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Yellowbird: street-style 412S
Beetspeed - February 28th, 2008 at 09:29 AM

My daily driver is getting more and more to my liking:
Its a '74 model VW412S and call her 'yellowbird' after some slow Ruf model from yesteryears LOL. Still has the original 1,8 type4 carbbed engine with originally 85 Hp.

http://www.keversite.nl/fotoalbum/fotos/60796.jpg

Lowered in the front with BMW (E30) springs and Koni red dampers.

I now has two 40 DLRA's and a vanagon electronic dizzy as the only engine mod. Oh, and it now also runs on LPG due to the high price of gas over here...

It has also been updated to rear disk brakes from several porsche 924T,944T, 964 and a few custom made parts:
http://www.keversite.nl/fotoalbum/fotos/43027.jpg

Front calipers have been switched for BMW 318 calipers. They are the same, but have much larger pistons (48mm instead of stock 42mm). Its an old 914 trick ;-)
Wheels are Boxster 7 and 8,5x17 ones. The big car really 'needs' a larger wheel I think.
http://www.keversite.nl/fotoalbum/fotos/43091.jpg

Greets,
Walter


Mick058 - February 28th, 2008 at 09:36 AM

nice looking ride, geez those wheels make it happen!


Turkeyss - February 28th, 2008 at 01:13 PM

That car is hooooootttttttttt (said in an annoyingly loud voice)


mactaylor - February 29th, 2008 at 01:21 AM

how does your lpg system work using the dells?


pod - February 29th, 2008 at 06:03 AM

very nice ,its a pity we didnt have the type 4 models over here:fakesniff:


Beetspeed - February 29th, 2008 at 06:36 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by pod
very nice ,its a pity we didnt have the type 4 models over here:fakesniff:

Ah, now I understand I didn't see any in the forum!

The LPG is fed trough two 'perforated plates' that are between the air filter and carbs.
Evaporater heat is provided by the engine oil. I need 2 miles on gas to heat the oil a little, then I run the float bowls empty and switch to LPG.
In summer the cold liquid lpg lets the oil temperature drop by 5-8 degrees Celcius (10-15F), which is a nice side effect.

Here is a pic of the plates. The right side one is not yet fully installed here:
http://www.keversite.nl/fotoalbum/fotos/32064.jpg

Thanks for the nice comments on the car :blush:
http://www.keversite.nl/fotoalbum/fotos/41226.jpg


OZ Towdster - February 29th, 2008 at 07:26 AM

Nice car buddy , there are a few 2 and 4 door type 4,s in Oz but they were personal imports i believe.
Those brakes will certainly stop the 1800 donk allright and look pretty cool to boot with the wheels and all
With fuel prices on the rise here too have you got any more details on the lpg system please and is it possibly an of the shelf system or have you custom made everything yourself


Beetspeed - March 1st, 2008 at 06:25 AM

Thanks!

The installation was done by a specialized shop. Benefits are that the officially needed approval/inspection is taken care of at the same time.

The system is really very simple, but needs heat to operate. In an watercooled car that is taken care off with the coolant water, but we need to use s/th else. I choose to use the engine oil. Pick-up from the type 4 engine (since its already full flow from the factory) is from a sandwich adapter under the oil filter. Easy.

I choose to have the LPG tank in the location of the spare wheel in the front (better for weight distributuon as well):
http://www.keversite.nl/fotoalbum/fotos/32314.jpg


kroozzn63 - March 1st, 2008 at 06:56 AM

wow thats very cool and wat a pro lpg setup thanx for sharing


MickH - March 1st, 2008 at 12:36 PM

Nice car!! I've seen pictures of a few cars in the UK with that type of gas conversion done and they have no complaints. Now for a question you probably get asked heaps.....do you have any spare parts!!!!??????? Particularly window rubbers????? Or know where they can be sourced??? Those wheels really set it off....looks great!!!


Beetspeed - March 2nd, 2008 at 02:03 AM

Sorry, but I have no spare parts, at least not for sale. I bought a donor car myself to have some spare parts:

http://www.keversite.nl/fotoalbum/fotos/36454.jpg


MickH - March 2nd, 2008 at 10:21 AM

The white ones look like they like trailers!!!!


The Bigfella - March 2nd, 2008 at 10:55 AM

The BMW caliper swap is interesting. Do you know if they fit Type 1s as well?


Beetspeed - March 3rd, 2008 at 12:42 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by The Bigfella
The BMW caliper swap is interesting. Do you know if they fit Type 1s as well?

Nope, the bolt space of a type 4 (and '73 models type 3) is 76mm, just like 914 and 944 N/A ;-).
Type 1 is much smaller (54mm or something like that)


matara - March 4th, 2008 at 02:06 AM

If there was ever a car where a set of Porsche wheels took the car from the ugly frog to a prince, its a 412

http://www.tunacan.net/t4corner/custom/raceday412/pic6.jpg


Beetspeed - March 4th, 2008 at 07:26 AM

As a famous classic VW wheel collector once said: 'Wheels maketh the car' :cool:

The type 4 in 412 coupe form from the last year is truely an underrated car. With the right suspension and engine tuning, I rather have this than any new car. The reactions to the car in marino gelb on the highway never give you a dull moment. I love it!


Andy - March 5th, 2008 at 12:51 AM

Hi Walter,
Is there much of a following of the 411/412 in Europe? Are there many still getting around?
As there are not many in Australia, we don't get to hear if they are popular or not over there.
How do you go with getting day to day parts to keep it on the road?
Cheers,
Richard


Beetspeed - March 5th, 2008 at 04:47 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by Andy
Hi Walter,
Is there much of a following of the 411/412 in Europe? Are there many still getting around?


There are very few left over and they are not popular. Advantage of this is relatively low prices for cars, but the clubs have a strong following and really want to help out a fellow enthousiast. Knowledge about them in our club is awesome!
Quote:

As there are not many in Australia, we don't get to hear if they are popular or not over there.
How do you go with getting day to day parts to keep it on the road?
Cheers,
Richard

Good point Richard, some parts can be difficult to come by, but for most any technical problem there is a solution. So it can take a bit longer sometimes, but there are a lot of technical type 3, 914 and type 1 parts on the car as well. I can always keep my car running and I even modified it! :yes:
Even though, I somethimes just need a porsche part for it:
http://www.keversite.nl/fotoalbum/fotos/34201.jpg

Must say, its very reliable and many have ran over 400K km's. Still, I may be only one of a handfull in europe that use it daily I think..

Dare to be different!

Cheers,
Walter


MickH - March 5th, 2008 at 12:37 PM

Different with style!!!!:tu::yes:


Andy - March 5th, 2008 at 10:24 PM

Similar to Mick's 411, this car through various owners has been in regular use for the last 10 years.
As with any 40 year old car, there's always something that needs attention though.
This is currently "mum's taxi" and doing sterling service, but as a '69 model parts are much rarer than the '70-'74 models.
What do you guy's do for clutch parts?
Richard


Beetspeed - March 6th, 2008 at 04:06 AM

Quote:
What do you guy's do for clutch parts?
Richard

Good point as the clutch inner diameter is unique (smaller) and not like any vw or porsche.
I am fortunate to have a new spring centered 215mm disk in storage for the new 914 2 liter engine, but otherwise you probably have to have a custom one made up around a used 411 clutch center. Spring center is highly recommended though.


Andy - March 6th, 2008 at 09:25 PM

Cheers,
It is my biggest worry at the moment! I have read (but not confirmed) it is the same as an Audi 100. Would anyone in your club know?
I have seen Audi 100 clutches for sale a couple of times, but as they are always over seas, no way to confirm it will fit.
Yep, for some reason a lot of after market clutch plates are solid, and I agree the sprung centres really help at take off.
Have not investigated getting the original repaired, but hopefully not too bad to get done.

A 2L 914 motor will go well in the back of a 412, will make it fun to drive with your brakes and suspension!! As I'm sure you know the 412 is very similar weight (if not lighter) than the 914!!
Did you know in South Africa the local VW factory produced a GP 411 model that developed similar power to the 914 2L motor out of the 1.7L (or1.8L?) motor!

As Mick pointed out, window and door rubbers are also impossible to source.

Richard