Hi all,

I looking at building a VW beach buggy and installing a V4 sti engine/gearbox. I have some questions about completing the conversion. This is the first conversion that I am completing and I am unsure on a few things

How would the drive train be setup

What steering modifications do I have to do the get the engine to work

Do I use the subaru suspension or do I use the VW setup

Will the gearbox work

Where is the best place to get parts

What other adapters to I need

All information would be greatly appreciated

Sorry guys, also another question about the cooling setup

Thanks

V4 hey ( ? )

This is the way to go have a look at the link , subaru mid mount

The way to do it is to put the motor behind the rear seat, if you use the manual gear box V4 ( are you 100% sure its V4 ? ) your wasting the gear box if you sit the box out the rear. You can purchase a delete rear drive kit for thse boxes now days. The big issue you will have is the turbo is to big for the motor in the sand it comes on boost to far in the rev range and when it does come on your ground speed , your flying !

the link will give you some ideas !~ seagull



http://images.google.com.au/imgres?imgurl=http://www.abacus.com.au/~theedge/i...

Seagull,

The buggy will be for road use. I found a site that provides some information about the engine mounting but im unsure how to do it. I am not very mechanically minded as my friend who is an engineer/mechanic will be doing most of the work. I need to find out this infomation so we can establish a plan for the build. The gearbox is a Version 4 to suit the Version 4 98 STI engine.

The PDF on the site is http://www.vwkd.co.uk/HOWTO/VWKD_HOW_TO.PDF 

http://www.carsales.com.au/all-cars/private/details.aspx?R=6645031&__sid=...

Ian

Thanks for the info. I checked it out and it has provided me with some useful info.

Cheers

Seagull

I am about to pickup the gearbox and engine for $4500. What is a helical lsd?

Hey there, are you in the UK, sounds like you may be by posting the UK link?

The easiest way is to use VW running gear, chassis, suspension, gearbox, driveline etc. Little modifications will need to be done, just an adpator plate between the VW gearbox and the subaru motor, then of course you have the radiator and wiring associated with a modern watercooled engine.

Someone should buy that buggy that ian posted... hehe... It is mine, my first buggy and it was subaru powered. I have now built another with the 2ltr turbo motor. Details at http://dunebuggyandbajaadventures.freeforums.org/my-current-rat-buggy-and-limo-build-t33.html

In short I have fairly standard vw suspension, Kombi gearbox and CV's (stronger and better ratios with bigger tyres), I put the radiator at the back on both buggies, keeps the pipework simple and is easy to bleed the air out of, however a lot of guys stick them in the front with good results too, better airflow, but more coolant, less protected if you like going offroad. There is also a member (Original Manx) on the buggy forums above and TheSamba (with writeup) attempting a 4wd manx, using the subaru gearbox. I have a gut feeling these could be the next wave in unique buggy builds, and thr next step from just sticking a subaru motor in.

ratbug

That is exactly what I want to build. Very nice work...

I would be looking to complete the build and try to utilise the Subaru AWD system. But what I am working on and what is puzzling me is how can I achieve this and get it to work. Do you have any links at all?

I'm situated in Victoria, AUS

I think you need to look at this link!

http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=271863&sid=12acb2f273e472c620eff68f534ef3b2

The main problem in using the subi gearbox is because the engine orientation will be 180deg from normal (at the back fo the car), you will have 5 reverse gears and 1 forward gear, in other words run backwards. I'm not much of an expert on box's, but original manx is going down the path of providing a solution (may not be cheap though). He is also going 4wd, so putting a prop shaft up the middle and putting a modified rear diff in the front with modified front suspension. If your happy to stay rear wheel drive it will simplify things for you somewhat, but still need to tackle the gearbox issue.

End of the the day though, a modern 5speed subaru gearbox is designed for the engine power and will probably feel better than a VW one.

There's a whole bunch of questions that need to be asked re the overall chassis before you decide to go making it AWD. That is, in a word, "dynamics". Having watched a leonie and then a wrx in action I can say, Subaru worked very hard to get the WRX right in terms of chassis dynamics. Part of that was differential setup and power transfere (front rear). I'm no expert on the workings of this, but what you are aiming to do with putting an STi drive train in a buggy provides you with all of the same challenges but without the support of a multinational car company. I'm not saying it can't be done, but there are better ways to spend the same money often.

ask yourself this question before you spend anything (more) or do anything else.
"what specifically am I going to use this car for?"
you can only have measurable outcomes if you can answer this question in a few phrases. You've said so far...

I'm with seagull, the best solution would be to midmount it. Then you don't get the 5 reverse 1 forward gear problem.

Mid-mounted should make it handle much better. Buggies tend to understeer a lot when pushed hard even with the VW motor out the back.

ditto, to that. but if you must go rearmount and awd, then start looking at porsches.

don't tell Brett what you are putting it in, just tell him you have to run the box dry sumped for reasons of the car having to operate at extreme angles.