1988 VW Caddy with McLaren 650S engine
Discussion
skwdenyer said:
Pepperpots said:
I like the yellow one but I can't work out where the gearbox is. It looks like the engine is right over the back axle, maybe just my eyes...
Could be a classic Saab 99/900 type solution, with transaxle under engine with a chain drive? Or gearbox ahead of engine, chain drive down, then short shaft back to the diff?The Oldsmobile Toronado transmission is probably most likely:
https://www.google.co.uk/search?q=Mazdarati+build&...
ballans said:
Wow, casually browsing readers cars and the title McLaren engine in a caddy pops up. That can’t be right but here it is!
How are you planning on keeping a 700bhp caddy on the road? I think it’s going to try and kill you at every opportunity.
Amazing project, well done.
Thanks!How are you planning on keeping a 700bhp caddy on the road? I think it’s going to try and kill you at every opportunity.
Amazing project, well done.
Yes it is a concern... we're a bit limited on tyre width too.
The Nexus has some nice traction control features which I've been playing with and will make use of - made easier with the DBW throttles.
I've also setup a 'granny mode' on a button, which disables the boost control (will be just wastegate spring) and softens the pedal map as well as limits it to 60%... this is all just experimentation and will take a lot of tweaking once it actually moving under it's own power of course.
I'll also have an 'all assists off' button with full boost and full throttle possible.... to try out on a very large patch airfield somewhere...
dom9 said:
Great pics - thanks! Loving this project!
The British version of: https://suchen.mobile.de/fahrzeuge/details.html?id...
Ah yes I know the FLY Garage caddy quite well... I actually preferred how it looked with the Corvette wheels and the simple exhaust when it was first built, but it's an impressive car. Typically it appeared on the scene just after we started ours having thought we were doing something a bit different. Oh well!The British version of: https://suchen.mobile.de/fahrzeuge/details.html?id...
I don't expect for a minute that our finished product will be to the same kind of level as that... Could eat dinner off that one! I do also want to try and use ours in anger on track too though
McL.VW said:
dom9 said:
Great pics - thanks! Loving this project!
The British version of: https://suchen.mobile.de/fahrzeuge/details.html?id...
Ah yes I know the FLY Garage caddy quite well... I actually preferred how it looked with the Corvette wheels and the simple exhaust when it was first built, but it's an impressive car. Typically it appeared on the scene just after we started ours having thought we were doing something a bit different. Oh well!The British version of: https://suchen.mobile.de/fahrzeuge/details.html?id...
I don't expect for a minute that our finished product will be to the same kind of level as that... Could eat dinner off that one! I do also want to try and use ours in anger on track too though
dom9 said:
Great pics - thanks! Loving this project!
The British version of: https://suchen.mobile.de/fahrzeuge/details.html?id...
That looks very cool, though the cambered wheels ruin it for me. Screams 'Dub Scene'.The British version of: https://suchen.mobile.de/fahrzeuge/details.html?id...
king sHi all.
Not been very active on here. Apologies!
Race season is well underway so I have been busy and away with work - but progress on the Caddy is still ongoing when we can. I upload a bit onto Instagram but always forget to put anything on here.
Since last post… not much progress at rear end but decided on a complete redesign of the front end.
All the VW front suspension parts are in the bin and I now own the front half of a Boxster…
We decided to bite the bullet and install full Porsche front suspension.
Before buying the front end cut, I started by buying a full kit of front end suspension. It looked a bit worse for wear but it was all the parts, including brake calipers.
We realised we’d need some help to locate the subframe and strut tops in the correct relative place when installing it in the caddy. Started looking into taking measurements off another Porsche but then found this entire front cut on eBay - exactly what we needed. From this we made a ‘reverse jig thingy’ to then set the caddy mounts from.
Skip a few nights work, and we’ve just today got the subframe bolted into the car, with a tubular front end. All just tacked in place and still with lots of temporary supports in place as we need to make sure we’re happy with it all before getting it properly mounted.
I stuck a front wheel on it (ignore the tyres… they’re scrap and wrong size) to check ride height and clearance. Still a bit more cutting needed to be sure we’re clear at all steering angles and suspension but I think it’s looking like it might sit quite well. Toying with idea of square setup on wheels but will pug Some thought into that.
I’m going to order a set of Porsche coilovers and then I should have everything needed to put it down on the ground and get a proper look at it.
Steering column from a 987 is on the way. Once that arrives we’ll start working on seat/pedal/wheel and gear lever positioning. Sadly it’s a bit of a tight squeeze in the Caddy. Although the Porsche steering rack location means I can cut the caddy bulkhead and push the pedal box forwards for a bit more leg room.
The whole rear subframe/engine/gearbox is back out ag the moment. I’ve got exhaust parts arriving
Not been very active on here. Apologies!
Race season is well underway so I have been busy and away with work - but progress on the Caddy is still ongoing when we can. I upload a bit onto Instagram but always forget to put anything on here.
Since last post… not much progress at rear end but decided on a complete redesign of the front end.
All the VW front suspension parts are in the bin and I now own the front half of a Boxster…
We decided to bite the bullet and install full Porsche front suspension.
Before buying the front end cut, I started by buying a full kit of front end suspension. It looked a bit worse for wear but it was all the parts, including brake calipers.
We realised we’d need some help to locate the subframe and strut tops in the correct relative place when installing it in the caddy. Started looking into taking measurements off another Porsche but then found this entire front cut on eBay - exactly what we needed. From this we made a ‘reverse jig thingy’ to then set the caddy mounts from.
Skip a few nights work, and we’ve just today got the subframe bolted into the car, with a tubular front end. All just tacked in place and still with lots of temporary supports in place as we need to make sure we’re happy with it all before getting it properly mounted.
I stuck a front wheel on it (ignore the tyres… they’re scrap and wrong size) to check ride height and clearance. Still a bit more cutting needed to be sure we’re clear at all steering angles and suspension but I think it’s looking like it might sit quite well. Toying with idea of square setup on wheels but will pug Some thought into that.
I’m going to order a set of Porsche coilovers and then I should have everything needed to put it down on the ground and get a proper look at it.
Steering column from a 987 is on the way. Once that arrives we’ll start working on seat/pedal/wheel and gear lever positioning. Sadly it’s a bit of a tight squeeze in the Caddy. Although the Porsche steering rack location means I can cut the caddy bulkhead and push the pedal box forwards for a bit more leg room.
The whole rear subframe/engine/gearbox is back out ag the moment. I’ve got exhaust parts arriving
Edited by McL.VW on Sunday 9th April 19:56
McL.VW said:
shalmaneser said:
It's a nice compact unit with a decent aluminium subframe so should be pretty easy to bolt up. Might be better to go with a later 997 assembly as it's a pain to get bigger discs on the 9x6 stuff.
I assume it would work ok with the widened rear end...
Yes I’ve looked at a few pictures. Good to know about the brakes though - thank you.I assume it would work ok with the widened rear end...
The rear end is about 40mm narrowed compared to a standards 996 - I used the carriers and not any of the ‘subframe’ structures. I might be able to do the same at the front to nip a little bit of width out of that end too, to match. Providing i can also take it from the steering rack/track rods while also not mess up the roll or bump steer geometry too negatively!
Something on the drawing board for sure.
Looking forward to updates. shalmaneser said:
Any plans to widen the rear end to match the front? Or is the front getting narrowed. Awesome update, I can't wait to see more progress!!
We’ve thought about it. However we’ve done some measuring, the bolt face to bolt face width at the rear is now just 6mm wider than the front and I’m quite happy with it being square like that. Still undecided exactly what wheel configuration we’ll run - although we are working on packaging the standard Boxster 17” dimension wheels so that’s most likely the route we stick to.Some more progress today.
Got the Porsche steering column mounted in the right place. Nice to have the position adjustment option now. Got a nice big hole in the floor which allows the pedal box to me mounted in a position far enough forwards for someone my height to sit comfortably and with good control.
Had to cut a lot of metal out from the inner arch area because we need the clearance to run low on the 17” wheels. Made a start closing it back up.
Ordering the coilovers soon. Going with a pair from BC. They look pretty good and have ‘true’ ride height adjustment independent of spring preload as well as offering a ‘short damper’ version for low vehicles. I’m just waiting for an open length measurement to see if that’s what we need.
Had all the parts arrive for the exhaust system so managed to put that together and quite pleased with how it’s looking. Turbo > flexi > cat > silencer > tailpipe. I can’t weld it up or finalise the tail pipes until it’s back in the car. I’m pretty sure it will be nice and IVA friendly with this setup (with some rolled tips on it…) and the cats can be easily removed in favour of a section of straight pipe should I be wanting to drive it ‘off highway’…
Got the Porsche steering column mounted in the right place. Nice to have the position adjustment option now. Got a nice big hole in the floor which allows the pedal box to me mounted in a position far enough forwards for someone my height to sit comfortably and with good control.
Had to cut a lot of metal out from the inner arch area because we need the clearance to run low on the 17” wheels. Made a start closing it back up.
Ordering the coilovers soon. Going with a pair from BC. They look pretty good and have ‘true’ ride height adjustment independent of spring preload as well as offering a ‘short damper’ version for low vehicles. I’m just waiting for an open length measurement to see if that’s what we need.
Had all the parts arrive for the exhaust system so managed to put that together and quite pleased with how it’s looking. Turbo > flexi > cat > silencer > tailpipe. I can’t weld it up or finalise the tail pipes until it’s back in the car. I’m pretty sure it will be nice and IVA friendly with this setup (with some rolled tips on it…) and the cats can be easily removed in favour of a section of straight pipe should I be wanting to drive it ‘off highway’…
Edited by McL.VW on Friday 21st April 20:59
Edited by McL.VW on Friday 21st April 21:01
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