WRX RA powered VW 1303 beetle cabrio with a bit of Porsche

WRX RA powered VW 1303 beetle cabrio with a bit of Porsche

Author
Discussion

RB Will

9,663 posts

240 months

Friday 15th January 2010
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Brilliant! I wish I had your skills. Good luck with the rest of the build.

War Pig

1,516 posts

192 months

Friday 15th January 2010
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I want that.

aka_kerrly

12,417 posts

210 months

Friday 15th January 2010
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markymark1 said:
Very cool you are very clever man.
absolutely!

i always wonder with these sort of projects where do you start? Ive seen WRX powered Bugs before and read about the conversion as a friend planned a WRX swap but in the end went with a 1.8 20VT S3 engine mid mounted an its been 4years in the making.

WRX conversion site

Judging by your work so far its unlikely you need help but it may have some useful information for you.

Dave

ricola

Original Poster:

468 posts

277 months

Friday 15th January 2010
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I've been in contact with rjes for years, before he made it a full time business.
His main thing is a bellhousing for buses so not applicable to bugs unless you convert to a bus trans.

It's not that hard to do a conversion, but to do one neatly is. I've done a few and learned from experience so I am building in all the nice features from the beginning. With all my cars I also like to build them to take standard consumables from heavier and higher performance cars to make maintenance a lot easier. I also prefer to use OEM to aftermarket parts, hence re-engineering the chassis to take the 911 gearbox, it should be good for over 5-600bhp in a car this light and is standard with a standard 911 clutch. It all ends up wiht a car that spends more time on the road than being fixed or having replacement parts made!

naffa

388 posts

198 months

Friday 15th January 2010
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Inspirational build!

escort90

3,022 posts

171 months

Friday 15th January 2010
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thats amazing! would love to do something like that

soad

32,882 posts

176 months

Friday 15th January 2010
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Excellent - what a transformation it'll be!

aka_kerrly

12,417 posts

210 months

Friday 15th January 2010
quotequote all
ricola said:
I've been in contact with rjes for years, before he made it a full time business.
His main thing is a bellhousing for buses so not applicable to bugs unless you convert to a bus trans.

It's not that hard to do a conversion, but to do one neatly is. I've done a few and learned from experience so I am building in all the nice features from the beginning.
oh i see, i just remember bookmarking the site a while ago. There was another website that had lots of information about engine conversions like vw 2.0 16v, wrx, PD tdi and various V6 but i cant find it now.

i totally agree with your comment about physically getting the engine in is one task but making it sit right and look good is another challenge all together. hence it took my friend next to no time to physically secure a 20vt into the bay but getting driveshafts, gearbox, wiring harness, coolant system all in orderly fashion has been a huge task.


dave

markoc

1,084 posts

196 months

Friday 15th January 2010
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Ill be checking into this thread for updates - looks like a fantastic and very well thought out project

Gad-Westy

14,549 posts

213 months

Friday 15th January 2010
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Wow! clap

pacman1

7,322 posts

193 months

Friday 15th January 2010
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Gad-Westy said:
Wow! clap
'ave another 'un! clap

bertelli_1

2,237 posts

210 months

Saturday 16th January 2010
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Fair play. Whether you like bugs or not that is a great build with some thought behind it.

GC8

19,910 posts

190 months

Saturday 16th January 2010
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Brilliant. One small point though: theyre 924S gauges... biggrin

minimatt1967

17,093 posts

206 months

Saturday 16th January 2010
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Stunning looking forward to the completion of this!

Mannginger

9,059 posts

257 months

Sunday 17th January 2010
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Excellent effort - I look forward to the updates

ricola

Original Poster:

468 posts

277 months

Sunday 17th January 2010
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GC8 said:
Brilliant. One small point though: theyre 924S gauges... biggrin
Oh well, I thought they were the same... Is that why some have yellow numbering and some white?

GC8

19,910 posts

190 months

Sunday 17th January 2010
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Yes. Series one 944 clocks are yellow and 924S (which is a series one 944 essentially) clocks are white.

sleeper88

828 posts

181 months

Sunday 17th January 2010
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Just read all your web site and its ace.
thumbup

ricola

Original Poster:

468 posts

277 months

Sunday 17th January 2010
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Right, time to start finishing off the body...

Filter frame now welded into the body


Hooks up to the wing pipe nicely


Inner wing finished off, note angle along bottom edge for strength, I will make a brace off this down to the bumper mount on each side to strengthen the back end




I've half done the other side, it will be the same apart from having the 'filter' area as a removable panel for maintenance.

PhantomHumper

2,202 posts

190 months

Monday 18th January 2010
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Wow bounce