Ecotec Street Rail Build

[pallen]

added studs and painted the rotors

Started on the electrical, trying to make the harness removable without cutting it up...

I also got a quote from insurance and it will only be 24$ a month to add the rail to my policy so that's nice!
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Buggy Build > http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=499786

Ecotec Street Rail Build > http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?p=8146270#8146270

[pallen]

So I had to get a little creative to mount an e-brake but I definitely wanted one.

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Buggy Build > http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=499786

Ecotec Street Rail Build > http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?p=8146270#8146270

[pallen]

Been awhile... here is some updates...

Went to the Baja 1000

Got back and picked up a really good deal with a bunch of parts...

The 4 seater will be sold but I got it cleaned up and running...

Also got an ecotec with the deal, so I have been researching and collecting parts...

As you can see I will be doing the harness myself, and my buddie has HP tuners so we will be flashing the PCM as well. I will be getting a KEP adapter setup soon so I can figure out PCM/ fuse block mounting as well as cooling, etc.
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Buggy Build > http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=499786

Ecotec Street Rail Build > http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?p=8146270#8146270

[pallen]

More parts in to get on this ecotec swap
Looks nice...

Installed

Decided the rear frame section needed all redone to work the way I want it to, so out came the cut wheels and grinder..

Back together

Added frame horn supports, yes they clear the axle shafts

Made some extensions that will bolt the rear lower rails in, I will then cut the perimeter bar to make the back piece removable.

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Buggy Build > http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=499786

Ecotec Street Rail Build > http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?p=8146270#8146270

[dustymojave]

I think you will find that even on the street, that Ecotec will EAT the T1 gearbox in a hurry.

Back in the 70s my 1835 aircooled VW with a single Weber 40 ATE stout built $2000 T1 gearboxes (in 1975 dollars when a new Mercedes SL was $12K, my boss bought a 3 bed 2 bath home in Beverly Hills for $65K and an Indy car cost $25K).
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Richard
Offroading VW based cars since 1965
Tech Inspection 1963 - 2012 SCCA/SCORE/HDRA/MORE/MDR +
Retired from building Bajas, Fiberglass Buggies and Rails in the Mojave Desert. Also Sprints & Midgets, Dry Lakes, Road Race cars. All types New and Vintage
SoCalBajas Member
Kicked Cancer's A$$...1st and 2nd round...Fight ain't over yet.

[pallen]

Well that dosen't sound good!, I have talked to a few reputable trans builders and they believe they can build to hold 140 hp as long as I don't abuse it to bad also it wont be off-road.

Rebuilt the Cvs..

I also re indexed the torsion to raise it up a bit and did some more cage work..

Here is how I plant to close out the back (just mocked up)

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Buggy Build > http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=499786

Ecotec Street Rail Build > http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?p=8146270#8146270

[Axitech]

A thought. You might want to run a couple of diagonals down from your motor mount to the bottom bar , say 45 degrees forward and rearward to help spread out the load. With only the one bar you currently have, a good pothole might leave you with a pretty bad bend in the bottom run.
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He said to them, “But now if you have a purse, take it, and also a bag; and if you don’t have a sword, sell your cloak and buy one. Luke 22:36


The strongest reason for the people to retain the right to keep and bear arms is, as a last resort, to protect themselves against tyranny in government.-Thomas Jefferson

[pallen]

Got all I could get done on the harness inside, too cold to be outside!

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Buggy Build > http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=499786

Ecotec Street Rail Build > http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?p=8146270#8146270

[pallen]

Got some more stuff done...

Cut down the harness to length, lots of cut/solder/heat shrink repeate.

PCM communicates so thats a good sign!

Radiator mounted, lower hose routed, I also hacked together an upper hose so I could run it. upper is on order.

Welded a muffler and turn down onto the header..

Found a spot to mount the filter and pump..

Ran some fuel lines, return is temporary until I get a port welded into the tank.

I previously sent my PCM out to RDM Ecotecs and got it flashed to remove security system and get his tune. Fired right up!

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Buggy Build > http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=499786

Ecotec Street Rail Build > http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?p=8146270#8146270

[Fenix]

Nice, It sure is coming along. Thank you for the Del City recommendation on the blocks as well.

[pallen]

Small update... gauges installed... I used "cheap" bosch gauges, I had expensive autometers in my last build and wasn't all that impressed with them. These are 1/4 the cost so see how the hold up.

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Buggy Build > http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=499786

Ecotec Street Rail Build > http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?p=8146270#8146270

[pallen]

Found a local guy to weld in the level and return in my tank, turned out decent...

Finished up the an fuel lines,

Secured the lower coolant hose.

I also found a place to mount an MSD tach driver...

On the other side is a motorcycle alarm I got off amazon, for 13$ its pretty neat, has a vibration feature that sets of a very loud siren when its armed and you mess with the rail. There is also a disable feature that applies ground to a lead when the alarm is triggered, I haven't wired it up yet. If I do decide to use it I will wire it to open a relay gong to the fuel pump or ignition. It also came with 2 fobs...

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Buggy Build > http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=499786

Ecotec Street Rail Build > http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?p=8146270#8146270

[yitzac1990]

awesome build! i am building a ford 2.3 turbo rail and have a few questions:

1. what radiator are you using?
2. what keyed ignition switch are you using? is it some type of universal piece? mine will also be driven on the street, so would rather have a key to turn ignition on, than just a big cutoff switch, for security reasons.

im sure i will have more questions, hope thats ok!

p.s. - you mentioned you were making the wiring harness so you could remove it without cutting anything, what did you use? I use molex connectors and pins from Digikey on almost everything I build, so everything becomes just plug and play!

http://www.digikey.com/product-detail/en/molex-llc/0039012040/WM3701-ND/61376

http://www.digikey.com/product-detail/en/molex-llc/0039013043/WM1018-ND/1118561

they have 2 pin, 4 pin, 6 pin, 8 pin, 10 pin etc connectors, and all the pins you need, as well as the crimper for the pins. really comes in handy!

[pallen]

[pallen]

So I finally was able to take it for a spin for the first time... I don't think I will ever be going back to air cooled... this things got crazy power. It was wet so I couldn't get good traction but dang it pulls hard.

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Buggy Build > http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=499786

Ecotec Street Rail Build > http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?p=8146270#8146270

[yitzac1990]

which transmission are you currently using for this first drive with the ecotec?

[pallen]

[pullstart]

39 days from the post about picking up the 4 seater and the Ecotec to running down the road... Impressive work! I'm really hoping to get my subi swap going before too long and it's down all summer in the shop!

[yitzac1990]

[pallen]