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??? Is it possible to mid mount a V8 engine in a Kombi???

wacked1 - February 24th, 2004 at 03:33 PM

Ok here it goes I was toying with the idea of a mid mounted V8 engined bay early or late bus this is only the research part of the project.

The reason I was contemplating this conversion is to get around the gearbox problem associated with higher output HP. I know I would have to install a differential as well. The intended use for this vehicle would be drag racing, I don’t want to street register this vehicle but will need to have it ANDRA inspected; I’m no tech head and only a novice racer. What would be involved in mid mounting a V8 engine any information will help I don’t need to have access to the rear section of the car for passengers so I was thinking the whole of the back section could house the engine gearbox and differential. I have spoken to a guy who installs wheel tubs and diff that’s fine. Is there enough room for the V8 to fit in the back with gearbox tail shaft and diff? I know CBB has a mid mounted V8 but it is stretched and I don’t want to stretch the bus. Any info would help.

PLEASE remember this is only the research part of the project.
Thanks
wacked1

Robo - February 24th, 2004 at 03:43 PM

Hans Klaack had a mid mount Toyota V8 in a twin cab ute a few years back, dont know if he still has it. they used to be at this address 6 years ago.
Klaack Motors
2A lackey st
Fairfield NSW

Cam - February 24th, 2004 at 03:44 PM

I've heard of it being done. Have'nt seen the conversion tho.

Ultimately, you'd build a "half chassis" car. So make a spaceframe that just bolts up underneath. I don't think you'd have to stretch a kombi to make the conversion work. There should be heaps of room.
I'd run a powerglide feeding directly into the diff and tie it all up like a transaxle with a 9 inch IRS conversion and double a arms. However, if you could get a driveshaft in between the box and the dif' I'd keep it live axle and run a 4 link set-up.
I think since you'll have to scratch make everything the possibilities are virtually endless. However, I'd look into Japanese quad cam V8's and using a turbo/s set-up as opposed to an old Aussie cast iron donk.

Alex Holzl - February 24th, 2004 at 03:48 PM

ive seen one in a strech kombi but i didnt look real close

Robo - February 24th, 2004 at 03:51 PM

Hans Klaack had a mid mount Toyota V8 in a twin cab ute a few years back, dont know if he still has it. they used to be at this address 6 years ago.
Klaack Motors
2A lackey st
Fairfield NSW

wacked1 - February 24th, 2004 at 04:27 PM

thanks guys, will give Hans a call.

baybuscamperkid - February 24th, 2004 at 05:08 PM

yup, can definitely be done, seen some pics of some 70s drag racing busses with that setup.

HotRodMatt - February 24th, 2004 at 06:16 PM

CBB also have a Mid mounted V6 in a dual cab. Not stretched.

The V8 will sit right up behind the front seats tho.

type2nut - February 24th, 2004 at 07:56 PM

There is a bay kombi going around the UK with a BMW straight 6 mid mounted in it. Before I new what it was, I was waiting at a set of traffic lights on the way to a show (Bristol) and saw this 'thing' go around a roundabout.. It sat about an inch off the ground. I took off from the lights expecting to see it just around the corner, only to find that it had shot half a mile up the road!
I have seen a photo of it on the web somewhere. I'll try and find it one day and post a link here.
Andy.

[Edited on 24-2-2004 by type2nut]

mnsKmobi - February 25th, 2004 at 08:08 AM

It definitely has been done. There was a bay (non-stretched) with a mid mounted V8 going around Melbourne in the 70's.

My brother saw it up close so I'll see if I can get any info from him.

wacked1 - February 25th, 2004 at 10:11 AM

cool guys, pics would be a big help.
thanks
wacked1

VWCOOL - February 25th, 2004 at 10:37 AM

'Research' = silly questions. No disrespect but sorry wacked, but if you have never been drag racing or don't have the engineering skills, maybe you are aiming too high with a project such as this

dan - February 25th, 2004 at 11:30 AM

sorry I don't know any details of this bus

Andy42 - February 25th, 2004 at 12:40 PM

Mate best bet is to get a hold of the ANDRA handbook and have a talk to a few of the guys. If you are not going to register it. I THINK you will not be allowed to run in street class. Which will put you straight in with the faster cars. I do not want to try to Quote any of the rules as it has been a few years since I raced and then it was mainly bikes. But if you are not going to register it it would be a straight forward project. Just follow the guidlines they set you from the start and everything will be sweet when you go for scrutinering.
Have fun
Andy

Oh and as with all projects the more you can do yourself the cheaper it will be in the end.

VWCOOL - February 25th, 2004 at 05:35 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by wacked1
No disrespect but on which planet do you live on mate. Whenever I have undertaken a project the first and most important stage is the planning stage, it is the section you source all you information, seeing whether a job such as this can be done or not. I went to a Sydney VW shop yesterday and they told me it couldn’t be done, but from the replies on this forum it looks as if it can be.
I never said I had never raced before in fact I have raced a few times before the best time I posted was a low 12 second pass in a 351 XY GT Falcon I owned a few years ago, other vehicles I have also raced and owned are, V8 capri 302, 351 V8 cortina, V8 LJ torana countless other V8 Falcons. My last project was a 3.8L V6 kombi and my current one is a 4.4L V8 Kombi see AVATAR. Oh and one more thing where does it state you have to have engineering skills to race I don’t intend on building the vehicle myself that would be suicide, I would be getting someone with a knowledge of ANDRA rules and vehicle fabricating skills to perform the work.
Cheers
wacked1

The same planet as you - but maybe I'm a little more down to earth. Good to see you're planning. But if you have the knowledge and skills - or the $$ to buy them - don't waste shop owner's time by asking if its been done before. Yes it has. Will that affect your decision to, or not to, build a V8 Kombi drag car?

[Edited on 25-2-2004 by VWCOOL]

wacked1 - February 25th, 2004 at 07:36 PM

I deleted my last 2 posts as it was getting a bit childish, no probs with VWCOOL just please stick to the original post
cheers
wacked1

type2nut - February 25th, 2004 at 07:39 PM

Here are a couple of photos to show that it can be done. And with 4WD too. Now that beast would put my Syncro to shame!!

More links when I have more time to hunt them out.

Andy.

http://www.vanfest.org/2003/vanfest/modeng.htm

HotRodMatt - February 25th, 2004 at 07:42 PM

dan said

Quote:

sorry I don't know any details of this bus

The pics were taken by me and are of the CBB stretch bus.

http://www.cbbvw.com/big.html
for more details.

As said before the dual cab is also mid mounted.

VWCOOL - February 25th, 2004 at 08:03 PM

...make sure it's a Gen III!

twoguns - February 25th, 2004 at 08:26 PM

wacked1, if you go to http://www.custombugsandbuses.com you will see the strectched bus that 'dan' posted pics of. mike did this set up to take the crew and drag car to meets.

but i know there is a shit load of work involved, so you would need plenty of moolah or a lot of spare time and tools.

if your not rushed i am sure you will see it at the nationals. i kow it has been to other shows and won trophies...

wacked1 - February 25th, 2004 at 08:39 PM

Thanks guys, I've seen the CBB stretch up close at last nats and it's fine. But don't want that sort of thing spoke to ANDRA tech today and got info needed. not much at all I was more after the thing type2nut and hotrodmatt
refered to.
thanks
wacked1

[Edited on 25-2-2004 by wacked1]