Post by zbhover on Oct 18, 2011 19:24:49 GMT -5
I just put a quick update of our 1969 V8 powered convertible VW Beetle project on my website and thought I'd let everyone know, and post a few pictures here.
I was able to finished up making a cross member for the 200R4 transmission, got the engine and trans "leveled" (trans down about 3 degrees) welded in the engine mounts, put in the drive shaft, and dropped the body back onto the frame, etc.....
A direct link to the update on my website with several pictures is here:
www.v8beetleresource.com/chassis17trans3.html
You can see the rest of the project from the home page of my V8 Beetle Resource website at:
www.v8beetleresource.com/
Next I'll be working on making a rear cross member to mount the shocks and sway bar end links too, and then making some traction bars.
Here are a few pictures, there are more at the link above:
Next I wanted to get the transmission cross member made for the 200r4 (2004R) transmission and modified S-10 chassis, until this point the trans has just been sitting on a piece of pipe that was across the rails. To start out I pushed the bug into the garage and hoisted up the tail end of the transmission to where I wanted it to get the engine and transmission angle just right. I then got he engine centered just where I wanted it and tack welded the engine mount adaptors that I made a while back to the s-10 chassis. After I had the tail of the trains just about where I wanted it, I took some measurements so I could start making a cross memeber. I realize that the angle of the chassis might change a little as the car gets to be more complete, so I made the cross memeber with enough room to shim the trans up or down a little bit.
I got into making the cross member and kind of forgot to take a couple pictures along the way. Here is the main part of the cross member after I got it made. I used some 2x4 steel tubing that I had left over from a trailer we built for our hovercrafts. I notched the ends of the tubing to pull it up into the frame to get my trans mount hight correct, and then welding some heavy angle over the notch to strengthen it up. I also got the hold drilled for the transmission mount.
Just eye balling the chassis after getting the engine and transmission mounted to where they are supposed to be, and also haveing the rear suspension finished from my last update.
Next I lifted the tail end of the 200r4 up and pulled the crossmember back out to drill some mounting holes, then I put it back in and drilled matching holes in the chassis. I was tempted just to weld in the cross member, but I figured I'd better bolt it just incase I ever wanted to change transmissions or something.....
While I had the cross member out I also welded a 1/8" support plate on the top and a 1/4" support plate on the bottom. I did this becuase I drilled access holes in the top of the crossmember so I could get to the trans mount bolts and then cut a spot out in the bottom to also be able to get to the center trans mount nut.....
Next I needed to make some braces to tie the cross member into the top side of the frame rails to help keep them from twisting and to make sure everything is plunty strong. I used some more of the 2x4 tubing that I had, and did a little cutting, bending and drilling.
Here I have the cross member braces sitting in place after I got everything drilled. Of course I ran out of bolts so off to the hardware........
Since I didn't have the bolts for the cross member I decided to get my drive shaft adapted to fit the ford explorer 8.8 rear end. The rear end didn't come with the pinion flange adaptor, so I had to order one, but I found a ford 8.8 pinion flange adaptor for 1350 U-joints, which was great because that's what my driveshaft whats, plus I had a 1350 U-Joint already, so no need to order a conversion u-joint like I had to for the s-10 rear end....
Here I have the drive shaft put in place........... Fits perfect, like it was ment to be........ Hard to believe that one half of a drive shaft from a 77 c-20 truck was the perfect length....
Now it looks like a car again....... LOL I dropped the body back on the chassis, and with all the old body and bed mounts cut off, and the rear suspension set up I was able to get the body just about where I want it to end up..... Next I need to work on a rear cross member to mount the shocks and sway bar end links, plus to tie the back end of the chassis back together again..... Then I'll probably be working on making some traction bars, and then, and then and then................
Thanks for following our project!
I was able to finished up making a cross member for the 200R4 transmission, got the engine and trans "leveled" (trans down about 3 degrees) welded in the engine mounts, put in the drive shaft, and dropped the body back onto the frame, etc.....
A direct link to the update on my website with several pictures is here:
www.v8beetleresource.com/chassis17trans3.html
You can see the rest of the project from the home page of my V8 Beetle Resource website at:
www.v8beetleresource.com/
Next I'll be working on making a rear cross member to mount the shocks and sway bar end links too, and then making some traction bars.
Here are a few pictures, there are more at the link above:
Next I wanted to get the transmission cross member made for the 200r4 (2004R) transmission and modified S-10 chassis, until this point the trans has just been sitting on a piece of pipe that was across the rails. To start out I pushed the bug into the garage and hoisted up the tail end of the transmission to where I wanted it to get the engine and transmission angle just right. I then got he engine centered just where I wanted it and tack welded the engine mount adaptors that I made a while back to the s-10 chassis. After I had the tail of the trains just about where I wanted it, I took some measurements so I could start making a cross memeber. I realize that the angle of the chassis might change a little as the car gets to be more complete, so I made the cross memeber with enough room to shim the trans up or down a little bit.
I got into making the cross member and kind of forgot to take a couple pictures along the way. Here is the main part of the cross member after I got it made. I used some 2x4 steel tubing that I had left over from a trailer we built for our hovercrafts. I notched the ends of the tubing to pull it up into the frame to get my trans mount hight correct, and then welding some heavy angle over the notch to strengthen it up. I also got the hold drilled for the transmission mount.
Just eye balling the chassis after getting the engine and transmission mounted to where they are supposed to be, and also haveing the rear suspension finished from my last update.
Next I lifted the tail end of the 200r4 up and pulled the crossmember back out to drill some mounting holes, then I put it back in and drilled matching holes in the chassis. I was tempted just to weld in the cross member, but I figured I'd better bolt it just incase I ever wanted to change transmissions or something.....
While I had the cross member out I also welded a 1/8" support plate on the top and a 1/4" support plate on the bottom. I did this becuase I drilled access holes in the top of the crossmember so I could get to the trans mount bolts and then cut a spot out in the bottom to also be able to get to the center trans mount nut.....
Next I needed to make some braces to tie the cross member into the top side of the frame rails to help keep them from twisting and to make sure everything is plunty strong. I used some more of the 2x4 tubing that I had, and did a little cutting, bending and drilling.
Here I have the cross member braces sitting in place after I got everything drilled. Of course I ran out of bolts so off to the hardware........
Since I didn't have the bolts for the cross member I decided to get my drive shaft adapted to fit the ford explorer 8.8 rear end. The rear end didn't come with the pinion flange adaptor, so I had to order one, but I found a ford 8.8 pinion flange adaptor for 1350 U-joints, which was great because that's what my driveshaft whats, plus I had a 1350 U-Joint already, so no need to order a conversion u-joint like I had to for the s-10 rear end....
Here I have the drive shaft put in place........... Fits perfect, like it was ment to be........ Hard to believe that one half of a drive shaft from a 77 c-20 truck was the perfect length....
Now it looks like a car again....... LOL I dropped the body back on the chassis, and with all the old body and bed mounts cut off, and the rear suspension set up I was able to get the body just about where I want it to end up..... Next I need to work on a rear cross member to mount the shocks and sway bar end links, plus to tie the back end of the chassis back together again..... Then I'll probably be working on making some traction bars, and then, and then and then................
Thanks for following our project!