Subaru engine, radiator in the back, bug body not modified.

[xoo00oox]

I have been working on doing this to my bug.......

[billz60vw]

very nice!! me likes! i am also doing rear radiator it will be nice to see how yours turns out!

[slow steve]

Love the radiator alteration device!

[fezzic181]

That bending tool is winning on so many levels.

[xoo00oox]

Thanks guys.


here is another shot of the bender, 1999 Carrera4, you need something with a wide tire to do this trick.





Andrew-

[Fiatdude]

Got a weird question -- -- How you going to burp the air out of the radiator so that it works right???

[xoo00oox]

The radiator is in upside down from its normal position. There is a drain petcock in what is now the top right corner. I think if I jack that side of the car up, I can reach under the rad and open the "drain" to use it as a bleeder I'll be ok. We shall see.


Andrew-

[Ol'fogasaurus]

One way is to find a fairly long steep hill and drive up it, drive down it then drive across it in both directions. That usually works to burp the system pretty well... assuming you have any hills to start with and long ones to end with.

It is going to be interesting to see how the radiator does work. I don't think I have ever seen a bent/curved/arced one myself that was done that way on purpose but... why not; I don't see a good reason why it wouldn't flow as normal as long as there are no restrictions bent into it. I was also interested to see that the radiator did not break or come apart like I would have though it might.

[turbobaja]

If you have access to a vacuum/fill type of coolant filling machine I'd try that. If you draw 25"+ vacuum on the system, then allow the cooling system to suck its own coolant in, You'll get 99% of the air out to begin with.

[panel]

Will/won't the exhaust be loud

[panel]

I'd love to eliminate all that mechanism also on the TB it's ugly. Any more info on shortening the TB shaft etc?

I have been working on doing this to my bug.......

[xoo00oox]

Panel-

Yes, as pictured the exhaust is quite loud. I am working on making some baffles for the tailpipes to cut the noise down a bit.



To shorten the throttle body like that was pretty easy if you have access to a lathe. It probably could be done with a hack saw and grinder if needed.
Once shortened, I just needed to weld the part that the cable attaches to to the remaining lever. This allows you just enough room to put an intake elbow on.

[img]http://i1075.photobucket.com/album ... .jpg[/img]



Andrew-

[xoo00oox]

If you have access to a vacuum/fill type of coolant filling machine I'd try that. If you draw 25"+ vacuum on the system, then allow the cooling system to suck its own coolant in, You'll get 99% of the air out to begin with.

I had planned on using a EVAC system if needed. I will try it without one first and see how it goes. I ruined a radiator once using one because it sucked the seal inward and I had to replace it on my customers car at my cost, now I only use it when I really need to.


Andrew-

[panel]

xoo00oox It's not the tb itself I was interested in it was the shaft shortening? It is interesting though

Did you just cut the threaded shaft down, throw away the leftovers and then re-thread it?

[xoo00oox]

What I did with the throttle body was cut off the shaft that the piece the cable went to, then weld the piece that the cable hooks to to the piece on the shaft that the actual butterfly is on. Confusing to explain, but easy to see if you have one in your hand.



Today I got the rear brakes back together and put the wheels on so we dropped it down for a little test run, this is the first time it has moved with the Subaru engine. There is still a lot of work to be done, the fans are not hooked up, wiring is not complete, no air filter, etc. I drove it up and down my driveway a few time, it feels really nice.



The blue Vanagon in the video has a much more interesting drivetrain than this bug, that's the one I made the 1.8t run backward so I could use a Passat 5 speed transmission.

The Passat in the video is also one of the coolest stock VW's made, W8 6 speed MANUAL transmission.




Andrew-