So I am making plans for my next build and the vw has piqued my interest due to their simplicity. I was planning on using a d series motor in place of the air cooled using an adapter kit, retaining the vw trans. However the only way to do this is to flip the ring and pinion creating a severe weak point. To be honest the whole vw trans is a weak point. Therefore, the new idea is to fabricate a mini cage around the engine and trans and mount it in the rear of a bug/sand rail retaining the stock vw suspension. Of course there would be lots of fabbing including axle-mating but my main concern is the shift linkage, how would I go about reversing it since it will now be on the opposite side of the motor than it was stock, how would i extend it ?

I have seveal ideas but nothing concrete. One would be to scrap the d series and go with an h22 w/ cable trans and extend the cables. The other would be taking two sets of d series shift linkage and combine them to bring the shift linkage down and underneath the trans towards the front of the car. The other idea is to scrap the d series and use an h22a and trans for its cable shift linkage. then just extend the stock cable linkage,however, the H 22 is far too expensive for this low budget build. I can afford to use it if i have to but I would prefer to stick with the D series due to its price, availability and the fact that I am quite familiar with turbocharging these engines.

Any infor or input?

 

I'd just use an accord engine or something cheap and cable shifted, much easier and in myopinion a much better engine than the D series. Shouldn't cost any more money.

 

Imo i would do up a built bus tranny, and a K series

No flipping of the ring and pinion is required and no hardcore fabbing involved.

Nothing would be sweeter then an buggy with a turbo K

 

your best bet would be to manufacture some mechanism to use an accord/prelude cable shifter.

 

Yeah that had crossed my mind, but the K series engines are still too expensive for my taste. I am currently in Iraq and have plenty of time to plan this out I'd like to figure a way to stay with the rediculously cheap d series

 

honda front suspension in rear, D-series engine & trans. run the shift linkage like stock. check out HMT, a guy there built a SR20 midengined buggy which has a similar shift linkage as a honda. Very easy solution.

 

Go with a built bus or Porsche trans. I doubt your d-series will be too much for a good, built trans.

 

I'm curious about this as well.

Here's how prototype did it for the B series. It probably uses the Lotus shifter though.

http://www.prototyperacing.com/parts.htm


Modified by SHO-NUFF at 12:21 PM 8/21/2007

 

The 914 seem to hold up to the torque of a chevy small block on most occasions...i really doubt a d series is going to be an issue as far as breaking a tranny...Vw maybe but Porsche i highly doubt it. Find a decent 904 gear box. Fairly close ratio and should hold up fine

 

dude, a turbo D motor would rock in that thing, torque's nice to have

 

http://www.homemadeturbo.com/f...344.0

nothing complicated required, check it

 

I have checked out that homemade sports car shifter before, I definitely plan on adapting that to this project. Now my only major concern is fitting everything under the bug body. Shouldnt be too hard but you can only plan for so much without having the materials in front of you. Thanks for all the info guys.