A-arm subframe

If I cannot get away with registering the Rorty chassis, this is my fall back position.
Bolt on front subframe to replace the entire Beetle set up. Uses a Golf MK-II rack, and Beetle spindle. Shown is 2 inches wider than stock.

This will be commercially available as a complete kit, and hopefully ready in early 07. I will be mounting one on a test Beetle around October/Nov when I get into my new house.

Will keep the list posted on progress.

Looks like a complete deal. I'd love to see it.
Glad you got the photo business to work for you.

Robert, Nice work! Just curious... where's the caster adjustment?

Joe S

Funny you should ask about castor as I was just mulling this over last night. Castor in this subframe design is built in, and I am just rethinking it now, along with geometry changes in narrowing to stock or less than stock width.

The design is a bolt on retrofit for a Beetle, and given that it will have other applications in lighter cars, castor adjustment will likely be necessary. I understand that the standard Beetle front end needs castor changes when used on a Speedster replica, hence the current thought process.

What castor/camber settings are people using for street applications on Speedsters?

comments?

On my Metalcraft chassis, the upper arm has fully-adjustable Speherical Solid Rod Ends. I imagine you could fit those to your uppers and adjust everything from there?

Awesome!

I have something VERY close to that in final development for the VW crowd. My fabricator is almost finished with the prototype.

Its such a striking resemblance to your design that one would think we were working on the same project!

We are using mostly circle track front end parts.

Great work!

Jake, looking forward to seeing this !

Alan Merklin

Yeah, the engineers we have been working on it with work with elan Motorsports on their race programs. These guys were VERY excited about this!

The prototype is going into my '60 beetle project with a 915 5 speed and 290 horses of TIV power.

...915 5-speed and 290HP of TIV power...YIKES!

AT LEASt 290 ponies! No Turbo or Nitrous either!

The car is 100% stock appearing from the outside,and even the inside right down to the widened stock wheels with a positive offset putting all the ruber under the fenders.

take a look at "germanlook.com" in the member's rides are under "volkdent" it's currently on page four of the gallery. This sub frame you're talking about seems to be in use on this car.
Nice work!

Jake -

A "sleeper" 60 VW with killer go-power - I LOVE IT!

Jake

It must be a coincidence, as I am working on this with Jason Ford from CA. Some drawings are in the public domain, and this concept drawing is what I posted the other day. I did see however another very similar front end on another show Beetle but I do not know about commercial availibility.

Robert, I am sure its coincidence, BUT there are only so maut ways to accomplish this in a VW application, so most any design will appear to be the same at first glance.

The set up we are doing has had a serious approach taken. we have one customer who has spearheaded this development with his desires for a 600HP, mid engined beetle with full tube chassis and A-arm front end. Its a daily driver with air conditioning and power windows!

The main difference in the set up we are working with are the components and adjustability for extreme handling. Of course it won't be cheap, but it has a lot of time into it from some very serious people with backgrounds in IRL, ALMS and CART.

look at the info on "german look", working, installed-looks good.
I don't know how to post the link/pic here.

Bruce

Volkdent on germanlook is Jason Ford and the person I am working with on this. I really cannot tell all about this at this point as it is Jason's project, and his intention to make the front end commercially available as a bolt on kit.

It is mounted on his car now but not road tested. I will be mounting one on a test Beetle here as soon as I move into the new house and get my garage organized.

Jake

There is at least one set of commercially available plans to allow one to build his own mid-engine tube chassis c/w coil over a-arms both ends. Did you see the mid engine chassis design by Rorty Design in Melbourne?
http://www.rorty-design.com/content/beetle.htm

Perhaps not as cool as yours, but this is something the average guy can do, and afford himself. I have a set of the plans and it is well documented and costs only 100 AUD or about 80.00 USD.

Designed for a Beetle, hence the hospital headboard. Presumaby one could shorten it for a Speedster, but I would run the idea past Bob first.

Robert