My bug - ANGRRR - the ongoing project

Give details and pictures of your ACVW projects here.
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Tony Z
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My bug - ANGRRR - the ongoing project

Post by Tony Z »

Hi guys.... well, even though I have been here for over 4 years now and have my Suicyde engine build thread, I feel like writing a little about my car and incorperating the engine build thread into it too.
Find the engine thread here: http://www.aircooledvwsa.co.za/viewtopi ... =23&t=4515

Where to start? The beginning...

I have owned this car since 1997 and it was my first car.
As time and funds allow, she is receiving a make-over. Time is the biggest issue, but I am hoping the next 2 years will have some decent progress.

How much of a history should I post??? Pics first...

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I am pretty sure that some of you have seen here around. The body is very similar to how it was when I got the car, but it has been resprayed twice with a few subtle changes to it. When I got the car... the brakes were dodgy, the gearbox was a wreck, the generator lasted until the first time I drove it at night....

Obvious mods... front suspension lowered, rear lowered a tiny bit. Rear suspension beefed up with the added help of a camber compensator. Disc brakes on all 4 corners, gearbox has a few extra supports.
The 1600 engine I started with in stock form was over time introduced to a new exhaust, then a new carb setup (36DCD twin throat progressive), then electronic ignition. Then after finishing my appy-ship I had a few rands spare (and by this time I has taken over all mechanical work on the car except brakes), so I bought new heads and twin carbs (IDFs). I got the heads cut to raise my CR... from 7.4:1 to 8.1:1. I then did my own port job on the inlets and exhausts. Then I added the pair of 36IDF downdrafts along with a set of K&N air filters and a B.A.S. push-pull linkage. I got into the car, ready to scream down the road only to be horribly dissapointed. Less power than before. OK, nevermind... Off I go to Jesse at Winsor for a dyno tune.

2 days later I pick up the car. Jesse smiles and says I might feel a slight difference. Slight difference my ass.... Day and night - smiles everywhere. The car limped in with 38hp. He said both carbs were setup different from each other. After he was finished, I had a nice 74hp. Hey - it was a lot more than the 55hp the bug had when new - and how many cars boast a 50% power increase for R3000 (including the cost of the new heads and carbs).
I then lost my job and ended up working at Mr Delivery when that engine destroyed itself. Hmmmm, not much money to build a new one. Cam broke - luckily I had a stock cam cause the valves were not in the way. Into my garage. Took it all apart. Pulled a reground cam off the shelf which was given to me - I had no idea of the specs at the time. Put it in, buy new main bearings and put the engine back together. Started her up and gave her a quick rev... HUGE SMILE, this thing now revs quick!!! Took her back to Jesse and he did a power run - 94hp. Now we are talking. 170i VTEC, Golf 3 GTI, 320i BMW - easy pickings from 0-100... turns out that cam was 272deg (stock = 250) and valve lift went up from 8.5mm to 11mm.

Well, that engine lasted 5000km. Cam was a little steep and it broke a cam follower in half. Needless to say, I still drove the car on 3 cylinders for about 1000km. Then parked her and started a new job, based in Europe. This was 5 April 2004.

Pick of the broken cam follower - I never found the rest of it.
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As and when money has allowed, I have secretly been buying parts for my ultimate engine (I now have about 20 ultimates, but kept my mind set on this one - for now :mrgreen: ). I bought the pistons in 2001, heads and carbs in 2002, crank and rods in 2003 and pretty much the rest in 2006. I wont go into details on specs, but will let out a few. O yes, this is a street car, not a track car. I have run a few tolerances a little on the tight side, but that was my personal choice and I bought the parts which would allow me to do so.
And for the record - no-one but me touches my engine. I designed it, I bought it, I built it. The only thing I didnt do myself during the whole engine build is the balancing and flywheel mods.

Some pics of the engine build....

Heads... this is where the inlets ports started
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and then I spent a heck of a lot of time porting them MYSELF - in total nearly 15 hours per cylinder excluding the mainfolds
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Manifolds - I dont have a finished pic, but you can see the markings from the stock size ports to the larger ones
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Chambers - valve size went from 35mm inlet and 32mm exhaust to 44mm inlet and 38mm exhaust.
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Rotating assembly - check my piston to crank and opposing rod big end clearance issues (boxer engine remember) - I had to file down the piston skirts to get a clearance of 1.5mm
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coming together - lubed up with moly for running in....
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Sub assembly complete
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clutch
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Barrel
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Short block complete
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getting there....
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external oil filter, oil pressure sender and oil temp sender
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Oil piping lines - bottom pipe is from the oil pump out to the filter, higher fitting is the oil return back into the crankcase - oil pump, pump cover and crank-case had to be modified so all oil flows out of the case and then returns again
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One of my favourite eye-candy items.... the exhaust.
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To cut a long story short... after I had run in the camshaft - which is done by priming the carbs, then removing the valve train and spark plugs and swinging over the engine on the starter motor until you have oil pressure. Then you reassemble it all and start. Immediately as she fires, get the revs to above 2500rpm and hold it there for 15 minutes... I kept mine at 3200 for 15 minutes, then 2500 for 5 minutes.
After this, I changed the oil and the filter and got into the drivers seat just to "feel" - I had no brakes, so couldnt drive.
FK me, the car revs quick!!!! check the video for proof
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Since all this, I have managed to get the car running and have done 500km. Power is good for now. Carbs have been set super rich for running in. When I get home in Feb, I intend doing another few hundred km, then getting Jesse to tune the car properly. Then we will be laughing...



Well, I hope you guys enjoyed this writeup... I cant see straight anymore from all the typing and loading pictures....


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Re: My bug - version 1 - Suicyde - the ongoing project

Post by beetlefanatic »

Thanks for the write-up Tony. I take my hat of to you for doing all this yourself.
Love the wheels and the stance of the car. VX1's?

I wouldn't mind to get a spin in it someday! :hangloose:
The only substitute for cubic inches are more cubic inches.
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Tony Z
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Re: My bug - version 1 - Suicyde - the ongoing project

Post by Tony Z »

Well, then you better get ass to the George show in Feb. I will be doing everything in my power to have the car running and at the show.
Yep, old school VX1s at the moment - busy looking for new rims.

My ideas for the near future are to hopefully get new front seats cause the orignal ones are wrecked and now have black sheets over them. I need to plumb in an oil external oil cooler.
The gearbox will be needing a little attention - Bugger, maybe you can help... when the box comes out, I will be welding in a Kaefer cup brace for the gearbox to add to the other braces I already have. I then also need to get a new front bulkhead engine tin and modify it to fit properly with my extra hoses in the way. New larger fuel lines are on the cards sometime along with my Holley black fuel pump.

At some stage after all that, the car will be getting gutted a bit. I'll then be getting a rollcage built up and inserted, at the same time as this, I will be making some space for a turbo system. Then the car will be going in for a new colour and new tail lights. I'll also be removing the fenders and putting them back on "stock style" with rubber between them and the body thereby loosing the smoothed over look.

Thats my 5 year plan anyway. Its open to change.
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Tony Z
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Re: My bug - version 1 - Suicyde - the ongoing project

Post by Tony Z »

I am busy going thru pictures and found these.... had to laugh...

Colour coded fan....
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and colour coded grommets
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As for the fan - I got it sandblasted then got it welded and balanced. I then took it to a local spray painter and asked him to put a layer of primer on it. He tells me that primer will come off if it isnt protected by paint and asks me what colour I want. I tell him I couldnt care less, he must just use whatever he has left in his gun after spraying something else.... I ended up with blue - what were the odds?

The grommets are actually insulation from AA gauge power cable which I borrowed off a ship I worked on once. Also just happened to be blue.
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Re: My bug - version 1 - Suicyde - the ongoing project

Post by beetlefanatic »

I'm planning to be at the George show, but with me doing contract work, I never know too long in advance where I'll be. The cabrio has to be finished for that too.
The only substitute for cubic inches are more cubic inches.
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Re: My bug - version 1 - Suicyde - the ongoing project

Post by Dutch_Diver »

Come on Tony.....George Show is the goal.....I'm hoping to take Mo & Bobbie!!!!

HR, can we book the same accomodation? I have some others also interested in coming...
"MO" - 1965 Splitscreen bus --> http://www.aircooledvwsa.co.za/viewtopi ... =37&t=9305" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
"BOBBIE" - 1963 Beetle --> http://www.aircooledvwsa.co.za/viewtopi ... 23&t=11338" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
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Re: My bug - version 1 - Suicyde - the ongoing project

Post by hitlers revenge »

Guys its too early yet, but when I get the call to say how many rooms I want I'll give you all a shout.
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Re: My bug - version 1 - Suicyde - the ongoing project

Post by 4agedub »

Tony, Are you running 48ida's or 44idf's on your engine? Did you modify the intake manifold base or buy them like that from cb?
VW Beetle 1303 - 2165cc Turbo
VW Beetle 1971 2332cc
VW Beetle 1969 - 2666cc Turbo
VW Beetle 1974 - 1600
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Re: My bug - version 1 - Suicyde - the ongoing pro

Post by bferreira89 »

Now that's how you build a motor !
CLEAN and NEAT!!
Good Job. :hangloose:
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Tony Z
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Re: My bug - version 1 - Suicyde - the ongoing project

Post by Tony Z »

4agedub wrote:Tony, Are you running 48ida's or 44idf's on your engine?
Neither :mrgreen:
48IDF's

4agedub wrote: Did you modify the intake manifold base or buy them like that from cb?
That is the CB big beef manifold. It comes with the extra material so you dont have to go through the effort of having them welded up for porting big intakes.
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Re: My bug - version 1 - Suicyde - the ongoing project

Post by 4agedub »

What jet sizes did you end off on? I just want a good starting point for my big engine.
VW Beetle 1303 - 2165cc Turbo
VW Beetle 1971 2332cc
VW Beetle 1969 - 2666cc Turbo
VW Beetle 1974 - 1600
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Tony Z
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Re: My bug - version 1 - Suicyde - the ongoing project

Post by Tony Z »

Honestly, no idea... I wont lie to you, I know very little about carbs.
The carbs are very rich at the moment for the breakin, but its going for a full dyno session pretty soon
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Tony Z
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Re: My bug - version 1 - Suicyde - the ongoing project

Post by Tony Z »

Last week I bought new mags....
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These have a different PCD as stock, so I am busy getting the hubs and discs redrilled.
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Re: My bug - version 1 - Suicyde - the ongoing project

Post by Blitzkrieg »

Awesome wheels! :hangloose:
If it's too low, you're too old :twisted:
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Re: My bug - version 1 - Suicyde - the ongoing project

Post by karmakoma »

Great choice on the wheels- :deflag:
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