Replica T-166 Schwimmwagen

[Mr Slug]

[rabbittruckguy]

This makes me wish i took better care of my G.I. Joe Schwimmwagen.
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70 Triumph GT6+, 83 Audi Coupe, 61 Volkswagen 1200

[Original Manx]

Hey guys for those of you that are wondering about 4WD Subaru drivelines.
I have a build thread going "4WD conversion begins" where I am building a 4WD Manx using Subaru components. This could be replicated fairly easily for a Schwimmwagen I would think.

My website www.subarugears.com now sells reversed R & P sets for Subaru gearboxes. These can be used in 2WD and/or 4WD versions. $1500 USD including postage to your door. I would think though that you would want to transplant the complete 4WD setup though, to get in and out of muddy banks.

I am also working on an adaptor plate/bellhousing so you can hang a VW aircooled motor off the Subaru driveline, retaining as much 'VWness' as possible, if you're not a fan of the Subaru water cooled boxer motor. We are doing our first prototype now.

Swingaxle will be somewhat of a challenge, someone will need to think about how to use axles and CV's in a Shwimmwagen and make it all work with trailing arms or otherwise....
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Reversed gears for Subaru Transmissions
Fit a 5 speed to your rear engined car
www.subarugears.com

[Neto]

[Mr Slug]

Thanks Guys - your very kind.

I didn't fully appreciate just how much fun these little trucks could be.
This one was very much an experiment, and I had intended it to be a one off - however, my PM box is filling up with so many offers to buy it, I am very seriously considering making a batch.

I'd appreciate any thoughts any of you had on that - PM me by all means.

Thanks again,

Mr Schlug. Direktor Shlugsburg Motor Werks

[KdF only]

Great work you have done...

/Magnus

[johnshenry]

That is SO cool. Thanks for sharing the video. I'd be a bit excited myself. I like how you have to race into he drives seat as soon as you drop the prop as it just kind of starts moving at idle..!
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John Henry

'57 Deluxe
'56 Single Cab

[ampegboy1]

Fantastic job Mr Slug

Michael
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1973 GT Beetle

[Mr Slug]

I tested my own home made 4x2 166 earlier this week.

First a test drive - it is really very good cross country, runs nice and very comfortable ride.
Then a water test - still not brave enough to do it without a rope attached. I did have a guy on the shore that was instructed to keep the rope tight so it would not get dragged into the prop. Also, if things went wrong, we would have a line ready to take a chain out. However, all went without problem - and it was not a big deal getting out with only rear wheel drive - and that is without a fast run in.

Anyway, forgive the excitement.......and that broad Suffolk (UK) bumkin accent It is the result of a years work.


Link



Link


It all went very well, so I look forward to having a good untethered trip along the river next time

There is a thread on here detailing the build.
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=389726&postdays=0&postorder=asc&start=0
I'm not sure how many of you guys have seen it.

[randybriscoe]

Guys,

Go to the Panzerwerks.net web site to see some old photos of Perry's "VolksSchwimmer" project. New photos will be posted soon, when he has a runner. The running prototype was sold off and he didn't make any videos before it left the country. He has sold only body shells since then.

The hand laid fiberglass body with the steel frame is about 10K. He has no plans to build it in all wheel drive. He does have an original Type-166 and a complete Transporter Syncro drive line for reference. The 166 drive line is too rare and too expensive for a project like this. The Syncro stuff may be just as rare now, is too large, and too completely independent (as in CV joints etc). A Subaru drive line, with all due respect, would be blasphemous.

As far as being amphibious, he did own a boat company once. However, his intent was never to put these in the water. I'm sure it could be done, but that would be left up to who ever builds the complete vehicle. Officially, it's for off road use only, not an amphibian.

I would recommend 2-wheel drive with a limited slip. Probably a 4:86 ring & pinion, even with the reduction gears.

Perry's "VolksSchwimmer" web site is under construction, and should be ready by early March 2010.

Turn-key runners will be available from Dennis at the KoobleKar Skunkewerkes.

[Shadd]

Hey Steven, Welcome to the samba.

[Sambafraser]

You need it 4wd. Getting out of the water without it would be hell. Otherwise you need to get out and pull it so that both back wheels are touching the ground. As my mate set sail in his Buggy, it floated OK. You think it will be just a case of driving out, but waves and not having a LSD make a nice shower.

There are plenty of 4wd set ups that you could use, Vanagon/Subaru/Porsche anything is possible, they did it 69 years ago

[Steven Bishop]

this first schwim will indeed have the four wheel drive set up out of an original. cant wait to build it, it should be quite the undertaking, i will post pictures as we go so all can see. just finished up a subaru powered kooblekar that went to italy. now just skined a t825 extended cab that looks pretty good, 2 komanderkars going to germany soon. i will start to post pictures of what i am curently working on soon.

[Bart Dunn]

These guys even have a VW-based kit, or at least they say they do. I don't think they're actually manufacturing them yet. The "Gator."

The Schwimmer is way cooler.

[FreakCitySF]

I think the seller had one on Ebay a few months back and I thought they were up and running already. My favorite shot of the Schwimmwagen is that you tube link.

[Shadd]

it wouldn't be effective for battlefield use but you could always get an ore and paddle the back end toward the ramp. Then just stick it in reverse and and go. Or make some sort of reversible drive for the prop.

[Kraftfahrer]

yeah, a kinda hybrid schwimmer with "Kraft durch batterie" up front and the original rearwheel drive in the back !... ...just to be more effective getting out of the water.

[metalchomper]

[zoti]

[tstracy39]

There's a thread in the Dune Buggy forum where a guy is building a 4WD dune buggy with Subaru drivetrain, if I recall correctly he paid somewhere in the neighborhood of 10 grand to have a new set of gears cut, and made adapters to mount VW CV joints.
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Check my classifieds for kewl gauges:

http://www.thesamba.com/vw/classifieds/search.php?username=tstracy39