This is one of those hypotheticals
what if i were to throw a flathead v8 into a volksrod

I’ve always liked old 8s
And I love my dubs


Some people won’t like this, but what would you guys think of an OG paint volksrod with ford flat head 8 in the rear it’s not meant to be a show car or a race car but a car to have some fun with, it won’t be registered, just something that looks completely different to most of the cars we see at shows but I do want to do the whole summernats cruise thing and I want to do it in a VW and this might just be the car

I already have the vehicle it’s my boys 54 oval
I made up by getting another bug for him

I can get my hands on a running ford flathead v8
Which were made up to 54 as well

I also know the volksrod purists will hate it because I don’t want to chop it but I do want to get it low, loud obnoxious.

I know it not simple to do but it’s a start, whats involved, pull off the guards, ste up lights and fenders and slam it?
What else
Come on experienced guys what do I do. Matt, Damo where do I start. Forget about the engine conversion, it’s sorted

Just remember it is a hypothetical question you can’t hurt my feelings
I’m after advice fire away
cheers wacked1

sounds tough. What about a Tatra aircooled v8? Hard to find but man what a talking point, and still in the same line of things. straight through pipes, loud and brutal! Mount tranny further forward then space the axles back to orig position using bus reduction cases, so you can then fit those extra 2 cylinders on each side. just my 2 cents worth.

if your gonna rod it anyway i would say midmount. that way you can get better weight distributon and have a better chance of keeping the nose down with the torque. that and can get a stronger gearbox more easily.

hi guys tatra would be cool but have flathead at arms distance and don't want to destroy the body too much.

maybe make the front out of cement:P i just dunno how a v8 will go with keeping the wheels on the ground. would be awesome though. vw rod, and a v8, no way to lose i say go for it. need to move the gearbox back if not gonna mid mount it, and get heaps of bracing to try and stop the gearbox from torquing out of the car hehe

Ron....man go for it. Don't know how though. I just want to be around in 10 years when your lil fella gets told that his Dad swapped his 54 on him.

too heavy

too wacked

just out of curiousity what would a flathead weigh? they are a lot smaller and simpler than a 350.

If its just for cruising and not going to be registered then Id say it will be a fairly simple project. Might need to put some larger torsions in the back for the weight?

If its slammed as you say, then it will be hard up on the bumpstops anyway so it wont effect the torsion bars too much, just get your shock valving right so you dont bounce off the road when you hit a pothole.

Hey Ron,

At the risk of hurting your feelings, here is my opinion.

Forget it..... Dont get side tracked. Stick to doing the 54 for your son. This is a big project, will take heaps of work, it will sit around, it wont be finsihed by the time you start another bug for your son, then you will have two side by side that you are working on. I have been there done that, i am doing it now for f#ck sake. Just do the 54, then worry about this V8 one. The bug will look excellent the way you originally planned.

On the other hand, i think dropping the beetle body on to a full chassis with motor in front would be way better solution than running that flatty out back with the original floorpan. Have you seen Blueys red V8 bug? This is on a Austin (i think?) chassis and works very well. Remounting the body is not a major task. Either way, this is a lot of work for a car that wont be registered. Would look mad cool though!!

Sorry mate, i hope i didn't hurt your feelings.

Whatever you decide count on me though to give you a hand.:thumb

Damo.

[ Edited on 17-5-2006 by decked dubby ]

The sidey is too heavy!

Grab it though and build a HA/GR.

Was over at a friends the other day at the beginning of the build of four of them.

go lift a holden v6 than tripple it a bit heavy for a rear mount

Damo mate, wont hurt my feelings
thought it would look cool and different
just seeing what you guys think
see you soon to give my beam a bit of a rub up!!:kiss
man that sounds sus:duh
cheers
ron

Just thinking completly left field here....what about a harley motor? I cant see a performance advantage (unless you cough up for a buell billet pro stocker...) but it would look cool and i think adapters may be available already for trike guys? or a scat V4 if you can track one down! theyre pretty much half a 350 chev i think! But even better....a vintage turbo indycar offenhauser!! 900hp!!

I think i may be getting carried away here....

I wonder if KB hemi would fit? you might need to clearance the firewall for the setback blower though:P

Ron dont do it not a 54 please buy a 6os and go for it "NOT A 54"
I LOVE VOLKSRODS and hotrods and flat heads
but not on a rare old girl get a oval clip chop a 60s bug cut chop build a chassic chuk a flat head in have fun but not on a 54 "man i sound like a purist but its just not right

brendan thats funny

i agree theres plenty of 60s save it for someone who will respect it for what it is..

Quote:

Originally posted by pete wood Quote: Originally posted by kroozzn62 Ron dont do it not a 54 please buy a 6os and go for it "NOT A 54" I LOVE VOLKSRODS and hotrods and flat heads but not on a rare old girl get a oval clip chop a 60s bug cut chop build a chassic chuk a flat head in have fun but not on a 54 "man i sound like a purist but its just not right I agree. Don't use a 54 oval. An early splitty ute would be much better!:P then you could rego it too.

don't think i will cut her up.
though i'm putting my beam in tomorrow to get adjusters and narrowed!

I think that it is a great idea for a custom rod.

21 stud Ford flathead engines weigh 525 pounds or 240 kilograms.

24 stud engines weigh 570 pounds or 260 kilograms.

Have fun keeping the front end down.

there is a tatra right in the next street from me crazy chec mechanic owns it i pulled up in the bug looking for some 6v headlight globes and asked if i could check out the aircooled v8 he obliged me but then started rantin and raving when he saw the beetle about f##king hitler bastard car stole our technology po##ter german .i backed away slowly then he started ranting at me !bloody elvis driving german shitbox what a fucking cracker!!!:P

It would be a shame to cut up a 1954 Volkswagen beetle

Remember they are getting very scarce...

and will just keep getting scarcer....

cheers

Lee