23 Window VW Bus --> Hot Rod 2.7

I am considering buying a rust free 23-window VW bus and creating a 'sleeper' classic.

I have seen some VW to Porsche powered conversions that were interesting but not 'satisfying'.

The goal would be to create a vehicle that outwardly appeared to be a classic 23-window VW bus, but underneath had all the internals of a hot rod 2.7 911. Call it a VW Bus RS.

2.7 7R 'hot rod' with B. Anderson mods
40mm Webers, etc.
15x6 deep dish Fuchs
Heavy duty sway bars
Bilsteins or Konis at all 4 corners
Early 915 tranny/5 speed (7:31 R&P)
Smog exempt

I'm not talking putting a V8 into a 911 but 'updating' a classic bus into a powerful, utilitarian vehicle with enough power to run with a fairly modern 911 (except in the corners!)

Since I have now spent about $40k building a '72 911T 'sleeper' with a 7R 2.7 and an S stock appearance, I need another project!

Anyone here BTDT?

Best,

Kurt



[This message has been edited by kurtstarnes (edited 03-15-2001).]

[This message has been edited by kurtstarnes (edited 03-15-2001).]

Just one word....Cool!

You got to do SOMETHING to make it corner better, (bilsteins alone ain't gonna cut it!).

However I love the idea, but I'd probably go with a super/turbocharged flat 4 instead. Would be much cheaper to build, with around the same hp.

Unless you have flat 6 parts laying around

Is that a totally stock, nice example of a 24 window? If so, think twice before going with what you planned. Why not pick up something that needs some body work, etc. while you're at it, and not mess with an original example?

However, I love the idea no less, whatever you do, please post updates, and good luck.
Ahmet

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It's all the driver...

I love it. But I'd stick with those stock wheels and white walls for a real sleeper. If you put on the Fuchs you'll be tipping your hand.

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'86 Cab, '77 Targa, '85 toyota 4wd rain mobile http://www.cheaterswayside.com/911/

Mercedes alloys bolt right on !!
Bob

Mercedes alloys only fit the '71+ disk-braked suspension of the IRS model. But many builders have put 901 transaxles into Type 2's and 911 engines, too. Many cover stories in Dune Buggies & Hot VW's over the years! Airport gears and ZF limited slips, too! Early heat exchangers and OEM banana muffler seem right at home in the bus, too, providing BTUs that were only available in the dreams of most bus owners!

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Warren Hall
1973 911S Targa

Kurt, I am not so sure I would like to be going so fast while hanging over those front wheels!! But it is amazing what you can do with an old bug these days: sway bars, upgraded torsion bars, disk brakes that fit the old 5-lug wheels and moon caps, 5 speed conversions. And the HP they are getting out of VW motors these days could classify one of these "herbies" as a sleeper!

Hello

The old buses have the 356 bolt pattern witch is 205 x 5. Mercedes and Alfa Montreal fit later generation.

The old Bus trany is very solid but has outher transmission gears in the transaxle. They don´t like excesive speeds for longer periods as they heat up and dont see enough fresh oil especially at lowered buses.

I would opt for an type 2/3 IRS axle upgrade and newer trany. Maybe an T3 5 speed.

To upgrade the brakes you can go for several tuners who offer Wilwood components for early bugs/Porsche

Fitting in the /6 is no big task.

Just have to relocate the fueltank and add some additional airducting.

The factory did this back in the 60´s for Test purposes ( working out MFI while driving under real load must have been very noisy and exiting ).
Later they used newer type 2 with 911 T engines on 70 HP tranys so the transporter could follow the "Erlkönige" or even block away to much interesstet people. Said Buses partially outraced BMW sedans. I think one bus is shown in the 928 Story from Ludvigson.
In the late 70´s Porsche made several Buses on special request for very good costumers, sorry no numbers I heard 8 and i knew one "silverfish" with the long steel sunroof ( No this guy will never sale it or even show it, the bus has been used as personal protect & buisines car for "his" company and is still working there, not to mention I ´m in the first row if something changes. Price for the 2,8 ton bus was equal to 5 Porsches or two Rolls Royce then. But they had been scared abot terrorists and needed an real slepper, engine is an 3,0 MFI carrera top speed is limitet by the tires to 210 km/h but those tires will exced short runs up to 250 km/h and do run flat with 100 km/h for several km ).

In the 80´s they made around 30 Buses with 3,0 SC and around 70 with 3,2 DME. There are also known two buses who returned to get 3,3 turbos. Porsche stoped making them as Oettinger had his /6 ready and Volkswagen moved all people with power demands to oettinger. Porsche gave 1 year/200 00 km full waranty and 375 years on body/paint on new buses and it had an own Porsche manuall.

Prices where very hefty and they had an long option list. I think with all options you could outprice an 930 or 928.


So you just follow in the footsteps from the factory.

Grüsse

i did a 77 bus with a 2.7 a few years ago. worked well. the 67 and earlier busses were shorter from the rear axle centerline to the rear of the body, making it difficult to fit the 911 engine. in the 77 swap, there was just enough room to fit mounts for the engine crossbar. the stock muffler hid pretty well after trimming out the rear body panel and the rear bumper. if you could figure out how to hang the rear of the engine within the confines of the body, without using the crossbar or it's center mount, that's the first step. i'm about to start a new project using a 57 sunroof bug with a mid mounted 2.0 911S engine and a 914 side shifter trans.the plan is to construct a eng/trans/suspension unit,with alden coilovers, that bolts into the gutted out rear of the body with 4 bolts. you might consider this with the early bus, but with the rear engine configuration. the torsion bar housing/trans mount would have to go. plan it carefully so not to ruin that nice bus. if you pass on this project, let me know about that bus.

I had a 62 European bus, 3 windows each side and the small rear window. I put in a 1835 motor and the thing jamed. You can actually bounce the rear wheels of the ground the way the transaxle is set up. To this day, it is one of my favorite cars. I wish I still had it. However, a guy on moped ran into the back going about 40 mph. It was great, his helmut was impressed in the rear quarter panel, but the rear was totaled. Had to part it out. Those things do not hold up well in collisions. nonetheless, by all means do it!
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Paul
78SC Targa

Hello

Well making half the work by swaping an type 4 in is possible but the /6 sounds nicer and is more expensive. Speed is no quest an good preped 2,7 L type 4 will outperform an/6 in the typical american sprint usage. Also wight balance will be better but wheelis with the /6 will therefore be easyer.

Don´t forget the titanium forged trailer hitch used as "bullybar"

Wunderbar

Grüsse

Here's an idea...
...and here's another

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Clay McGuill '66 912, '97 Jeep Cherokee www.geocities.com/the912guy



[This message has been edited by ClayMcguill (edited 03-17-2001).]