74 Germanlook SUBAbeetle

Joel · 2008-04-07T08:20:20+00:00

Well its been nearly 6 years now since ive last had a readers ride thread way back when avd first started so heres a new one i got my 74 Lbug 8 years ago after i totalled my 71 Sbug and well its changed somewhat over the years since then for those that have been following the supercharger saga the 1776 is back in now i havent been game to leave town and really open it up yet but i did a quick blat down a "drag strip"...... hard to see with my shakey camera action but it pulls 0-100 in 7.5secs at 8PSI without really beating it too hard still needs abit of tweaking tho Well anyway heres my bug in past lives The Evolution of DUB74L it was an innocent nanna bug when i got it 100% original even the paint cept for gaurd repairs and came with all the logbooks and papers etc it had lived in canberra since new so it was rust free except for a hole under the battery something thats highly unusual for a 70s bug specially an Lbug that still had its roof so i snapped it up circa 2000 Herbie look this was just for shits and giggles for the first herbie parade in 2001 it was rather embarrasing so was very short lived Resprayed in 2001 and back to stock. my boy racer phase Aww my gawd how embarrasement..... 18" zeptors, the token colour coded mono wiper, twin 4" cannons, under car neons and a $2.5k sound system that was 3.7dB LOUDER than a jumbo jet at 30metres Im sure it impressed 🤪 🤪 wedding car time and time again: present day: ive done every single bit of work to this car myself with the exception of the paint and gearbox rebuild ive painted a few of my other cars i hate spray painting and vw gearboxes are like a rubix cube once u get them apart the only part left on this car that hasnt been tampered with by me is the dash fan lol and it needs to come out for new brushes i had it resprayed in the original crystal white but in 2pac, i couldnt bring myself to change the colour as much as i wanted to paint it in ford shiraz or nissan electric blue interior is just something i made up front seats are gen5 celica,i redid the rear seat and door panels to match, leather Momo corse wheel, tarted up dash with carbon fibre dash panel, oil press, temp, boost, Air/fuel ratio gauges, white face indiglow speedo and a monster tach a jvc mp3 head with MTX/vdo amps, alpine and kicker splits and subs and a 1.5F capacitor under the seat and a few other toys like remote keyless entry, alarm, quick shift and im installing power windows soon, im sick of breaking brazillian winder handles ive put a fair but of work into the suspension and running gear the engine is a supercharged 1776 with dhla dellorto, tighe cam, lightened flywheel, headwork yadda yadda ya.... its putting down about 100hp at the treads at 8psi, so its nothing real special but it cranks along very nicely and is good for embarrasing all these dickheads in there falcodores and jap riceboxes all she needs now is to be lowered 2" all round thanks to the smaller 17" rims not filling the gaurds like the old 18s did, but im not doing that till i get my new stainless A1 zorst eventually she will be rolling on 18" porsche cup 3 turbo twists 😵 front end ive made up my own custom narrow coil adjustable struts and strut brace, koni inserts, whiteline swaybar rear is pretty stock, gearbox is a fairly stock freeway flier with a 0.89 4th which sux when i run a stock motor lol i dont think it will ever be classed as finished im always finding something to change Over the coarse of 8 years its had: 6 different engines, 3 different gearboxs, 4 different interiors and about 8 different stereo systems and god only knows how many sets of rims my fully hektik home made strut brace The cockpit Bass in ya Face YO! Subwoofer kitty approves.

bajachris88 The international telephone dialing code for Antarctica is 6

6,661 posts · joined Apr 2005 · 23 May 2009, 7:26 pm

#714153

Man all these cars and $$$... what do u do for a day job?

🙂

(ô_!_/ô) (ô_!_/ô)
69' baja: kombi box, thing spindles, irs, disc front, type 3 rear drums, 2 inch lift kit, 31x10 rears. 👍
New engine in process: 94mm p&bs, 74mm C/w chomol Crank, 35.5x39 SP heads, turbo. Wierd combo, hopeful torque monsta!

Joel Now containing 100\% E-Wang

9,368 posts · joined Feb 2006 · 23 May 2009, 7:38 pm

#714154

pimpin pays well dogg.....

nah still here managing the farm
i swear ill still be stuck here doing it till the day i die
shouldnt complain, love it and wouldnt be doing anything else, just wish i had a bit more free time
been out there all day fixing flood and storm damage plus it gives the old man something to do

this threads abit old
i was paying half the national debt each year in regos and projects i was never gonna finish
funny, for the first time since way back when i was 17 im down to just 2 cars again,
so now its just the green goober and the bug

im sure that will change tho
having 2 cars both ride height challanged and the yerning to be out 4WDing with mates is gonna get me into trouble

dAVo Seriously Crusin Dubber

161 posts · joined Mar 2009 · 24 May 2009, 10:17 am

#714207

I'm not sure but I think I like it more with the bumpers on. But that's just me.

Either way the car looks sweet mate!

Joel Now containing 100\% E-Wang

9,368 posts · joined Feb 2006 · 24 May 2009, 12:09 pm

#714213

im not a fan of Tbars on supers either
i was just respraying my bumpers and wanted something on there for protection
my original chrome bars are burried deep somewhere and the Tbars were handy

colonel mustard Son of Jim - Creator of Good

2,829 posts · joined Feb 2009 · 24 May 2009, 1:51 pm

#714220

Id love to see your collection of stuff joel. I recon I could get everything I need from your pile Rather than a shop!

Joel Now containing 100\% E-Wang

9,368 posts · joined Feb 2006 · 24 May 2009, 9:08 pm

#714294

welcome back custard,
thought you'd gone MIA on us 😂

colonel mustard Son of Jim - Creator of Good

2,829 posts · joined Feb 2009 · 24 May 2009, 9:13 pm

#714296

Nah. I was just in normanton for 3 weeks doing some youth/community work. Didn't see a vw further north than blackall. Saw a 68 herbie there that belongs to the local mechanic. Good times. I don't want to be in a bus for another 6 months.

1303Steve Scirocco Rare

8,650 posts · joined Aug 2002 · 24 May 2009, 9:27 pm

#714306

Hi Joel

Looks like a good fit.

Steve

Joel Now containing 100\% E-Wang

9,368 posts · joined Feb 2006 · 24 May 2009, 9:50 pm

#714312

yeah i'm stoked with how well it fits
looks like its meant to be there

best move i made so far was getting one of John shermans fibreglass valances
i had one on the black bug and it makes life so much easier even with a VW engine
EJ bolted straight up without even having the bug jacked up

still deciding what to do with the front though
would love a US style vented A/C one but dunno if i can face unstitching another valance
back was fiddley enough, front looks like it would be worse

1303Steve Scirocco Rare

8,650 posts · joined Aug 2002 · 24 May 2009, 9:55 pm

#714313

Hi Joel

If your going to keep your front Kamei you might as well cut a hole through it and your front apron like Jak did.

Steve

Joel Now containing 100\% E-Wang

9,368 posts · joined Feb 2006 · 24 May 2009, 9:59 pm

#714314

the mate i sold my red bug too is a fibreglasser, i was gonna see if he could mould some sort of discreet scoop into it

then i can carve a hole in my valance and put some fully heckit racer mesh in to keep the bugs and rocks off the rad/condensor

1303Steve Scirocco Rare

8,650 posts · joined Aug 2002 · 24 May 2009, 10:04 pm

#714315

Sounds like a good plan, when you do the scoop make sure really duct the incoming air all the way in

colonel mustard Son of Jim - Creator of Good

2,829 posts · joined Feb 2009 · 24 May 2009, 10:59 pm

#714327

does the valance bolt in? does it line up well..... Looks like a good idea, I want one without the exhaust bumpouts anyway..... looks good. Love the white tinware, love it. (let me know if you want to let it go in the future.......) do you have any other photo's of it????

Joel Now containing 100\% E-Wang

9,368 posts · joined Feb 2006 · 24 May 2009, 11:02 pm

#714330

yea i got a whole folder full of pics on removing it

just keep watching this space
when i get a chance ill do a full thread in Non-vw engine section on the whole conversion

its just a mould of a stock EFI style valance
looks stock when installed
just bolts on using the stock gaurd bolts
makes engine work a breeze
engine in or out without even lifting the bug off the deck

colonel mustard Son of Jim - Creator of Good

2,829 posts · joined Feb 2009 · 24 May 2009, 11:07 pm

#714332

I only ask cause mine got smacked up the back and i guess getting a fiberglass once is better than getting a metal one cut off a car - no one wants to work with the reproduction metal ones for some reason. I just have to have the rear quarter straightened, and then one of these bolted in I guess. Looking forward to seeing a thread about it 🙂

71-BEETLE-SEDAN AKA Josh

1,058 posts · joined Mar 2009 · 30 May 2009, 5:39 pm

#715615

Hey Joel

The white engine ware looks great.

I have a few questions bout the subi conversion.

How long has it taken you to get to the stage your at now and how much longer do you think itll be before your finished?

Also how much do you think itll cost to complete?

Cheers Josh

colonel mustard Son of Jim - Creator of Good

2,829 posts · joined Feb 2009 · 30 May 2009, 6:34 pm

#715631

hey Joel, sorry bout all the questions, but what re-inforcement is behind the fibreglass valance... is the metal backing bolted in there also??

Rural Baja #tassievwpickers

1,075 posts · joined Jan 2006 · 30 May 2009, 8:52 pm

#715679

Mate,

Fantastic story and pics, Sure to make any VW bloke very envious. 🙂

What sort of horses are we looking at comparing the supercharged dub engine to the subi engine?

Shame about Lucy, looked a real neat looking bug. 😢

Cheers will

Joel Now containing 100\% E-Wang

9,368 posts · joined Feb 2006 · 30 May 2009, 10:40 pm

#715688

71-BEETLE-SEDAN wrote:Hey Joel

The white engine ware looks great.

I have a few questions bout the subi conversion.

How long has it taken you to get to the stage your at now and how much longer do you think itll be before your finished?

Also how much do you think itll cost to complete?

Cheers Josh

hey josh,

hard to say how much time ive actually spent on it cos i just work on it in dribs and drabs as i get time or parts arrive
i got the engine nearly 3 months ago but i spent quite a while just gathering parts and designing things first
i reckon about 20 hours so far has the valance removed, engine prepped and installed, fuel lines run, intake made up, throttle setup and today ive started building a zorst system

one of the guidelines with this conversion was to do it cheaply but also not cut any corners and show ppl that its not always big $$ involved to do an engine conversion if your not afraid to get your hands dirty and have a go
i grabbed a few more parts for it today but so far ive put just under $1400 into it all up
ive been extremely lucky with the cost so far, i was able to take anything from the Liberty i wanted for $500 without having to take the shell and i fluked alot of new parts very cheaply thro ebay and various forums
im fairly confident ill come in under $3k even if its abit over that im still more than happy as its well under what my 1776 cost to build and half of what an N/A vw of 145hp+ costs
some things i splurged on tho, i had aluminium header tank and surge tank tigged up when i could have just run a plastic one from a new corolla/echo or falcon and some ppl swear you dont need a surge tank...
i;m doing everything myself as i like the challange and satisfaction involved however, the one luxury im treating myself to is Al's doing my loom
an extra $250 will be money well spent considering it would take me around 25-30 hours to do it and whilst im right at home doing auto electrics its very tedious work, the ECU alone has nearly 70 wires coming out of it

once the looms back i have to install and wire it up, finish making the muffler, setup the fuel tank and pumps
ive already got the radiator and header tank but still need to get coolant lines as i havent decided yet which way im going with the lines
so if all the parts were here probably another 2 weekends solid work as the front still needs to be cut up for the rad

and another side project im doing with it is installing A/C but that will happen once the engines in and running

so i wont make my goal of klubfest but i also hadnt planned on having to spend so much extra time getting the farm back in shape after the flooding and wild storms devastated it.

ive taken a shitload of photos of everything ive done so far and as i said earlier i plan on making a really detailed thread in the other section at some stage
i tried to do heaps of reading about the conversion before i started, a few ppl like jorg and brad had threads with bits and pieces but noone has done any real in depth ones for EJ22 into a beetle

Joel Now containing 100\% E-Wang

9,368 posts · joined Feb 2006 · 30 May 2009, 10:41 pm

#715689

colonel mustard wrote:hey Joel, sorry bout all the questions, but what re-inforcement is behind the fibreglass valance... is the metal backing bolted in there also??

Jason questions are what forums are for
theres no reinforcing behind the valance, you could make something but it really isnt necessary
theyre pretty thick fibreglass and have strenght similar to the standard steel one
my black bug was pretty solid in the back and it didnt even have bumpers, the bumpers bolted up make it very solid

im building a sleeper style zorst which will just have 2 tail pipes coming out in the stock cutouts, so now that i've gone to the effort of getting one of johns valances, after seeing how well the standard one went back on and the fact i need cutouts ive decided not to use it and keep the stock one on
so if you or anyone else wants a fibreglass valance let me know

Joel Now containing 100\% E-Wang

9,368 posts · joined Feb 2006 · 30 May 2009, 10:44 pm

#715690

1963 Empi Radar wrote:Mate,

Fantastic story and pics, Sure to make any VW bloke very envious. 🙂

What sort of horses are we looking at comparing the supercharged dub engine to the subi engine?

Shame about Lucy, looked a real neat looking bug. 😢

Cheers will

cheers will
a stock EJ22 has 100kw stock which is around 140hp
by the time my intake and exhaust system which are better flowing than stock are in it may pick up another 10hp or so
my tired and abused 1600 that i built over 10 years ago with the blower was putting down 85hp at the treads
my 1776 was never dynod with the blower on but i had it pegged for about 100-105 at the wheels which is pretty much spot on what the EJ22 should be good for
EJ22 are very torquey engines but still wouldnt match a blower but im not fussed what is loses on swings it gains on the merry-go-round

yea it really broke my heart when i wrote lucy off
but i have noone to blame except myself for driving like a total Fwit
but in nearly 12 years of having a license its the only prang ive ever had, well if u dont count falling asleep and running off the road clipping a wing mirror

71-BEETLE-SEDAN AKA Josh

1,058 posts · joined Mar 2009 · 30 May 2009, 11:41 pm

#715701

I am still in school and will probably be until end 2010.

So at the moment i only work in the hols.

I have been thinking about the subaru conversion alot and have pretty much got my mind set on it now.

I plan to do alot of the pulling of he stock engine and putting the new one in myself the only thing i dont want to do is the electrics of it all.

I also have searched for indepth step by step guides so ill be waiting for yours.

Cant wait till its done so can convince mum and dad that ill be able to finish it not just leave it in the garage.

Joel Now containing 100\% E-Wang

9,368 posts · joined Feb 2006 · 31 May 2009, 9:44 am

#715739

the electrical side of the conversion is by far the biggest part of the job and it will either make or break the conversion

i love auto electrical work, ive worked in car audio/aircondition and can handle chopping down the loom but even im not going to attempt it

Al at AM auto does this stuff day in day out and for an N/A subi like mine that doesnt have fly by wire throttle is charging me $250 to turn my loom into a plug and play jobbie
i consider that great value for money for whats involved

just to scare you heres my loom-o-doom as pulled the liberty to show you the sheer size of it
it was a GX heritage or something so had electric everything but the really late cars are far worse yet again

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colonel mustard Son of Jim - Creator of Good

2,829 posts · joined Feb 2009 · 31 May 2009, 10:32 am

#715751

Are you putting the air con / heating into your bug Joel??? that would be sweeeet!!!
in regards to the valance, You have PM

71-BEETLE-SEDAN AKA Josh

1,058 posts · joined Mar 2009 · 31 May 2009, 6:50 pm

#715819

There is no way ill be doing the wiring of this, ill run the wires or watever but shotgun not sorting that mess ouut.

Cant wait till your done.

Joel Now containing 100\% E-Wang

9,368 posts · joined Feb 2006 · 3 Jun 2009, 5:02 pm

#716389

colonel mustard wrote:Are you putting the air con / heating into your bug Joel??? that would be sweeeet!!!
in regards to the valance, You have PM

yup A/C for sure but i was thinking i can live without heat, i took the heaterboxes out ages ago cos i never used them but having 2nd thoughts on that now with how cold its been here the last few weeks

oh yea let me know if you still want those tombstone taillights, had a look today theyve survived the hail storms untouched and the lenses are new plus the housings havent got the bottoms rusted out per usual
just need the 300 layers of paint taken off
poor old sonic had been painted about 5 or 6 different colours over the years 😂

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colonel mustard Son of Jim - Creator of Good

2,829 posts · joined Feb 2009 · 3 Jun 2009, 6:14 pm

#716403

yep. want them. Will pm you

Joel Now containing 100\% E-Wang

9,368 posts · joined Feb 2006 · 4 Jun 2009, 7:20 pm

#716610

i took this pic 10 mins ago.....

if i didnt know any better i would swear there was never a scooby in there

if the weathers is nice i might go for a blat up the road for perv at wintersun, havent driven my bug for over a month
getting to used to wipers on the left 🤪

and on a totally unrelated note
it only took 18 years but the old mans camry finally hit the big 100 today
it was grandfathers baby from new
had 72,000kms when he gave it to dad 2 and half years ago after he gave up driving

its the strangest sensation driving an SV21 that still drives like new as most of them have been to the moon and back several times over with the rattles to prove it

colonel mustard Son of Jim - Creator of Good

2,829 posts · joined Feb 2009 · 4 Jun 2009, 8:17 pm

#716649

Hey, random question, the number plate light stickout part on the decklid, do all of them have like a dimple, or part where it feels like its been dropped.... you seem to have bugs everywhere, is this just how they are...?

Joel Now containing 100\% E-Wang

9,368 posts · joined Feb 2006 · 4 Jun 2009, 10:18 pm

#716689

if ur talking about right in very middle on the top what looks sort of like a hail dent.....

yea alot have that but no its not factory
its caused by the middle bolt that holds the number plate light housing to the decklid being overtightened