Mid engine fun

[DeathBySnuSnu]

Went and got one of these.

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And the plans of a rebuild.....be warmed over and buggy style simplicity........uhhhhh evolved.

I still dont understand why I caint keep it simple.....but here we go.

So now it is becoming (slowly)....a mid engine mazda klze v6 and a 901 side shifter from a 914, tube chassis .....pseudo euro racer. Possibly autocross car.

I am wondering what diameter rear torsion springs to use?
It will be vw IRS but with the short 21-3/4 springs.

[bad62bug]

Nice, my guess would be to start with stock, just because your pushing your weight forward off the rear of the car, and it looks like it will be a light car.

[Ol'fogasaurus]

If you are going to use a VW front beam then I would suggest adding adjusters to it. That way you can control height some what and you can set the adjuster either to match or be off each other to somewhat adjust the spring weight you will have. Should work with either K&L or BJ beams.

DBSS... "I still dont understand why I caint keep it simple" You know that idea isn't going to last for more than 6 seconds and that is giving you extra time to turn around .

Lee

[DeathBySnuSnu]

I had just really gotten started when the corona hit.

I do not have the 901 trans in hand....but I have it waiting on me to come get it.

I was right in the middle of a standard ball joint front end.
I have the disc brakes and drop spindles. I had cut the the center grubs and was going to just set ride height and weld back up. I had not thought about being able to adjust top different than bottom to effectively change spring rate.

I had planned on a fairly heavy front sway bar and stiffer rear springs.....at least when I was still in rear engine vw mode.

The v6 is a little heavier and will be right in the middle of the rear torsion beam. The cut down 15-1/2 inch vw kit body will have to be extended behind the tub in the 8 to 10 inch range.

So that leaves me figuring out how to make it handle.
I want it to be a psuedo euro racer. A 50's to 60' era racer like a 550 spyder.....look real...ish.....but be something that never was.
Confuse some folks.....lol

[DeathBySnuSnu]

Enkie wheels.

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A 5 on 100 pattern.

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[DeathBySnuSnu]

I do not have the intake and throttle bodies yet.
But I plan on it looking like this.
It actually does now except for intakes.

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I will probably fabricate intakes again like I did last time.
They will likely be longer as that is what my math says.

[DeathBySnuSnu]

Elephant ears on the trans adapter.

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And the start on the rear of the frame.

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[Ol'fogasaurus]

The v6 is a little heavier and will be right in the middle of the rear torsion beam. The cut down 15-1/2 inch vw kit body will have to be extended behind the tub in the 8 to 10 inch range.

So that leaves me figuring out how to make it handle.
I want it to be a psuedo euro racer. A 50's to 60' era racer like a 550 spyder.....look real...ish.....but be something that never was.

Do I understand it correctly that you are going to use a stock VW pan preferably with IRS suspension?

Deathbysnusnu.jpg

Is the body going to be lengthen 8 to 10 inches?

Is this going to be a mid engine or a rear engine rig?

How do you plan on balancing the weight for similar front and rear end weight or is that even a worry?

Are you going to replace the body mount sides of the pan with a stronger way of doing it and join it to a cage ?

The body design looks good but the engine placement isn't what I understood hence the questions. I'm playing with a V6 in a stock length VW pan but using a stock Bus trans so it a bunch of inches behind a stock flat 4 and the weight is quite a bit more. For the street handling balance is probably goin to be a bit difficult. Mid-engine is another matter which I am assuming the other trans (901) that you talked about or is it still going to be rear engine.

From what I see you are going to get into some of the same problems I am having (such as a flat hood area and it there room for a fuel tank).

Lee

[DeathBySnuSnu]

Originally it was a cut down pan and a simple body.
Much like a dune buggy.
The plan was to restore it to the original way it was.
Then lower it and set up for autocross.

And

Then

Now it is going to be a full tube chassis.
Mid engine.
V6
Very low.

So yes. I do plan on using some of the vw suspension parts.

Yes. IRS and a ball joint front.

Yes lengthen the body.

Yes. A 901 trans. This is the early Porsche 911 trans that was used until the 912 and 914. I have one from a 914 waiting on me to go pick up 5speed mid engine and can handle the 200hp I have.

No...it probably will not be a full 50/50 weighted car.

No.....no room in the front for gas tank .....maybe the battery.

No. Not a pan. Might use the front of "head" and weld into a bulkhead that ties into the tubing.

[Ol'fogasaurus]

Sounds like you are going to have a fun time with this. I'll follow you build for sure.

Lee

[DeathBySnuSnu]

Gimme a link to your v6 build please.

[Ol'fogasaurus]

viewtopic.php?f=28&t=113703

This is the first page of a long and boring build but maybe there is something in there you can use. I think there are some focused outside builds too.

https://www.shoptalkforums.com/viewtopic.php?t=105659

This is my blue buggy. Both have mistakes I made and things I learned from here and from other sand guys.

Lee

[DeathBySnuSnu]

Thanks.
I have not read it all. But I find the parts about working the fiberglass interesting.

Starting on the rear suspension and frame area.

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[DeathBySnuSnu]

Engine in the middle of the torsion.
Takes short swing springs and long stick out irs plates.

So mid engine IRS.

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[Ol'fogasaurus]

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I tried to clean the pix up a bit. You have started out in an interesting way... I'm still looking at it hard and enjoying what you are trying to do.

Lee