[V8 Super Beetle]

I'll have the mockup frame completed this weekend and I'll post pics.

[V8 Super Beetle]

After getting pricing on rectangular tubing, mild steel and chromoly, I've decide to just go ahead and buy the remaining S-10 chassis because it's less expensive and I only have to make a couple welds.

[V8 Super Beetle]

Been practicing welding and daydreaming of what I want my bug to look like. Here's what I Photoshopped up.



Here's a bug that I kinda got the idea from.



I'm hoping to make the trim, bumpers, running boards, and possibly the dash out of carbon fiber to reduce weight. I've been looking into mold making and carbon fiber fabrication. Here's a link to a tread on how to make carbon fiber parts from the stock one.

http://www.bayarearidersforum.com/fo...hreadid=145975

[V8 Super Beetle]

I know exactly where I'm going with shortening the S10 frame. From researching I've found it's pretty simple to short the S10 frame. It's apparently two separate sections that fit into one another and is then welded together. Just grind the welds and cut (easier said then done, lol).

Here's a image I put together to show what I'm talking about.

[V8 Super Beetle]

So, FINALLY, got me a chassis. It ran me $150 Ext. cab, 2wd, 1994. I got the chassis from this really cool retired mechanic that has a shop connected to his house with a car lift and all kinds of tools. He offered to help me out by turning my rotors, showing me how to rebuild the tranny, etc. He even loaned me his trailer to use and gave me a manual steering box to use. So I got a hella dell and found someone willing to help me out, and a new friend.

Anywho, here's some pics.


Me and my puppy making the hour trip.


Chassis on the trailer.






Chassis under the bug body.


I've got to remove about 27.25" between the wheels. The front wheels aren't completely lined up with the front wheel wells but you get the idea. I'll get to removing the body mounts, cutting the frame off the front where the steering box and linkage bolts up, installing the shorter leafs, cutting the rear of the frame off and last but not least shortening the wheel base. Then I'll rebuild the chassis with new paint, bushings, and brake hoses. Work, work, work...


Here's a pic of the wheels I'll use. They're 1988 Corvette wheels, 16"x8.5". I decided to use the 16" wheels because tires will cost a little less. I plan to have these wheels machined to take care of the curb marks, to make sure they're straight and so they'll look new.



2" aluminum spacers to fit the vette wheels.

[HemmiGremmie]

Heres a few pics 4 ya. HG

http://l.yimg.com/www.flickr.com/images/spaceball.gif

http://hotrodhotline.com/feature/200...ected_Hemi.jpg

http://rds.yahoo.com/_ylt=A0WTb_jrC7...ta/514/bug.jpg

[V8 Super Beetle]

Nice find! Take a look at this link and you'll find V8 bug projects in the making as well as just V8 bug pics.

v8bugs.com

You'll see my ride on there two, basically the same posting here but more of my thought process.

[V8 Super Beetle]

I got some frame work done this weekend.

Cut the end of the frame down and I will weld on some new shackle mounts. Possibly just might remove the stock mounts from the frame and weld them in the new location or I'll just use some round tubing and what not.


Trimmed down the front.


Here's a pic of the frame shortened at the stock welds. I removed 27.325" between the wheels. I'm in the process of aligning the two pieces back together to be welded. You can see the section from the middle I removed on the floor.


The other side.


The front frame overlaps the rear section.


Here's a shot of the rear. The frame and shackles should fit under the body. We'll see, but looks like it'll work.


Measuring the modified wheelbase.


Looks pretty close. 95.25". I'll have someone help me next weekend just to besure it's the correct wheelbase, to tack it up and then it'll be welded back together.

95.25", Yeee-haawww. j/p.


Next, frame welding then I'll finish removing the body mounts.

[grouch]

You're really moving along with this thing! Appreciate the pictures; hope you keep them coming.

Those 2x4s and blocks are scary.

Are you going to put gussets where you weld the frame back together? There are some nice photos of "fish plates" in willys36@aol.com's Journal on here. I'm not suggesting that the bug is going to put the same kinds of strains on that frame joint as a front clip for a pickup, but those plates don't add much weight for the added strength.

[V8 Super Beetle]

Originally Posted by grouch

You're really moving along with this thing! Appreciate the pictures; hope you keep them coming.

Those 2x4s and blocks are scary.

Are you going to put gussets where you weld the frame back together? There are some nice photos of "fish plates" in willys36@aol.com's Journal on here. I'm not suggesting that the bug is going to put the same kinds of strains on that frame joint as a front clip for a pickup, but those plates don't add much weight for the added strength.

Thanks! I will definitely have more pictures as I go.

The blocks and 2x4's are temporary. Soon the body will be sitting on the S10 chassis. The body really isn't too heavy. I managed to stick those blocks and 2x4's under the car single handedly. Lifted the whole front of the body with one hand and stuck blocks under it with the other hand, then I repeated for the rear and slowly managed to get 2 blocks high I'm just trying to make due with what I have.

Well, the stock joints over lap one another.



That should hold but I'm thinking of adding gussets as well for add strength. And you're right, I don't think the added metal will affect my ride weight wise. At this point I'm able to lift and move around the frame and body with ease.

[sammyvc]

Originally Posted by V8 Super Beetle

I got some frame work done this weekend.

Cut the end of the frame down and I will weld on some new shackle mounts. Possible just might remove the stock mounts from the frame and weld them in the new location or I'll just use some round tubing and what not.


Trimmed down the front.


Here's a pic of the frame shortened at the stock welds. I removed 27.325" between the wheels. I'm in the process of aligning the two pieces back together to be welded. You can see the section from the middle I removed on the floor.


The other side.


The front frame overlaps the rear section.


Here's a shot of the rear. The frame and shackles should fit under the body. We'll see, but looks like it'll work.


Measuring the modified wheelbase.


Looks pretty close. 95.25". I'll have someone help me next weekend just to besure it's the correct wheelbase, to tack it up and then it'll be welded back together.

95.25", Yeee-haawww. j/p.


Next, frame welding then I'll finish removing the body mounts.

please help me.my name is sam.i need your help.can you please tell me the years of s-10's i can use.and the year you uaed.please help

[sammyvc]

help can i use a 98 frame are do i need a 88 s-10

[V8 Super Beetle]

Originally Posted by sammyvc

please help me.my name is sam.i need your help.can you please tell me the years of s-10's i can use.and the year you uaed.please help

Are you planning on building a V8 bug? If so, any year S-10 chassis will work. Your best bet is to go with a regular cab short bed S-10 chassis. But really, any S-10 will work, you just have to cut the frame so the wheelbase is 94.5" for a beetle or 95.25" for a super beetle, which is what I have. I used a 94 S-10 extended cab frame. It's all I could find, but it'll work.

I know another guy that's building a V8 bug with a S-10 chassis, and I believe his was an extended cab as well, but it was an earlier model. He welded his frame together a little different than mine.

Go here and you could him about his as well.

v8bugs.com and look for user name hellraiser.

I hope this helped!

[V8 Super Beetle]

Originally Posted by sammyvc

help can i use a 98 frame are do i need a 88 s-10

A 98 frame will work out fine. I'm using a 94. There's a couple different ways you could shorten the frame. 1, at the stock manufacture welds. The frame is basically two sections. If you go this route you'll have to cut away half of the heater channel from the windshield forward so the body will fit over the frame, which is what I'm doing. 2, you could cut the frame further towards the front removing the section of the frame that bows out and weld the frame back together.

Anywho, a 98 frame will work.

[V8 Super Beetle]

Here are a couple of pics of the prepped frame ends and a picture of the frame clamped together before I tacked it, then started welding.

I'll have pics of the finished welding / fish plating later this week.