Vw rat rod

[EGLITOM]

My son (17) has his driving license ( although he is just allowed to drive in company of a adult until he turns 18) and thanks god he does not like the
"fast and furious" rice bombers ( although in the 4th sequel the had some pretty cool cars =>"Fbomb").

He would love to build an "eleonore" mustang, but thats way out of his budget( which is basically not existing)

He also very much loves old school bikes and cars. So we checked what the options are. And we came up with this.

YouTube - VW Rat Rod

Michael loves that style and we will start a project for his future ride.
The good thing is:
- he learns a lot of skills by doing it
- we will not modify the engine ( besides adding a single throttle body megasquirt FI, here you again with learning new things) so power will be modest, but we will focus on a real good chassis and suspension ( to upgrade the engine later) and he is not likely to kill himself on the autobahn with this thing.
- It´s way cool

Next week we will start looking for a car to start with ( preferred a 70-72 semiautomatic) and he will need to ask my father in law for a space on his farm to build the car.

Another teaser
YouTube - Howards VolKCWrod (volksrod)

Ron would we be allowed to put a build log in this section ?

THanks
TOM

 

[Ron Earp]

Awesome project, looks like fun! Sure, you can put some build log action up. Be interesting. I'm sure he'll learn a ton on this project and that is a perfect one to start with - not too expensive, not too powerful, and still has a cool factor!

 

[Jack]

Around 1970 I built a VW bug "rat rod". Based on a 1968 1500, I chopped the top
put a "select a drop" in the front torsion bars and severely decambered the rear.

tore the engine apart and used 98mm Brazilian jugs & pistons, etc. webers. don't know the output but is sounded great with the stinger exhaust. Kinda miss it too!

 

[Mike Christian]

As the current owner of a 1966 VW Beetle converted to 12 VDC, a 1970 VW Campmobile, and a Porsche 550 Spyder replica with a built 2180 type 1, I look forward to your build log! Type 1's are a great first project!

Then again you could always install a Raby Monster Type iV...

Mike

 

[Neal]

Cool stuff. There are quite a few in my area. Rat Patrol is one of my favorites...
Check out www.volksrods.com

 

[Dave Wood]

Speedway Motors in Nebraska, as well as some others, used to offer a VW "T" kit. Basically a T bucket pick up ( short bed) built on a tube frame that used a VW bug powertrain. I see them occasionally. They also offer the pieces to make that Rat Rod look...I think they call it "So-Cal" look in the catalog.

 

[TimB]

Why the semiauto? Just because it's easier to learn? It's kinda kludgy with a vacuum servo that puls in a clutch when a microswitch on the shifter is closed but it also uses a torque converter. Parts are kinda hard to come by and not cheap. I had one as a youth and ended up installing a manual box. This is easy on some but others did not get the clutch tube so can be a cahllenge. You are right you will need to stick to a pre73 with the leaf spring front vs the mcpherson strut they got later. Been a long time since I did VW's. from personal experience I think I would stick with a pair of single barel down draft webers rather than injection. If I remember right mine were 32's on a 1600 dual port head and it was bullet proof and yeilded 32 on the highway.

 

[Jack]

The best solution is a cam, 32's or 40mm downdraft webers on the 1600. Agree with Tim about the semiauto. Not worth the effort & expense. Go manual it's much easier. Always adjust the valves cold every 3K miles and no problems. Pretty bulletproof.

 

[Cliff Beer]

You can get a 2100cc kit for the vw motor and that combined with 40 idf webers puts out a decent amount of power for a car weighing right around 1,900 lbs.

Are you sure the German authorities will let you register a car such as that? Somehow I think they're going to have a problem with bumper heights, completely exposed wheels, no engine lid, etc....

Cool car though!

 

[Phil]

Its amazing what has been fit into VW chassis. This one was a little tight, but it runs and drives well.
Cheers
Phil

 

[TimB]

The best solution is a cam, 32's or 40mm downdraft webers on the 1600. Agree with Tim about the semiauto. Not worth the effort & expense. Go manual it's much easier. Always adjust the valves cold every 3K miles and no problems. Pretty bulletproof.

This jogs my memory a bit and I agree I used an Engle 110 cam with the 32's

 

[Neal]

Not to drift but the fellow that painted my car went the v8 route... Runs into the mid 8s.