Michael Nash's 54 Beetle - 10.289@130.34

nasty · 2010-04-05T12:28:19+00:00

Here are some pics and info on the build of this car as it is now almost ready to hit the track. Chassis was built by Ron Lummus. Chromoly with strut front, type 1 swingaxle ladder bar rear. Chassis was built in Right Hand Drive Configuration. Custom RHD pedal assembly was manufactured from Chromoly. Chassis was then shipped to Australia ready for body fitment and tin work. A 57 body was first fitted but after discovering a great deal of rust, this 54 body was used. The body was fitted to the chassis using the stock heater channel mounts on each side. Additional mounts were then made, allowing the body to be channeled over the chassis for a lower roofline. The sills along with most of the internal sheetmetal were then removed. The dash remains along with glovebox, ashtray and radio block off. Semaphores remain fitted but not (yet?) operational. Next the interior tin was manufactured. Each piece was made from a cardboard template. Once trimmed to size and step rolled, Dzus tabs were welded to the chassis. About 50 seperate pieces make up the tinwork on the car. This includes this area of the rear seat, firewall and inner wheelwells. The front bar work was enclosed, creating a front firewall. Battery, fuel pump and ballast box at front of chassis. A tunnel was manufactured inside to enclose the shift rod, clutch and throttle cables, fuel lines and wiring. Rear wheel tubs were made to prevent tire debris from damaging the interior tin. Fiberglass doors were fitted along with custom hinges and sills from 1/2" chromoly. I then decided to go with the Mendeola swing axle transmission. As it is about 4" longer than the type 1, the chassis rails were extended. The front transmission mount plate and motor plate were relocated on the chassis. The engine was then dummy fitted. As the Mendeola transmission was longer, a new engine cover / wing was made to suit the new setup. Body and chassis then went off to the paint shop. Both were blasted and etch primed. The body was then refitted to allow finish and alignment of the panels. Fiberglass doors required lots of work! Meanwhile engine and transmission were built. Transmission went back to Rancho Transaxle to be finished. Engine long block was built by Craig Brown. It includes Autocraft Case, Cylinders and heads. 86 x 100- 2700cc, Autocraft Cam, Scat Crank Wedgemated, Carillo Rods, J&G Floater Clutch. Carbs are 58mm Terminators. Fuel System and Vacuum Pump from Product Engineering. Dry sump with pre-heater and 16v Alternator. Exhaust was custom made over the top due to limited space from oil pump and parachute mount. A Racepak data logger has been fitted with sensors for EGT, Clutch Speed, Wheel Speed, Oil Press & Temp, Pan Vacuum etc. A fiberglass front was purchased from Creative Car Craft in Florida. Excellent quality. Lower front had to be modified to get 3" of ground clearance. Work continues on the body, now in undercoat. Including the inside. Doors finished after many hours of work. Body came back off chassis so the interior could be finished in colour. Chassis colour was finished and ready for assembly. Suspension, fuel and oil systems fitted. Springs were refitted to all of the Dzus tabs. Transmission and motor fitted with only a couple of scratches. 😬 Finish painted interior panels next. Pedal assembly and then more panels. Plumbing and wiring next. Dry sump tank fitted and plumbed. Motor plumbed and wiring started. Interior wiring finished and tunnel fitted. Battery and fuel pump connected. As much work as possible was done on the chassis before the body would go back on. Chassis then went onto a trolley ready for the body to be fitted. Meanwhile the interior of the body was finished in it's colour and the dash was assembled and wired. Exterior of the body was painted in it's colour and then colour sanded. Body was then fitted to the chassis. The remaining panels were then colour sanded. Once the body was on, some more interior panels were able to be fitted. Tin work to enclose the motor installed next. Safety gear fitted. Body was then fully assembled for one last test fit of the doors and front before being masked up for final clear coating. More to come very shortly!

Sides Veteran Volks Folk

2,220 posts · joined May 2007 · 22 Jul 2010, 3:22 pm

#792028

Saw this car in the flesh today, and holy crap batman.... altho these pics are massively impressive they REALLY don't do it justice !!!

👍

(oh and a free bump for ya Michael... hopefully saves someone else feeling a dufus like I did in not knowing about your car 😊)

VWDCQ vice pres & web dude - vwdcqinc.org.au
Join a car club - get car peeps

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'70 Hillclimb Bug 'Jezebel' w/- Haltech EFI - http://bit.ly/VwTNtQ
'60 KG Coupe - resto kinda started
01 New Beetle - gf's car, but I turn the spanners

vassy66T1 Wow ... are U reading this?

2,120 posts · joined Jun 2003 · 24 Jul 2010, 4:53 pm

#792433

Shame on you Dave 🙅

How close now Michael??

nasty Commited Dubber

65 posts · joined Jan 2009 · 1 Aug 2010, 9:42 pm

#793719

Been stuck into it over the last couple of weeks. Paint work has been pretty much finished.

Doors and engine cover are assembled and finished.

Electrics and plumbing finished and engine running.

nasty Commited Dubber

65 posts · joined Jan 2009 · 1 Aug 2010, 9:47 pm

#793722

And finally onto the dyno.

Firstly setting up the carb jetting and linkages.

All the dyno runs are being recorded on the data logger.

LIFE IN THE LOW LANE All people have the right to stupidity but some abuse the pr

2,534 posts · joined Mar 2007 · 1 Aug 2010, 10:13 pm

#793726

Everything running smooth as far as tuning/dyno time are going Michael?? Car looks super and am looking forward to seeing it at Warwick in October!! (no Pressure LOL)

ACCEPT THAT SOME DAYS YOU ARE THE PIDGEON AND SOME DAYS YOU ARE THE STATUE

Alder Outlaws VW Racing - check it out on fb!!

vwsteve karmann crazy

2,087 posts · joined Jul 2006 · 2 Aug 2010, 8:05 am

#793749

cant wait to see it go!

1 1963 356b porsche coupe
2 1960 karmann ghia cab
1 1965 karmann ghia cab
1 1966 karmann cab
1 1961 split ute
1 1967 split p/van
1 1952 standard bug
1 1963 ragtop
1 1960 ragtop
2 1954 ovals
1 1956 oval baja project
1 1957 oval flying flea

vassy66T1 Wow ... are U reading this?

2,120 posts · joined Jun 2003 · 2 Aug 2010, 3:13 pm

#793794

Great to see it on the Dyno!!!

Looking really good. Numbers? Video?

nasty Commited Dubber

65 posts · joined Jan 2009 · 29 Aug 2010, 6:23 pm

#799188

Finished on the dyno and here are the results. Found a few issues on the dyno (car not engine) but these are sorted. Now finishing final assembly and aiming for tech inspection in a couple of weeks.

vassy66T1 Wow ... are U reading this?

2,120 posts · joined Jun 2003 · 29 Aug 2010, 7:22 pm

#799203

Great numbers Michael 👍👍

All things going smoothly Warwick is looking good ... Sweet

Dasdubber DAS Resto Haus

5,746 posts · joined Aug 2002 · 29 Aug 2010, 7:25 pm

#799205

Looks very nice Michael, good luck wtih the weeks ahead.
Al

www.dasrestoparts.com.au

LIFE IN THE LOW LANE All people have the right to stupidity but some abuse the pr

2,534 posts · joined Mar 2007 · 29 Aug 2010, 8:36 pm

#799225

Congrats mate. Hope all goes well and certainly look forward to seeing you and the car at the track in Warwick in anger again soon....

ACCEPT THAT SOME DAYS YOU ARE THE PIDGEON AND SOME DAYS YOU ARE THE STATUE

Alder Outlaws VW Racing - check it out on fb!!

oldskl60 Officially Full-On Dubber

251 posts · joined Mar 2008 · 30 Aug 2010, 5:05 pm

#799358

Man this looks sweet! Can't wait to see it in the flesh with all panels on...

BeetleBug Casual Dubber

22 posts · joined Feb 2010 · 30 Aug 2010, 10:32 pm

#799453

Hi from Norway,

Your car is by far one of the best race builds I have ever seen. Absolutely stunning!

Looking at your dyno papers I hope it is ok that I ask, the results are WHP? What calculations do you use find the flywheel HP?

Thanks,

Best rgs
BB
Norway

dangerous 23 Windows of Awesome

5,901 posts · joined Jan 2005 · 31 Aug 2010, 7:47 am

#799474

BeetleBug wrote:Hi from Norway,

Your car is by far one of the best race builds I have ever seen. Absolutely stunning!

Looking at your dyno papers I hope it is ok that I ask, the results are WHP? What calculations do you use find the flywheel HP?

Thanks,

Best rgs
BB
Norway

That is wheel power.
To give you some comparison,
my engine in its latest incarnation only made 220,
and ran 10.93@122 weighing 1785lbs(811kg).

Michaels car probably will weigh less than 1500lbs.
(681kg with him on board).

Engine power would just be a guess.
Mine makes about 250 by comparison.
Michaels heads flow enough air to make 256,
so you can run the maths from there.

westi wrote:That's mad Alan.

BeetleBug Casual Dubber

22 posts · joined Feb 2010 · 31 Aug 2010, 9:48 pm

#799644

Thanks Dangerous,

Your ET of 10.93 with "only" 220 whp in combination with a weighing 1785lbs is VERY impressive. All my calculations would suggest around 260 - 265 WHP to manage 10.93 @ 122. Obviously I have no clue about Michaels flow numbers but if you say that they flow enough for 256hp I would guess they flow around 245 - 250 cfm in 25". 222 WHP could very well be around 250 - 255 flywheel HP.

255 HP and 2.7 litre is 94hp pr litre which is OK.

Again, fantastic car!

Best rgs
BB

Fiatdude Seriously Crusin Dubber

180 posts · joined Dec 2008 · 1 Sep 2010, 4:13 am

#799675

very very very VERY nice

The only thing I can see it needs is a Boost gauge and the assorted supporting equipment

nbturbo Veteran Volks Folk

2,171 posts · joined Dec 2002 · 19 Sep 2010, 11:17 pm

#803220

Yep-bloody awesome-what a read.Still going to be at Warwick I hope?

fullnoise Fahrvergnugen

964 posts · joined Sep 2002 · 20 Sep 2010, 8:04 pm

#803362

Wow x 100 + 1000 squared. Congratulations.

PS Wow
PPS Wow

Thanks for posting the pics. No words necessary really.

esratrams

grumble Son of Jim - Creator of Good

2,672 posts · joined Jun 2008 · 20 Sep 2010, 9:26 pm

#803393

Well done,a well documented project and very impressive.

Dak-A-Tak Volksie Pete

1,381 posts · joined Jan 2004 · 11 Oct 2010, 11:22 pm

#807133

Well done mate !

BeetleJuice Officially Full-On Dubber

350 posts · joined Sep 2006 · 12 Oct 2010, 9:45 am

#807174

Dak-A-Tak wrote:Well done mate !

That looks SWEET!

Any pics with the front end on?

FringeDweller

typethreeking Wolfsburg Wizard

621 posts · joined May 2008 · 14 Oct 2010, 4:36 pm

#807555

front was still in the paint shop having some air brush work done for the head lights as far as i know, might be finished soon i would hope

BEING ASPIRATED FEELS GREAT BUT BEING BLOWN TAKES THING TO A WHOLE NEW LEVEL....

Dak-A-Tak Volksie Pete

1,381 posts · joined Jan 2004 · 14 Oct 2010, 6:19 pm

#807565

Why do people double up on pics and comments ?
The painter let Michael down with front not finnished . Painter now has a hit out on him !!!!!!!!!
Colour of car is real nice too .

fast68 Commited Dubber

58 posts · joined Jul 2009 · 14 Oct 2010, 6:35 pm

#807568

stunning peice of work!!

vassy66T1 Wow ... are U reading this?

2,120 posts · joined Jun 2003 · 14 Oct 2010, 7:36 pm

#807576

Fabulous car and a credit to Michael's perseverance and his wife's support... well done to both of you 👍👍

hypo-vw Australias 1st 10sec street beetle (Jan 2007) 10.49secs@132m

2,151 posts · joined May 2004 · 15 Oct 2010, 7:43 am

#807638

awesome build Michael and great pics too . Your bug looks stunning and I wish you well with your future progress .
Great to see it at Warwick and look forward to seeing it on the strip in the near future

Team

FASTEST ET @ WARWICK 2010 & 2011
FASTEST SPEED @ WARWICK 2011
FASTEST ET & SPEED WSID 2012
PB - 6.33@113.07(1/8) & 9.88@135(1/4)

T25Turbo Slammed & Awesome Dubber

96 posts · joined Feb 2003 · 24 Oct 2010, 1:27 pm

#809182

I remember the black baja pumping out the Ice-T Iceberg tunes from under the story bridge in Bris way back when.

The new project is so awesome, can't wait to hear how it runs.

LIFE IN THE LOW LANE All people have the right to stupidity but some abuse the pr

2,534 posts · joined Mar 2007 · 24 Oct 2010, 9:00 pm

#809306

The Baja from memory was actually a dark blue metallic.....

ACCEPT THAT SOME DAYS YOU ARE THE PIDGEON AND SOME DAYS YOU ARE THE STATUE

Alder Outlaws VW Racing - check it out on fb!!

matberry Moderator Go hard or go home

8,114 posts · joined Mar 2006 · 24 Oct 2010, 9:28 pm

#809313

.......with hot pink engine 🤪

Matt Berry Motorsports...air cooled advice, repairs and mods Ph 0408 704 662
OFF-ROAD,CIRCUIT,DRAG,STREET,ENDURANCE

Boostn Wolfsburg Wizard

657 posts · joined Apr 2005 · 26 Oct 2010, 7:54 pm

#809640

Wow what a sexy ride.
It's been at least 10 years of build this thing hey?

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nick@vollkommenart.com

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