I would like to start the old topic of a WRX conversion. From what i can see off the net there are 2 conversions available one is a bell housing for a transporter gearbox and the other is an adapter platefor the beatle box. what thoughts do we have? The WRX engine seems to be compact and all parts ie coilpacks etc are mounted on the engine making a nice looking unit. the conversion kits I have seen so far are about £450 and engines from £100 up to £700 but to get in the region of 300 Hp sounds not bad.


Also maybe tigger could shed some light on the wheels, brakes,hubs, uprights etc used on his project and how well the handling could be.

from what we have all discussed already, its a much heavier motor than you think, but like tigger says, his fugs weight distribution is very good, even with a 911 engine. Cooling radiatorsd are easily mounted in the nose or accross the back like I have done

the only real worry I would have is the vw gearbox, but only if you are going the turbo route, the normally aspirated engines should be ok on a standard box.

all I ever year from big engined bugs/buggies is the vw gearboxes dont last long, think about it, 200bhp through a beetle gearbox is never going to last long........so as a starting point, I'd start to think along the lines of a 911 gearbox, just as Tigger has done, after that, all should be fine.

cheers

Knighty

I have been looking at Subaru engines for my 181 project. and I'd like to throw something in the pot that I've been thinking about....

The Beetle gearbox, is well, great for a Beetle but performance wise, it only has 4 gears and the ratios are all over the place, for example you could park a bus inbetween 2nd and 3rd which is just where you don't need it.

911 boxes are readily available but pricey...I was dead lucky with mine. You would still then have to buy the adapter (hole fixing is the same) plus the clutch is activated from underneath, which gives all sorts of headacres. So how about using the proper gearbox for the WRX? The Subaru uses a transaxle the same as the Beetle. Its running the wrong way granted, but mid mounted in a Fug would look, and handle great :D

Also look at legecy's, same engines... as soon as you mention Impresa, the price doubles B)

Another also, forget the WRX for off road, it isn't very torguey and all the power comes in high up. This conv would only suit a street machine :blink:

All engines are usable and there is a great choice now, the gearbox is the weaklink and that needs careful thought :ph43r:

what about renault v6 transaxles such the alpine gta installation

could this be used ?

thats what the f33 used. i have the renault 25 box in mine. audi boxes could also be used. on some boxes you can reverse the diff so you can run them the other way.
you dont want a car with 5 reverse gears and 1 forwards. lol.

well who will put me off buying a Subaru lagacy 2.5 L twin turbo motor 280 Bhp (I think) TWIN TURBO!!!!!!!!!!! well I may buy it 400 notes for 280 Bhp including all turbos etc only ECU (£34 e bay) etc i think still needed. There is a conversion kit from Kenedy engineering $440 + $130 shipping = less than £300.

Ah the gearbox well who knows. I have heard stories of beatle boxes coping with over 200 BHP in a buggy.

But 280 BHP Twin Turbo Fug

Go on then lets have some common sence.

But what a winter project

I'm not going to put you off, as I've said I 've been considering it myself for my VW 181, lotta horses for the money. Mind you, buy the whole car, you will need waste gates, fuel pumps... in fact I'd use the lot, including the brakes :D

Mid mount it using the legecy transaxle, now that would be a machine....and I can only encourage that :D :D

One word of warning though, having read up on it, the 2.5 is very fragile, and expensive (and read complicated to maintain). People are saying the 2.0 or the 2.2 is a better engine, and that is why the 2.5's are cheap <_<

From my point of view I'm trying to fit it in a hole, like in a aircooled Beetle so a compact engine is a necessary consideration. If I was doing my Fug again where space is not a problem, I'd go for the newer generation of V6's like the Audi, Vauxhall or Ford units. Again think laterially and use the transverse gearbox, or transaxle in the Audi's case. All you have to do is line up the drive shafts. Fit everything else up around it....and Bob could be your uncle B)

I'd think twice before doing a mid-engine installation into a fug-2....have seen it done before and it looks a real mess, thats why UVA designed the fug-4.......there just isnt room, and even if you do fit it in, you will find your literally sitting on the engine.........I'd say install it in the rear on a 911 box

Yes you would have to think about it, but I don't think it would look bad, it just takes a little imagiation that's all B)

thats what the f33 used. i have the renault 25 box in mine. audi boxes could also be used. on some boxes you can reverse the diff so you can run them the other way.
you dont want a car with 5 reverse gears and 1 forwards. lol.


That's right! many years ago, I built one of the first beach buggies in the UK (a Volksrod) only to have the gearbox fail after about six months. I made the mistake of taking it to a local "gearbox specialists" who rebuilt it for me. When I went to pick the car up, no-one in the workshop would look me in the eye until one of them admitted that "when we started it up and went to move it, it almost went through the wall".

These "specialists" only had a Transporter Workshop Manual to work from ,and guess how they rebuilt the diff .......


Bob