V8 Super Beetle Project

[v8bug]

wow I forgot how much work it was to build mine. The stance is great and the vette wheels are awsome. I had originally thought of using an s10 frame and decided against it. I ended up using mild steel tubing.....so far so good.

Keep up the good work and keep the pics commin.

thanks

[V8 Super Beetle]

May 27, 2008 19:21:53 GMT -5 v8bug said:

wow I forgot how much work it was to build mine. The stance is great and the vette wheels are awsome. I had originally thought of using an s10 frame and decided against it. I ended up using mild steel tubing.....so far so good.

Keep up the good work and keep the pics commin.

thanks

Thanks! It's been a lot of work. Might even be more work than doing a tube chassis? My next bug build I will use the tube chassis setup, mustang II front suspension, and a narrowed 9" rear, but with a super beetle body It's less been less expensive going with the S10 setup. It'll be a sturdy frame once done though, with full cage and all.

[V8 Super Beetle]

My camera phone doesn't do too well in low lighting, but here's the weld ground flush.



I finally got to hook up a shackle. I then got on the frame to test the spring out. Seems it'll have a smooth ride in the rear. :thumbsup:

Now I'm in the process of welding up fish plating to reinforce it.

[V8 Super Beetle]

I sent back the Torker II intake and head gasket set I bought. Once I get my refund back I'll be purchasing a new set of GM Vortec heads



and a Summit Stage I (idle-6000 rpm)



Vortec intake. These heads have a 64cc combustion chamber and it'll lower my 283 compression ratio from 11:1, pop up pistons, to 9.7 so I can have a good chance of using pump gas!

[lookatme]

say thats great. youll still be running pump premium. but HEY youll still be buying at the pump. im glad to see you managed to find a way to use the bottom end that you already have. its just downright disgusting to have to tear apart what you have and start over. im glad you got it figured out.
-chris

[lookatme]

oh and THAT is why all the old guys will tell you to decide FIRST what you are going to use a car for. i was in a performance shop just the other day and there was a kid asking what he could do so that he could run atleast premium, and was looking to put his engine that he had just gotten built for around $9000 on the for sale board. his was a 496 big block(i think) with over 12:1 compression. the guys there were telling him he was pretty well sitting at tearing it down and starting over with new pistons.

again, glad to hear you got your set up figured out.

[V8 Super Beetle]

May 28, 2008 14:54:29 GMT -5 lookatme said:

say thats great. youll still be running pump premium. but HEY youll still be buying at the pump. im glad to see you managed to find a way to use the bottom end that you already have. its just downright disgusting to have to tear apart what you have and start over. im glad you got it figured out.
-chris

Thanks! I figured out a good solution (with the help from you guys as well) from using one of those compression calculators and the vortec setup was a good upgrade (for my 283) that happen to have the cc's I was looking for. The compression ratio might even be slightly lower cause I have to run .040 head gaskets running the pop up pistons. Should be decent on gas, pretty reliable and run well with this setup. My power range will be greater with this intake / carb setup as well. I'll be able to rev my engine to about 7,800 rpms before it'll start to choke it out.

[lookatme]

if youre going to be turning in the range of 7800 rpms, you might look into a scattershield. when flywheels, or clutch parts fail at these rpms theyll go through a foot or a leg. ever hear of Don Garlits? well. just be safe about it. MAN thats gonna be fun ;D

[V8 Super Beetle]

LOL! I'm just saying I could turn 7,800 rpms if I wanted to, but I'm thinking once it's going I'll have it dynoed so I'll know exactly when the engine starts losing power.

[v8bug]

I am able to run 92 pump gas with a 10.8:1 motor. Good aluminum heads with a tight quench area does the trick. O ya it made 500hp on Bobby Allison's old nascar dyno. That's SAE numbers not gross

[hellraiser]

wow ur realy coming along. but y r u sending back the heads?

[V8 Super Beetle]

May 28, 2008 20:02:13 GMT -5 v8bug said:

I am able to run 92 pump gas with a 10.8:1 motor. Good aluminum heads with a tight quench area does the trick. O ya it made 500hp on Bobby Allison's old nascar dyno. That's SAE numbers not gross

AWESOME! What is your car running in the quarter mile?

With this dyno software a guy put together some numbers for me with the vortec setup. Here's what numbers he was getting.

Vortec heads at 10:1 compression Performer intake with 650 (or 600 for better low end) CFM Carb
Lunati Voodoo 60103LK Cam
Headers with free flowing exhaust.

Peak Torque 370@4500 rpm
Pek Horsepower 373@6000 rpm


I guess I'll find out how accurate the software is. Not as impressive as your numbers but it'll make for a fun lil ride. ;D

[V8 Super Beetle]

May 28, 2008 20:47:10 GMT -5 hellraiser said:

wow ur realy coming along. but y r u sending back the heads?

Thanks! Well, I never bought any heads. What I sent back was a Torker II Edelbrock intake and a head gasket set / kit. I have some used heads my Uncle gave me to use, 2.02 intake valve / 1.60 exhaust, but the valves are too big / they'll flow too much air. A 283 wont ever make use of the big size valves due to how much cfm it'll be pulling. That and the heads need cleaning. So I'm going with a fresh / new set of Vortec heads which will need an intake setup for the vortec heads. The heads are taller on the intake side, and it also means the gasket set wont work either. From what my dad was telling me is he bought the motor from a guy whom works for a performance shop and the 283 only had a couple passes on the motor after a fresh rebuild. So I'm just going to go ahead and put all new components on the motor.

[lookatme]

SAAAAAAY. those are some nice looking headers. are they 180 degree headers?

[hellraiser]

oh gotcha