Scooby engined beetles

[pallet30]

Has anyone info regarding building an old beetle with a scooby turbo engine in the back. Seen a few clips on YouTube and they look awesome and look a handfull to drive.
I'm looking for ideas for my next project , not for a while though, and these keep popping into my head.

[jollyroger]

I would advise speaking to these guys.

www.fellowsspeedshop.com/

They carried out the conversion on my early bay and it is awesome. They do complete drive in drive out service or do diy kits and parts, and are always happy to offer advice!

[tones61]

[oilyt]

Were you planning on using the bug trans or going for the scooby trans ?

[eugopnosaj]

Dec 8, 2015 21:24:19 GMT pallet30 said:

Has anyone info regarding building an old beetle with a scooby turbo engine in the back. Seen a few clips on YouTube and they look awesome and look a handfull to drive.
I'm looking for ideas for my next project , not for a while though, and these keep popping into my head.

I've got a Legacy EJ20 n/a engine in the back of mine, its been converted into a baja but still just as mental to drive, pulls away in 4th, 1st gear is pretty much pointless. Seriously needs uprated brakes which is next on my list. One word of warning is its not the best ride if using the beetle box, simply because the ratios are all wrong for the engine, as I said 1st is useless as the acceleration is fast even n/a so you find yourself changing gear very rapidly or you run out of oomf! Coming off the throttle can be a bit jerky but that might just be how the accelerator cable is set up - can probably enhance this with a damper or something.

If you can afford it I'd seriously consider going down the subarugears route with the gearbox, theres nothing stopping you bolting it up to a beetle box and see how it goes, the gearboxes and adaptor plates etc hold their value reasonably well so easy enough to sell on. I'd also suggest IRS rather than swingaxle as the 1303s or GT boxes have the best ratios (I'm running a GT box) or you can fit a bus box later down the road (which will involve nosecone and mount modification), using a bus box though will mean a different adaptor as you can swap the bellhousing and use the standard scooby flywheel rather than a modified one.

The next issue is cooling, mine being a baja I have stuck the radiator out the back, you'd have to run coolant lines down the front of the car, not difficult just needs a bit of thought for airflow and radiator positions etc. Don't forget you'd also need a complete loom and ECU that matches the engine otherwise you could go down the route of a custom ECU and map. A donor car is usually the best option, one that runs so you know its all good rather than collecting parts in pieces.

Just a few things to consider

[steveo3002]

Dec 8, 2015 21:47:33 GMT tones61 said:

nice job there , almost stock looking but they didnt show the boot up close after it was done , shame so many have bits hanging out on show

[omega]

I quite like the look of the engine hanging out makes it look mean in my eyes
watch that street outlaws program and a guy has some monster engine [don't know what it is]hanging out of a bug races lots of cars and wins but the yanks don't notice the noise or that the engine dosnt fit!

[kabman]

Lots of practical info here Ricola

[BT]

A chap I know currently has a beach buggy (converted from a beetle as far as I am aware?) with a Impreza turbo engine fitted, in some respect.

Thing is an absolute wheelie machine, I recal him saying "it's not if it will wheelie, but when will is stop!".

I can see the appeal myself. Seems quite a nifty conversion.

[MaDSeB]

this was something I was going to do but due to space had to abandon it and have just sold both my Subaru wrx and beetle.

I put a lot of time into researching the process,
there are various engines in ej20 form, from n/a to turbo to 2.5 turbo dual cam, quad cam etc. and the process is relatively well documented on the internet.

there is a company called subiegears based in the us, they do a bolt on pack to utilize the existing Subaru gearbox and diff, this involves flipping the CROWN wheel over to reverse the drive direction (5 speed and reliability) this is the route I would have taken rather than bolting it up to a vw box with adaptor plates and the like.
www.subarugears.com/

This company offers a drive in drive out package: www.tsrengineconversions.co.uk/products.aspx?1=285&2=286
but it can be done for a lot less than that.

I believe the major hurdles are the cooling/intercooler issues, (i.e rad in front, engine in back) and the fact that depending on how you mount the engine, you may need to reduce the height of the sump (chop, weld, but try and keep the same capacity. ive seen aftermarket sumps but right now the link eludes me.
if I can find any more information ill add it to the post.

all in all, you can graft together a very capable car, for not a lot of dollar. that will happily embarrass more expensive cars.

hope this helps

[mungo]

I think for me, going fast in a bug is all the more special because it's aircooled and
and old fashioned .
I know it's a little (!) more expensive to build big tuned VW motor but I'd save the dough
and go aircooled.
Each to their own and all that
When you've built it I'll race you ....if your radiator can hold out

[HoTWire]

Dec 8, 2015 21:47:33 GMT tones61 said:

Straight in with a great first post

[Deleted]

A buddy of mine has a scobby bug. 'Jason Mutley' on FB give him a shout.