LIL Monster buildup!

[whiplash]

Got a bit more done, got the lower door bars welded in, the rear bars are in and flanged to the floor to go through to the engine side to support the horns in the back and the trans and drive shafts out of the back and cleaned up the rear horns to get em ready for paint, lotsa greaseys! Gonna do some more today!!

[TutTech]

Looking good.

You going to add some support to the rear frames to support the new motor?
What or how where you thinking of doing it? Rear cage and tie it in to the inside cage etc?

Keep us updated looking good.

[whiplash]

Yeah, I have the rear cage bars coming down to a flange that will be doubled on the underside and then a bar will attach to the rear of the horns. Here is a quick little 4-5" extension for the shifter I think it will work ok, I am going to try it out right now, any input on how much I should move the trans back? I don't have the trailing arms yet and I can't wait for them I don't have enough time, I was thinking just moving the trans back 4" on the shift linkage and then the added 1" or so that the CV's are back in the trans already should put me at 5" back total. think that will be good enough? I would like to be able to use all that the cv's can give me but I don't have the time to wait for the arms to come in, they won't be here till Thursday and then I have to build them so they won't be ready to bolt on until something like Saturday and I need every day I can geton this build to get it done in time for Halloween!!

[whiplash]

Well, got some more done, the shift extension seems to work good and I got the trans back about 4" for the 5X5 arms so I hope it will work ok, I am sure at the most it will limit travel very minutely...

[millbilly]

Lookin good............

[punkur67]

you may have moved back too much. Your axles will porbably be angled forward at full droop. No sense in moving farther back than you need to. Just look at it when you get your arms on at full droop. If you need to use a straight edge to figure out your cv angle. Lookin good.

[whiplash]

OK, I was unsure where to put it, but I think it will be ok, I have heard that the Bugs can get like 20" of travel with a 5X5 arm but you can only really use like 18, so hopefully I will get somewhere near there with it like this....

[whiplash]

Well, got the front mount built, shifter works great, got all 4 gears and reverse! I know its not welded all the way around, gonna do that when the trans comes out...I think I will gusset the stock mount as well to the pan..

[whiplash]

OK, starting to get some REAL progress now, I got my trailing arm kit in from Blind Chicken Racing and it is a pretty simple build really, I just had to get a decent sized piece of plate steel for the Jig. There was little fitment so far and it seems will be quite easy for the rest of the way, I got the jig built and got a few pieces tacked together so tomorrow I figure I should at least get one done, maybe two but not likely as I need to go slow with the welding so it doesn't turn into a pretzel!

[TutTech]

wow those arms look good and simple... nice.
I think the 4" you moved back is more than enough and like punk said may be more than you needed. I don't see it causing an issue but ya it was plenty.

Great about the shifter those can be a pain. Well done on first try to get all gears.

Brace everything weld over everything when securing it to and attaching it to the bug.

Are you running stock cvs? or 930s?
I may have missed it.. Also it looks like you did not go with micros so what rear hubs or parts are you going with. I will go back and re read and may answer these questions.. ha ha.
I know I can get 20 inches of travel with 5x5 arms with 930 cvs and micro stubs. They get you a wider axle length and the 930s are the race custom clearanced type etc. to get 20. I am at 19 inches on my car no rubbing and wearing on my cvs and have had some cvs for years no breakage at 19 with my 5x5 arms and little wider pivot tube, micros etc. set up.

Well cool keep on with the good work this is going to be awesome when done.