Any VW Air Cooled racers out here?

[roadcow]

Update on our plans. After the mention of the 356 Idea it got me thinking. "Why not try with a Karman Ghia?" They came with the 36 hp engines also and have a muce better CD than a Bug. Will pass on my thoughts to the rest of the team. I'm headding out tomorrow at noon and hope to stay dry. Hope to meet as many of you as possible.

[Wester]

There was a Karmann Ghia running at Speedweek.  I have no idea of what it was running for an engine but I'd guess it was a VW or Porsche because there were no body modifications that would be needed to accommodate a larger engine.

[Evil Tweety]

Didn't Larry Volk do a bunch of VW records at both Bonneville and El Mirage? 

[PJQ]

G'day Britt,

I'm doing a VW powered project for SpeedWeek at Lake Gairdner in South Australia.
Trouble is, life constantly gets in the way. There's a line of sob stories making it a slow build. Year three and still not rolling.

Doesn't stop the annual pilgrimage each March for a dose of Salt Fever.
My buddy and I have similar priorities to yours: keep it simple, has to be fun, and most important  LOW BUDGET!

We started with a Formula Vee that's out of contention. Picked up a full car with a truck load of parts, rolls of fibreglass, body moulds, and about a dozen tyres.
After lots of homework on producing VW power (including helpful email with Bob Stahl), we decided to ditch the wee chaff-cutter for a Type 4. Everything is bigger and stronger - very important - bigger drive shaft, bigger fly wheel, stronger clutch, tougher crown wheel, transaxles, etc, etc.

The engine's done!
2 Litre Kombi, bored and balanced to 2.3. Crank is hardened and balanced and the bearings are a bit heavier than stock. Twin 48mm Dellortos top it off nicely. Haven't done the exhaust yet. Want to build a decent collector box (and a BIG trumpet) and take it from there.
We have a number of transaxles and will start with a Superbug box with 0.89 fourth gear. This is an IRS set-up, I've forgotten the crown wheel ratio.

The frame.
Keeping the Vee set-up from front to the drivers back. We've cut the rear off and started a new frame based on the wheel base for Lakester class F. The flimsy Vee roll-bar fell off when I waved the angle grinder at it, and there's bits of experimental roll cages in the yard.

That's as far as work has progressed. There's an early Ford Falcon restoration in the shed right now. Sob story number 8: "When's my bloody car gunna be ready" is heard through angry tears (but I do love her dearly).

The most wise words I've received came from Jim Knapp. Patiently listening to us excitedly describe the project with emphasis on low budget simplicity, he leans close and says "You boys haven't had a run yet, have ya?"

He's spot-on. All ideas of budget will go out the window after the first run. I'll be looking at the frame wondering how big a V8 we could squeeze in. Or maybe a turbo Rotary, what about a twin-turbo Subaru, maybe twin Hyabussa motors... Damn Salt Fever.

Good luck mate,

[sockjohn]

Update on our plans. After the mention of the 356 Idea it got me thinking. "Why not try with a Karman Ghia?" They came with the 36 hp engines also and have a muce better CD than a Bug. Will pass on my thoughts to the rest of the team. I'm headding out tomorrow at noon and hope to stay dry. Hope to meet as many of you as possible.

No idea of the actual aerodynamics of a Karman Ghia other than it's got to be better than a beetle, but the last year (or years?) were two seaters which would allow it to run in GT correct?  I would think 2.0L VW turbo motors are fairly common as the Passat and GTI have used them for years.  AC VW to WC VW swap should be pick up the phone and order parts kind of swap.

I was told that the way to make big power for cheap in an aircooled VW is to remove everything VW and install a motorcycle sprocket to the half shafts

[grumm441]

He's spot-on. All ideas of budget will go out the window after the first run. I'll be looking at the frame wondering how big a V8 we could squeeze in. Or maybe a turbo Rotary, what about a twin-turbo Subaru, maybe twin Hyabussa motors... Damn Salt Fever.

Pete
I could probably find a bent 6 or 8 in the shed here at preston
And of course there is that quad cam coffee table that the Good Reverend Headgash left here
Bless him
and then of course there is the blower collection
G

[PJQ]

That coffee table would probably wedge into the Falcon

[dwarner]

Didn't Larry Volk do a bunch of VW records at both Bonneville and El Mirage?

Larry Monreal

DW

[Ray-Dean]

Update on our plans. After the mention of the 356 Idea it got me thinking. "Why not try with a Karman Ghia?"

I am in the early stages of doing something close to what you've got going on. I too, decided on a ghia, but I'm shooting a bit higher. Planning on ??/BFCC ) or ??/BGCC using a front mounted configeration that will allow us to start out running a 1.8 turbo and later fitting in a VW V-8 twin turbo.

As for the aero #'s, they are not bad for a stock car. The earlier "low light" ghias do a bit better, but with a chop top, and  streamlined nose, the later bodies produce a lot better #'s and they are easier to find.

Ghias were never 2 seaters though. They all had a rear seat, just not much of one.

[PJQ]

Hey Ray Dean,

I've spotted you over on the Volks Rod forum. Welcome to this side of Rodding. I'll be interested in watching your progress, keep posting mate.

[hawkwind]

Karman Ghia's are cool 

[lukesdaddy]

Hello,

I am new to Land Speed Racing and am building a 1968 Ghia.  I believe we will be running the F/BGALT class.  I am not sure yet as I am questioning some of the rules to try to figure out where I fit.  I have a hole cut in the roof for a ragtop which I want to take out.  The first motor I will be using is only a 2165cc with a t3/t4 turbo.  I produces 350 hp with 23 psi of boost on race gas.  I will take this motor to it's limits then I am going to have to build something bigger.  Currently I am thinking of a Porsche 2.7L because I have one laying around.  If I don't use that, I will probably go with the Pauter.

My first outings will be at El Mirage.  The class record for the F/BGALT and the F/GCC has not been set yet but the minimum is 170 MPH. 

Enough rambling.  Hope to see you guys there.

[wolcottjl]

Karman Ghia's are cool 

He ran 132 at Maxton.  Really nice car, done up well.  They have put a LOT of hours into it.  IIRC they run a Jake Raby motor. 

[Ray-Dean]

Been gone for quite a while. Glad to see others still talking about the prospect of a VW LSR. Mine has been put on hold as I am finishing up on a few other projects that have been put on hold for far to long. I'll be starting a thread in the build section sometime this summer or early fall as progress starts.

[roadcow]

Thanks for all of the input and ideas. I've been in Ireland with my partner and we have chosen a 1958 Ragtop Bug and will tun in Burley B's 36hp challenge class. We've secured the services of a great Formula Vee engine builder in Ireland and have bought 2 36hp engines to start R&D on. We may not go too fast but we'll have a blast trying. I'm really looking forward to meeting soem of the people on this board at Speedweek.