Dare to be different...

[454bug]

Hey guys, I wanted to introduce myself to this forum. My name is Ray. I have been bitten by the Pro-Touring "bug" (NO PUN intended!) like many others and have decided to do something a little different...

I have owned many hot rods over the years. I owned a 1965 Corvette convertible (327/4-speed/4.11)for 22 years. I owned a 1967 Chevy II (454/TH400/4.11) for many years. I owned a 1938 Ford Pro Street Coupe (514/C6/4.57) for a number of years. I had "Pro Street" setups on all those cars.

[454bug]

I owned my first car when I was 9 years old. It was a 1962 VW bug. I grew up in a town of 1,200 people in Texas (Danbury, Texas - South of Houston). There were two cops and one cop car... The two cops both worked part-time (as cops) while their real jobs were operators at the Monsanto Chemical Plant close by. They didn't care if youngsters drove cars without Driver's Licenses if we didn't break the law any other ways (you don't break the law if you're not caught, right???). Over my teenage years I dreamed of having a V8 engine in a bug. Well, fast forward about 35 years and I now have one. I visited a Car Museum in San Antonio, Texas in 1995 and saw a bug with a 454 bbc in it. It was the makings of one of my dream cars...

A few years later I purchased the car. I brought it home to Lafayette, La. I started looking at the car closer and found many things that I didn't care for or agree with pertaining to the setup and construction. The construction of the car was done in 1985 and MANY things were done with older technology and setups.

I started making changes as I could afford them to make the car closer to my liking...

[454bug]

I added a trans cooler, better fans, took out the 3.00 gears and replaced them with 4.11's (Ford 9"), installed 15"x14" rear wheels, installed 29"x17"x15" M&H Racemaster rear tires, pulled out the ugly Stewart Warner gauges and dash and built a new custom dash with Dakota Digital gauges, installed a B&M Megashifter, installed a full manual valve-body in the Turbo 400, ceramic coated and installed new Hooker headers (ironically, 1967-1969 Camaro headers fit right in), built a new 3-1/2" exhaust all the way out the back, installed a lineloc, built the motor to my liking (468 cu. in., 11:1 compression, .714" lift solid roller cam, roller rockers, stud girdle, 1050 Dominator, ported square-port factory heads with 2.30"/1.88" S/S valves, etc.), 650hp...

[454bug]

The car was fast in a straight line but not very safe stopping or going around corners...

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2008/06/rayputting454invw_jpg_w560h303-1.jpg

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2008/06/Scan_10-1.jpg

[454bug]

This is the car as it has looked for the last few years. My best quarter mile time has been 10.60/129 mph in street trim (full 3-1/2" exhaust out the back of the car and M&H Racemaster 29x17x15 street tires).

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2008/06/DragRaces126a-1.jpg

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2008/06/DragRaces121-1.jpg

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2008/06/DragRaces127-1.jpg

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2008/06/Scan_111-1.jpg

[454bug]

I recently got out of other hobbies and freed up some money to upgrade my car. I was going to make my car faster and safer. I purchased an Art Morrison Independent Front Suspension and Wilwood 4-wheel disc brakes. I purchased a set of CNC-ported 335cc AFR aluminum heads... I was just trying to improve my quarter mile times and make it safer at the same time. It is almost impossible to stop this car from 130 mph with 4-wheel drum brakes...

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2008/06/DragRaces122-1.jpg

[454bug]

In April, 2008, I attended a weekend of fun for our 40th anniversary party of the Texas A&M University Sports Car Club. We rented Texas World Speedway for the weekend and ran time trials around the 2.9 mile road course with about 90 cars.

Below is a picture of my buddy's 1964 Corvette that was a twin to the 1965 Corvette I owned while we were in school. He was one of the few guys that has kept his car over all these years... Another one of my college buddies was nice enough to let me race his 1963 Split-Window coupe and I WAS HOOKED!!

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2008/06/40thTAMUSSC370-1.jpg

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2008/06/40thTAMUSSC304-1.jpg

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2008/06/40thTAMUSSC300-1.jpg

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2008/06/40thTAMUSSC351-1.jpg

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2008/06/40thTAMUSSC414-1.jpg

[Memphis]

Nice ride, I'm sure the vw guys hate you for doing that lol.Welcome :) . BTW doing the photobucket thing is cool I don't think I'm the only one who hates clicking attachment pics loool

[454bug]

Thanks a lot! I know... I really like the photobucket setup so much more than the "imageshack" site. I really didn't like the small "thumbnails" setup they used.

I am now in the process of upgrading from street/strip to Open Track action!! I have really gone crazy this last month!!!

This is the front suspension I have just installed...

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2008/06/I_F_S_CrossmemberKit-1.jpg

The car has a full-length 2"x3" rectangular tube chassis. Unfortunately, the guy that built the frame used a REALLY heavy-wall tube (.250" wall). It is very heavy but also VERY rigid as well. Frame stiffness is a GOOD thing but there is a limit to everything!

[454bug]

Here are some installation pictures... First, the "before" pictures...

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2008/06/BugPictures022-1.jpg

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2008/06/DSC00932-1.jpg

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2008/06/DSC00938-1.jpg

[454bug]

Now, some upgrade pictures...

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2008/06/DSC00940-1.jpg

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2008/06/DSC00944-1.jpg

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2008/06/DSC00946-1.jpg

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2008/06/DSC00948-1.jpg

[TonyL]

Insane! I love it! Im sure you've seen many "German Look" bugs out there. It's about time there was an American Look version!

[454bug]

To get ready to go road racing I needed to upgrade the brakes that I just installed...

This is what I just installed (11-3/4" Rotors with Dynalite 4-piston calipers)...

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2008/06/DL_BIG-1.jpg

This is what I am replacing them with... (14" Rotors with Superlite 6-piston calipers)...

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2008/06/SL6_BIG-1.jpg

[454bug]

I had just installed Wilwood 12.19" rear disc brakes with internal shoes for the emergency brakes with Dynalite 4-piston calipers...

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2008/06/DynalitePro-1.jpg

Now I am replacing them with 14" rotors with internal emergency drum shoes with Superlite 4-piston calipers...

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2008/06/sl4r_large-1.jpg

[454bug]

These are my old rear tires and wheels... Weld wheels - 15"x14"...

M&H Racemaster - 29"x17"x15" (13.2" Tread Width)...

My new tires were going to be Mickey Thompson S/R - 29"x18"x15" (15.5" Tread Width)...

I was planning to put 15" Billet wheels on the car...

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2008/06/BugPictures021-1.jpg

[454bug]

These are the new wheels I am going to run on the car... The front wheels will be 18"x10-1/2"... The rear wheels will be 18"x12"...

I have to decide between these two styles... (I WOULD LIKE SOME OPINIONS FROM YOU GUYS!!!)

These racing wheels are around 3 pounds lighter than the street models and stronger (titanium bolts).

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2008/06/wc3r001-1.jpg

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2008/06/zx3r17raw-1.jpg

with these center caps...

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2008/06/zx3rcap002-1.jpg

[TonyL]

Oh sweet!

[454bug]

These are the tires that I am going to use... TOYO R888's...

295/30/18 on front (11.8" tread width)...

335/30/18 on rear (13.4" tread width)...

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2008/06/lpid30029-1.jpg

[454bug]

Since the track at Texas World Speedway has about a 3/8-mile straight away on it's 2.9 mile road course I need an overdrive to work with my shorter 26" tall rear tires. Therefore, I studied the situation and didn't like my options with the GM overdrive tranmissions so I decided to go with a Gear Vendors Under/Overdrive on the back of my Turbo 400... With 4.11 gears, 26" tall tires, 7,000 rpm's, 0.78 overdrive equals 170 mph!!! HOLD ON!!!

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2008/06/TH400_mech_flat-1.jpg

[454bug]

The REALLY COOL decision I made was to go to a Master Shift "Paddle Shifter" setup...

As you can see, there are two sets of controls on this setup. I will program the controller to act in this way: The two push-buttons will control only the transmission in a 1-2-3 shifting pattern... The two paddle-shifters will control the transmission and the overdrive in alternating order to create a 6-speed automatic...

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2008/06/M_kit018-1.jpg

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2008/06/BilletPaddles-1.jpg

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2008/06/M_kit007-1.jpg

[454bug]

The paddles will work in this way...

1st under (Transmission) (2.48:1 Ratio)

1st over (Gear Vendors) (1.93:1 Ratio)

2nd under (Transmission) (1.48:1 Ratio)

2nd over (Gear Vendors) (1.15:1 Ratio)

3rd under (Transmission) (1.00:1 Ratio)

3rd over (Gear Vendors) (.78:1 Ratio)

The good thing is that I have already upgraded the transmission with heavy-duty clutches and a full manual valve-body... Therefore, when I say, "shift", it WILL shift...

TOO COOL!!!

In addition, I would not trust one of the GM OD transmissions with a consistent dose of 785 ft-lbs of torque... You can't find anything more "bullet-proof" than the Turbo 400 and the Gear Vendors Under/Overdrive...


When you compare this to a GM 4-speed overdrive transmission like a 4L65 or a 4L80 there are only 3 gears to 1.00:1... With this setup there will be FIVE gears to 1.00:1!!!

TALK ABOUT KEEPING THE CAR IN IT'S TORQUE-RANGE!!!

[454bug]

Here is the new motor I am building for the car... A Scott Shafiroff 582 cubic inch Big Block Chevy motor. It will have CNC-ported 335cc AFR aluminum heads. It will have a solid roller cam setup with Jesel Sportsman shaft rockers. Since I am aiming for a weight distribution (50% front, 50% rear) I have decided to spend the extra money for an aluminum block as well. I will trading up from 650hp (old motor) to 850hp with this new motor!! At the same time shaving roughly 170# off the front of the car.

It's truly amazing to me that a Big Block Chevy with a single plane intake, a dominator carb, and an air filter will still fit under the stock Bug hood WITHOUT a hood scoop... The ultimate sleeper!!! (Until you crank it up...)

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2008/06/582_engine_classic-1.jpg

[454bug]

This is the upgraded rear end setup I am going with. This example is Chris Alston Chassiswork's setup. We are putting together most everything ourselves but the design is pretty much the same...

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2008/06/7154_6241_8272_ID-1.jpg

I am using Steeda billet aluminum lower control arms, homemade bars up top, QA1 double-adjustable aluminum coilover shocks, and a 3/4" splined sway bar.

Here are the lower bars I am using. We decided to go with the heim joints at the rear end connection and urethane bushings at the frame to minimize rear end noise into the car...

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2008/06/5554406_650-1.jpg

[454bug]

The old setup weighed a total of 3,000# with a full tank of gas (17 gallons). The weight savings goals are as follows:

AREA OF PROPOSED WEIGHT SAVINGS (pounds)
Engine-----200 (80# - Heads, 120# - Engine Block)
Radiator----25 (Aluminum 2-core)
Brakes------30 (Wilwood 4-wheel disc vs. 4-wheel drums)
Front End--175 (Art Morrison IFS vs. '57 Chevy gearbox, leaf springs, SOLID dropped axle, etc.)
Rear Setup--85 ("Super Stock" cut 7-leaf springs, heavy brackets, etc.)
Seats-------20 (Removal of Bench seat and replace with two lightweight racing seats)
__________________________________________________ _______________________________
SUBTOTAL-535 POUNDS

Weight
Added------35 pounds-Additional roll cage and torsional bracing upgrades
__________________________________________________ ____

TOTAL-----500 POUNDS-TARGETED WEIGHT SAVINGS

[454bug]

With the old setup weighing 3,000# that would get the car to 2,500#.

Add my weight (200#) to the car weight and the total should roughly be around 2,700#.

2,700# and 850 hp...

It should be interesting...

[454bug]

With a goal of a 51%/49% weight distribution that would mean 1,400# on the front tires and 1,350# on the rear tires... We did some preliminary scaling the other day and it looks like we will be right at that. It really helps that the motor is mounted far enough back to allow for this distribution. The front of the motor is behind the front axle/crossmember. We'll move a few things around in the final mock up to fine tune the distribution (battery, fuel pump/filters, etc.).

[va72mlibu]

This is a very cool build. I'd love to see some video of this thing in action!!!

[454bug]

As soon as I get a number of the upgrades installed I will get some videos together...

I need to get into the 21st century and finally purchase a digital video camera. I have an old analog tape camera... I have old videos at the drag strip and at the dyno facility but I would have to figure out how to convert them to digital...

[454bug]

No Problem Raceway is about one hour away from my house. They have a 1.8 mile road course that encompasses their drag strip. They have an "Open Track Day" once per month. I'll make sure I get video of our track days.

[454bug]

I can't wait to see the faces of the Corvette, Viper, Mustang, and Porsche guy's when the bug blows by them...

They MIGHT get me in the corners but I'll wup 'em in the straights!!!

[454bug]

We are spending time right now working on roll center, scrub radius, caster, camber, ackerman, anti-dive, forward bite issues, rear-steer, sway bar sizing, spring rates, wheel back-spacings, etc... making sure everything is dialed in as much as possible, the first time, while welding in these one-off installations.

[454bug]

Here are some "before" pictures of the interior...

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2008/06/Scan_6-1.jpg

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2008/06/Scan_3-1.jpg

and the "after" picture...

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2008/06/Scan-1.jpg

I built the dash extension and console out of aluminum. This picture was taken during the construction. The top area is now covered in the simulated leather like the rest of the dash and console.

[gearheads78]

insane project..keep us posted

[Memphis]

Wow awesome stuff, its going to be a nightmare on the track :D

[454bug]

This is my new Ron Davis radiator. It is a double-pass setup with two 1" tubes.

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2008/06/28193DT2CUSTOM-1.jpg

It is replacing my old school 5-core brass radiator... Much lighter construction as well as holding less water (weight) WITHOUT any loss in cooling performance!

[Chevrolaine]

Wow, what an incredibly FUN looking car you've got there!:jawdrop:

[Nessumsar]

This is the coolest bug I have seen in a long time! This is one way to make an entrance.

[Bobby Schulz]

Nice bug! BTW you will love a motor from Scott...the short/normal deck of the 582 should really help with the fit under that bug trunk;)

[454bug]

Thanks a lot! I have read and heard nothing but good things about the motors from Scott Shafiroff. The only change I am making to my engine over his normal setup are the heads. I had researched the heads a lot prior to purchasing them and every time the AFR CNC-ported heads seemed to out shine the Dart Pro-1 CNC-ported heads that he uses (I am sure I would find others to disagree with me on this...). Therefore, I purchased my top end elsewhere and buying Scott's short block with their wildest solid roller cam setup, their "Saturday Night Special"). I have seen a number of these combinations making 840-850hp.

Since I wanted to go with a naturally aspirated engine on pump gas (barely) I obviously needed as many cubic inches as possible (no substitute, right?). The problem I had was hood clearance with the tall deck block. Therefore, the 582 cu.in. is pretty much as big as I could go and still fit under the hood with my Super Victor intake and a 1" HVH Supersucker Carb Spacer...

[Paul_J]

Nice to see another VW guy not following the heard!

[454bug]

Thanks SO MUCH to ALLKAR for photoshopping my car as per my colors and direction!!

This is what I have in mind... WHAT DO YOU GUYS THINK???

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2008/06/5020fd053d-1.jpg

[TPI Monte SS]

Sick project, and ALLKAR is the MAN when it comes to 'chops! That's gonna look insane when it's finished!

[Paul_J]

Yes, Yes, Yes! By the way, who provided the narrowed rack?

[CHRIS67]

:drool: Nice!!!

[Ihav1]

I totally love it... Big Block , small vehicle , big brakes , and a paddle shifter.. Very cool and looks like lots of fun and smiles when out on the road..
Keep posting the pics . -

************************************************** **8

1967 Camaro SS-RS LT-1

[Tony_SS]

I have to say, this is the most interesting project since the ecovette here. I love it... good luck and keep us posted on the progress!

[gmjj13]

now thats what i call a "slug" bug!

that is insanely cool.

[454bug]

The narrowed rack is 3" shorter than the normal Mustang II rack. I bought it with the IFS kit from Art Morrison. It is made by Flaming River. Also, if you go on Flaming River's website they have narrowed racks that are 1", 2", and 3" narrower than stock width available.

When I first purchased this kit the car was just a street car and occasional run down the drag strip. Now that I plan to run the car on a road course the plan on the steering situation will probably have to be updated as well. I am planning an installation of a Flaming River tilt-steering column. I will work with Flaming River or Art Morrison at that time to come up with a Power Steering rack for this new setup.

I will pass on that information when I locate what I am going to use.

[Bobby Schulz]

Funny thing to mention the heads...Im running a set of afr 345's that had a :fingersx: little P&P:woot: .
I had a heck of a time getting the tall deck 598 in my camaro with the raised exhaust ports it made headers a nightmare.... and the stroke made things bad on the lower end with the oil pan and crossmember. I bet that there was a fair amount of work to get a bbc in a bug.
BTW Im running a comp solid roller with a .714/.714 lift as its about the limit on the valve springs (as far as life) if you want to do any street driving like I do. I also run a set of roller lifters with high pressure fed oiling.:6gears:

[lorimarcus]

Dude that rendering if it is a rendering is awesome hopefully it's not and that is the real thing.Awesome DUBB that's the way they should have made them from day 1!!!!

[Samckitt]

That is pretty cool.

[454bug]

Here's a couple more renderings that another guy mocked up. This is one of the other wheel choices I am considering. He also wanted to show me a different color combination of Black and Gray.

I am kinda partial to my original idea of Red and Black... I listed the first picture again to compare them side by side...

WHAT DO YOU GUYS THINK???

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2008/06/5020fd053d-1.jpg

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2008/06/twotone2-1.jpg

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2008/06/twotone1-1.jpg

[Paul_J]

Middle picture does it for me.

[ALLKAR]

I think I like the all black wheels.
https://static1.pt-content.com/images/noimg.gif

[Tony_SS]

I'm sorry... but those all look silly to me. This thread is dare to be different, but you're making it like every other 'PT' car out there with the popular color and Forgelines.

This is different, and I love it!
https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2008/06/DragRaces126a-1.jpg

Make it go, handle and stop then call it a year.

[454bug]

I appreciate where you are coming from and your point is well understood. But don't you think that being "different" can go deeper than just paint color and wheel choice??

Fabbing EVERY stitch of a car (that's not normally considered a performance machine) from front to back is somewhat different... Using a body style that no one else is using is somewhat different... Don't take this wrong, because I wish I had one myself, but every other car on these "PT" sites are '69 Camaro's (IMHO the finest musclecar EVER built)...

In my lifetime (not counting all the other cars I have owned) I have owned a 1962 medium-blue VW Bug, a 1976 medium-blue Buick Regal, a 1984 medium-blue Mercury Cougar, a 1965 medium-blue Corvette, a 1967 medium-blue Chevy II, and now a 1972 medium-blue VW bug... I love my Bug... I am just ready for a change... I have never owned a red car... I have always wanted a red car... the cards have just never fell that way...

[454bug]

In addition, Weld Draglites don't come in 18"x12"... I need to go to 18" wheels to get to the stopping power I need with large enough brakes. Have you ever shopped around for 18"x12" wheels??? The choices are VERY slim! Most companies make an 18"x9" or 18"x10" wheel but when you get to the 12"-14" wide range it becomes pretty slim pickins'...

The other thing about "modular" wheels is the myriad of back-spacings available. The back end of my car is no big deal because of the short width of my rear-end. I could handle a 15" wide wheel in the back. It is VERY critical on my front end where I am fighting control-arm length/width, Steering Axis Inclination, scrub radius, turn radius, and fender clearance...

In the end I am going to build a car that appeals to ME... If others like it, than great. If they don't, that's OK too. I am not spending my hard earned money to try and please ANYONE else but me (NOT EVEN MY WIFE! She doesn't like the 2-tone paint scheme, by the way...) The reason I ask for opinions from others is to try and uncover an idea that I might have not thought of or considered. Everyone has their own sets of experiences and I have sure not seen or done it all...

[TonyL]

Actually, weldcraft can widen just about any wheel to 18x12 for you and it'd be cheap too. usually 250 bucks per wheel. Something to consider if you feel limited and have a wheel you'd have liked to use but it didn't come in a size you wanted.

[454bug]

Thanks for the heads up. I didn't know of any companies stretching wheels other than maybe factory-style steel "Rally" wheels. I'll check into it...

[ProdigyCustoms]

Very, Very cool. I personally love the black and red two tone with black wheels. I would consider diamond cut on the wheels

[Tony_SS]

I appreciate where you are coming from and your point is well understood. But don't you think that being "different" can go deeper than just paint color and wheel choice??

Fabbing EVERY stitch of a car (that's not normally considered a performance machine) from front to back is somewhat different... Using a body style that no one else is using is somewhat different... Don't take this wrong, because I wish I had one myself, but every other car on these "PT" sites are '69 Camaro's (IMHO the finest car EVER built)...

In my lifetime (not counting all the other cars I have owned) I have owned a 1962 medium-blue VW Bug, a 1976 medium-blue Buick Regal, a 1984 medium-blue Mercury Cougar, a 1965 medium-blue Corvette, a 1967 medium-blue Chevy II, and now a 1972 medium-blue VW bug... I love my Bug... I am just ready for a change... I have never owned a red car... I have always wanted a red car... the cards have just never fell that way...
Understood... its all about what you like and what you want. I personally love alot about how the Bug is now and what you're going to do with it. I'm just questioning the final look.. I don't dislike it, but to me the body shape lends itself quite well to a smaller wheel/bigger tire look, as it stands now.

[454bug]

Very, Very cool. I personally love the black and red two tone with black wheels. I would consider diamond cut on the wheels
Hey Frank,

Thanks for the comments. I have read nothing but good things about you and your company on this site and on "Lateral-g". I look forward to doing business with you.

I'll be giving you a call for the Forgeline wheels, the new Wilwood brakes, new Wilwood spindles to handle the 14" rotors, and the Toyo tires...

[454bug]

Hey Tony,

Your point is well taken. I know you have only seen a picture of my car a couple of days ago. I have been looking at it in this color and this stance for a LONG time. It has just grown old on me...

I REALLY like the look of the Pro Touring cars. The stance, the big rollers on all 4 corners, the handling capabilities, and braking performance. If you have ever drove around with a "Pro Street" car for very long with a lot of horsepower it's not the safest thing on the road. The little front "skinnies" always feel like they are fixing to roll off the rims in the corners, it you blip the throttle in an awkward position the car launches precariously because of no front grip, etc...

I am tired of attending functions with my buddies who have cars set up to handle and I am not able to participate in the autocrosses and "open track" days because of my car being set up to work only in a straight line...

These are some of the reasons for my motivation...

[Tony_SS]

I'm sure the lack of handling gets old with that setup... I think the functional improvements will really make the bug enjoyable, but maybe its the renders that are throwing me off, the wheels look like 20's. I'm sure when I see it with 18's you have planned, it'll look a lot better. Also, IMHO, I'm still not sold on the paint scheme... I might lean toward a solid color?? Just my .02 again...

Keep up the great work on it!

[Smock67]

I think the first rendering our it looks sweet. That is one hell of a bug if i've ever seen one.

[ill steez]

I think the rendering looks awesome, but I'm not personally a huge fan of the colors/two tone. I think that with as unique as that car is, a simple solid color, like white or silver would look great.

Either way, I'm very excited to see how this thing sits when its all said and done!

[skatinjay27]

i think the first rendering allkar did is money!!!! perfect!!! looks soo good and it all flows so well together!!!

[454bug]

Right now, I like ALLKAR's first rendering the best as well. That might change over time. I am going to focus on building the mechanicals right now. I am sure I will be requesting ALLKAR's services again prior to ordering any paint. I am definitely going to consider single solid colors as well.

I looked at my 2006 SEMA pictures last night and there were 8 vehicles at the show that I took pictures of that had a 2-tone paint job on them that were either orange & black or red & black. So I do understand where Tony is coming from. Then, there is the El Camino in Chip Foose's buffing ball advertisements, Eric's "Optima" '72 Chevelle, and the HRT truck from Spike's Trucks show... Maybe, if I want to use a 2-tone paint job I might pick 2 other colors instead...

But, I REALLY like the "sinister" look of the red & black scheme with the black wheels...

[motorheadmike]

Go with the red & black on black rendering it looks like Satan's Lady Bug.

I am the first one to shoot down the conformity of the Pro-Touring bowel-movement. However this car is very well planned and executed to this point... soldier on.

Lastly, THANK YOU for having the ability to articulate yourself well in your posts; it is refreshing.

[454bug]

Go with the red & black on black rendering it looks like Satan's Lady Bug.

I am the first one to shoot down the conformity of the Pro-Touring bowel-movement. However this car is very well planned and executed to this point... soldier on.

Lastly, THANK YOU for having the ability to articulate yourself well in your posts; it is refreshing.
Hey Mike, thanks for the comments! I think you have just named my project... SATAN'S "LADY BUG"...

That has a nice ring to it!

I think I have made enough of an introduction. I am going to take this opportunity to move this build to the "Project Updates" thread section.

I'll see you guys on the "other side"...

Here's the link to the "Project Updates" thread:

https://www.pro-touring.com/showthread.php?44130-Satan-s-quot-Lady-Bug-quot

[cheapta]

I'm curious about the Morrison front suspension-was it luck that it happened to fit on a random-width chassis or is it something that you had custom made?

[454bug]

Hey cheapta,

It was somewhat luck that one of Art Morrison's "standard" widths fit my car's custom frame. When the frame was built they happened to build it with an "outside-to-outside" frame dimension of 28". At that frame width Art Morrison actually offered two different track widths. The wider width was the "standard" width for the Mustang II rack and pinion and the other has a rack that is offered by Flaming River that is 3" narrower than "stock" with matching shorter upper and lower control arms.

Here is the sizes available from their catalog:

Based on 4" High Frame
Frame O/S to O/S Track Width
22".............................................48"
28"............................................54"
28".............................................57"
31".............................................57"
31".............................................60"
34".............................................62"

Here is the web page with the details... It is the model in the middle of the page:

http://artmorrison.com/layout.php?y=frontclip/mifs/&x=index

[SixSpeed454SS]

cool project. I like the direction you are going with it.

I bet it'll be a blast on a road course.

My fav pic...

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2008/06/5020fd053d-1.jpg

[454bug]

cool project. I like the direction you are going with it.

I bet it'll be a blast on a road course.

My fav pic...

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2008/06/5020fd053d-1.jpg
Thanks Tod! It is really hard to move very far away from this rendering! ALLKAR is THE man!!! I will probably add a small "transition" stripe (or maybe just a pin stripe) right between the 2-tone paint. Maybe gray... I don't know just yet...

I am patiently waiting on parts right now. Progress coming soon... In the "Project Updates" section under the thread, "Satan's Lady Bug"...

[SixSpeed454SS]

Thanks Tod! It is really hard to move very far away from this rendering! ALLKAR is THE man!!! I will probably add a small "transition" stripe (or maybe just a pin stripe) right between the 2-tone paint. Maybe gray... I don't know just yet...

I am patiently waiting on parts right now. Progress coming soon... In the "Project Updates" section under the thread, "Satan's Lady Bug"...

Maybe bright red or orange transition stripe (pin stripe).

The only thing I would change about it is the grille in the hood. I know that you need to cool the Big Block, but it'd be neat if the grilles weren't there. Maybe try to direct air under the front apron & create some ductwork to direct it into the radiator.

[454bug]

Maybe bright red or orange transition stripe (pin stripe).

The only thing I would change about it is the grille in the hood. I know that you need to cool the Big Block, but it'd be neat if the grilles weren't there. Maybe try to direct air under the front apron & create some ductwork to direct it into the radiator.
That's a great idea. I was planning on shaving the door handles and the hood handle as well... Because of that I was considering ordering a new Fiberglass hood that comes without any holes in it. I am already changing the front fenders to fiberglass also (3" wider-than-stock)...

If you notice, below the hood, there is a row of louvers there as well. I could probably fab an aluminum shroud to direct air from these louvers across the radiator...

I actually looked all over the internet for a Carbon Fiber Hood and Trunk lid to incorporate in with the black areas... I wasn't successful in finding any yet... But I will keep looking!

[rockdogz]

Wow, I've always hated bugs ever since I had to keep fixing my girlfriend's (now wife's) bug... But this kicks ass!! I love the black wheels pic...

[syborg tt]

wow - awesome project

[tony byram]

Wow! That bug is off the charts! A small accent stripe(grey) would look great. I think a Porsche style whale tail would look good. That thing will will be a handful, with the short wheelbase and power its going to have it should be one fun car to drive, you will just have to learn to try and stay ahead of it. If thats possible! (laughs) Cool project!

[454bug]

I have been contemplating the Porsche Whale Tail issue a lot lately... It's not that I like the look as much as I will probably need the downforce! I am trying to find one that I really like the style/look of...

I am considering some kind of sheetmetal tail as an alternative as well. I don't want this thing to get airborne at 150-170+ mph...

Over the last 13 years I have had a lot of comments of short wheelbase... the bug has a 96" wheel base. The misleading thing is the car doesn't really have any "hangover" the front or rear. That gives the car the illusion of being really short. In comparison, the Dodge Viper has a 98" wheelbase and a Porsche 911-style car has a 92" wheelbase. A new Corvette is 105". A 1969 Camaro is 108". I owned a 1965 Corvette and it had a 96" wheelbase.

Therefore, for downforce considerations, on the nose and on the rear, I will probably have to consider a front spoiler/splitter setup as well as some kind of whale tail/spoiler setup for the rear.

I wouldn't want to lose grip in the corners...

The relative short wheelbase should be a benefit for tight autocrosses...

[TonyL]

you shouldn't need a big waletail on the car at all really. It's a common misconseption about these cars. All they need is a tiny carbon lip spoiler above the rear window. Remmele of Germany has bugs that run the autobahn at over 180mph every day. They've done extensive wind tunnel tests and have possibly the most technically advanced superbeetles EVER.
Here's a look at one of their cars. (its a 2005 mexican beetle but Im just trying to show the rear spoiler.) It's available Here (http://www.remmele-motorsport.com/en/index_aircooled_en.html)

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/noimg.gif
https://static1.pt-content.com/images/noimg.gif

[454bug]

Thanks a LOT Tony. That's what I needed to know. I wasn't really happy with the look of the whale tails. A small lip in back and a front spoiler/splitter down low is the look, and hopefully performance, I am looking for.

[454bug]

you shouldn't need a big waletail on the car at all really. It's a common misconseption about these cars. All they need is a tiny carbon lip spoiler above the rear window. Remmele of Germany has bugs that run the autobahn at over 180mph every day. They've done extensive wind tunnel tests and have possibly the most technically advanced superbeetles EVER.
Here's a look at one of their cars. (its a 2005 mexican beetle but Im just trying to show the rear spoiler.) It's available Here (http://www.remmele-motorsport.com/en/index_aircooled_en.html)

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/noimg.gif
https://static1.pt-content.com/images/noimg.gif
VERY COOL PICTURES BY THE WAY!!!

[SaturnVUEguy]

Ray, I have an idea for you...

Since your Super Beetle has the grill under the front hood, and it sounds to me like the radiator will be up front. Also keeping in mind you mention you want a hood with no holes. Maybe you could make a shroud (like you already said) to direct air through the smaller grill into the radiator, then just cut a couple exractor vents in the top of the new hood just before the windsheild. This would aid in releasing the hot air, and also reduce front end lift a little bit. Combine that with the small lip spoiler above the rear window...:evil:


TonyL, great find with that Beetle :kewlpics:

[Paul_J]

You may have seen this car before. It belongs to a guy in Mexico City. It runs an Audi V8 in the back seat with an A4 transaxle like mine. If you scroll down page two there are some shots of the car before he started cutting it up. They may give you some ideas with widened fenders and larger wheels. His is a standard vs super so yours will be a bit wider and longer in the front. Keep up the great work! Also, the area below the windshield is a high pressure area so venting under the hood may be difficult. That's why VW put the fresh air intake there.

http://www.germanlook.com/Forums/showthread.php?t=6197

[showa]

Check out the body/wing on this Vdub....

http://bb.bbboy.net/vwengineconversions-viewthread?forum=8&thread=3

[TonyL]

I love that car showa. That used to be my avatar before I bought my car. That thing is possibly the coolest bug ever.

[showa]

Every time I see those pics the crazy voices in my head get louder......

[454bug]

Ray, I have an idea for you...

Since your Super Beetle has the grill under the front hood, and it sounds to me like the radiator will be up front. Also keeping in mind you mention you want a hood with no holes. Maybe you could make a shroud (like you already said) to direct air through the smaller grill into the radiator, then just cut a couple exractor vents in the top of the new hood just before the windsheild. This would aid in releasing the hot air, and also reduce front end lift a little bit. Combine that with the small lip spoiler above the rear window...:evil:


TonyL, great find with that Beetle :kewlpics:
Hey SaturnVUEguy,

I do like your suggestions but I will need to investigate further to verify if ducting from underneath will pull enough air across the radiator (especially at a low speed or stopped). The Ron Davis double-pass radiator will be efficient but I have never idled an 850hp motor with a restricted air passage... Time will tell... I NEVER had a cooling problem in the past and I sure don't want to create one with the new setup.

I have pretty much decided to order a new fiberglass hood from the vendor I just purchased the new wider front fenders from. When I get the car painted I will prep and paint the original hood (as depicted in the renderings) and also the fiberglass hood. Therefore, if cooling works okay with the fully enclosed hood then I will stick with that setup. If not, the other hood will be painted as well and ready to go... The incremental cost to paint both hoods won't be cost prohibitive.

[454bug]

You may have seen this car before. It belongs to a guy in Mexico City. It runs an Audi V8 in the back seat with an A4 transaxle like mine. If you scroll down page two there are some shots of the car before he started cutting it up. They may give you some ideas with widened fenders and larger wheels. His is a standard vs super so yours will be a bit wider and longer in the front. Keep up the great work! Also, the area below the windshield is a high pressure area so venting under the hood may be difficult. That,s why VW put the fresh air intake there.

http://www.germanlook.com/Forums/showthread.php?t=6197
Hey Paul J,

Thanks for the head's up! I have never seen that site. It always amazes me that you can search and google every night and still not see sites that others find! That is a very nice build. The "before" pictures do give me a better idea of what the finished product will look like... Since I ordered the 3" wider-than-stock fenders for the front of the bug I was informed that an optical illusion occurs when running the same width extended fenders front and rear. They said to maintain a proper proportion from the front to rear that the rear fenders needed to be one-size wider than the fronts... I already had 3" wider-than-stock fenders on the rear... Since I ordered the 3" wider-than-stock fenders for the front of the car (to accomodate the widest front tire/wheel combo possible) I ended up ordering the 4-1/2" wider-than-stock rear fenders as well! The "fat chick" is getting fatter and fatter!!!

[454bug]

Check out the body/wing on this Vdub....

http://bb.bbboy.net/vwengineconversions-viewthread?forum=8&thread=3
Hey showa,

That is one awesome machine... that type spoiler was what I was trying to figure out what it would look like. Thanks so much for locating that car!

Decisions, decisions...

[TonyL]

Every time I see those pics the crazy voices in my head get louder......

You sure the voices are the crazy ones? The ones in mine quit bitching after I started doing what they said.

/just a suggestion.
//(ralph wiggum)He told me to burn things!

[TonyL]

oh and to get the thread back on topic look at this old article (http://www.vwtrendsweb.com/features/0104vwt_street_legal_1968_volkswagen_beetle_ragtop/) for a nice rear spoiler that's a little more "hard core" looking.

[SaturnVUEguy]

454bug, there is another thread somewhere, and I'll see if I can find it and edit my post. The poster linked to a thread from another site where a guy cut a vent into his 240SX hood to allow hot air to exit through the top of the hood

Found it! The link is in the 3rd post in the following thread...https://www.pro-touring.com/forum/showthread.php?t=44928&highlight=extractor

[454bug]

Thanks for the heads up! I'll check it out!

[volkdent]

I really like the look of these hood vents. I've drawn them on the hood of my bug and it looks very good. If you use the metal hood, draw the pattern you want, make those cuts, then bend the flaps down and weld in sides, you'll have the same look with the ability to let the heat escape from both the engine bay and the radiator. My preference to get air into the radiator would be to cut out the areas of the front apron between the fenders but leaving the area behind the hood intact. You can also add a lower lip below the front of the apron to keep the air from flowing under the car and forcing it into the radiator and/or engine compartment.

Jasonhttps://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2008/08/469787-1.jpg

[454bug]

I've had a number of guys suggest I try and eliminate the screens in my hood to give the car a cleaner look. I have decided to purchase a second hood made of fiberglass and not cut any holes in it. The hoods are relatively inexpensive. Therefore, I will paint the new hood, as well as the existing hood, so I will be prepared to go either way depending on the success of keeping my motor cool. I have never had a cooling problem before... I don't want to start now!

With roughly 200 more horsepower than my previous setup I will be producing more energy/heat... The aluminum heads will help. The new Ron Davis radiator will help. I hope I will be fine without having any holes...

My Super Beetle lower apron has "slots" down low but they aren't very big. I found this lower apron on Mid-America's site... I will try and make this work. This looks like it will pull a lot more air across it. My new radiator setup will be mounted MUCH lower in the car for Center of Gravity reasons. It will be right behind this grill...

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2008/08/sizer-1.jpg

and install some sheetmetal ducting to my radiator somewhat like this:

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2008/08/ALL30150-1.jpg

[454bug]

I will then construct a splitter, out of either carbon fiber or aluminum, to force air across this apron opening to assist in the cooling. It's secondary benefit will be to minimize air being trapped inside my front fenders and creating lift... Check out the small "wickers" on each fender right above the splitter... I will fashion something like this as well to assist with downforce and minimize an "understeer" situation.

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2008/08/yhst27897301732551_2012_142552497-1.jpg

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2008/08/91120rsr10-1.jpg

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2008/08/91120rsr5-1.jpg

[454bug]

I have emailed Remmele Motorsports in Europe 5 times to check with them about selling and shipping Carbon Fiber parts for the old air-cooled beetles but they will not respond to my inquiries... I am interested in a number of interior and exterior carbon fiber parts they sell... especially the small wind deflector they sell that mounts right above the rear windshield...

I really don't want to put a large "whale-tail" on the car if I can help it. I know I will need some downforce in the rear of the car but I want to be a little more understated than the big fin if I can...

[Z06killinSBF]

Sweet. I love it.

[Paul_J]

Ray, have you tried posting a request over on the Germanlook forum to get in touch with Remmele? Volkdent who posted above is a regular on that message board. Maybe he can be some help. I saw that front apron at mid-america too. I think your idea with the splitter would be a big improvement to that idea. I didn't see that apron available for a super beetle. Do you plan to just modify the one you have?

[454bug]

Thanks for the heads-up! I didn't notice it wasn't available for the Super Beetle. Back to the drawing board...

I'll check with them when I am ready.

[Gordz32]

This car is gonna be awsome. Goodwork! And way to step outside the box!

[Roadrunna]

Hey Ray,

I found the site :)

How about this wing for the bug https://static1.pt-content.com/images/noimg.gif

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/noimg.gif

Or maybe one like this https://static1.pt-content.com/images/noimg.gif

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/noimg.gif

[454bug]

Hi Simon,

Those are pretty EXTREME!! :seizure:

I may go with something a little more subtle like this...

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2008/09/100_1160-1.jpg

[watahyahknow]

i like that last wing , gives it the right look .
did you ever considered putting the radiator in the rear of the car ?
you could make some ducts in the front of the rearfenders on top of the stepboards drawing the air in and use the low pressure zone under the wing where the louvers sit anyway as the exit when you put ducted fans behind the louvers it should cool ok in traffic .
ive seen a german bug once that had the sheetmetal behind the doors go in to form a duct

[watahyahknow]

The REALLY COOL decision I made was to go to a Master Shift "Paddle Shifter" setup...

As you can see, there are two sets of controls on this setup. I will program the controller to act in this way: The two push-buttons will control only the transmission in a 1-2-3 shifting pattern... The two paddle-shifters will control the transmission and the overdrive in alternating order to create a 6-speed automatic...

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2008/06/M_kit018-1.jpg

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2008/06/BilletPaddles-1.jpg

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2008/06/M_kit007-1.jpg

how do they operate the non electronic th400 i've checked there website but can't make mush sence out of it

[evsmotors]

Congrats on the very unique and awesome build! We have something extremely unique that we have built too. We understand where you are coming from. Sometimes you need to be that thorn on the rose to get attention. We all can't be that smooth stem! ;)

[454bug]

i like that last wing , gives it the right look .
did you ever considered putting the radiator in the rear of the car ?
you could make some ducts in the front of the rearfenders on top of the stepboards drawing the air in and use the low pressure zone under the wing where the louvers sit anyway as the exit when you put ducted fans behind the louvers it should cool ok in traffic .
ive seen a german bug once that had the sheetmetal behind the doors go in to form a duct

The more I study the effects of "wings" versus "spoilers" the more I realize I need a wing installed away from the body to achieve the downforce I will be looking for... I have learned that the air that moves UNDER the wing in much more important than the wind traveling OVER the wing... That low-pressure area BELOW the wing is what produces the downforce NOT the wind pushing DOWN on the wing...

As far as the idea of routing the cooling lines to the rear of the car... it definitely has its merit... I would like the clean look of not having the venting holes cut in the front hood... I could route air from under the car to the air intake of the engine... I would have to rebuild the 17 gallon gas tank that fills up the old VW engine location right now... The idea of placing ducting on the side of the car in front of the rear fenders is a nice idea...

So many decisions, so little time and money...

Thanks again for the suggestions!

[454bug]

how do they operate the non electronic th400 i've checked there website but can't make mush sence out of it

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2008/10/DSC02862-1.jpg

The Mastershift paddle shifter is somewhat of a manual shifter with a "brain"... In regards to the non-computerized transmissions, like the Turbo 400, the shifting is done by their box by way of a typical shifter cable. The shifting of my Gear Vendors Under/Overdrive is shifted electronically through sending a 12 volt signal to it's shift solenoid.

Some people have made comments like, "why would you want a paddle shifter if it doesn't shift any FASTER than a standard floor shifter"... When they make that comment, they are missing the point entirely!!! I wanted a paddle shifter so I wouldn't have to take my hands off the steering wheel while running around a road course or an autocross track... as well as assisting me in the operation of my Gear Vendors under/overdrive...

Since my transmission has a full-manual reverse valve body in it, the line pressures are turned up really high already. You won't have that much line pressure on an automatically-shifted automatic. Therefore, the shifts are VERY fast, internally. The overdrive's solenoid shifts are instantaneous. Therefore, shifting will be PLENTY fast for road racing. As far as that goes, no one "speed shifts" while road racing anyway. The only real application where "speed shifting" might make sense would be during a drag race.

The other real benefit of the paddle shifter is the ability to "split-shift" between the transmission and my Gear Vendors under/overdrive. If you ever watched a video of someone manually split-shifting their overdrive it is next to impossible to time it just right, EVERY time. Say you have the activation button on your shifter. The sequence would go something like this: You would shift the transmission into first by way of the shifter. At the shift-point you would push the button on the shifter to activate the overdrive. Simple enough, right... Now this is where it gets tricky... When you reach the next shift-point you would have to SIMULTANEOUSLY push the button to de-activate the overdrive at the EXACT time as manually shifting the floor shifter into 2nd gear in the transmission. If you push the button too early (BEFORE the shift into 2nd gear), the engine over-revs... If you push it too late (AFTER the shift into 2nd gear), you would have shifted into 2nd-overdrive and then back down into 2nd-normal... To go into subsequent gears you would have to repeat the process...

You can see where this "timing" would be VERY difficult to duplicate EVERY time you wanted to split-shift through the gears!! If you wanted to see this exact "problem" go to the Gear Vendors website and watch one of their videos...

With the Mastershift paddle shifter you just keep pulling the "1/2 shift" paddles and it will automatically AND simultaneously shift the transmission MANUALLY and also activate or de-activate the under/overdrive. As another testimony to the product, both the owner of Gear Vendors and also the owner's son have a Mastershift paddle shifter in their personal vehicles.

As a sidebar... If you were just tooling around and didn't want to go through so many shifts of both the transmission and the O/D you would just push the red buttons on each side of the steering wheel. The buttons work in "full" shifts instead of "half" shifts... That way it would just go through 1-2-3 in the transmission. You would then just pull once on the right paddle to shift into 3rd Overdrive...

I hope I was clear with my thumbnail sketch of it's operation... It would be so much easier to demonstrate instead of describe... When I get it all hooked up I will make a Youtube video of its operation with explanations...

Thanks again for your interest. :evil:

[watahyahknow]

i actually been looking around again i needed a real high hp automatic for my project and i hope i found it now , they had some links on there site and this one http://www.retrotekspeed.com/products/smart-shift/smart-shift-with-f1-paddles/ seems to work the same way , they did had the instalationmanual online and it made sence to me now .
they mount a electric stepmotor/servo to the lever next to the automatic and operate it through that .
they allso have the gearvendor option . the price is a lot better but i guess the paddles themselves are of a lesser quallitie

i do feel that there might be a little delay in the shifting since the servo kan only move so fast

ever tried shifting a big truck with high low and a stacker (10 gears high low 15 with a double stacker ) you dont have the problem with those the way you explained you turn the switch for either one on the gearlever before you make the shift and it will select after you pressed the clutch the life of a trucker is a lot eazier i guess

as for the radiator i've seen the hole in the rearfloor you might allso lay it flat on the bottom ........ did i mention it bringing more weight to the rear of the car

as a whink to the past you might put a sparetire on the spot where the radiator was before

[454bug]

Congrats on the very unique and awesome build! We have something extremely unique that we have built too. We understand where you are coming from. Sometimes you need to be that thorn on the rose to get attention. We all can't be that smooth stem! ;)

Thanks a lot man!! It's definitely not the easy road... I don't have much help in the "R&D" department... I make decisions and take directions based on doing my homework as well as having a good friend that REALLY understands chassis work and suspensions... He builds circle track race cars, is a master builder of Penske shocks, and has many friends to use as resources for my suspension setup...

The rest I am trying to develop as I go... That's why I am flying down one path and then get convinced, persuaded, or educated to go down a different path... It sure keeps the mind sharp and creative working on one of these projects... designing, re-designing, trial-and-error, studying, calculating, etc., etc...

Every project has a certain amount of creativity and ingenuity in it (especially all the one-off turbo installations!). A project like this just has somewhat more of it since there aren't many products "on the shelf" waiting to be ordered and installed...

DARE TO BE DIFFERENT... :evil:

[1971CHEVELLE]

Here are some "before" pictures of the interior...

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2008/06/Scan_6-1.jpg

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2008/06/Scan_3-1.jpg

and the "after" picture...

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2008/06/Scan-1.jpg

I built the dash extension and console out of aluminum. This picture was taken during the construction. The top area is now covered in the simulated leather like the rest of the dash and console.
This car is awsome. Goodwork

[ed1le]

What a far out build, lovin' it!

[454bug]

What a far out build, lovin' it!


Thanks a lot Ed!

Make sure you jump over to the "Project Updates" section to catch up with the latest activities...

https://www.pro-touring.com/showthread.php?44130-Satan-s-quot-Lady-Bug-quot

[jwyche]

I

I started making changes as I could afford them to make the car closer to my liking...

Now that's the way they should have been shipped from Germany in the first place. As I recall, my Dad's new 1960 Bug was super safe stopping or going around corners either. And it was stock!

Very cool car!
Jim

[mc84_zz4]

Absolutely cool. I had seen an older build using the Toronado engine and tranny driving the rear, but not a front engined RWD setup yet.
Very cool.

[454bug]

Now that's the way they should have been shipped from Germany in the first place. As I recall, my Dad's new 1960 Bug was super safe stopping or going around corners either. And it was stock!

Very cool car!
Jim


Thanks a lot Jim!

Make sure you jump over to the "Project Updates" section to catch up with the latest activities...

https://www.pro-touring.com/showthread.php?44130-Satan-s-quot-Lady-Bug-quot

A lot has happened over the last 10 months!

ENJOY! :twothumbs

[454bug]

Absolutely cool. I had seen an older build using the Toronado engine and tranny driving the rear, but not a front engined RWD setup yet.
Very cool.


Thanks a LOT!

It has been a really fun project!

Make sure you jump over to the "Project Updates" section to catch up with the latest activities...

https://www.pro-touring.com/showthread.php?44130-Satan-s-quot-Lady-Bug-quot

It has been a blast!

[manny z]

I think this is going to be the baddest bug that I have seen in a very long time. I have a certain like for bugs, ever since one of my army buddies smoked another freinds camaro with his bug. I even bought one for my wife in 2001, that she still has.

you should look on the NASA racing web site. They have this new series for SPEC bugs, in road racing. I know yours is going to be wild as hell but, you might like what you see.

[454bug]

I think this is going to be the baddest bug that I have seen in a very long time. I have a certain like for bugs, ever since one of my army buddies smoked another freinds camaro with his bug. I even bought one for my wife in 2001, that she still has.

you should look on the NASA racing web site. They have this new series for SPEC bugs, in road racing. I know yours is going to be wild as hell but, you might like what you see.

Hey Manny,

Thanks for the props... It should be a handful... :seizure:

I'll check out the NASA website but I'm sure my bug won't fit into any VW class... with the NASA VW series you can't change the drivetrain configuration... There is an "Unlimited" class that I may qualify for. What I am shooting for is to just have fun with "hot lapping days" like NASA's HPDE (High Performance Driving Events)... there aren't many rules with these events other than safety issues. "Spirited" fun is what I am looking for...

Make sure you jump over to the "Project Updates" section for the latest information on my project:

https://www.pro-touring.com/showthread.php?44130-Satan-s-quot-Lady-Bug-quot