Porsche Powered Mid-Engine Double Cab

[67dubcab]

I have a few more photos showing how the drive train mocks up. I bolted it together to determine the drive shaft length, the 944 shaft is a bit long and does not have the 911 clutch spline, it will be machined to the "correct" dimensions as the good folk at Porsche intended.

[roomservice]

Hi, I like what you built, nice job. I want to mount a subaru twin turbo motor in a 69 bus. I have the kennedy adaptor, 944 rear suspension, and a shop full of porsche parts. I will post pictures of the build as this project continues.

[Hcarraro]

Simply fabulous work. Great vision and design and decising making to take some risks. And oh my goodness what a fabricator and welder. I am simply astounded at how well you two work together. Holy guacamole you guys are the best.

Keep up the good work.

Henry

[67dubcab]

Thanks Hcarraro,
Glad you appreciate the build.
It took a bit of nerve to make the first cut and commit to the vision but I am a "modify and conquer" kinda guy.
Finding Seth to do the metal fabrication was a excellent match as he is just like me in his design /build skills except he can weld, metalwork, fabricate, and is 25 years younger.

Hey roomservice, sounds like a fun project even with the water cooled part, not sure why you would want twice the power at half the cost- but hey its your ride.

[d.a.autry]

SuuuuWEEET.

We want vids when available now. Absolutely fantastic vision to fruition!

BTW, if you still have that 944 shell sitting around, pm me.

[Surfaccing]

how did u go about cutting the shaft between the motor and transaxle?
i would like to know if u can do this with a 928 transaxle as i have a v8 project in mind.

[67dubcab]

Hey Surfaccing,
The drive shaft has not been cut yet but the plan is to cut to its new length then machine to the 911 spline dimensions.
The 911 spline is smaller than the 944 so machining is possible.

If you are planning a v8 then look into the v8 hybrid swaps to 944 and 928, Renegade Hybrid and the Porsche Hybrid board site.

Hope that helps,
Stephen.

[Surfaccing]

ok the drive shaft must be something else. how did u get the shaft between the transaxle and the engine so short?

the v8 project i was to do is similar to yours, but i want a 928 transaxle and a chevy/ford small block in a vw bug. thats why i want to know about how u got the shaft so short

[67dubcab]

Hey again Surfaccing,
The thing you are looking cut short is the torque tube. Inside centered by sealed bearings is the driveshaft.
The tube is cut to length after the engine and transaxle are in their finished mounts.
I had a machinist mill a sleeve to splice the tube then my fabricator welded it up.
It must be as straight as possible to reduce axial loads onto bearings.
The actual cutting can be done by sawzall, cut-off disc, bandsaw ect......

The 928 transaxle is much longer than the 944 and may not have acceptable drive shaft angles, it depends if you are keeping your torsion housing.

If you are not planning to cut your torsion housing you could run 944 aluminum arms, brakes ect. and hang a 944 turbo transaxle to a shortened torque tube to a 944 hybrid v8 bellhousing to the v8 in a sub-frame mid engine.

If you are going full custom tube frame and suspension with the engine bolted directly to the transaxle then a 944 or 928 transaxle would be less desirable.

The basic layout using your existing torsion housing would look like the photos on my shop floor of the engine and T.T (torque tube) connected to the 944 transaxle except the 911 engine would be a v8 and the T.T. would be even shorter.

Stephen.

[Surfaccing]

thank u so much, that made so much sense!
u saved my ass, the 944 is going to be a lot cheaper setup then the 928 (obviously)
any way u can show more photos or ur torque tube being cut up and the internals that are inside?
and when u get the drive shaft cut and reassembled can u be a detailed for me.

thank u for the help!

[67dubcab]

Hey Surfaccing,
The torque tube is just that, with the bearings inside and drive shaft, go to "Clarks garage" and under garage shop manual look up torque tube rebuild.
It shows shaft and bearing removal.

I will post up here and on "The samba" where I have a build thread in the readers ride section on my progress in general and post to your thread here for future questions regarding your build as you move forward.

[Surfaccing]

ohhh man u have the balls to post this on the samba? those guys are a bunch of purist and don't like seeing this stuff done to their split window buses, let alone a double cab bus. i warn u now ur going to get flamed alot, those guys are straigh up a**holes

don't listen to those guys negative critisim! i think what ur doing is great! and it's only gonna make this bus run like a stabbed rat

thanks for the link to clarks garage, great site im readng through it now

[67dubcab]

I have had my build thread up for months on The Samba and after 20,000+ views and numerous posts there has been little negative response.

I have been checking out The Samba for over ten years and yes there are a few vocal members who are offended if your wheels are not date matched to your original build date but to me it takes all types.

I think the lack of outrage to my project is probably due more to my fabricator Seth"s skill than my build design,probably not a lot of folk fans of Euro race style trucks, but it works for me!

[Surfaccing]

u have a build log up already?
were is it exactly, or what is it's title?
i wanna read through it
i haven't seen it

i got on thesamba 3years ago when i got my first ever car (72 non super bug) and everytime i mention v8 or a porsche transaxle or a porsche engine i get so much crap thrown my way and little to no adivce, which is why i come over to other forums like this one and stumble across ur magnificent work!

[67dubcab]

The build thread is in the readers ride forum with the same title as this post.
It has slipped into page three as it has not gotten a posted reply for a bit.

German look.net and shop talk forums also have some conversion/Porsche content.

[ViolentBlue]

Wow, seriously nice work there.

[AOW162435]

Amazing fabrication work! Thanks for posting.


Andreas

[jadewombat]

Really top notch stuff, but err umm where's the turbo?

Just kidding of course...needs a Roots blower.

[67dubcab]

Thanks all for the comments,
Have been working (slowly) on sandblasting/ rust work/ metal prep. for painting the chassis.
Painted the underbody/engine bay/trunk with MasterSeries products and they worked great.
Still have the front chassis left but will wait till it goes to the fabricator for that, lots of work to do up there.

For now I can start work on drive-train re-install and systems design.
Working on fuel first.








jadewombat, no room for blower but twin turbos in 2013 or so might work well, especially since the truck has so much room for a proper exhaust (compared to a 911)!

[Flieger]

Wow, those welds are beautiful. And the quality of the engineering going into this project. The roll cage design, pushrod suspension, mid-engine...