2443 Twin turbo street bug project, back on track again.

2443TT · 2007-11-17T12:39:46+00:00

Hi Everybody, Well my 1966 bug has been off the road for more than a year now. What started out as some mild engine changes and a gearbox upgrade (that never eventuated), has turned into a complete rebuild of the car. I've now got the car stripped of its guards, suspension removed, Porsche brakes are gone etc. All that remains is the shell and its sitting on stands. The reason all this happened is that after a few conversations with Rod Penrose, I discovered I needed to change a lot more things to improve the reliability of my setup if I wanted to extract very serious HP from it for any extended period of time. This meant some serious engine changes... which then got a little out of control. The end result of all the parts chasing, machining and custom made parts will be a 2443cc twin turbo'd, twin intercooled engine, water cooled heads, setup for sub 7:1 compression, flanged crank, 4 stage dry sump system, twin plate clutch, around 8500 rpm and potential for about 400-500rwhp. The engine build is on hold till the last of the machining work is finished and will be posted on another thread when it kicks into full swing. Having that much power meant that using a vw gearbox was going to be pretty pointless. I'd been previously trying to source a custom built box from Rancho. That was for the 2332 engine, but as it turned out I would have probably broken that box inside a year anyway. So the only option was to go porsche. 915 boxes are good for about 300hp, or more if you spend money on them. The g50's are massive, and require an absurd amount of cutting away of the chassis from what I've seen of other people cars. Unless I were to go 1/2 or full tube frame chassis, G50 was off the cards. I did come very close to getting a G50 though, and found a 2wd converted 5 speed for $4300 in sydney. But as it turns out Dave Butler had a 930 box. It didnt take much to persuade him to sell it either. These boxes are used in the Ultima GTO's with 500hp small block V8's on them. In stock form they handle 550hp, and with an oil cooler and remote oil pump they are basically the same box used in the 750hp 935 race cars. At last an indestructable gearbox. THe down side is that the ratio's are very high, but that can be fixed with a ratio change down the track. Now with an engine and gearbox sorted, I needed a way to get the power to the ground. It had been my plan to widen the guards and put some very serious rubber under the car. I've had the car that looks stock that goes like a rocket. Now Im going all out, the outward appearance is going to have to have as much intimidation factor as the engine sound will have. To make all this possible I was going to have to completely re-work the suspension on the existing chassis, or just build a new one and start from scratch. I scored a swing axel chassis to use as a donor pan and went about cutting and clearancing for the gearbox. So for suspension I've sourced all 1988 944 Turbo components. These are the widest rear trailing arms made for the 944's and increase the wheel track by around 100mm with the wheels I will be using. The front suspension is going to be converted to a custom Mcpherson strut arrangement using 944 turbo A-Arms, and spindles etc. All the suspension is going to be fully adjustable, so I can set the car up for motokhana or drags. I want the car to handle, stop and go. Anyway enough background... I've spend a few weekends contemplating how to best attack the new chassis and today I started to get serious with it. 930 Gearbox Clearancing My unique approach to an IRS conversion. Front gearbox mount/crossmember, and front torsion housing re-inforcing (the cardboard template). So thats about all for now. I hope to finish the front gearbox mount tomorrow. Im going to try and make regular posts for this build. The goal is to have it finished in 5 months. Cheers, Ian Swinkels

karmann141 Wolfsburg Wizard

485 posts · joined Aug 2009 · 26 Mar 2016, 7:34 am

#1024915

Any updates ?

There's a new 1/4 mile drag strip at Springmount near Mareeba now, only an 1hr and a bit away from you - would be a good test bed.

1961 K Ghia - Porsche 5 sp, EJ20T, Brembo's, Dble A arm susp
1974 L Bug - Porsche 944 brakes, Boxster 16's
1974 Bay Camper - EJ20, twin radiators, Boxster 16x7's
Half Beetle trailer with Boxster 16x7's
2011 Tiguan TDI 4Motion
2010 LR Discovery 4 TDV

bugzla Custom Title Time!

1,164 posts · joined Jun 2007 · 26 Mar 2016, 3:22 pm

#1024936

tell me if you go im down in townsville and would love to see the car up close

2443TT Fahrvergnugen

962 posts · joined Dec 2002 · 27 Mar 2016, 8:58 am

#1024953

Springmount has been open for only 2 events so far and yes I defiantly want get up there at some stage. Unfortunately no updates to report. Between work and home renovations I've not had any time. I'm itching to get back into it though.

karmann141 Wolfsburg Wizard

485 posts · joined Aug 2009 · 27 Mar 2016, 9:24 am

#1024954

Great to hear the project is just on the back burner. I know what it's like getting caught up with life.

Was doing some work at the Springmount landfill site beside the track - looks like a great facility - much needed in NQ.

Cheers

1961 K Ghia - Porsche 5 sp, EJ20T, Brembo's, Dble A arm susp
1974 L Bug - Porsche 944 brakes, Boxster 16's
1974 Bay Camper - EJ20, twin radiators, Boxster 16x7's
Half Beetle trailer with Boxster 16x7's
2011 Tiguan TDI 4Motion
2010 LR Discovery 4 TDV

reub VWRX is gone...

2,054 posts · joined Sep 2002 · 13 Dec 2023, 4:42 pm

#1045756

👍

Reub