TheSamba.com :: View topic - Porsche Powered Mid-Engine Double Cab Build

Thu Feb 25, 2010 10:08 pm

This thread got my attention!!! Great work.. can't wait to see this pan out.

Wed Mar 03, 2010 11:10 pm

Some progress as Seth welded up the shortened torque tube and the lowered 944 trans- axle bellhousing(more bell-housing modification!)
He posted up some shots already. I pulled the drive train to do that and measure the 915 bell-housing to input shaft offset to cut down the 944 driveshaft as it is about four feet too long and wrong spline.
It will soon be off to be machined.
I took some shots to show how all of these disparate parts go together.

Mon Mar 08, 2010 10:11 pm

Many get on here and do a lot of typing just to see their post numbers go up & think that means something. Too many times we read on threads "I'm gonna do this" or "I'm gonna do that"...with not much action being taken. Probably just as amazing as his build, is 67dubcab's ability to maintain a modest demeanor for all this length of time (years?) and not say a word about his plan until the time was absolutely right....now that is self control. I am sure there are few more guys lurking these waters not saying sh*t about what they really have cooking in the shop, just waiting for that right moment to shock us all once again. We could all learn from such humbleness.

Like you 67dubcab, there are also several of us (not everyone, just a few) on here that have grown tired of the whole 1600, 1835, 2110, swing axle, outdated drum brakes, snapped bullet proof cranks, blown trannys, etc drama and are starving for information & ideas about mating Porsche parts & performance with VW's, while maintaining that overall classic look. Thank you for putting your dreams into reality form and planting a seed for inspiration & motivation to others. There is quit nothing else like a Type 2 blowing away unsuspecting modern cars. Detailed video is a must the first chance you get.

Tue Mar 09, 2010 12:39 am

Thanks for the kind words again ArtistAntonio,and your support in general for the Porsche performance modified transporter.
I am more of a formula one/road course/rally kinda guy so I have always been out of the VW performance scene mainstream(my first car was a ghia convertible and that was 28 years ago.
More than 250,000 miles in mostly stock ghia convertibles since and almost 10 years of split double cab daily driving will lead some people to a little performance upgrade.
I have been rolling a truck by trade for 20+ years and my favorite is the d.c.

I have been inspired by other builds on the internet and thought to share when I finally did something myself.

I will continue to update when I have some more progress to show and I will provide some video when the d.c. is less static!

Tue Mar 09, 2010 3:10 am

Quality fabrication, love a good weld! This reminds me of the work that went into the ring taxi. Check this out:-
http://www.race-taxi.ch/gallery/album/index.html

Tue Mar 09, 2010 10:26 am

Amazing work. Your welds are some of the best I have ever seen.

Tue Mar 09, 2010 10:49 am

This is a badass build. Looking forward to all the progress pictures.

Wed Mar 10, 2010 10:02 am

ArtistAntonio wrote: Many get on here and do a lot of typing just to see their post numbers go up & think that means something. Too many times we read on threads "I'm gonna do this" or "I'm gonna do that"...with not much action being taken. Probably just as amazing as his build, is 67dubcab's ability to maintain a modest demeanor for all this length of time (years?) and not say a word about his plan until the time was absolutely right....now that is self control. I am sure there are few more guys lurking these waters not saying sh*t about what they really have cooking in the shop, just waiting for that right moment to shock us all once again. We could all learn from such humbleness.

Like you 67dubcab, there are also several of us (not everyone, just a few) on here that have grown tired of the whole 1600, 1835, 2110, swing axle, outdated drum brakes, snapped bullet proof cranks, blown trannys, etc drama and are starving for information & ideas about mating Porsche parts & performance with VW's, while maintaining that overall classic look. Thank you for putting your dreams into reality form and planting a seed for inspiration & motivation to others. There is quit nothing else like a Type 2 blowing away unsuspecting modern cars. Detailed video is a must the first chance you get.

+1
I applaud the creativity and engineering going into this transporter. I can appreciate an all original car but think it takes a lot of insight to bring components together to create a tastefully functioning vehicle. Not every body wants to putz up the back roads at 45mph running vintage 6 volt accessories.

Sun Apr 25, 2010 7:46 pm

Updates?

Sun Apr 25, 2010 10:01 pm

Hey 70 140,
Not much to report as the d.c. is waiting to go back to Seth's shop for another round. It has been delayed by a overly- extravagant Lemons race car build :shock: , but I am scheduled to bring it back this week-thursday or friday (april 29 or 30) :) .

This visit is to finish the fuel tank mounts,rear corner panel and battery tray replacement, start on the custom dry sump tank, button up some chassis and suspension details so I can bring it back to my shop and paint the engine bay/ trunk(?) to re-install the drive train and rear suspension.

Thanks all for the kind remarks, should have some more build progress to post up soon.

Sat May 01, 2010 8:54 am

Saw the doublecab on a dolly headed towards santa rosa. Looks damn nice!

Sun May 02, 2010 7:01 pm

Absolutely sick...great build!!!

Sun May 09, 2010 5:42 pm

WowWww... That's realy totaly SICK.!!! Cab off :wink:

I'm wait of a Video by road (perhaps with running in the corner) :twisted:

Thu Jul 15, 2010 8:09 am

yet another thread that gets missed then when found is read from start to finish 8) at least it was only 5 pages and 5000 photos long :P . Killer idea and superbly thought out as well as impressively fabbed. I was wondering what your planned weight distribution is? With the motor moved that far forward ( and it weighs more than a vw motor) as well as the added roll cage (thank you) thats a lot of weight moved to the front. I'm sure you thought about this long ago. Kudos to both of you.

Thu Jul 15, 2010 9:28 am

truly speechless.
did it ever make it back to the shop?

Thu Jul 15, 2010 8:24 pm

Came across your Porsche/VW project and see that you have a mid mount engine. I am looking to put a 3.6 964 engine with an automatic in my 58 split window and would love some info on your drive line. I am hoping to use the complete suspension from the 911 (as I have the complete car) Can it be done with an automatic? or should i be looking for a 915 or something. What adapter did you use to mount the motor backwards.
Your project is super cool I love it.

Thanks for the photos and inspiration.

AL

e-mail javadoc@telusplanet.net

Fri Jul 16, 2010 4:58 pm

Thanks all for the kind words.
I have not posted up lately as the d.c. is at my shop getting media blasted in the trunk, engine bay and bed so I can paint. The blasting is going slow as I only have a few hours a week right now to spare, but what fun!!! If I were doing the entire body I would have it done off site by a pro as it is a nasty job though strangely satisfying.

I also just picked up my cut-down and re-splined drive shaft and took some photos, will post soon,(not too exciting but a key part of the puzzle).

To MKIII iz KING, the double cab only spent a couple of days at Seth's shop before it returned to my shop and sat laggin'.

To mtb7001, thanks for the props.
I looked at doing the 911 rear engine and even tried to buy a 911 converted d.c. about eight years ago but missed out on the sale.
I was concerned about slinging the heavy 3.2 (about 450# dressed) in the back especially since it is a working truck and often has loads.
The engine is within a half inch of wheelbase centerline on my build(just worked out like that as it stays under the stock seat base)behind that is the torque tube and trans- axle(about 130#) fuel cell (13 gallons about 75#) battery(about 30#) all of that to offset my 190# front and left. The target goal would be a slight rear bias but I think it will be close to 50/50 when all is done. I will get it corner balanced to find out the true wheel weights. The target vehicle weight is 2800#(we'll see).

To yrgecheffe, Al, are you nuts!! (or a genius, hmmm)

There are lots of ways to go, kinda depends on what your building the bus for.

To run the 911 trans-axle mid-engine involves either flipping the ring&pinion or inverting the trans(both have been done,not sure about your specific transaxle, would have to check over at Pelican Parts forum.

If you go with a 944 based layout you can put the engine where you want (five feet or eight inches in front of the transaxle). It also allows you to keep the torsion tube if you like.

If you go with the multi-link rear suspension from the 964 I would see if you have room to clear the engine with it in front and directly connected to the trans(as opposed to the torque tube design) Also, I would look into a more modern Porsche mid -engine trans-axle if you go that layout(all ready facing correct way and has cable shift stock).

The adapter I used was built for me custom to my specs. It is a 915 bellhousing modified to attach to a 944 drive-line. For your 3.6 you would take a g50 bellhousing and do the same thing,and hey! it already has a hydr. clutch.

Hope that helps,
Stephen.

Sat Jul 17, 2010 10:45 am

Great work!

Sat Jul 17, 2010 11:45 am

I am a Hot Rod guy who has had this bus for 25 years and like it so much i can't part with it. I drive a restored 64 GTO for fun with lots of horsepower and would like to end up with a bus that is a really cool daily driver. I really appreciate the work you have done on your Dbl. cab and your fab skills are amazing.
Here's the deal - i have a completely restored and cool 58 split window and a wrecked 91 964 and would like to merge them into a Super Porshce/Wagon. The only problem is that i don't really understand the Porsche parts regarding suspension/inversion etc. I would like to use as much of my 964 Porsche as I can. Is it possible to enlist your skills (for a fee of course) for a list of parts and advice i will need to put this thing together as a mid engine. I would like to keep the engine as far back in the bus as possible. I love the mid engine concept though. We can do the fab work as we have the complete compliment of tools and a super nice shop. But we are builders of stuff with Big Blocks and Nitrous etc. So this Porsche/VW stuff is a bit of a mystery to me.
So maybe you are Dr. Frankenstein and i am Igor.

Thanks

Al

Sat Jul 17, 2010 2:10 pm

Hey Al,
I am a hot rodder too ,just more of a euro car guy, all the same concept though.

I will email you to discuss your build, not sure about the fee thing but maybe you can help me out when I eventually add a 75h.p. shot to my little 3.2 to keep up to you!

Stephen.