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Thu Feb 21, 2002 1:53 pm

i would like an engine adapter to fit a 350, 305, or 307 v8 engine to a vw super beetle transaxle. r these made? does anyone have one? where could i get one? if anybody knows of anywhere to get one of these or one to fit any other kind of 6 cylender or v8 engine please leave a reply

Wed Feb 27, 2002 11:53 pm

I'm looking for an adapter to put a Rabbit engine in a beetle. I saw a Dasher engine install but i lost the magazine.
KEP makes VW to V-8 adapters.

Wed Mar 06, 2002 4:56 pm

yes, please do that swap to a superbeetle! dont ruin an early car.

Sun Mar 17, 2002 11:55 am

www.kennedyeng.com...They have all the stuff you'll need. I think its 3 bucks for their catalog. I put a bus motor in mine easy with their kit... I am in the process of putting a big block caddy engine and trans in another of mine...Framerails line right up! Even witht he Kennedy kit your gonna need a beefed trans new rear suspension and a new clutch kit from Kennedy...I want to see it when its done man! Peace

Fri Apr 17, 2020 8:22 pm

https://www.kennedyeng.com/
Quote: Hobert Kennedy pioneered the Subaru to Vanagon engine swap, the Subaru engine proved to be an excellent choice because it fits the compartment like it belongs there and provides a good increase in horsepower and reliability. Kennedy Engineered Products manufactures over a hundred different engines to the Vanagon transaxle but nothing fits as well as the Subaru engine in this vehicle.

:D

Fri Apr 17, 2020 8:41 pm

There is no way a Super Beetle transaxle will ever hold the horsepower of a V-8 engine. Your trying to put 300 HP engine into a gearbox that was designed for a 60 HP engine. You need to at least start with a Bus IRS transaxle to hold.

Sat Apr 18, 2020 3:26 am

Cough cough 2002........

Sat Apr 18, 2020 10:04 am

yes dave it can...but it might break in half just sitting in the parking lot....there are many underpoowered v8's. and some light ones too.Ive got a all aluminum v8 I was thinking about doing a "vw" street rod...but that aint gonna happen. but yes I do agree a better trans would be the way to go.

Sat Apr 18, 2020 7:30 pm

rizzag wrote: yes, please do that swap to a superbeetle! dont ruin an early car.

I bet the Super folks don't appreciate that.

Sat Apr 18, 2020 8:07 pm

heimlich wrote: rizzag wrote: yes, please do that swap to a superbeetle! dont ruin an early car.

I bet the Super folks don't appreciate that.
Gotta have thick skin to own a Super. :lol:

Sat Apr 18, 2020 11:41 pm

If I was going to get back into Auto cross or road race a bug I would use a Super.

eQ

Sun Apr 19, 2020 4:21 am

mukluk wrote: heimlich wrote: rizzag wrote: yes, please do that swap to a superbeetle! dont ruin an early car.

I bet the Super folks don't appreciate that.
Gotta have thick skin to own a Super. :lol:
Super owners have bigger smiles as they blow past all the guys in a bone rattling, twitchy steering, car that threatens to change lanes with every rut and breeze.

Besides would you rather be seen with an old faded wrinkled thing about to collapse from old age or a newer shiny, curvy one with a few moves left in her? :wink:

Sun Apr 19, 2020 4:34 am

mark tucker wrote: yes dave it can...but it might break in half just sitting in the parking lot....there are many underpoowered v8's. and some light ones too.Ive got a all aluminum v8 I was thinking about doing a "vw" street rod...but that aint gonna happen. but yes I do agree a better trans would be the way to go.
I looked for one of those for many years but they were never sold by Buick in Canada. We got a 310 cast iron engine. Can you still get parts for the 215?

Sun Apr 19, 2020 4:41 am

An 18 year old post ... :D
I have a 1971 square back which i have owned for some time. it has a 4.4 L Leyland V8. It's the Australian Version of the BOP/Rover V8 . it has an adaptor which could be a K EP but i am not sure,using a VW flywheel . The trans stood up to pretty harsh treatment but the Constant wheelstanding antics of a former owner Actually killed the engine,not the trans. The engine faces backwards so when acelerating the oil supply was cut because all the oil went away from the pump pickup. The enghine wasn't stock either with a Edelbrock four Bbl on a locally made single plain manifold,GM electronic ignition and a cam ground by one of the local cam grinders here .With some nicely made headers.

Sun Apr 19, 2020 5:06 am

oprn wrote: [
I looked for one of those for many years but they were never sold by Buick in Canada. We got a 310 cast iron engine. Can you still get parts for the 215?

Yes, and because Rover still make their V8 parts you can mix and match a lot of parts. My leyland engine uses Rover Gaskets,and mellings makes oil pumps etc etc. Instead of the older BOP engine,get a low mileage 4.9 land rover V8.
http://forum.britishv8.org/list.php?10,page=2
heres a forum with lots of info about the alloy V8.
And here is an idea for a stronger trans..http://subarugears.com/index.html

Sun Apr 19, 2020 5:12 am

heimlich wrote: rizzag wrote: yes, please do that swap to a superbeetle! dont ruin an early car.

I bet the Super folks don't appreciate that.
Replying to a 18 year old post?

Sun Apr 19, 2020 8:06 am

oprn wrote: mark tucker wrote: yes dave it can...but it might break in half just sitting in the parking lot....there are many underpoowered v8's. and some light ones too.Ive got a all aluminum v8 I was thinking about doing a "vw" street rod...but that aint gonna happen. but yes I do agree a better trans would be the way to go.
I looked for one of those for many years but they were never sold by Buick in Canada. We got a 310 cast iron engine. Can you still get parts for the 215?

Believbe the 215 was sold to Land Rover who uses it for many years....

When I was young I have a 63 OLDs F-85 Cutless with the 215 in it it had 195 HP and a four speed , it would move pretty good for what it was... There was also a turbo version said to put out 215 HP, was called the Jetfire...

Dale

Sun Apr 19, 2020 8:34 am

yes parts avalable. the olds and buick are the same but different engines :shock: different amount of head bolts, different heads... diferent chambers..different rocker assys and more...why who knows, mine is beter that yours, i had 2 of these engines, one buick and one olds. I got scammed out of one of them...., I sold the intake of one of them( 4bbl) to a guy who had a tr8 triumph that had the lucas efi.....I think lucas put too much smoke in it when they built i as some of the smoke had started leaking out.... :wink: so i put a holly carb on it with my intake. he was happy as a cali cow grazing in a dope field. :shock:

Sun Apr 19, 2020 2:53 pm

oprn wrote: Super owners have bigger smiles as they blow past all the guys in a bone rattling, twitchy steering, car that threatens to change lanes with every rut and breeze.

Besides would you rather be seen with an old faded wrinkled thing about to collapse from old age or a newer shiny, curvy one with a few moves left in her? :wink:
Supers are ugly and lumpy, but they handle a hell of a lot better than their non-Super brethren. Like the line from an old Jimmy Soul song goes, "Yeah, she's ugly, but she sure can cook." :wink:

Sun Apr 19, 2020 8:17 pm

Dale M. wrote: oprn wrote: mark tucker wrote: yes dave it can...but it might break in half just sitting in the parking lot....there are many underpoowered v8's. and some light ones too.Ive got a all aluminum v8 I was thinking about doing a "vw" street rod...but that aint gonna happen. but yes I do agree a better trans would be the way to go.
I looked for one of those for many years but they were never sold by Buick in Canada. We got a 310 cast iron engine. Can you still get parts for the 215?

Believbe the 215 was sold to Land Rover who uses it for many years....

When I was young I have a 63 OLDs F-85 Cutless with the 215 in it it had 195 HP and a four speed , it would move pretty good for what it was... There was also a turbo version said to put out 215 HP, was called the Jetfire...

Dale

When I was a kid we cut a Jetfire up and made a circle track car out of it, the aluminum V8 sat in his back yard for years in the dirt, no body wanted it it. We also cut up a 55 Chevy too.

Casey