attended the Burford Micro Car rally and won 1st price for concours.
I used the 'suped' up Bug as my daily mode of transport for many years until my gearbox failed and I was in the process of converting an 850 cable operated box to the Bug hydraulic type. Kids came along and the Bug never got put back on the road.
Now I have more time on my hands and more cash to spend I decided to completely restore the Bug but this time bringing it up to more modern performance and getting experts to make most the bits.
The result is a 200bhp Kawasaki ZZR1400 engined beast, into a Quaife reversing gearbox, into a BMW 318i limited slip diff with MGTF independent rear suspension.
Updated 30/7/21
Added top dash side wings - now mocked up in cardboard
Bentley centre dash air ducts converted
Centre console frame and back plate made
Steering wheel and column mock up
New ABS double ring sent for manufacture
Mocking up dashboard and engine surrounds in foam
E-stopp mounting plates fitted
Rear triple fans and relays wired up
Loads more wiring update pictures posted
Air box final fitting
170amp new alternator now wired up
Added new ABS ring to 318 LSD page
New waterproof box added to protect ECU, fuses etc.
E-Stopp brackets and fittings being made, line drawings added
Canopy - existing lock now filled in. Roof and drainage channel detailed
Added magnetic canopy lock - housing now made
Added Bentley centre console framework mounting
Added E-stopp layout pictures
Canopy door hinge mounting plates finished.
Added Cartek Wireless Control flappy paddles
Flatshifter and steering wheel - paddle operated gears
Canopy air spoiler now bonded to canopy
Bearings fitted to steering shaft and loosely located in position on the Bug
Kawasaki ancillary wiring extended - pictures
Loosely plugged in the Kawa wiring loom to the engine - wiring up ancillary's
Added two new potential 2 pedal brake and clutch balanced bar set ups
MGTF swinging arms and disc brakes- foot pedals
Both of old rusty canopy side tubes have been cut out and replaced
Added Engine connections tab - trying to connect up all the pipes prior to starting
New UTO-VOX V5PRO OEM Mirror Dash cam added to wiring - cables now routed through fibre glass canopy.
Fibre optic head-lining lights power unit recessed into canopy
Alternator housing is now finished - latest pictures of black anodised finish
170 amp new external alternator
Bentley dash board button printed circuit boards sent of for redesign.
Dash board - Bentley Continental GT
New steering column splined shaft conversion made. New 'Oilite' custom made bearings have arrived
The links below that are active and have been uploaded
External air scoop mould made and fibre glassed for finished scoop
Scoop now taken out of mould and now glassed into final position
More shaping pictures added to internal air duct to accommodate canopy rubber seal
Test D profile canopy seal fitted
Added custom made steel boot lid with mesh insert to bodywork page
Current project is the bodywork +
Send me a mail for comments and any tips you have to chris.meitiner@btinternet.com
Custom triple fan cooling and fuel tank
Dash board - Bentley Continental GT
Engine extractor manifold and exhaust system
E- Stopp electric hand brake - current project
Flatshifter and steering wheel - paddle operated gears
MGTF swinging arms and disc brakes- foot pedals
Quaife to chain converter - Quaiff to BMW propshaft
170 amp new external alternator
Modified to take independent rear suspension through a limited slip differential
Original fixed axle and frame set up before conversion