V8 Super Beetle Project

[mev8bug]

hello im new here, and ive been watching you progress which is fantastic !! i was wondering the s-10 front end is it the same width as the beetle ? im about to start my conversion and was wondering how much wider the wheel track is ? also some time back i seen that you used adapters for other rims are you still using these??? thank !!!

[454bug]

Hey Matt,

EVERYTHING looks great!! Awesome job!

I really like the 2-tone. It's perfect for the bug body.

[V8 Super Beetle]

Thanks, Ray! I'm about to post more pics which I think you'll like.

Hi MeV8Bug. The front track of the S10 frame fits perfect. The rear fenders would need widening a little though depending on how big the tires are you use. I was only using the adapters so I could use the corvette wheels I had at the time, but I've changed directions and the wheels I have now don't need the adapters. I only needed the adapters for the corvette wheels cause of their negative offset.

[V8 Super Beetle]

Well, it was a very production weekend.

Friday night, my buddy David, who details cars, came over to look and the amount of work that was needed to be done to the bug. He was quite impressed and it wasn't going to take as much work as he originally thought. So we decide to start color sanding and buffing the car on Sunday.

Saturday morning, my buddy Jason came over and we got the front window and the last quarter window installed. We also did an alignment.

Sunday, Dave came over and went to town on the bug color sanding and buffing. While he was sanding and buffing, it gave me a chance to work on other areas of the car. So I got the engine put back together and buttoned back up.

Here is the car before he worked on it. Looks good / decent. I call it a 5 foot paint job. Shiny and smooth, but it had a couple runs, some dry spray and dust through out the paint job.




Here you can see the dry spray that was in a few areas.






Oh yeah, while I was changing some jets in my carb, my 3 month daughter decided to grab my tools. She normally doesn't really grab and hold onto many things like she did this wrench. It was a proud moment.




Here's Dave, hard at work. He arrived at the house at about 10 am and worked all day, until about 10 pm perfecting the paint / detail job. Fantastic!








Madison and my wife came to check out the progress and get in on the picture taking. They were having all the fun. Dave was wiping the car down with a protectant that still allows the paint to fully cure.










And the drum roll.................................................


I'll let the pictures do the talking.






















Dave did such a fantastic job!!! My paint went from a 5 foot to I wanna still my face in it. If any of you in the Houston area would like Dave to detail you car I can give you his contact information.

Thanks again, Dave!

[murphytj]

Matt, tell me again. What size tires and wheels are you running? How is the turning radius?

[V8 Super Beetle]

Hey Tom, turning is great. Can easily make a u-turn at an intersection. Fronts are 165/15 and rears are 275/65/15.

[murphytj]

Thanks Matt. 165 what on the front end?

[V8 Super Beetle]

No problem. 165 on the front tires.

[joedirt]

Nov 22, 2010 15:16:30 GMT -5 murphytj said:

Thanks Matt. 165 what on the front end?

The standard vw tire is metric so it is only the 2 digits.......

165/15 is the total and complete number



And the car looks awesome and now the cleanup of the shop begins !

[murphytj]

Thanks

[jtss10]

I've been following this build from the beginning when you started in your storage area in your apartment. You've done an excellent job. Looks great and I hope you enjoy the fruits of your labor. I especially like that you did it your self and your postings have been an inspiration to get me started on my long planned build. My plan is to start after the holidays and I hope to be able to show my progress as well as you did. Again the car looks fantastic.

JTSS10

[V8 Super Beetle]

Awesome! That's cool you have been watching from the start. Man, I remember being in the apartment garage. It wasn't but a little over a year ago. Boy am I glad I've got more space.

I'm glad my build has inspired you. Post some pics as you make progress, V8 bug or not.

[Mock1racer]

;D
HELLYEAH!!!
That looks amazing!! Great job on the build Matt!

[V8 Super Beetle]

Thanks! Still much more to do. I'm slowing piecing it back together little by little.

[454bug]

Hey Matt,

The car looks AWESOME!! I am very happy for you to be this far along!

I may have to get your buffing buddy to come spend a weekend in Louisiana next year and buff my car out... I'll provide all the beer and crawfish!! ;D