Today I took my 1973 Volkswagen Superbeetle German Look project out for some pics (by me).

It is a '73 Super with a Topline Parts MaXX strut conversion (with new bushings and strut brace), disc brakes conversion (drilled out for a 4x100 bolt pattern with press in studs), lowered 2 1/2", new interior with Scat Procar seats (modified to fit in the VW) and Watson Streetworks American Autowire wiring harness.

The motor is a 2187cc Type 1 based EMPI bubble head case based motor with CB Performance 044 heads, a CB 3qt sump, Scat 1.4:1 rockers and dual Weber IDF 44 carbs. The exhaust is a merged setup with an A1 muffler.

Literally everything is new and custom built and so far is an absolute blast to drive (even though the carbs are a b**** to tune).












[This message has been edited by DBSwooper (edited 10/23/2011 10:25p).]

that thing is sweet

****ing A, what sts said.

Very cool. Fun to see something different.

Any idea what kind of horsepower you're making and how much it weighs?

It weighs around 2100lbs and should be pushing about 130hp through the wheels. I need to run it over to the Co-Op to get it weighed. I don't want to put it on a dyno until I get the motor good and broke in and get those danged Webers tuned in just right.

drool...

Co-op will be 20# +/- but should be close enough for government work.

16#/HP, should be fun.

Here's a really crappy cell-phone pic (I'll take some good quality pics tomorrow):

Nice car, but what does "German Look" mean?

German Look is a style of custom build on a VW. Its style roots are from the now defunct Kafer Kup that used to be run in Germany. The short explanation is that you build a car that is clean on the outside, not too much chrome and with a big motor. Traditionally there are a lot of Porsche parts adapted, but that isn't always the case.

Sort of ironic, since an aircooled VW, by definition, started out as a "German Look."

Very clean looking! I've always been curious how well a SB could be make to handle. Motor sounds like it has some umph to it, too.

I have a '66 on a '69 pan that hasn't been together in probably ten or more years now. Been meaning to pull it out of storage and start working on it again. This time I want to build it into a track car.

Mine has a 2110cc motor: German case, Cima pistons, Scat crank and rods, Berg heads, dual 44mm Webers, Web-Cam 109 camshaft. It is a pretty stout but well driving street motor. The one pass I ever made at the strip it ran a 14.1s 1/4 mile, but it was only running on three and a half cylinders!

I actually pulled the heads out of storage a month or so ago and took pictures: https://picasaweb.google.com/robertbcope/GeneBergGB865Heads

robert

Nice heads. It is really hard to go wrong with Gene Berg parts.

A SB can be built to handle really well with the suspension design it has, but parts need to be updated. Topline Parts makes good pieces to do that with.

I didn't built out the rear suspension as far as the front, but I'm not going to be putting my car on the track for any real amount of time. For the rear a "kafer brace" can be welded in and with a solid trans mount, the rear end stiffens up really well.

Great ride man, nice work!

what transaxle do you have? what about rear brakes? I'm trying to piece together my car and just found out my 915 trans has the same flange pattern as vw type 2s

Right now I'm running a stock Type 1 trans and the stock rear drums. The drums are fine, but I'll eventually have to trade out or build up that tranny. I'm going to go with another Type 1 that is built up.

The 915 swap is fairly common, you'll find a lot of examples of how to make that happen if you use that in a project.

Maybe you can help me.

My project used to have a type 1 transaxle. I'm putting in the 915. The drive flange on the 915 is the same as on a type 2 (bigger than a type 1)

For right now I'd love to be able to keep using the type 1 cv's, axles, brakes, etc and then later when money allows upgrade everything. Is there anyway to do this?

Nope. If you're going to go with the 915 tranny, it is an all or nothing approach (since it isn't a direct bolt in). You end up welding on the mounts, changing a lot of stuff, but you end up with a bullet proof transaxle. It is a nice mate to a Type4 conversion, though.

Quite a few folks have done this conversion, though.

Does it float?

Sweet!

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Does it float?

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Only my wallet!


I don't think this car would have floated in at least 20 years.

I love that color!! My 68 Mustang follows the same basic scheme- no side emblems/clean look. And it's aqua.

I've been looking for info, do you have any sites that would help me out?

Man, I hate VWs ......

But I LOVE that car!!!!!
That is very classy.

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I've been looking for info, do you have any sites that would help me out?

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Aircooled.net has an example in their tech articles section. The "high performance" VW book had a chapter on it, but it sort of glossed over some of the important stuff. A few folks on TheSamba have done the conversion as well.