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Re: '71 Super Beetle Autocross Build

Posted: Fri Aug 04, 2017 6:50 am
by ChadH
Yet another "Why I haven't made any progress" post.

Spent last week with the Mini Cooper in the shop..it needed a new turbo. So, traded it in on a new BRZ and broke it in the next evening at autocross. :D

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How does this relate to my build? Now I have the Super back in the garage, where it belongs, and no longer need to fight with the Mini.

Also, I'm in process of transferring all my photos from Photobucket to Smugmug, and re-linking everything. I had signed up for the low-end plan on Photobucket just before their $400 extortion fiasco. My cheap plan with third party links is good until the end of the year, but I don't want this thread to go into the trash-heap of builds with dead links.

Re: '71 Super Beetle Autocross Build

Posted: Mon Oct 09, 2017 7:53 pm
by ChadH
Back to work - sorta. I have two other VW's (a '73 Thing and a '64 Beetle) with engines I built several years ago. Both cars have been sitting unused, and offer lots of goods for the Autocross Engine.

The Thing had a 1776, built on an aluminum case and 34mm ICT's. I want to tear this down for the aluminum case. It also has good fitting tin, with all the small bits that are often overlooked. Re-using the tin will be important to maximizing cooling. Most of the other parts will be used for another build (maybe to put back into the '64.)

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The '64 has a 2110, with IDF 40's, and a ton of goodies. I didn't get the engine all the way out this weekend.

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I'll have lots of cleanup to do for all the stuff I strip from both engines. I'll be asking for advice on the autocross engine build after I clean up and assess what I already have.

Re: '71 Super Beetle Autocross Build

Posted: Tue Oct 10, 2017 6:03 pm
by Jadewombat
Yeah, I've had a heap of distractions, too. Still managing to progress a little here and there which is better than no progress. I bet the BRZ feels like a completely different animal to the Cooper...and so will the bug of course.

Re: '71 Super Beetle Autocross Build

Posted: Wed Oct 11, 2017 9:51 am
by ChadH
Jadewombat wrote: Tue Oct 10, 2017 6:03 pm Yeah, I've had a heap of distractions, too. Still managing to progress a little here and there which is better than no progress. I bet the BRZ feels like a completely different animal to the Cooper...and so will the bug of course.
Yup. Life -n- stuff getting in the way of important car projects.

The BRZ is fun, and handles damn near perfect in stock form. I feel like a "clone" driving it though, since there's so many that show up to autocross. I still want the Beetle done, so I can completely abuse it, and not have to worry about driving it the next day. It'll also be a valid reason to run an open stinger. :P

Re: '71 Super Beetle Autocross Build

Posted: Thu Oct 12, 2017 1:22 pm
by petew
ChadH wrote: Wed Oct 11, 2017 9:51 am I still want the Beetle done, so I can completely abuse it, and not have to worry about driving it the next day. It'll also be a valid reason to run an open stinger. :P
:lol:

Until you put the turbo on. :wink:

Re: '71 Super Beetle Autocross Build

Posted: Sun Oct 22, 2017 7:29 pm
by ChadH
Not "Handling", but this is my build thread so...

Rebuilding my 40mm IDF's. These sat in the 'Vegas heat, with bad gas for approximately 10-years. They were/are nasty with sludge and some surface rust on the steel parts.

I spent a lot of time with PB blaster, a little heat, carb cleaner, brushes and 3M pads I got the left side looking pretty good (inside and out) The right side is now in the can soaking.

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Re: '71 Super Beetle Autocross Build

Posted: Sun Oct 29, 2017 6:17 pm
by ChadH
Lots of tedious cleanup work done, and lots more to go.

I finished the IDF rebuild. Also, I never liked the "universal" manifolds, with the gaping 48mm hole under the carb. I ordered some CSP 40mm manifolds.
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I tore down the first of two engines (the 1776)
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And I'm cleaning / bagging all the parts. 1/2 of the parts will go into the autocross build, the other 1/2 will get stored for another build in the future.
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I also spent the day cleaning up the Autolinea aluminum case. I got 1/2 done, the other will need to wait until next weekend.
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Re: '71 Super Beetle Autocross Build

Posted: Sun Nov 12, 2017 8:38 pm
by ChadH
I spent some time seeing what I have, what I need, and what it will all cost. This is just the summary spreadsheet. It's linked to a detailed itemization, with individual part costs and links to order each. Pretty much every part, no matter how minor is included, but I'm sure I forgot a few things.

The green column is what I have, stashed in boxes, bins and bags (almost nothing is on the car yet.) A lot of this stuff was purchased for previous builds, and I don't have the invoices any more, so I looked up the current costs. It doesn't include tools or expendables (like sandpaper, solvents, etc.)

It's probably a good thing the build is going slow, since it will take awhile to acquire the remaining stuff.

No, It doesn't include a Quaife limited slip, and assumes one of my transmissions works well enough to move the car without a rebuild.

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Re: '71 Super Beetle Autocross Build

Posted: Tue Nov 14, 2017 1:47 pm
by petew
Dang, no wonder everyone is racing miatas. :(

Re: '71 Super Beetle Autocross Build

Posted: Tue Nov 14, 2017 4:05 pm
by ChadH
Yah - I could have bought a decent NA Miata for about $3k and thrown some good tires on it. But then I'd be just like 30% of the other Autocrossers. Zzzzzzzz

Also, I forgot to add Lexan windows, and fiberglass fenders. Add around another $1000.

If I'm lucky, I might get the car running sometime this decade. ;)

Re: '71 Super Beetle Autocross Build

Posted: Sun Nov 26, 2017 7:59 am
by ChadH
I've completed all the cleanup and cataloging of the first of the parts engines. Here's the case, looking minty.
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I pulled the second engine (2110)
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This one had a little harder life than the other. The car was lowered, and sump cover on the deep sump had been damaged from scraping. Oil leak gook everywhere.
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Aside from the oil leak, it's a good thing I stopped driving it years ago. There were a few internal issues that could have been catastrophic.

1) - A couple of the CrMo pushrod tubes were mushroomed on the end, and the tip on one was completely loose (no picture). I think I may have had some spring binding. I'll need to address this more carefully on this build.

2) The sump pickup bracket had broken where it bolts to the bottom of the case. You can see that the pickup had come loose and was being hit by the cam.
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3) And, because it wasn't getting a constant supply of oil, the rod bearings were absolutely trashed. That little button of bearing material was in one of the oil crank holes. Luckily, the crank journals still look very good.

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Lastly, I sold the engine-less Thing (above) which has funded the majority of the parts I need to complete the engine. Here's one of the parts that arrived yesterday. After seeing some of the oiling issues I had, it will be good to have.
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Re: '71 Super Beetle Autocross Build

Posted: Sun Nov 26, 2017 6:05 pm
by Jadewombat
Yeah, the "easy" answer is boring. I never won any awards, but got way more attention in my bug auto-xing than others.

Re: '71 Super Beetle Autocross Build

Posted: Tue Nov 28, 2017 8:14 am
by ChadH
I'm trying to force myself to go out and clean up at least one part every evening after work. I'm getting burned out cleaning two engines worth of parts, but this is the only way it's going to get done.

It's worth thoroughly disassembling cleaning and inspecting every part though. Last night, I found one of the roller bearings on my 1.4:1 rockers was completely trashed. Again, evidence of the valve springs binding. Luckily, the bearings are easily replaceable. I have 8 new bearings on order.

Re: '71 Super Beetle Autocross Build

Posted: Sat Dec 02, 2017 9:04 am
by FJCamper
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RetroRacing's multiple championship Ghia in its slalom days wins another season by defeating its closest competition, a freaking V6 Lotus-7 kit car.

Hi Chad,

You may know this already, but to really make a VW chassis a slalom car, don't use any front axle beam shims, get a ridiculously light flywheel, toe in the rear suspension to create tail-out swing just by leaning in your seat, and get a good solid seat and a harness. If you can breath normally with the harness bucked, it's not tight enough.

Have a working handbrake. No rear disk necessary. You should do about a third of your steering with the handbrake.

Once you can handbrake your car into a parallel parking spot against a curb you know you're good.

Cheat and get a 4.86 drag-race ring and pinion. Launch only in second gear after that for your own safety.

Get a short-shifter, a four-puck feramic clutch disk, and new shift-linkage bushings. Once you can make the transaxle scream louder than the engine on a downshift, you are formidable.

FJC

Re: '71 Super Beetle Autocross Build

Posted: Sat Dec 02, 2017 1:02 pm
by petew
FJCamper wrote: Sat Dec 02, 2017 9:04 am You may know this already, but to really make a VW chassis a slalom car, don't use any front axle beam shims, get a ridiculously light flywheel, toe in the rear suspension to create tail-out swing just by leaning in your seat, and get a good solid seat and a harness. If you can breath normally with the harness bucked, it's not tight enough.

Have a working handbrake. No rear disk necessary. You should do about a third of your steering with the handbrake.

Once you can handbrake your car into a parallel parking spot against a curb you know you're good.

Cheat and get a 4.86 drag-race ring and pinion. Launch only in second gear after that for your own safety.

Get a short-shifter, a four-puck feramic clutch disk, and new shift-linkage bushings. Once you can make the transaxle scream louder than the engine on a downshift, you are formidable.

FJC
Ok, now I'm taking notes!

Can you explain this a little more please?