after 3 plus years and many false starts we finally have lift off!

I February 2007 or 8, I can't remember, Boris and Dave trailered up the old VVDS drag beetle to Brisbane to start its third reincarnation. Many will remember this white/blue and yelow car from the wheelies Wayne Fenech used to pull at Willowbank and Oran Park.

The car started out, I think, as a Targa Tasmania car and after a few outings in Tassie was converted to a drag car. Luckly for me it still retained some of the road racing gear, such as the fuel cell and surge tank.

The car arrived without engine or gearbox as Boris was planning to run this combo in the new VVDS black beast so after much deliberation and soul searching I decided to join Steve Carter and crossed over to the Dark Side,( or "wet side" as I recently read somewhere on this forum.)

I purchased an imported half cut about 3 months after the car arrived and have done some bits and pieces over the past 3 or so years like trial build with the engine in and out, radiator position, seat location, wiring harness work, etc etc, but now everything is coming together.

over the Xmas break I painted the body after much metal work and filling holes etc.

Next step is the electrics and gauges etc.

Here are some shots.

oh wow, another one! how cool. I really like the rear parcel tray modifications u have done.

regards
Jak

Hi Jak, thanks but the rear parcel tray area was existing as Boris ran his turbo intercooler behind the ally sheets. What I have done is extended it forward so that I can get the radiator in about where the back seat used to be. New ally covers are being made and should be ready next week. we had to do some structural work to get the radiator to fit but it all fits in now with about 25mm gap to the top of the gearbox.

I'm running the original B4 liberty radiator with both thermo fans so should get plenty of air thru the two side vents.

U & Stevie are going to need sunglasses when driving your cars, the bright paintwork will burn your retna's out !

Will this be a road car or circuit only?

Do u think u will be done in time for this years Nationals Supersprint?

regards
Jak

Hi Jak,

yep, pretty bright! still needs a red stipe up the middle and also need to finish the gauds and rear whale tail. We also painted my sons 2 door golf on the weekend and it needs to be have some finishing touches done this weekend so probably won't get the final paint on the beetle for another couple of weeks.

Car is being built for the track.

Plan is to be at the nationals in May. In fact April 17th is my target date as there is a meeting at Lakeside I want to do. Have already lined up the mid night candles........

Is there any chance that I could try & talk u out of putting the radiator in the back?

Especially for a race car o_o

You know, weight distribution and cooling and all that.

weight distribution was going to be my second agruement, right behind the cooling issue.

I found that the handling of my car was pretty much unchanged on the track & street going from air cooled 2275cc to WRX EJ20T. I think because the radiator for both the engine & intercooler are up front, along with my battery, swirl pot etc, although I have never done the math on it, I think I got really close to balancing out the extra weight of the conversion at both ends pretty close.
regards
Jak

nice colour Louie bout time u pulled yr finger out

yeah Louie in the Orange shirt

thanks Dave, always knew my hair would grow back!!!!

re radiator, yes I have heard it before and I generally agree with what you all say, (remember I am a gingerbeer......) anyway, I am also one to go against the trend and my car is not intended for street use so I can set it up to get enough air going past the radiator. The car has two pretty big vents in the side and I am running the original Liberty radiator with 2 big thermo fans. I have worked out the airflow direction for cooling, intercooler air and induction air requirements so I think my biggest issue is weight distribution rather than cooling.

so, just need a bigger Paella dish........

picked up my gauges tonight so now have all the gear to build the dash. Will post some pics when done.

I think that you will have to run completely sealed ducting from the scoops to the radiator, forcing the air into the radiator.
good luck.

Hi Ian, I'll post some photos with the rad in place and the tinware soon. The idea is to draw air in thru the two side vents that were already on the car and then force it thru the rad being pulled thru by the two thermo fans as well. It is a fully sealed system so air has to pass thru the rad. There will be a whole lot more air going thru this sysem than what the original Liberty had as it is not as restricted as in the Liberty. In the original setup it is completely full of engine bits and aircon, steering pump etc etc.

I will have turbos and exhaust pipes wrapped and also have some heat guards in place as well as separate air intakes for both the intercooler and induction system. anyhow proof will be in the pudding as they say so we'll have to wait and see once we get it fired up.

Hi Lou

I think with the use your car will get it might be OK having rear radiators.

Where most other people came unstuck with rear mounts was on long freeway trips, the heat would build up and the fans and radiators could not cope, you cant rely on thermo fans at high speed, you need air pressure through the core.

Steve

time will tell...

I started on the dash this afternoon after work. I made up a cardboard template and fitted the gauges to that and then checked it in the car. Looked great! Couldn't help myself, so started cutting out the holes in the alloy dash and so far have the oil temp, oil press, water temp, boost gauges done and the start/ingintion panel done.... looks hot so far.... will post some pics after I finish it tomorrow.

do you or steve need a spare car for parts

http://cgi.ebay.com.au/VOLKSWAGON-L-BUG-BEETLE-RACE-CAR-/250753026082?pt=AU_C...

nice setup but half the fun is in the journey....

got the dash and steering installed today will take some photos tomorrow.

question on wheels?? I notice the white car for sale has 17" wheels. I am planning to run 15" but this will restrict the size of rotor and caliper combination. what the general consensus out there on wheel and brake combo for track use? Remember this is not a street car so don't need to have the big flash 18"s like Steve....(which look bloody great by the way)

okay here are some pic of the dash and also start of the electrics.
http://s1091.photobucket.com/albums/i393/lou0060/Tampico%20racecar/?action=vi...
this is the cardboard mock up

then http://s1091.photobucket.com/albums/i393/lou0060/Tampico%20racecar/?action=vi...

first cut of alloy plate

and finished product
http://s1091.photobucket.com/albums/i393/lou0060/Tampico%20racecar/?action=vi...
http://s1091.photobucket.com/albums/i393/lou0060/Tampico%20racecar/?action=vi...

Looks nice!

Any reason why you have gone with the black faced speedo, while all the other gauges are white faced?

haha Stevie...

the black speedo is a VDO unit that came with the car from VVDS and I didn't see the need to pay $200 for a new one when the speedo is not that useful on the track. I was going to just leve it off but I was having too much fun with the holesaws on my mill......

lOUIEEEEEEEEEEEE

its nearly finished better book u in for the supersprint hey

that's the plan Dave....

Radiator is now in place and surrounding alloy sheets finished except for two gromets that I need to track down.

I sealed all the major gaps with expanda-foam and the used rubber lining to seal off the edges of the alloy sheets against the body. Allis held in place with 4mm nutserts and button head crews. Very shinny! no one will be ble to pass me as they will be blinded by the shine.....

more pics

sorry pics are out of order as first lot didn't load????