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Tue Nov 06, 2018 12:28 pm

I don't recall anyone posting anything about this, apologies if its already been done or should be elsewhere on the site.

V8 Stealth Beetle now completed and kits available to buy.

https://v8stealthbeetle.com/

I would be really interested in knowing how good these things are, they look very trick.

Tue Nov 06, 2018 12:33 pm

You tube video showing it off.

Tue Nov 06, 2018 1:34 pm

Back in the 1970 and 80's guys would take front engine V8 's from cars like Cadillac and Oldsmobile Tornado's with the transmission attached and rip out the rear suspension from the bug. The engine then sat in the middle of the bug. I guess they just made the wheels parallel to each other and welded them in place. Done.

One had 8 pipes in line out the back. Darkened windows so you had no clue. The License plate frame read, Ferrari's for breakfast, Corvettes for Lunch.

Tue Nov 06, 2018 10:15 pm

I remember that Kelmark had V8 Bugs

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kelmark_Engineering

Tue Nov 06, 2018 11:08 pm

Back in 1990, I worked at an independent VW repair shop, in Chino, California. We had a customer' Bruno, who had a 69 (I think) Bug with a Ford 305 in it. It was coupled to a C4 tranny, 9 inch rear end. Radiator was up front, small holes through the hood. It was awesome to drive!

Wed Nov 07, 2018 4:23 am

Every convertion i see I ask the owner"why did you want to slow it down?' ,, most get pissed :roll: one guy said it was faster with his o'l 2276cc :lol: :lol: :lol:

Wed Nov 07, 2018 5:52 am

madmike wrote: Every convertion i see I ask the owner"why did you want to slow it down?' ,, most get pissed :roll: one guy said it was faster with his o'l 2276cc :lol: :lol: :lol:

Maybe with those horrible yank v8s but put in that 4.2 litre Audi v8 twin turbo...... ;)

Wed Nov 07, 2018 5:57 am

madmike wrote: Every convertion i see I ask the owner"why did you want to slow it down?' ,, most get pissed :roll: one guy said it was faster with his o'l 2276cc :lol: :lol: :lol:

It would almost be worth it just to get a modern transmission that you can rest easier in the knowledge that you might not shell it out at any given moment driven in anger

Wed Nov 07, 2018 7:46 am

Funny, you cannot compare putting a “ Horrible Yank V8 “ into a bug 50 years ago to the V8 Stealth Beetle Kit “KIT”ha.

Give credit to a guy that hacked a V8 into a bug in his back yard, without any guide book 50 years ago. ( Jump ahead to the 21 Century and compare it to THE KIT !!! Which from the Video shows a shell of a Bug being dropped on a V8 that an entirely new vehicle that was built around the engine. Shop that looks as sterile as hospital operating room, no shade trees visible.

Back 50 years, the car was a death trap vs 21st Century , a race car chassis is disguised as a bug.

Wed Nov 07, 2018 9:01 am

Also was thinking the difference in price of how much it cost to shove the old V8 into the bug, vs building an entire car around the engine and dropping a bug body on it.

My guess $ 25,000 to $30,000 U.S.D. vs Nothing except sweat for Yank V8 Swap.

Wed Nov 07, 2018 10:07 am

nextgen wrote: Also was thinking the difference in price of how much it cost to shove the old V8 into the bug, vs building an entire car around the engine and dropping a bug body on it.

My guess $ 25,000 to $30,000 U.S.D. vs Nothing except sweat for Yank V8 Swap.

I bet it is more than that! If I was dropping in a V8, I would also improve the breathing of the engine a little. Maybe another 4 barrel on it. Taller intake. Headers. Better exhaust. Maybe even a fuel management system. Couple that up with a beefed up rear end, because you know those tires are breaking free of the pavement often! Better brakes all around with a master cylinder able to hold up. Insulation up the yazoo to offset the heat transfer into the cabin from the engine, tranny and exhaust. And noise!!!!! Going to need a few plys of sound deadening here and there.

Now safety. Good seats. Better seat belts - 4 point harness. break away steering wheel. flame supression system (just in case), you dont want to be sitting next to a fuel fire!

I would put it up around $20 $30 for the "yank" version. Doing it right $60 - $80 thousand.

Thats me guessing and just thinking of several safety features that would be nice to have. Rack and pinion would be sweet to get in there too! All four struts with sway bars. Drop the frame a few inches off the ground and build from there. If you could get the engine to sit just in back of the front seat, even better!

Wed Nov 07, 2018 10:23 am

I really like the idea of having a race standard beetle, unfortunately its going to be out of my reach for a long time yet.

Kit minus beetle body and engine is about 16,500 euro
Rolling chassis minus engine and gearbox is about 44,000 euro
Standard spec finished thing is about 69,000 euro

That's before you start adding all the shiny bits on top, I mean who wouldn't want to upgrade to a twin turbo or a 6.2 LS3?

There's plenty of tech detail on the site. I wonder if I keep banging on about they will give me one for free?

Wed Nov 07, 2018 11:49 am

Jimbo buy some lottery tickets, you hit the cost almost on the button.

As for safety, ha, I have 914 2.0 iny my bug and the car it came out of could do 127 mph. I took it to 100 but, it got scary, light steering etc.

Up 80 is fine. A V8 may be better due to weight. 400 to 500 lbs. but .......!

Wed Nov 07, 2018 3:12 pm

That car must oversteer like a SOB! :shock:

Wed Nov 07, 2018 6:45 pm

Without doing the car right, a V8 in a bug is an ego trip.

Thu Nov 08, 2018 5:34 am

If you are going through all of that at least make it AWD!

Yea we all would not turn a test drive in that beast as it sits.

The real question is how many in the USA have plunked down a deposit?

Sat Nov 10, 2018 3:59 pm

A bit off topic but close. I came from hi perf V8 racing "kits", for that kinda of $$$ might as well get the real deal it does have a fiberglass body. This can win races, is stupid fast, balanced and can stop. I feel that beetle might get dangerous over 100 as mentioned. This is also street legal for $45K you assemble and purchase your own drive train for sub $20k. Still on my bucket list, for now enjoying my air cooled lower budget racer.

http://www.superlitecars.com/slc/