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Post by turnaround89 on Jan 23, 2008 13:38:09 GMT -5
Really, i always thought the super beetle was 3 inches longer because of the strut suspension. I own one, should have measured i guess. Hope to see some progress pics soon.
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Post by V8 Super Beetle on Jan 24, 2008 9:38:12 GMT -5
I thought that too, but I measured the wheelbase of the pan I had before I sold it and it measured 95.25".
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Post by V8 Super Beetle on Jan 24, 2008 10:01:30 GMT -5
Here are some progress pics. Looking at them doesn't look like I've done too much, but I basically removed the dash, the door windows, handles and hardware, the few remaining items attached to the body like rear view mirror and the straps by the doors, and all the wiring and insulation. Here you can see I removed a little more metal from the truck area and there's plenty of room for the V8. And also there's the one side of the frame mockup. Here's another angle. I want the front of the frame to pretty much sit where the bumper beams are which is out of the way of the louvered front clip. This will help air flow come in the front to the radiator so I don't have to cut away the hood for vents / grill. The 45 degree angle you see to lower the front leafs will probably move forward 5 or so more inches. I decided just to do all around leafs for simplicity. I'll use the leafs I recently got for the rear and I intend to get some jeep front leafs for the front of my bug. Here's a shot of the bare door. All the wiring and insulation is now gone. Here's the other. Here's a view of the dash gone and how the frame rail runs. The 45 degree angle will move forward cause I'll get some shorter leafs giving me more leg room. I knocked all the foam out of the rear but there's still more cleaning up to do. Shot of the rear clip after striping paint and priming it. Piecing it together.
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Post by V8 Super Beetle on Jan 24, 2008 12:12:54 GMT -5
I'll have the mockup frame completed this weekend. I'll post pics of the finished "frame"!
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Post by hellraiser on Jan 24, 2008 19:32:44 GMT -5
its lookin good
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Post by V8 Super Beetle on Jan 25, 2008 9:52:23 GMT -5
Thanks! It's gettin' there.
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Post by V8 Super Beetle on Jan 25, 2008 21:09:59 GMT -5
I got some pricing online for some 4130 chrome moly 2"x3" tubing. Seems to on average $5.90 a ft. My chassis plans calls for just about 670" which breaks down to about $330 give or take!!! Eek....! I think I'll finish the accurate plans and post them if anyone wants to build them, but I'm now on the fence whether or not just to go ahead and buy an S-10 frame and the front suspension to finish my chassis? I would be a lot less money and fabrication. Hmmm.... To make maters worse, I called at least a dozen different places and they don't have rectangular chrome moly tubing, just round stock.
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Post by hellraiser on Jan 27, 2008 13:46:45 GMT -5
you would just have to go with some thick walled steel tubing
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Post by V8 Super Beetle on Jan 28, 2008 0:31:45 GMT -5
I'm going to look more into it. I know chrome moly is stronger and which allows you get thinner wall tubing. I'll just have to go with cold rolled steel.
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Post by hellraiser on Jan 29, 2008 10:22:46 GMT -5
chromoly would be alot stronger but last resort u may just have to go with the cold roll.
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Post by V8 Super Beetle on Jan 29, 2008 12:51:12 GMT -5
I agree, but I haven't had much luck finding a company with the rectangular stock. I'm thinking of just buying the remaining S-10 rolling chassis from the yard where I got my parts. The guy whom owns the yard said he'll make a deal with me if I just take it off his hands cause there's not much he can do with it. Tempting......seeing how well yours has turned out. Only thing is it's more sheet metal to cut out of the body. Either way I've still got a lot of work ahead of me.
I would love to do the tube chassis with chrome moly, but even the mild steel runs $48 for a 10' stick. The total ft amount I need for my plans will run me $288, which isn't too bad.
I'll keep you guys posted with what I decide. I've still got so many options at this point.
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Post by hellraiser on Jan 30, 2008 19:16:01 GMT -5
the tube chassis would look BA but it is alot of work.
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Post by V8 Super Beetle on Jan 31, 2008 9:52:52 GMT -5
Fun work though, but work nonetheless. A tube chassis would look BA though.
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Post by V8 Super Beetle on Feb 4, 2008 10:06:02 GMT -5
This weekened I went and got some 1/8" steel to practice welding on. So far it's looking good. It's been about 8 years since I've last welded using an arc welder so I'm just getting familiar again with striking an arc and welding a good looking yet sound bead. This week I'll finish up mocking my frame out of wood and I'll purchase some 2"x3" steel tubing. My progress has kinda been slowed by me recently getting a cold, joining a new band hence having to learn about 30-40 new cover songs, and "The Big Game".
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Post by hellraiser on Feb 4, 2008 21:59:32 GMT -5
i like your idea of using wood for the mock up, hell on mine i just got the frame, pictured how it would be together, and went for it lol
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