V8 Super Beetle Project

[V8 Super Beetle]

Jun 2, 2008 20:54:36 GMT -5 hellraiser said:

your not welding those shackles with that lil mig r u?

LOL! I guess not many people have seen a 120v stick welder. It's a 120v 130 amp stick / arc welder. It'll easily welds 1/8" metal and even 1/4" metal with multiple passes. I'm sure they taught you that in school!

I opted to get a stick welder instead of a mig so I could do the frame work using house hold current. Welding 22 guage metal is a little tricky cause of the blow through factor. I just have to use 1/16" 6013 rods at about 40 amps. Its tricky stricking an arc at such low amps and maintaining it. There's a slight learning curve and more clean up but I don't have a 230v connection or else I wouldve bought a mig.

you might want to considering getting one to finish your project. They run about $150 at northerntool.

[hellraiser]

oh lol it looked like mig in the pic lol. ya it will get the job done. ive got a lil lincoln buzz box in mind 220v lol

[V8 Super Beetle]

That is the model / welder our engineer has at my work. Great welder!

[hellraiser]

ya a lil buzz box welded my frame lol and its sturdy as heck lol

[V8 Super Beetle]

I was thinking of a front kit like this cause of the sporty / modern look and most important the big opening for air flow to the radiator!



Thing I like about this one is it's simple and the top of the bumper kinda has that 70's beetle bumper shape. I think this one or one similar would work with little mods. I'm still open to other styles but this one seems like a winner so far and it's only $129 plus $99 shipping.

[V8 Super Beetle]

I welded in the other shackle tonight.


Cut.


Ground and tack welded.


Welded


Next is to grind it down, weld in a fish plate, cut the end at an angle so it'll fit under the fender and last but not least I'll box off the end.

[hellraiser]

oh i c what u got goin on there. its realy comming along

[V8 Super Beetle]

I'm getting pretty close to finishing up fabricating the frame. Little more cutting here and there. Then I'll move on to doing body work so that way it'll be taken care off so I can paint / rebuild my frame.

I'm still debating putting in a roll bar or cage. Now would be the time to add one.

[V8 Super Beetle]

Since I'm getting pretty close to the stage of building a firewall, flooring, roll bar, etc. I made up a detail of how I think it'll go together.

[V8 Super Beetle]

Seat / floor support / drive shaft detail. Not to scale but you get the idea.

[V8 Super Beetle]

BTW, fixed the welder. I opened it up and it turned out the connection from the transformer to the ground clamp cable got too hot and the connections failed. So I fixed it and wrapped it up good! High Five!!! Hopefully I wont have anymore problems with this lil buzz box so I can finish my project.

[hellraiser]

ya hopfully that lil welder will hold up lol. ur only gunna have a 4 piont cage? im planning on caging mine bumper to bumper.

[V8 Super Beetle]

The transformer is solid from the looks of it so I'm good. They just used cheap connections to the ground wire and I don't think they built it in intention for it to be used full blast most of the time, LOL! It actually has been welding smoother now I fixed that connection.



Technically from a side point it's a 6 point roll bar. I'm thinking of just fabricating it as an 8 point though. Like this.



Just enough to protect me if I roll the car or if I get hit from the side and some added strength for the frame.

[hellraiser]

r u welding it to the frame or is it gunna be bolted?

[lookatme]

really ought to weld it in to tie it in completely, and take out more of the flex.