Mid engine conversion?

Freq2002 · Post by **Freq2002** » Sat Apr 27, 2002 7:19 pm

Anyone have any info on dropping a mid-eng. setup into a bug? I'm converting it to a 2-seat V-rod & will not need the back seat anyway. I already have a 914 5-speed tranny & I'm thinkin about building up a type IV to go in there, but I need help/info/pix if anyone has them. Thanx!!

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Where are we going, & why am I in a handbasket?...

Paul_S · Post by **Paul_S** » Sun Apr 28, 2002 12:34 am

I may be mistaken but I think you can flip the 914 diff's crown wheel which means that you can put the engine in front of the box.

The only problem I can see is that there may not be enough space between the seats and the gearbox for the engine to go into.

I'm busy doing a mid engine conversion on a standard bug at the moment for a daily driver but I chose to go a different route and build a transfer box so that the engine sits above the gearbox.
This way it's still mid engine and the gearbox and engine don't have to run at any funny angles.
There is about 200 mm of clearance behind the seats which will give me enough space to build an engine comparment around the V6 and add sound dampening.

Freq2002 · Post by **Freq2002** » Sun Apr 28, 2002 5:07 pm

I'm not too worried about room. Since I'm making this thig a little wild, & alot different, I can do pretty much anything I want.
Fort the mid engine setup I was thinking of cutting out the rear pan & maybe using the rear suspension out of a 914. I'm going to put in a mild roll cage anyway, so I could easily put a tubular sub frame back there for the suspension mounts. I was curious if anyone has seen/done this so I might have something to go off of.

In the mean time,... Can the ring on a 914 tranny be flipped over? If so I could install it like a regular beetle, just have to modify the pan for fit & use a sand rail cable shifter system.

crack monkey · Post by **crack monkey** » Mon Apr 29, 2002 12:53 am

i would suggest locating the complete rear of a 914 and go from there. there was a real insane custom that used a complete 914 frame and i won like 120 shows in a row. so yeah it can be done.

as far as flipping the ring and using it in a standard bug. do a search in the type4um and it will tell you how to do it. come to think of it, the shoptalkforums home page has a link to it as well. good luck

Freq2002 · Post by **Freq2002** » Mon Apr 29, 2002 2:11 am

Cum-ta-tink bout it,... I saw a 914 at a local yard that the engine did the light up my life routine, burned up the car pretty good. Engine was a pile of slag, but the rear frame looked OK. Maybe I could get the guy to torch off the rear half of the pan cheap. IF they havent already made it 6" tall.
If I run frame rails along the sides as part of the cage & cut the beetle pan right behind the seats,... Would give enought re-enforcement to the pan to make it safely streetable. Yeah, thats the ticket, yeah,...

vwfye · Post by **vwfye** » Sat May 04, 2002 12:23 am

i have a 2 seat, mid engine notch... i have a stock vw 4 speed with the ring and pinion flopped. there is a buttload of work to get the engine and tranny right, but it sure is fun to drive! www.geocities.com/menacefye will give you an idea

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konzept 396 w/2332cc of fun

cj011 · Post by **cj011** » Sat May 04, 2002 4:01 pm

vwfye, i like your website, but it did not really give alot of information about how to mid engine a vw. the areas that i am wondering is the pan shortening, and how you mounted the engine and trany.

nicanor · Post by **nicanor** » Sat May 04, 2002 4:15 pm

Take a look at the current VolksWorld mag, there's a circuit Beetle race article there, all with mid-mounted Golf 1.8 engines with the whole rear of the car (roof and back after the door) is all one peice fiberglass tilt rear end. It looks awesome. If I had the money I'd try and replicate one of these. They sell for 16pounds ($24k?) and looks well worth it.

I also have a contact that sells custom chassis for VWs in rear and mid engine configurations. Made for stock suspension parts or more modern suspensions (Mustang II's, 90's T-Birds, etc). If I find his info I'll post it up but he has a very small ad in back of kit car mags (or at least used to).

cj011 · Post by **cj011** » Sun May 05, 2002 2:33 am

thanks man, now i have another excuse to go buy car mags at Border's. gotta get that issue

Eddie Brown · Post by **Eddie Brown** » Sun May 05, 2002 3:07 pm

Hey guys, try the link below:
http://www.majortom.de/xxarzt.htm

I can't read german, but it looks very neat.

Later,

Eddie.

vwfye · Post by **vwfye** » Sun May 05, 2002 6:33 pm

cj... the entire pan has to be reworked, not just the back. there is a pair of 2x4 box steel runners that run the full length of the car, not just the pan, and in the rear are the mounts for the motor and tranny. then the mounts are tied in to the body with 1x1 box steel. also, there is 2x2 box steel bars running across the car to make the pan more rigid. you also have to flop the ring and pinion in the tranny, use a midengine shifter, hydraulic clutch and relocate the battery to make it work. now, if you look back at some of the pics of the pan it might make more sense looking at it...

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konzept 396 w/2332cc of fun