V8 Super Beetle Project

[humbug]

Gotta say that I've noticed a lack of "action" as well. My "action" source is in a storage garage while I get my garage turned back into a somewhat working shop. During my layoff, my garage turned into a catch-all for all my wife's and kids' junk.
I'm starting to order a few steering parts, and will soon have the Humbug back home. Pictures will then follow.

Way to go V8Superbeetle! Should be cruisin it daily before long.

[V8 Super Beetle]

Sounds good humbug! Post some pics when you can.

Thanks! Won't be long. I'm trying to meet a personal deadline of late July, early August. Got a baby on the way. BTW, we found out it's a girl. Her name will be Madison Taylor Chevalier.

So yeah, gotta get this thing finished before Madison comes. I'm really going to hunker down this week and weekend. Let's see if I can't get this thing is the body work stages before the end of the week.

[Mock1racer]

Congrats on the newbie! The first V-8 Bug Baby! Should make up a t-shirt for her!

[V8 Super Beetle]

Thanks! That would be cool. I'm gonna have to get her a car seat too. ;D

[humbug]

Congrats on the baby! I've got 2 kiddos, and gotta say, it's the greatest thing that's ever happened to me. Enjoy, bro!

My project deadline is to be DONE, COMPLETED, DRIVING by Summer of 2011. I remember when I built my 31 Ford coupe hotrod. I said "It'll be done in 6 months, and take me $5000 at the most." Eight years and about $30,000 later, I was driving it. And it STILL wasn't complete.

[V8 Super Beetle]

Apr 6, 2010 17:06:27 GMT -5 humbug said:

Congrats on the baby! I've got 2 kiddos, and gotta say, it's the greatest thing that's ever happened to me. Enjoy, bro!

My project deadline is to be DONE, COMPLETED, DRIVING by Summer of 2011. I remember when I built my 31 Ford coupe hotrod. I said "It'll be done in 6 months, and take me $5000 at the most." Eight years and about $30,000 later, I was driving it. And it STILL wasn't complete.

Thanks! I bought our daughter a couple outfits the other night. It was kinda surreal. VERY EXCITING though!

Haha, I know what you mean. I was thinking this project would cost 2-3K and I would be done in a year. 2 1/2" years later and 7-8K it's still in primer and I have more fabrication to do. ;D I'm pretty sure I can meet MY deadline. I just have to cut back on what I would really want and just get what I need.

[V8 Super Beetle]

A few things I've managed to get done.

Here's how the distributor mod looks.




You can see the mechanical advance limiting screw with the side ground for "fine" tuning and the vacuum limiter which is made out of just a piece of 22 gauge steel I had laying around. Next to free modifying this thing.

Had to clearance the rotor cap a little.




Here you can see it was a great concern to me whether or not I could even remove the distributor cap. Thank god it would come off. I still had to rotate the crank to get to the rotor screws.




I moved the gas pedal away from the brake pedal some more. This is as far over as I can get it.




And, last but not least, last night I made templates (night before), cut them out and welded the rear wheel wells in.






Having a couple gallons (everything is sealed...but) of gas in the tank and the fact the paint kept catching fire on the bug body when I was welding the wheel well pieces up kept me from wanting to fully weld these things up. Some MasterSeries and sealer will finish the job here.

Next thing I'm going to tackle is the "engine bay". I want to trim out all the excess sheet and reinforce the front clip with some 7/16" rod. What do you guys think? Will I have problems with the whole front end shaking or will it be strong enough with some reinforcement and the fenders bolted up?







Here you can see a guideline I drew where I want to cut it.




I'm trying to make the engine bay as simple as possible. No wheel wells and the wiper compartment will go so I'll have easier access to the dizzy. Also, it'll allow me to use the cowl vent to allow how air to escape. I just plan to make a mount for the wiper motor.

Things to do before body work / paint stages.

1. Rear, above gas tank, sheet metal.

2. Finish engine bay.

3. Finish filler neck sheet metal.

4. Seam sealer.


Getting there.

[Mock1racer]

Dang Matt that looks like it's comin on quick!
Instead of cutting it all out ,why not just cross-brace the metal like I did my bay.


Bad pics but you get the idea... i'll look for a better pic.

[Mock1racer]

i can't find better pic...
if you basically make a "T" out of the sheetmetal it gains rigidness. mine is very stiff done this way and you save a lot of weight.I would try to save as much as u can.


of less of course your'e putting monster fronts on heh?

[V8 Super Beetle]

Thanks! That's not a bad idea. I was just wanting to clean up the look of the engine bay. Yours is a good idea.

I kinda like the look of these guys supers, but I don't know if I want to go that route and add all that extra sheet metal. Hmm...







I like your idea though. I'm just trying to get this thing done, but want to be happy with it too. Decisions, decisions...

[Mock1racer]

Iv'e been sayin I wanna get this done asap for over a year!
Yeah that show car stuff is REALLY nice, it's amazing to me someone can take care of a car like that. I couldn't have it for an hour and it would be scratched up dented, and bug guts all over the front,(no pun intended)
it definatly is what you make it, cheers!

[V8 Super Beetle]

Apr 8, 2010 12:44:56 GMT -5 Mock1racer said:

Iv'e been sayin I wanna get this done asap for over a year!
Yeah that show car stuff is REALLY nice, it's amazing to me someone can take care of a car like that. I couldn't have it for an hour and it would be scratched up dented, and bug guts all over the front,(no pun intended)
it definatly is what you make it, cheers!

Haha, me too! ;D Those show cars look nice. I'd like to clean up the look, but at the same time I'm not trying to get a show car engine compartment. Just simplifying things like a drag car. No wheel wells, just fender, firewall, tires and motor. I know the engine will get dirty this way, but it'll only be a weekend toy. ;D

[CMD]

Apr 8, 2010 15:47:15 GMT -5 V8 Super Beetle said:

I know the engine will get dirty this way, but it'll only be a weekend toy.

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I said the same thing about my '61 V-8 bug, Matt, but I've put 12 thousand miles on it in the last two summers! ;D I even use it to run parts for the 1950 V-8 Bug I'm building.
CMD



Most of the interior work and glass is done; we're waiting on the carpet material to come in and the seats still have to be covered.

[Mock1racer]

That's sweet! I love that color.

Yeah, that's why I'm not gonna make it all shiny and polished, I'm drivin the p*ss out of it!

[V8 Super Beetle]

That's true CMD. The car is looking great!

I'm gonna drive mine frequently, but I'd also like mine to be nice and shinny too. ;D Did you cut and buff yours?