Any interest in a straight axle Bug build?

If not I won't bore you guys with the progress. I know the general dislike of bugs here in but I think this one will fit. If not, like I said, I won't bore you with progress pics.

This is our latest project. It's a '59 bug shell on a front engined V8 frame. We are going to cut out the MII crossmember and put in a Speedway axle kit. I am actually leaving in a few minutes to trade a 12 bolt Chevy for the axle and steering/brake kit.

It will be done in this style. With just a smidge less engine setback. LOL



Anyway, here it is:


M-21 close ratio, just redone.

 

That's a damn cool project, and I for one would love to see it going together...

...but be prepared for lots of static from the Street Rod Majority here.

Hopefully they can appreciate the coolness of such a car and keep the drama out of it.

 

Will it be for racing or street driven? I don't mind Bugs, but then again, I'm a little wierd. I had a '66 1300 back in the day. I could get everything that I owned in the trunk and back seat. Seabag, guitar, amp, and tools. Simple, not like now.

pigpen

 

Looks like its going to a pretty scary drive when its done. Hmmm, I wonder if the 20% engine setback rule would apply to moving it forward? I dont see how it could. What rims are you using, cragars? Or are you going to do your own version? Details, man, details! What are your plans for the engine?

 

Looks *****in'. I hope this doesn't turn into another bug bashing thread, that looks like a cool project.

 

Thanks, there won't be any drama. If it isn't wanted I just won't post about it.

It will be street driven with an occasional trip to the strip just for fun.

This is actually my Fathers car now. I bought it awhile back and traded it to him, but we always refer to all of them as "ours" reguardless of who's name it is registered in. It's kinda like a two man club.

I just talked him into doing it as a straight axle last night. I'm going to get the axle before he can change his mind! That picture I posted at the top actually sealed the deal.

 

Is it going to be up in front a bit ala g***er style?

 

The plan now is a 450-500 hp sbc with a tunnel ram poking out. Space being the primary concern. We're thinking 1-2" holes cut in the hood in a nice pattern to get air to the rad. Either that or a rear radiator, havn't gotten that far yet.

Pops is a big fan of steelies, so thats most likely what it will have. Cheaters in the back, skinnies up front.

 

Of course!

 

Sorta Topolino looking with the hood and fenders off.

The ultimate sleeper.

There used to be a Chrysler Hemi powered bug that showed up at the Fillmore, California 4th of July car show.

Well done car, stock wheelbase and pretty much the sleeper.

 

that first pic is the only good looking bug I've ever seen!

Should be a fun project.

Engine setback is a percentage of the wheelbase from the front wheel, isn't it? so even if you move the engine forward from where it was originally, it can still have a 20% setback.

 

That would be the ultimate.Must have been a tight fit! LOL

We are considering pushing the front tires ahead in the wheel well a little as well, but I'm not sure. The back fenders will be radiused like the B/W pic at the top. Unless we can find a set of those old aftermarket fenders that had a radius to them, but that's most likely not going to happen. I've only seen a couple in pictuers and none in person.

 

I am a little slow. I just got the engine set back/ front engine joke. I don't know how that would work. Didn't they generic measurements/ rules for such situations?

I'm going to be reading up on g***er madness for the rules and such again.

 

Correct me if Im wrong, but wouldnt altering the wheelbase (moving the front axle forward) be against the rules? If you did that it would put you in a different racing cl***.

 

Moving the axle will make it an altered.

I posted this one on the last VW thread.

From a '61 Hot Rod......this is an Altered cl*** race car.

For some reason, people seem to think Gas cl*** is the only cool one to letter a car with. Altereds are very cool. In a lot of cases, the only difference between a Gas cl*** car and an Altered cl*** car is the seat position of the driver, and maybe a few inches of engine setback.



Mutt

 

VW's with V8's would have been Altereds anyway, not g***er cl***.
Dan

 

Funny how things go in cycles. First that guy writes R&C and HRM about the old straight-axle Beetle, now this. I'd love to do something like that and I look forward to reading your posts (please post about it!). My concept has always been a Corvair altered with a 409 and a 4-speed. Like your dad, I like steelies. Dark gray primer, green interior and black steelies with blackwalls in front and piecrust slicks in back. Yum!

-Dave

 

Very cool project.

Can't wait to see how it turns out.

 

dats gonna be one fast sum***** !!!kool!!!!

 

Should be a cool little hot rod when your done with it. Stack as close to the first picture as you can as I that thing is setup pretty cool. Keep us posted.

 

Stick with a nose up, old g***er look & you'll be considered a hero. Attempt a "street rod" version & you'll be considered just another VW weirdo.

The Oval in the first photo is perfect.

Don't be the "VW guy that built a hot rod". Be the "hot rod guy that built a VW". Make sense?

Keep us posted,

JH

 

Thats going to be freakin handful dude!
I took my mom to the Calif Hot Rod Reunion a few years ago,so she could see some of the guys my dad used to race with.We get to the party at the Doubletree Hotel,& theres cars everywhere.This guy rolled by us in a teal green bug,sittin low,rumbling like a SOB.I figured "just a VW with a SBC".
About an hour later,(drunk)I walk over to this bug,& sure as ****,it's got a 392 Chrysler in it with 2x4s on it.
Keep us up to speed on the progress & dont tip it over !

 

Awesome, awesome, awesome......
I seem to remember there being a guy from Brockton who did such a thing....Safariknut might know who he is.....I think it was a big block bug....although now I can't remember is HE sat in the back seat or if the motor stayed back there.

 

Hey LOOK at this VW that has the early ford wire wheels and a early ford front axle,,,,COOOLLL

http://www.speedwaymotors.com/xq/aspx/path.Jess+Tester/img.VW+ROD+1_L/deptId.948/displayId.4040/qx/ProductLargeView.htm

http://www.speedwaymotors.com/xq/aspx/path.Jess+Tester/img.VW+ROD+2_L/deptId.948/displayId.4040/qx/ProductLargeView.htm

http://www.speedwaymotors.com/xq/aspx/display_id.4040/itemNo.VW/qx/Product.htm

 

That's a hot rod . Hell we use Anglia bodies- Fiat- Crosley- ANYTHING. I don't have a problem with it.

 

Well it's on! I just got back from dropping the straight axle off at the garage. It's going to fit nicely I think. We thought we might have to cut the front of the frame off and redo it but all we have to do is widen the very front to the same width as the rest of it. Just a couple of 6-8" 2x4 steel pieces and some bracing over the welds and we'll be welding on perches and such. Man I'm glad I talked some sense into him...

And by the way I do know that not every car with a straight axle was a g***er. That is why I refered to it as a straight axle bug and not a g***er. If I use the term g***er it will be like this: "g***er" style. When we get into it I will research and find the apropriate lettering for the sides.

Oh, and this makes perfect sense to me.

 

For a little history on a very famous VW, the "Gl*** Wag'n", Lions Drag Strip, and CJ. Hart go here. Nice read.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/e...d=1,1&item=4642343753&sspagename=STRK:MEWA:IT

Notice all four tires in the air. You gotta have goals

 

Very cool!

Gonna be interesting to see how you stash the stuff...all those rounded corners are gonna eat up room like you wouldn't believe.

Homebuilt V8 straight axle early bug...with driver setback...tires hanging out the fenders...uncorked exhaust headers...high stance!
Ohhh yeah!
The BUG we've been waiting to see!!!

 

Thanks for that Mutt. I LOVE the pipes exiting through the doors!

 

Thats great. I love that picture.