ShopTalk Forums | Aircooled VW Tech & Restoration Help

In 1979 I had a VW dragster running with a 180 hp T1 engine. It ran 10.14 and 128 mph.
I came across this article and I have not stopped dreaming of 500+ hp in the rail.
Anyway Bob McClure was very far ahead of his time and a role model for me.
If I am correct he passed away longtime ago and never fulfilled the next step of running +200mph with a VW.
Today we know that there are no limits.
I tease my friend Kent with the fact that the VW Paradise dragster will keep pace with him in his 6.54 s 2000+ hp Pro Mod.
Enjoy the reading and pictures.
Thanks Wesayso for the supergood help to post these pictures.

Click on Picture for a bigger version


Click on Picture for a bigger version

Glad it worked

140+ in the nines from a 92x64 with 50# boost.

Old school rocks.

8mm head studs though????I thought they pull after 30 pounds boost. Wouldn't the hp be closer to 350 if the car only weighs 1200 pounds to be in the 140 mph range?

Kevin

50lbs of boost at 11:0 to 1 compression on the stock case. what. something don't seem right.

looking at it again looks like he says it makes 460hp on 32psi, and it can run up to 50psi. holly crap thats alot of boost and power for a 1600. says he put 1400 bucks in the heads. you could buy a decent car back then for that. crazy

It says 1600, but it also saiys 92x64, which is 1702cc.

I'm not sure it's acutally making 460, but who knows, it might be, and just slip and slide all the way down the track. If he's really running 9s, he's got a lot of power coming from that thing.

Running 11:1 comrpession and 50 psi boost is possible, but it's a secret how to do it.

Yes, that's a lot of boost, and a lot of power. Wow.

whats the secret. super squishies or some other dished piston like that. alcohol also helps.

asked to delete my post.....

Joe - call me.

Marty wrote:Joe - call me.

Just did Marty....Left a message for ya at the 3572 #...I used to have another though that cell was crushed under the left front tire of a "Boxster" .... send me an e-mail with the appropriate # Marty..

great story, great car, great people...

Joe,

Thanks!!!
You are really filling in some gaps in my curious head.
Finding out more about Bob and his car is like (do I dare talk religion as comparison?) finding out more about a legend.
Somebody many years ago told me had cancer so I guess that was totally wrong.
Please read about the Okrasa crank. This is some key information. Fantastic crank that can last even without wedgemate, if treated right.
Not that I say it is the way to go but....
No slack in transmisson at launch has helped and a nice working clutch, no quickshifts but lifting the throttle. These things make the car work and he made it up with raw horsepower.
Now I do not now how much is in the writing and how much is true?
Joe can you recall anything more about the car and the engine?

Shouldn't someone build a copy of that car? I think so. It both looks good and ran good. Maybe with slightly more rollcage.
Is there any chance that there is anything of the car still around?

If Bob would have stayed around longer we would have seen VW's in the 200mph long before Lauffers took us in to "dreamzone"? I beleive so.

I heard from Jeff Denham that the car was sold for (I think it was somewhere around) $34K to Japan. I really wish people wouldn't sell these historic cars over seas......how awesome would it be to have a Cal-Look museum that we could go to and see these cars and read all of the accomplishments?

My understanding is that car went to Hawaii.