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Post by V8 Super Beetle on Dec 1, 2007 16:14:16 GMT -5
Also, I've decide to just go 2wd. I wanted to do the 4wd setup but it'll be less of a headache going 2wd. That and I'll make some money to spend on the bug from the selling the Blazer motor, tranny, t-case, front differential, etc. I'll just use that to rebuild the th350 core I'll got, or see if the shop that rebuilds it will take those parts in exchange for the rebuild. We'll see though!
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Post by V8 Super Beetle on Dec 17, 2007 14:18:09 GMT -5
I was hoping to have some pics of the chassis the weekend before last or even this weekend, but the guy I was going to make the swap with is dealing with a death in the family. Needless to say I'll be selling what I have and looking else where for a blazer chassis. I'll have more progress soon.
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Post by hellraiser on Dec 21, 2007 0:23:26 GMT -5
wow that sucks. well get some pics of the chassis when u get one.
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Post by V8 Super Beetle on Dec 21, 2007 10:14:57 GMT -5
It wasn't a total loss. I found someone to buy the pan and transaxle for $150. And a friend of mine bought the engine from me for $200. Also, I found a complete 90's Blazer, 2wd 2dr, minus motor and transmission for $250. I'm going to take out the master cylinder and pedal assembly from it as well as cut out the fire wall, tranny and drive shaft wall / sheet metal to use for the bug. I might just use the floor from the Blazer and mount the body to it? I'm still figuring that out. I think it would be easier just to use new bug pans w/ seat mounts / railing, cut away room for the tranny and whatnot, then tack weld in the metal I cut out from the Blazer.
Thing that does suck though is I got vette wheels I can't use without spacers and a 3"/3" belltech lowering kit all meant to go on a 4wd chassis. So I got to send the kit back and exchange it for lowering spindles. Once I've got the car together I'll figure out what else I need to do to lower it's stance some more. For the front I'm thinking of making custom lowering control arms and just modifying the leafs to lower it, shorten the wheelbase and so the leafs will fit under the car.
On a side note, I've got everything except the dash and headliner off of the body, I've remove the weather strip channel from around the deck and trunk lid area, and I've cut away about 3/4 of the trunk area where the motor will sit. I've got to get under the trunk and cut away this support beam to free it up. I'm using a "super sawzaw" so it's a little trick in some areas.
I'll be sure to post some pics once I have the vehicle in my possession.
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Post by V8 Super Beetle on Dec 28, 2007 17:58:11 GMT -5
OK, so getting the old man to line up the trailer to use and finding a dependable person to get a chassis from hasn't worked out. "If you want something done, do it yourself" I say! So I've designed a chassis for my 73 super beetle and I intended on building it with my new toys I got for Christmas (welder, grinder, saw, v8 motor mounts, etc.). Next thing is a trip to the metal depo for raw materials. Here's the design I did on the computer. All the measurements are to size in the computer as far the tube size, and I'll figure out some of it as I go but it's a start. It utilizes the original equipment, from the crossmembers, coilovers, all steering comps., gas tank, master cylinder, etc. Everything but it's original drive train, chassis and pan will be used. I'm going to fresh-in up my welding skills and start. I'll post pics. Any advice or tips?!
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Post by V8 Super Beetle on Jan 1, 2008 19:46:27 GMT -5
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Post by V8 Super Beetle on Jan 7, 2008 0:08:14 GMT -5
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Post by hellraiser on Jan 7, 2008 1:00:15 GMT -5
yes personaly you would be taking a huge risk using the stock front end and then on top of that you would be asking it to hold a 400+ pound engine. if i were u i would use something other than a stock front end.
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Post by V8 Super Beetle on Jan 7, 2008 14:48:14 GMT -5
After researching some, and from feed back, I found why it's not good to use the super beetle front end and I can see why Carmen was able to use the standard i-beam front end. So there's a couple ways I'm thinking about handling it. I've got suggestions of going with a tube axle front end, so I would pretty much be build my frame like a T-Bucket. Another way I've been thinking about doing it is using S-10 suspension parts and using coilovers instead of the stock ones. The-Bucket seems to be the easiest. I'm sure I'll make up my mind once I actually see the parts and how hard it will be to fab up a chassis.
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Post by hellraiser on Jan 7, 2008 22:43:25 GMT -5
using th beam front end would be better but what i would do is just use a front end made to support a v8 and have addapters made so you can run vw wheels because another thing with a vw front end, even with disk brakes, there still not ment to stop that kind of weight, but thats just my 2 cents. good luck with what ever you decide to do it and be sure to get pics.
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Post by V8 Super Beetle on Jan 10, 2008 15:47:48 GMT -5
Well, I intend to do the front end like this. It's simple and strong enough. You gotta go with 2" O.D. chromoly tubing with .25" wall. This setup seems to work well for this guy, the car is heavier, and a lot of t-buckets are done this way. I just seems easy to do.
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Post by hellraiser on Jan 11, 2008 0:56:42 GMT -5
that's a good design for a front end because it is very simple, and with that chromoly at .25" thick it should be hell for stout. in my opinion, this would be the way to go and just have some rotors drilled for a volkswagen wheel.
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Post by V8 Super Beetle on Jan 11, 2008 14:33:51 GMT -5
I was thinking the same thing. It's simple and sturdy. I'm going to design it to use S-10 equipment as far as the spindle, rotors, and caliper goes. That and I intend to use a S-10 rear. Then I'll be able to use the vette wheels I bought.
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Post by V8 Super Beetle on Jan 14, 2008 11:58:50 GMT -5
I got some things done this weekend. Finally, someone reliable came out and bought the bug pan, transaxle and motor from me. It took about 4.5 guys, lol, to lift the bug body off of the pan, while on a trailer with the front wheels strapped down, and into the garage. We did it this way cause of the super's front struts. After getting my cash for the parts I took a trip to the local junkyard. There are dozens of places to choose from up and down N. Shepherd here in Houston so I did some haggling and yard hopping. After two hours out in the rain I left with a 10 bolt S-10 rear, left and right complete spindles (spindle, rotor, brake caliper), steering box, steering linkage (<---all from a 93 S-10) and rear leaf springs from an Isuzu Amigo. I got all these parts for $350. Here's a photo of the bug body and one of the leafs to the side just mocking up to see if the leafs are of decent length. Seems like it'll work fine. I'll post pics of the other parts later this evening. I'm about $750 into this project so far. Soon I'll post some mock up plans of the frame design using the leaf concept up front and using coilovers in the rear. After building the frame and everything seems to work out well I post the plans with the dimensions if anyone wants to build one from them. Does anyone have any opinions about using these coilovers for the rear of my bug? I think they'll work and they're pretty inexpensive. From jbugs.com for $59.95 for a pair.
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Post by V8 Super Beetle on Jan 14, 2008 17:50:31 GMT -5
Here's the second draft of the plans. I'm going to go over the measurements again tonight just to make sure this will work.
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