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Post by V8 Super Beetle on May 7, 2008 15:54:08 GMT -5
well started in on the door that i got home the other day, started pulling the rotted paneling off, and oiling down the hinges and the latch mechanism, inspected the completely rusted off window rolling up mechanism. THEN as i was still peeling the paneling off a brown recluse spider tried to make a run for it from the panel into the door. luckily i had the wd handy, and sprayed it down, and smashed it. and some small brown black widow looking spider wandered out after a while. mushed it with the screwdriver. definitely getting some spray killer. yah no pics of the spider I remember breaking mine down. There wasn't anything alive in it really, maybe a couple spiders, but there was had definitely been field mice living in it, wasps, spiders, birds (there were bird egg shells on the floor, lol), etc. I couldn't even get mine for a month. I had to wait for the mechanic to file a lean and even then there was no guarantee it was mine. When I asked they guy to sell it he told me so many people ask him before me and he was tired of hearing about it so he decide to sell it to me cause I was going to restore it up nice. I never got around to mentioning I was converting it to a V8 bug. He probably wouldn't have sold it to me then. Once it's finished I'll drive up and show him what I've done. When ever you get them post em. At least you wont have to worry about the break down process cause you're there already as is.
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Post by professor on May 7, 2008 19:42:49 GMT -5
If you only plan on a small chey engine you don't need a 9 inch rear end- the S-10 unit is plenty strong. And go for the power steering - you will love it. And as far as being a death trap- no way. you will have better brakes and more stability than a regular bug. I always felt totally safe in mine. Except at 115 mph on the track with radials on front and drag slicks out back.
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Post by V8 Super Beetle on May 8, 2008 9:14:20 GMT -5
I agree! The stock rear end will hold up fine. Professor, do you have a roll bar in yours? I don't recall if I read it having one. I was thinking of using a manual steering box. I have both. I've been told the same thing, to go with the power steering but then there are those whom like the manual too.
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Post by lookatme on May 8, 2008 21:58:09 GMT -5
well there are those who believe that more is better. i however am a firm believer in LESS IS MORE. i AM going to DEFINITELY go manual steering. i figure the nose ought to be pretty light, and with narrow tires it should steer okay. still on the fence on vacuum brake booster.(i dunno if the cam will have enough vacuum to bother) no heater. im running a spare tire for the passenger seat (yes therell be a seatbelt) but im sure you guys are starting to get the idea. the less i have to worry about the better.(<my biased opinion) as far as the rear end goes, i like overkill on the parts that matter. do it right once and be done with it. yes the s10 rear should hold up to a couple of holeshots, BUT with sticky tires, and a good 3000+ rpm launch and a good bite.......... well lets just say it could be a short ride. the nine inch on the other hand, i KNOW is able to stand up to 800+ horse engines, AND there is one in the backyard. by the way........... got the bug INTO town today over to where im gonna work on it. gonna start stripping down the interior paneling soooon.(thats all thats left) and whats left of the wiring. i need to find out how much space i need around the holes im gonna hack everywhere in order to maintain structural soundness. so if anyone happens to know...... thanks -chris by the way it costs 15 hp per pulley.
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Post by hellraiser on May 11, 2008 23:53:26 GMT -5
if you hav acces to a ford 9" then go for it, me on the other hand im building a toy, got about 300 into it and im just using alot of the stock parts to make it easier, i dont plan to drag it or anything so it sould hold up just fine.
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Post by lookatme on May 12, 2008 22:05:22 GMT -5
hit three junkyards today. only two bugs. REAL picked over. got some progress going today. got all the body mounts on the truck off, and disconected just about all the lines wires and hoses that connect body to frame. should be coming apart soon. (gold s10 extended cab, white stripe in the middle, 2.8 liter v6 5 speed mud on the frame, minor dents along one side) still no pics but youre not missing anything yet. .
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Post by V8 Super Beetle on May 13, 2008 9:09:31 GMT -5
I remember when I went to get my frame from this retired mechanic, truck in the same condition, we rolled the cab right off with a couple 2"x4". I should've had him cut the firewall and floor out for me. Oh well. I know there's not much to look at during these stages, but it makes for a great visual story for those whom haven't gone through this process and are considering it. How long do you think it'll take you to complete your build?
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Post by lookatme on May 13, 2008 22:40:58 GMT -5
im gonna pick up a digital camera, even if it is a cheapo..........eventually. the guy that is helping me has a winch truck, torches welders. and coming up with parts is NOT a problem. he hauls metal.(junk cars, scrap iron) i go and help him move things, and work with him on his different jobs as often as i can manage. i think that i ought. OUGHT to have the bug put together in about six weeks. roughly. putting together a bug was a bit of an afterthought to my engine. i think i have about $8500 in IT so far. and thats just because i went oddball combo with it. i finally decided that it would be a shame to put SUCH a good engine in an old HEAVY truck, which would never be as quick or fast as the engine itself deserved to be. i couldnt find any reasonably priced novas or vegas that werent already beat. at the time i was looking at old cars for the engine there were no fewer than three v8 s10 trucks in the area. i helped with two. one a 327/th400 in a black 96 shortbed singlecab, and a grey 85 with a 305/th350. the other one was supposed to be a 350/th350 in a purple s10 single shortbed. there was a bit of overpopulation. the whole time all of these guys are running around town in these quick trucks i was saving money and picking up parts to finish my engine. in order to finish it, i need to 1........ title it. buy the tires and rims for the back. use the measurements from the inside mounting pads of the tires and rims to get the width that the 9inch needs to be. cut the 9inch. order axles bearings gears, that stuff. cut the frame............. shorten it, narrow the rear framerails, install the 4Link thats been taking up space in the corner of my bedroom. engine and tranny instalation. get the driveshaft made.install the steering column and box.......man theres a WHOLOTTA stuff i still havent gotten to even mentioning yet. six weeks is my OPTOMISTIC have things roughly together complete. body on frame with engine/tranny rear rolling around the yard complete. might still have to make car noises while someone pushes at this stage . but in SIX WEEKS, it should be close.
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Post by hellraiser on May 13, 2008 22:42:47 GMT -5
even though its not exciting right now, still get pics, cuz when ur done, its cool to see what it started as.
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Post by lookatme on May 13, 2008 22:48:53 GMT -5
lol YEAH itll be cool to look at the VERY humble beginings of a humble looking overpowered, ridiculously quick, little car.
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Post by hellraiser on May 13, 2008 22:53:04 GMT -5
haha i like ur explanation. but ya on my page, it started with a pic of the stock bug and it slowly progresses, i look at it every once in a while for insperation haha
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Post by V8 Super Beetle on May 14, 2008 14:01:12 GMT -5
im gonna pick up a digital camera, even if it is a cheapo..........eventually. the guy that is helping me has a winch truck, torches welders. and coming up with parts is NOT a problem. he hauls metal.(junk cars, scrap iron) i go and help him move things, and work with him on his different jobs as often as i can manage. i think that i ought. OUGHT to have the bug put together in about six weeks. roughly. putting together a bug was a bit of an afterthought to my engine. i think i have about $8500 in IT so far. and thats just because i went oddball combo with it. i finally decided that it would be a shame to put SUCH a good engine in an old HEAVY truck, which would never be as quick or fast as the engine itself deserved to be. i couldnt find any reasonably priced novas or vegas that werent already beat. at the time i was looking at old cars for the engine there were no fewer than three v8 s10 trucks in the area. i helped with two. one a 327/th400 in a black 96 shortbed singlecab, and a grey 85 with a 305/th350. the other one was supposed to be a 350/th350 in a purple s10 single shortbed. there was a bit of overpopulation. the whole time all of these guys are running around town in these quick trucks i was saving money and picking up parts to finish my engine. in order to finish it, i need to 1........ title it. buy the tires and rims for the back. use the measurements from the inside mounting pads of the tires and rims to get the width that the 9inch needs to be. cut the 9inch. order axles bearings gears, that stuff. cut the frame............. shorten it, narrow the rear framerails, install the 4Link thats been taking up space in the corner of my bedroom. engine and tranny instalation. get the driveshaft made.install the steering column and box.......man theres a WHOLOTTA stuff i still havent gotten to even mentioning yet. six weeks is my OPTOMISTIC have things roughly together complete. body on frame with engine/tranny rear rolling around the yard complete. might still have to make car noises while someone pushes at this stage . but in SIX WEEKS, it should be close. Sounds like a good plan! Six weeks to get it in the rolling chassis phase seems reasonable.
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Post by hellraiser on May 14, 2008 16:01:11 GMT -5
im now learning, i hate doing the firewall and floor boards lol, its probly the most time consuming part.
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Post by lookatme on May 14, 2008 22:12:19 GMT -5
one of the most time consuming things that im looking at is the chassis set up with a four link, and the frame set up. after EVERY single stupid adjustment that you make, you have to go back and remeasure, and retrue EVERYTHING, EVERYTIME. lets just say im not looking too forward to it just yet. floorboards are next after the frame, and engine placement. gonna try and shove it as far forward as i can. might cut a bit out of the crossmember, and box it afterwards. thats just to keep as much room in the body and floorboards for my pedals.
today i helped change out the carb on the winch truck. the winch truck ate the carb while hauling a school bus over the scales.(truck was running wide open the whole way, and cooked something inside) so the cab ought to be coming off the frame this week,.....end maybe. the engine and tranny probly at the same time are gonna go.but that is happening soon. still need to get the tires and wheels. tomorro looks good for that since ill be in town already.
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Post by hellraiser on May 15, 2008 20:03:49 GMT -5
doing the frame wasnt to bead for me, we used 8 screw jacks one at each corner of both haves and that way we could level everything and straighten it out.
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