Been wanting to try circuit racing for a while,so when this opportunity came up I had to go for it.Whathaveidone!!!! Some of you will recognise the car, it was for sale on here for a while. Plans are to upgrade the suspention, brakes and put a nice reliable engine in it.
Started today by stripping the interior and stereo, tomorrow will replace the front beam with an adjustable one.
Have to say a huge thanks to Rod Penrose for making this possible!!!
vw54 ·
Ben
my sugestion ( from past experience ) GET some better front seats that wont let u slide around on the turns
whathaveidone ·
Thats why they have been taken out. Ive got a race seat but need to modify the vw base to fit my legs in😂😂
vw54 ·
Ben yr too tall buggar it
Lachlan VL ·
interesting like to see this go far
hellbugged ·
👍
Dont be shy, do the irs conversion from the begining.
Camo ·
Ben,
Congratulations, I would have liked to have kept this car but I just didn't have the space.
I forgot to give Rod the starter motor when he picked the car up, so that is here when you want it.
Good luck with it all and I look forward to seeing the progress.
will finish painting everything tonight then put it all back in tomorrow night.
whathaveidone ·
some more bits followed me home tonight!!!!
tar76 ·
Looking good man
PS you want a" tap out sticker for it"!! 😂😂
whathaveidone ·
😂yeah man, Ill have a bright pink one it you've gotone spare!!!!!!!!!!!!!😂
tar76 ·
whathaveidone wrote:😂yeah man, Ill have a bright pink one it you've gotone spare!!!!!!!!!!!!!😂
Consider it done, no one will pick on you then. 😀
hypo-vw ·
looking good Ben . what engine combo are you going to use for the circuit mate
whathaveidone ·
Hey Wayne,Im working on that at the moment. Will be nothing like yours. Im just going to put a little one in for now.Want it to be reliable at the moment so I can learn to drive it. Ill post more details when i get them.
Put the adjustable spring plates in today and the adjustable Koni shocks
Kafer bar is in there too
1303Steve ·
Hi
Your going to have ball driving this car on the track.
You might want change the engine mounts over to the earlier style, you will need the mounts and the cradle. On a swing axle car those mounts are part of the suspension and the later ones like your using are very soft or if this a track only car you could go solid mounts.
Steve
HappyDaze ·
Just go solid, and save doing the job twice.
Craig Torrens ·
x2 for solid mounting.
whathaveidone ·
the adjustable beam is in, disc brakes are on
sitting nice and low now
just waiting on swaybars, front shocks and some wheels and tyres.
Camo ·
If you are using that gearbox, you need to replace the input shaft seal without fail.
Love what you are doing and looks so much better closer to the ground 😁
Kev
whathaveidone ·
Cheers Camo,will do. Any more info on the box??? Did you have it rebuilt?? if so did you change any ratios???
yeah what he said LMAO
great work as always
mmm and looks like satin paint?
Special Air Service ·
Keep charging mate, I'm on a similar mission with my beetle...... just not sure I'm gonna make the deadline.....late nights ahead.
Just a thought for you about the lowered front end, make sure you check to see if your ball joints have enough travel after you set the ride height. My beetle was only moderately lowered & I thought it was the shock absorbers bottoming out, but after removing the shocks I discovered the ball joints were at the limit of their travel.
Cheers
Brendan
whathaveidone ·
Ive set the suspention as low as it goes to get a starting piont, same for the rear. when the engine is in and ive got all the shocks,swaybars and rims/tyres sorted ill start playing with ride height.Something to think about though.
Keep the sugestions comming guys, this is all new to me so im taking them all in.
whathaveidone ·
Still looking for a seat if anyone has a spare laying around!!!!
hypo-vw ·
whathaveidone wrote:Still looking for a seat if anyone has a spare laying around!!!!
I have a fibreglass race seat Ben , you are most welcome to it .... however I think it has only been pretested with legs 4 foot long . 😂
ian.mezz ·
What number are you going to have, we are number 17 and number 8 is gone , I guess you could be 007 😂
whathaveidone ·
Fitted the seat Wayne gave me today. Looks like a lowback but its just the right height for me😂😂
Can you choose your own number?? if so im having 2510
whathaveidone ·
PS.....Still have to clean the seat
colin ·
Get some neg on the front Ben,
nice work buddy.
Cheers Col
HappyDaze ·
Col, why not enter for the supersprints, and you can give him some good set-up advice.....plus a few driving tips while you're there.👍
vw54 ·
Get some neg on the front Ben,
yep bend the upper arms a little in the hydraulic press
Camo ·
whathaveidone wrote:PS.....Still have to clean the seat
Yeah, but what about the outside of the car. I cant believe it's so dirty 🙅🙅🙅🙅🙅
Kev
whathaveidone ·
Im getting to that too Camo. Thats how i got it and there is no point cleaning it yet.
Been thinking about neg camber!!! Ill see if i have time. Still alot more to do to get it going🤪🤪🤪
1916baja ·
Looks lie the seat in my drag car... how the hell do you fit in it? i barely fit in mine!
whathaveidone ·
I fit in this one bettr than my drag car!!
1916baja ·
maybe you should just put a bench seat in the drag car and be done with it....
whathaveidone ·
come on Mick!! Im not that fat!!!! Iv got feelings you know😢😢
1916baja ·
Not implying you are fat.... just stating drag cars don't do corners so you might as well be comfortable! Plus your not fat just mega tall! You make Dave and i feel rather tiny.....
matberry ·
1916baja wrote:Not implying you are fat.... just stating drag cars don't do corners so you might as well be comfortable! Plus your not fat just mega tall! You make Dave and i feel rather tiny.....
😂😂😂
whathaveidone ·
its ok mick, i have rather thick skin!!!!
trickysimon ·
Awesome!! Happy this has gone to a good home that can afford to do the stuff I always wanted!
ian.mezz ·
so you be running E85??
vw54 ·
who cares GET it on the track
whathaveidone ·
nah, just pump fuel.
whathaveidone ·
Put the front swaybar on today. Went on easy but when i put the car on wheels The swaybar drags on the ground. Copied the way standard one was on but I must have it upside down. Any thoughts❓❓❓
Koni Adjustable shocks and studs went in too.
Got some Wheels and tyres. Will get one fitted up to see if they fit.
Shifter and fire extinguisher
1303Steve ·
Hi
Looking good. Did you trim the bumpstops down in Konis?
Steve
whathaveidone ·
No, Should I???
bat69 ·
If you dont cut the standard bump stop you will prob be sitting on it when you drop it down if its lowed. Just check it. From memory (please dont quote me because it has been a while) the Koni bump stop is about 70mm long and you need to chop a few cm of it to get the travel.
whathaveidone ·
Ill check into it. any ideas on the sway bar???
bat69 ·
Its not attached to your beam. You dont have the clamps that mount it to the front of the beam? There should be a couple of U bolts, spacers, clamp & bush plus a couple of bolts to hold it together
Special Air Service ·
bat69 wrote:Its not attach to your beam. You dont have the clamps that mount it to the front of the beam? There should be a couple of U bolts, spacers, clamp & bush plus a couple of bolts to hold it together
No it doesnt look like the whiteline bar, more like a bigger diameter standard bar.
I think for a lowred car they normally have a bit more of a kick up so that the bar doesnt drag on the gound, as the trailing arms rotate up the front of the bar gets closer to the ground.
might be back to the drawing board with that one.
1303Steve ·
Hi
You can cut the Koni bump stop nearly in half, its only there to stop the adjusting tangs crashing into the shock base
You need to retain the bit with the groove in it to fit back in.
You can get the bump stop out with the shock extended, use the largest pin punch that fits and poke it through the 2 holes in the shock top.
Steve
matberry ·
Not tried it, but maybe you could mount your sway bar on top of the arms?
hypo-vw ·
Hi Ben , I think you would be better to discard that street bar that you have and use a whiteline bar mate . Here is a pic of the one on the front of my sports sedan
It doesn't hang any lower than the front beam no matter what height the suspension is and the bar runs inbetween the upper & lower arms , with links down to the lower shock mounts . The bar that I have has 6 adjusments to make it stiffer if required
hellbugged ·
Trouble is finding a whiteline
whathaveidone ·
Anyone have a spare whiteline bar laying around????
Special Air Service ·
pm'd re sway bar mate.
whathaveidone ·
and 1 back at ya
Stanley ·
On another note Ben, a short time ago you were selling your drag car and now you're keeping it and have got another one......have you promised a kitchen or bathroom Reno...😁
whathaveidone ·
😂😂😂😂I cant afford reno's now!!!!!l lets just say Elle is very understanding!!!!!
vassy66T1 ·
The best kind of lady to have 👍
whathaveidone ·
yep, and Elle is the best of the best!!!👍👍
Stanley ·
No....mine is the best of the best.....especially after the bathroom Reno....have I told you about my new engine...😀
whathaveidone ·
Ended up getting a Whiteline sway bar.
Got all 4 wheels on the ground
Also got the seatbelt and shifter fitted. Now, just need engine fitted and dynoed, brakes bleed and a wheel alignment and it should be ready to go. Not to sure ill get time to finish it before the supersprints but it will be close!!! May have to skipp a wedding next saturday😀😀😀😀 to get it done.
Special Air Service ·
you'll need to adjust (shorten) your vertical link on the sway bar down a bit. when the suspension goes into compression the sway bar will contact the trailing arm above it.
put a jack under the shock absorber & take the weight of the car on it, it will push the front wheel up simulating compressing the suspension & see what happens. will also show you how close your tyre will get to your guard.
Cheers
Brendan
I've has a big setback today that probably means I wont get there.😢
Paulc1964au ·
Great effort Ben in such a short time frame
whathaveidone ·
Thanks guys. Havent set or adjusted any suspension yet. Thats another thing on the list.Was waiting for the engine to go in first.
hellbugged ·
👍
You're making me feel very unorganized with such good progress
Camo ·
Wedding, unless it is yours I'm sure they will understand 😂😂😂😂😂
Also you are looking a little unwell, I think you will need a few days off sick over the next 2 weeks.
Keep up the good (quick) work and I hope to see the car at Wakefield 👍👍👍👍👍
Kev
P.S. Don't forget I have the starter motor here if you need it.
essex ·
good luck with this Ben,
hellbugged ·
How you looking for the event now?
whathaveidone ·
Im in canberra for work at the moment. think motor is in now. will work tomorrow arvo and all day friday and have it ready fof dyno on sat. will be there even if im still finishing it at the track🤪been done before
vw54 ·
now thats the stuff
whathaveidone ·
Engine is in and run in!!!!! Ill finish a few things today and we will be ready to race!!!!!!!!
Have to say a huge THANKS to Rod and Owen who spent a few days putting it all together while i was away. Wouldnt be ready if it wasnt for them👍👍👍
Entry will go in today!!!!!!
1916baja ·
Nice! what are the specs on the engine??
whathaveidone ·
I cant see any specs. I thought it was pretty clean!! 😂😂
1916baja ·
You need sleep. 🤪
colin ·
Well done Ben and see you there.
Cheers Col
whathaveidone ·
Car is just about done.Had a big bay on it yesturday but in all the excitment I forgot to enter. Hopefully I can organise something today. If the powers that be read this can they call me on 0407000967😀😀
hypo-vw ·
whathaveidone wrote:in all the excitment I forgot to enter
it is not too late to enter Ben . Entries are excepted right up until the day .... you only had to get entries in by the 19th ( which you can do on line ) to gain the discount rate and go into the draw for the refund prize .😎
whathaveidone ·
Got to drive it today.Just a slow drive down street cant wait to drive it in anger!😂😂😂
Super1302 ·
2110 cc i hear, looks the goods. 😵
hypo-vw ·
really sorry to hear of your troubles Ben with the cracked case , after you have put so much effort into getting your beetle ready for the supersprint .
I hope Rodney can get it sorted for you before the weekend so that you can run it
Craig Torrens ·
hypo-vw wrote:really sorry to hear of your troubles Ben with the cracked case , after you have put so much effort into getting your beetle ready for the supersprint .
I hope Rodney can get it sorted for you before the weekend so that you can run it
Cracked case....on a new motor ?? Thats a bummer...
Hope you can get a replacement motor B4 the weekend.
whathaveidone ·
Will find out today. Im away so there is nothing i can do.May be a split oil cooler but just no time to fix it🙁🙁
Camo ·
Bugger, but I take my hat off to you for a gallant effort 👍👍👍
Kev
hellbugged ·
Fix the cooler in the pits Saturday
whathaveidone ·
Will be doing it tomorrow night at my place. if thats all it is i will be there. might be a long night
Klaus ·
give me a yell if u get stuck or need a hand or an og oil cooler n bits 🙂 5 mins down the rd
hellbugged ·
whathaveidone wrote:Will be doing it tomorrow night at my place. if thats all it is i will be there. might be a long night
Cool
My car is still on the stands after gearbox replacement... See you there!
whathaveidone ·
Gee you got more work than me!!! And a longer drive. See you there
1916baja ·
How'd you go ben??
whathaveidone ·
Had an awesome day. had 3 goes at it. first 2 ended early with acceletater problems. last one was the best. started to get the hang of it then the fan belt came off. I was lost in the moment and didnt realise until it was too late.engine still runs but is not happy😢 off to the doctors. Best time was 1:19.
Thanks to all involved in the build and donated parts!! Owen, WPVW, Dunham autos and Klous. Big thanks to Rod Penrose who owns the car and let me build and race it. Sorry i hurt your motor.
Will be back bigger and beter next year 👍😀👍😀
Paulc1964au ·
whathaveidone wrote:Had an awesome day. had 3 goes at it. first 2 ended early with acceletater problems. last one was the best. started to get the hang of it then the fan belt came off. I was lost in the moment and didnt realise until it was too late.engine still runs but is not happy😢 off to the doctors. Best time was 1:19.
Thanks to all involved in the build and donated parts!! Owen, WPVW, Dunham autos and Klous. Big thanks to Rod Penrose who owns the car and let me build and race it. Sorry i hurt your motor.
Will be back bigger and beter next year 👍😀👍😀
Yes was an excellent day check out the photos in the new thread
Stanley ·
Well done mate.
HappyDaze ·
If there was a 'Best Effort' award, you would have to win.👍
To go through the 'quick-time' build up, and more little problems [quite normal for a 'new' car] on the day, then managing to get under 1:20, great job. Then you managed to park in EXACTLY the same spot on the circuit [well out of harm's way] TWICE.👍
I takes me hat off to ya, and all those who jumped in to give you a hand......true VW mateship.👍
Cheers,
Greg
SuperOwen ·
Imagine how fast you'll go with a wheel alignment!!👍👍
whathaveidone ·
SuperOwen wrote:Imagine how fast you'll go with a wheel alignment!!👍👍 [/quote
might even be able to stay on the track😂🤪😂
whathaveidone ·
Its time to drag this up again.
We started getting this ready for this years supersprints. Will share the driving this year with Morgan.
Will pull the motor down and see what damage i did last year.
hypo-vw ·
whathaveidone wrote:Will pull the motor down and see what damage i did last year.
hope it is not too serious Ben , and you can get it ready once again for this years supersprint . Good luck mate