TheSamba.com :: View topic - Midengine superbeetle build..Cadillac northstar..long travel

Thu Mar 05, 2009 3:28 pm

:twisted:

Thu Mar 05, 2009 3:34 pm

That's not quite wide enough.

Thu Mar 05, 2009 5:35 pm

northstarbeetle wrote: :twisted:

:shock: OMFG!!!!!!! :twisted:

Thu Mar 05, 2009 6:33 pm

:shock: !! WOW that is Effing WIDE !! :shock:

keep on rocking it... what are you thinking for tires??

Thu Mar 05, 2009 6:40 pm

is that even gonna fit in a lane?

Thu Mar 05, 2009 6:48 pm

haha it looks like your building one of those remote controll cars with a huge wheel base! that thing will never flip over hahhahahahaha looking good!

Thu Mar 05, 2009 7:02 pm

Im running 6X6 arms and that puts me at 83" wide
how wide is yours close to 90" :twisted:

Thu Mar 05, 2009 10:30 pm

hey northstarbeetle are you gonna run that northstar OEM? or are you gonna upgrade some stuff and make it more agressive? also i want to see how you run your exhaust that should be interesting.

im really enjoying watching this build i think if i ever build another buggy its gonna have a mid mounter LS engine and all around a-arms :twisted:. just a little upgrade from the stock 40hp beetle engine this one has :lol:

Thu Mar 05, 2009 10:35 pm

what are you plans for the rear of this thing? being mid engine your going to have all the room in the world back there. have you thought about leaving all the sheet metal back there seeing as your tires are going to be well outside of fender range.

Thu Mar 05, 2009 10:47 pm

runslikeapenguin wrote: what are you plans for the rear of this thing? being mid engine your going to have all the room in the world back there. have you thought about leaving all the sheet metal back there seeing as your tires are going to be well outside of fender range.

nah if your going this far out of the box you gotta give it a unique look as well what about a tire holder for two spare tires or keeping part of the body back there and putting in a sheet of lexan or something so you can show off that V8 :twisted:

Thu Mar 05, 2009 11:43 pm

Ahahaha, holy hell that thing is wide! What did you do when you were buying axles, buy the longest ones you could find? :lol: I love it, but it's a good thing you live in Colorado, it wouldn't make it 2 miles down the road here before the five-O wanted to have a talk with you.

Fri Mar 06, 2009 8:06 am

lol...heres my plans, but who knows ill have to see how everything comes together...the main goal is get all the majors stuff in and see where the rest has room!

tires ?? 33x10.5 front 32 x9.5 ?? or maybe 32" and 31"

i am trying to keep the body kinda stock looking as far as keeping motor hood skirt and fenders..i have some 3 inch wider fiberglass im going to form to fit.. my buddy had a great idea to cut some more vents in the hood install the radiator and fans there behind the hood or flat over trans..then I am thinking about making a tire mount over the engine at an angle on roll cage..id have to stick the spare tire threw the back window..originally i wanted exuast coming out side windows...but looks like that will be a stretch..probably run them out the back in skirt..

This is my first buggy build.. im a custom painter-bodyman by trade and i have lots of plans there ..it will be pretty trick..blasting the whole thing.. lots of fiberglass work.. pop doors w/shaved handles.. ect.. hopefully someday.. :wink:

As far as building the motor..maybe down the road..but honestly I think my trans will not handle the 300hp i have.. once i get to upgrade that then i might.. I do want to keep the motor really reliable.. i did hear will a simple valve job on the northstar and i can pick up 100 more hp.. :twisted: ill be working on rear removable cage this weekend..more pics commin..

Fri Mar 06, 2009 10:30 am

northstarbeetle wrote: pop doors w/shaved handles..

Funny story about those......

A buddy of mine got his first real off road track about 10 years ago. Being from the low rider scene he decided he wanted the standard alarm/ door pop deal. For some reason he had unhooked the inside door release also. I told him it was a bad idea but he wouldn't listen.......

Several months go by and were out at the desert blasting along a whooped out trail. All of a sudden he slows and pulls over. I see there is smoke coming out of the hood and he is crawling out the window...... To promptly fall on his head...... Seams the battery had come loose and shorted out starting a fire and making the door pops inoperative. One of the funniest things I have ever seen....... He got rid of the alarm and door pops as soon as he got home.

Fri Mar 06, 2009 3:41 pm

Fri Mar 06, 2009 3:49 pm

wow, those are some monster fenders.

Fri Mar 06, 2009 7:05 pm

lol you should modify em in so the tires tuck under and clear for travel :lol: :lol: :lol:

Mon Mar 09, 2009 11:50 pm

Quote: but honestly I think my trans will not handle the 300hp i have

the 914 trans won't handle that much power, tall or side shift. Well, it might for maybe one run, and then blow into pieces!!!

Tue Mar 10, 2009 12:01 pm

Tue Mar 10, 2009 1:33 pm

I'm curious as to why you went with the 914 trans. Looks like a cool build......

Tue Mar 10, 2009 7:21 pm

ok ..thanks turnaround .. i am aware the 914 trans wont handle 300hp.. Porsche does claim it handles 200 to 250hp but it has a weak first gear and does not handle shock loading....
I know a guy who runs a swing axle to his northstar..he just cant put his foot in it or pop clutch...had it for years..
I went with 914 because it is already set up to drive a mid engine.. I dont have to do anything to it, they are super cheap $150 and stronger than any stock vw trans....
if I went 091 i would have to run it upside down w/ a oil pump, because u cannot flip the ring gear on the 091.. its not very strong and puts your cvs like 5 inches higher...
Im going to be putting a 915 with a flipped ring gear down the road around $2500 built, its a much stronger trans than 914..
a built 930 or mendeola is the way to go... Hmm maybe when i can afford to drop $5000 on a trans...
Want to sponcer me?????
Untill then I have to go the cheapest route (because im poor) and focus on getting my build done first, then upgrading later.. the rear removable cage is large to accept the bigger trans, Ill just have to change the trans mounts and maybe axles!
Here is a few pics.. hopefully ill finish rear cage sometime this week then on to front end.....