Roll bar/cage restrictions

[TouringBubble]

are no disk brake upgrades available?

And yes, there are discs available. That's part of phase 2 of the build though ... phase 1 is already killing my budget so the discs will wait. I will eventually have 4 wheels discs with a rally-style hydraulic e-brake.

As for the Suby engine, I was actually looking to put a 13B in it as they can be found cheap. I was worried about cost. Compared to the build I'm doing on the VW engine I could have probably done a turbo 13B or a EJ22 conversion. Already started the process now though.

[DrewsiferxXx]

Then you have to add a radiator, etc.... I totally get not wanting to do that.
An EJ22 can be run off a carb and an old ford escort dizzy.

[TouringBubble]

Already got a Megasquirt setup, so no problems with ignition or fuel.

[DrewsiferxXx]

Sorry for all the off topic.
your beetle project makes my brain turn.

[w. leavitt]

Dannngggg you're not playing with this..... gotta get to work on my Ghia. I don't have the money for the engine I want/need so I'm probably going junkyard turbo route.

[TouringBubble]

Dannngggg you're not playing with this..... gotta get to work on my Ghia. I don't have the money for the engine I want/need so I'm probably going junkyard turbo route.

Yeah ... it started as a "cheap" race car project. I've now realized that doing it right the first time will be better in the long run. So, my estimated ~$1500 project now includes a ~$2500 engine build ...

Already about $1k in and I feel like I've gotten nothing done. I will feel much better when I get the pans installed. Just got to find time to get to GA to work on it.

[Cholewa]

The bars you showed look like they incorporate a little bit of movement so the rear end has a little movement. Welding in bars to the same place seems like it could upset the rear end a bit and not give you any wiggle room.

The ones you posted seem to allow some torsion over rougher terrain, but it could just be my eyes.

[TouringBubble]

You are correct, but I think they are only that way to allow for mounting and adjustment for fitment. There is nothing I'm connecting to that "should" move at all. It's designed as a rigid mount for the moving parts but the design allows for movement as a flaw, not a feature.

The upright bars are essentially strut towers. Look at an modern race car and the strut towers are usually boxed in and braced solidly, usually to the roll cage. This stops any movement there, allowing for more precise and predictable suspension movement.

Things like this ...

[TouringBubble]

Another great example ...

http://www.motoiq.com/magazine_articles/id/14/pageid/55/no-respect-project-nissan-sentra-se-r-spec-v-part-1.aspx

[Cholewa]

So those are mounting to the frame/rail that the transmission mounts to? (for the bug)

[JohnW8]

You are correct, but I think they are only that way to allow for mounting and adjustment for fitment. There is nothing I'm connecting to that "should" move at all. It's designed as a rigid mount for the moving parts but the design allows for movement as a flaw, not a feature.

The upright bars are essentially strut towers. Look at an modern race car and the strut towers are usually boxed in and braced solidly, usually to the roll cage. This stops any movement there, allowing for more precise and predictable suspension movement.

Things like this ...

Also tying the roll bar/cage into the shock towers is because the steel is more structural and makes a safer/sturdier cage as well as the suspension benefits.

[TouringBubble]

So those are mounting to the frame/rail that the transmission mounts to? (for the bug)

Yes. There is a sort of subframe there around the transaxle. The bracing will connect to the top of the towers, the subframe area and the tube for the torsion bars. All of this mounts to the rest of the chassis, which I may reinforce as well.

[Cholewa]

I thought it was mounting to something that was going to be moving under suspension travel. My B yo!


Triangles like a bawss.