mounting an 8v watercooled VW engine....
 

i've seen many conversions on the internet with an 8v based engine swap into a bug b4, so I decided to go for it. I'm planning to swap the 1835cc engine out for a g60 engine with a turbo conversion. My question is how does one go about mounting the engine so the car can take the extra weight and power of the G60 engine?

I've thought about welding in a bar going from the two bumper mounts in the rear of the car, and letting the engine sit of that, but once its in, that means it will be a bitch to remove the engine again if I wanted to.

any suggestions?

the weight difference isn't that geat but you are on the right track with the rear support.

by right track, you mean with the rear bumper mounts?

yes, fabricating a rear mount and attatching it to the bumpermounts is a good idea.

I'm using a stock type 4 rear engine mount, atached to the bumper mounts for my 914 engine in my beetle.

isn't the 914 engine and the type 4 essentially the same engine?

abd I thought that you didn't need a rear mount to put in a type 4???

I've heard that people run the Subaru 2.2 motors without a rear mount.

I have a Sube 2.5 in the back, but will probably fab up some kind of mount.
You can extend the frame horns, or use the bumper mounts, but I'm not too convinced that those are very sturdy.

What I eventually want to do is put in a rollcage and incorporate the mount with that (e.g. extend it to the back of the motor).

Rob.

yes the type 4 and 914 engine are the same, 914 has different heads and higher compression ratio.

you don't "need" a rear mount to run a type 4 in a beetle, but it is a good idea, considering the engine had one in all its original applications.

Hmm, thats a MUCH better idea...

What rollcage do you recommend?

Haven't really looked into it yet. Ron Lummins (sp) racing has a nice one that could be extended, or just go completely custom.
Make sure to use a reputable shop, you don't want the thing to crumble when you really need it.

Rob.

how would one go about extending the cage to the motor? Weld in a piece of metal to extend to the engine?

What about that brace that connects the two shock towers, and connects down to the tranny? (Forgot the name)
Think it would be wise to connect a metal piece from that to the engine?

PS, whats the real spelling for ron lummins, trying to find his website....

The website is: http://www.ronlummusracing.com/html/...musracing.html

They are also sold through Aircooled.net

I haven't really thought it through, but I got the idea from an Aussie who build a V6 in a bug, I think he is also a member here, but I don't remember.
Or like this: http://www.sandextreme.com/Subaru%20conversion.htm

I was thinking along the lines of adding a tube-structure to the 2 bars of the cage that go down to the back of the car. They would go over and under the motor, and then mount them on (for example) the IRS housing.
Like I said, I have not taken any measurements, it's just something that's bouncing around in my head.....there's not much else there ;)

Rob.

You can get the bars that go from the cage to the frame horns for a liitle extra $$ when you get your RLR cage.

Yes, are you talking about the "option" to add that on, like it has on the aircooled.net site? I see they provide an option for, another 60 bucks, you can get it to continue to the horns....

i don't see ANY info on the RLR site about roll cages, I may just go through aircooled.net. Maybe im not looking hard enough

k, so I called RLR, and ordered a chromoly roll cage with the option to have the 2 extender pieces also included. Should be here in 2 weeks, will post pix when it gets here!

D@mn man, you don't waste any time do you ? :agree: :agree:

I'd be very interested in the pics. How much was the cage, and what is the layout ? Is it a bolt-in cage ?

Rob.