My son's V-8 Bug

[professor]

I built this back in 1993 with a 350 chev, added 144 B&B blower later on and 9" ford rear. Car uses a G-body frame shortened and narrowed in the back. Has run a best of 12.05 @115.
Here are the 2 top end mechanics about to wreack havoc.

I'll have to tell Matt about this website. Above is the only pic I have on Photobucket and it is a picture of a picture.
I purposely kept the car stock looking. Very much a sleeper.

[V8 Super Beetle]

Awesome bug! Welcome aboard! I really like the fact that it looks stock.

[professor]

Thanks for the welcome.
Here's some more pics (again from photos) and info:



I set the motor back in the frame 4 inches to allow for a radiator to fit if the one in the back was insufficent (it was). This does move the driver seat back a bit, to where you get a little wind buffeting against the side of your head.
The car uses wiring and steering column (most simple) and motor from a chevy van,while the frame, steering, P/S,P/B, shifter, some flooring,radiator in back from the donor Malibu.
The running boards actually are screwed to the top of the frame rails. The body is welded to the frame -feels real solid and safe. Initally I used the stock 7.5 inch rear end with 2.2 gears ( I love the highway gears!), then switched the rear to a Ford locker w/2.75 gears at the urging of a race buddy. I absolutely hate the locker- the INSIDE wheel pushes you around turns -squealing easily and the car rides worse because the rear is heavier than the orig. Does work good at the track though, I saw no improvement in et with the deeper gear- just more consistancy.
I am not a racer- I just go to play a bit occasionally. By the way, the car ran low twelves with the highway gears- shifting out of low @60mph and into high @90 or so, @ 5500 rpm. With slicks and 1.7 60 ft times the driver's side front wheel would loft an inch or so- car really twists out of the hole with the G-body set-up.

Gas milage @55mph on the NYS thruway was19 (trying hard)

Engine (was) dished piston job with 305 heads that I ported blowing into ported 305 log style manifolds.Cam is generic 270 degree and topped with a 700 Holley and cold air package (worth 2 tenths). Trans is turbo 350 w/ a 2500 stahl converter ( a 270 degree cam NEEDS at least a 500 rpm over stock stahl or you will be lunging the motor against against the trans when stopped in gear) I actually re-worked headers (again at the insistancy of my buddy) and they were worth a whopping tenth and a half over my cut-outs from the cast manifolds. I put the cast jobs back on- they are quiet and don't require tightening all the time and give more room around the motor.

My son had an over heat issue last summer when the front rad. leaked down unbeknownst to him, so he swapped the short block for a 283. I'm curious how it will do, probably make 12# boost with the blower pulley from the 350 that made 7#before. I had opened the heads up to 64cc (didn't help avoiding detonation) previously, so the compression should be below 7.5 on the 283.

The only issue I have with using the Malibu/Montecarlo frame is the place for the radiator between the steering pivot points is narrow, requiring a narrow radiator. I used one from a AMC Spirit after seeing the Malibu radiator in the back would not cool enough- they are tied together.

The gas tank is the VW one located between the rear wheels -gas gauge reads backwards.

Oh yah, I eded up using temporary spare rims on front (with fake black holes) and Oldsmobile/Buick '80s rims in back, then welded little nubs on to retain the VW hubcaps.

One time I had a guy ask me if there was a V-8 in the car- he was going by and thought that something was odd about the car but couldn't put his finger on it so he pulled a "U" to ask. He was a VW guy and said "At least I didn't do it to an old one" but he liked it.

A single exhaust runs back to two chrome tips (not shown in the early pic above).
I absolutely reccomend power steering- having actually tried a manual box from an S-10 (fits perfectly) and it was horrible- spinning the wheel like crazy just to make a turn. Go for P/S and P/B.
The car weighs 2750 currently. It was a rotted out Buffalo N.Y. car that had an engine fire.

It attracts no attention whatsover from law enforcement people -the full exhaust (even with the glasspack muffler) is quiet and the color of the paint ordinary- I love it.
The kids do punch themselves all over the place when they see it- does this happen everywhere?

[racerman51]

Buffalo,NY,ya say...if you're in Buff,you're just across the lake from me..

[V8 Super Beetle]

I was thinking about making mine look bone stock, but I wasn't quite sure how to resolve the problem of making the wheels look stock which to me is a big key factor. I like how you managed to make foe VW wheels and have never thought of making them the way you have. I would love to make mine look stock but I want that flow master sound and I don't know if that would defeat the whole purpose. I do love the more modern look too, or the "German Look".

I know, hellraiser doesn't much like 1303's, but I dig em!

[Carmen Dottoli]

I LOVE IT!! Its a super sleeper!!!

[V8 Super Beetle]

Congrats on getting your bug build featured! Right off the bat too!

[professor]

I think Carman did it, thanks and a nice job!
I was jusy over a Matts's house and he showed me what he has been doing to it. Showed hin this website. Wonder if he will be joining?

[Carmen Dottoli]

Hey man congrats on that car, great story too.

[V8 Super Beetle]

I'm using the stock gas tank as well. Its mounted just like it was in the front, at an incline, in the rear above the differential. How did you hook up the filler tube? I'm thinking of running it to what will be the new trunk area. Looking for ideas and looking to hear what you used as parts.

[hellraiser]

personaly, im not to fond of the gas tank inside the cab, my dad was in a 64 chevy truck and got hit head on and the tank blew up. rip 10/20/00 , so i try and avoid that.

[V8 Super Beetle]

Sorry to hear that! But I think I'll be safe where it is and I intend to cover it / make the flooring go over it so it'll basically be outside of the car.

[hellraiser]

oh so basicaly it will be going under the car?

[V8 Super Beetle]

Right! Technically. Think of it as the luggage shelf being raised and it would cover the gas tank.

[hellraiser]

thats a good idea, i think mine will go above the rear end, cuz the chassis is already lowered and ill probly lower it more so i need all the clearance i can get haha