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Nov. 21, 2008 7:11 p.m. PorschesOnTheCheap New Reader
Hi guys,

I'm helping a friend build a wacky project. He wants to stick a V8 in the front of an old VW Bug. He's a retired metal worker and he intends to create, from scratch, a chassis for this abomination...er, project.

I suggested that we use a Porsche 944 donor car and put the transaxle at the rear, so we don't have to sit in the back seat to drive it when it's done.
- 1971 VW Super Beetle body (we got it free)
- Porsche 944 rear suspension
- Porsche 944 front suspension
- Chevy Small Block V8 up front
- Rear-mount 944 transmission and torque tube
Looks like that's the plan. Problem is that, while I have plenty of mechanical experience and can dream up these solutions (rear transaxle to eliminate transmission tunnel, Super Beetle body for more room up front, etc), I don't have the knowledge or fabrication skills to actually build something like this and, I don't know squat about building a chassis...

Can anyone recommend a good, basic, book on chassis design so when we start this project I don't look like a complete idiot?

Brian
Nov. 22, 2008 2:32 a.m. stereoking15 New Reader

look at my profile and click on more pictures, you will see a beetle on a 911 chassis, also for reliabilitys sake maybe use a corvette c5 rear transaxle to harness the power. i alsobelieve they are a lot cheaper then an used 944 rear transaxle last time i had one quoted was around $1,500 with 130k maybe better finds on craigslist? lots of frontal reinforcement heavy engine up front will need heavy duty suspension considering the motor weighs a quarter of what a bug does.
Nov. 22, 2008 5:39 a.m. NOHOME New Reader

Here you go. Happy reading. http://www.hotrodders.com/forum/v8-1973-vw-beetle-project-help-needed-130845.html
Nov. 22, 2008 6:14 a.m. PorschesOnTheCheap New Reader

Stereoking, we thought of that, but we got a complete 1984 944 with a blown engine (timing belt broke) for $400. I'm also pretty sure we can use the Super Beetle strut towers with the 944 front struts
Nov. 22, 2008 7:36 a.m. 914Driver Dork

You want to talk to this guy....

http://www.flickr.com/photos/31545910@N08/2947797970/in/pool-grm2008challenge
Nov. 22, 2008 7:38 a.m. MadScientistMatt HalfDork

What is the front suspension on Andy's Bug, anyway? It doesn't look like VW parts.
Nov. 22, 2008 8:36 a.m. 914Driver Dork

In the only photo I could see anything, it looked like a G-Body cross member up front.

Dan
Nov. 22, 2008 7:22 p.m. stumpmj Dork

Herb Adam's book is pretty good (I don't remember the name). I also like the "Race and Rally Sourcebook" There's Carrol Smith's whole series but you said basic so....

Just remember, bending loads are bad. Tension loads are OK. Bent tubes automatically mean bending loads.

One suggestion, buy a tube frame racecar and just build a beetle body for it. It would mean a lot less design work. He fab all the panels out of aluminum if he wants to work metal.
Nov. 22, 2008 8:22 p.m. SVreX SuperDork

MadScientistMatt wrote:

What is the front suspension on Andy's Bug, anyway? It doesn't look like VW parts.

It's the remains of The Tetanus Express- '80's vintage Nova. Donated the frame rails as well.
Nov. 23, 2008 3:39 p.m. problemaddict New Reader

V8bugs.com

Decent and active forum.
Nov. 24, 2008 8:55 a.m. curtis73 Reader

There was a website for a long time that showed a college kid putting a Caddy 500 in the back of his bug. The website is long dead, but Caddywagen was what he called it.

He basically pulled the stripped front of a 75 Eldorado up to the rear of a bug floor pan, welded one frame to the other, cut off the caddy frame at the firewall, and dropped the body back on. $750 and it does wheelstands.