Beetle Rod from AFTERMATH

[Aftermath Hotrods]

This build is going to happen pretty quick. Build started some time ago and I've been asked by a few buddies to post progress here. I hope you like.
8310083101Yes its possible to bring you next project home in the back of your shop truck.

[driveit]

Awesome, but you should have titled that Bed Bug!

[Aftermath Hotrods]

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Just a quick survey of the starting point before it gets chopped into a bunch of little pieces.
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[Aftermath Hotrods]

Good one. That didn't even cross my mind

[Aftermath Hotrods]

And now we get into the fun part. I was shooting for about a 4.5" chop.831058310683107

[Aftermath Hotrods]

I always feel better when the roof goes back on.831088310983110

[Aftermath Hotrods]

If your a die hard VW guy you probably should have stopped viewing this thread already. If by chance your still here, now would be a good time to stop.

Started on the chassis. Its completely tube with the exception of the main frame spars that run right inside the doors.
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This shot kinda give you an idea of where this build is headed
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4 link and rear frame section
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The start of the cage. Keep in mind that this thing is being built on the cheap. Don't crucify me. Most of the materials are shop scrap and being pieced together

[Aftermath Hotrods]

Engine mock up. It's gonna be pretty tight.
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Another one head on
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[Aftermath Hotrods]

I have to apologize if some of this seems a little out of order. I have a ton of pics and I'm trying to catch you guys up.

[Aftermath Hotrods]

This is basically the look I was going for.
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Here is another one. It's stretched 8" out in the front and about 2" back (from factory VW) for a wheel base of 105"
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[Aftermath Hotrods]

Getting into the interior... After the chop there really wasn't a whole lot of room left. I'm 6'1" and about 200 pounds. The goal was to put me in it in a reasonably comfortable position. Safety is paramount in my mind. I hate seeing this type of car that is virtually impossible to drive.
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[19,69camaro]

Very cool! That chop made all the difference in terms of attitude

[Zachalanche]

Love it. what wheels are those?

[Aftermath Hotrods]

All four wheels are 15x10 D-window steels. Tires are 295/50-15's all the way around. The target weight for this thing was about 1800 pounds so I wasn't really concerned with the extra weight of the steel wheel.

[Z06killinSBF]

Nice!

No speedo? I guess if you're getting passed you aren't going fast enough...

[MSTSFabbed]

HECK. YES!! I've wanted to do this with a mid mounted liter bike engine for a couple years now. Keep us posted!

[Aftermath Hotrods]

Ya I kinda ran out of room for a speedo. Besides, I usually don't care how fast I'm going. Go with traffic and you'll be fine...probably.

[Aftermath Hotrods]

Radiator had to go in the back because of the lack of room up front. Mock up had me a questioning whether or not this was going to work.
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Once it was all said and done it came out OK. The cooling system contains a little more than 6 gallons of fluid
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Cooling lines and a few shots of how cramped the back end became.
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[Aftermath Hotrods]

Front suspension consists of a 2" drop mustang II coil and custom made A-arms. I used a power pinto rack and then wound up not having room for the pump. I've contemplated running the power steering pump off of the drive shaft but haven't gotten there yet. My target with was 73.5" for a track width. I wound up about a quarter inch wider. Wasn't a big enough deal for me to change it. The next time I do a-arms I'm going to change the design. I didn't leave myself a lot of room for alignment adjustment.
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A 2500 pound air bag will find its way in there pretty soon.
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[Aftermath Hotrods]

Here are a few random shots of the dirt track style headers that I wound up working so well in my cramped engine compartment
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The original idea was to use just this turn down with an internal baffle as the complete exhaust system. It wound up being entirely too too loud and blew all of the exhaust into my face. I later fabricated a corvette style side pipe exhaust system that required manipulating the bottom of the door so that it would open over the exhaust.
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Looks like this. Door opens over it. Quieted it down enough to keep the sound police happy most of the time and put all of the fumes behind me. The pipes are aimed right into your window when we're sitting at a light. Cheap trick, I know.

[monteboy84]

I'd like to see a manual trans in it, but the whole thing is so horrendously filthy and evil that I'm still in love.

[rustomatic]

To some degree, I think all of us, even the chronic car-washers, think this thing is awesome, if not only for the level of committed social irresponsibility inherent in every part of the design. Let's see a Metallica sticker somewhere on that thing!

[Aftermath Hotrods]

Thanks I really appreciate the "horrendously filthy and evil" comment. That was the goal.

[Aftermath Hotrods]

Here are a few more random ones. I've been trying to keep all of these in order but I've totally lost track of what time frame I was at when they were taken. The steering wheel is made out of three BOSS 302 connecting rods (sorry ford guys) and a Mercury outboard forward pinion. Pinto rack and pinion and a chopped up sway bar. I've caught a lot of flack about cutting up the sway bar and welding it back together from all the "know it all's" at car shows but I've been driving the piss out of this thing for a while and its seems to be doing it's job and holding up just fine.
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[srh3trinity]

I always wanted to see one of these with an upright grill or a cool tractor grill. You should look up satan's lady bug on here.

[Aftermath Hotrods]

I think I saw satins lady but on here a while back. It's truly a work of art. My goal here didn't involve beauty in any sense of the word. I kinda like the simplicity of mock up... tighten up and drive. I can do pretty and polished every once in a while but sometimes raw steel and rough around the edges is just so much fun.

[MSTSFabbed]

Dude your little transmission impaler spike scares the crap out me!! Point that thing AWAY from your leg haha!

I love it. So much awesome.

[Aftermath Hotrods]

Ya the spike was kinda a cool idea until i put the drivers seat in. I should have made it go towards the passenger, no one ever wants to ride with me??? Anyway, needless to say the spike was dulled extensively.

[85coupe50]

Badass beetle.

[Aftermath Hotrods]

Thanks man I appreciate it.

[Aftermath Hotrods]

Ran into issues with battery placement. It was either behind the passengers head with a very small battery or between the passengers legs with a regular sized optima. Some potential passengers might have had a problem spreading their legs for a big piece of plastic (the battery guys, come on) so I went behind the head with a mount from ballistic fab. Its the same battery that starts a Prius engine. That's as close as I can get to going green.
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No place for a battery means serious problems with mounting a compressor and tank for the bags. I found a 1.5 gallon tank and a Viair compressor that sorta sticks up out of the back window area. The tank will allow me to get to ride height one time without running the compressor. Its a compromise but it works. Manual valves.
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[Aftermath Hotrods]

A cobra gas filler cap left over from another project found its way onto the roof. For some reason I get funny looks when I pump gas into the top of the car.
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[Aftermath Hotrods]

I figured that at some point the hood would need to go back on. It wound up turning into a lift off style hood. Two pins push into the cowl and then the factory latch catches at the front. The goal initially was to keep everything under the hood but that's usually tough to accomplish when putting a V8 in what was designed to be a trunk and impossible in this situation.
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Plan B was to make the hood look as factory as possible. I'm still not satisfied and usually drive around without the hood.
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[Aftermath Hotrods]

When you need a break from the daily grind there's nothing like picking up the engraver and going to town.
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[Aftermath Hotrods]

Lights, wiring, throttle cable (or rod), steering shaft, bleed the brakes and we're off. On it's maiden voyage I received a couple thumbs and a couple fingers... I wouldn't have it any other way.
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I'll work on some video in the coming days.

[Aftermath Hotrods]

Hey guys, this thing went up on the block tonight. Ebay auction number 190924190424. Spread the word for me to anyone who wants a true one of a kind. Thanks.

[NickyP]

Did you go with US Wheel for the steelies? Just curious they look great!

[TonyHuntimer]

Cool way to chop the top! Looks like it's going to be a fun car to drive.