Aeromodability of a VW Bug?

[Sven7]

Originally Posted by 320touring

The 4x100 rim wont fit.. Bug hubs have a larger PCD and centrebore..

I know as I tried to fit a 15" BBS off an e30 (4x100, 57.1mm centre) onto a 1303 at my garage..

No luck

That's too bad, but I doubt adapters are super expensive. Then again, teardrops are pretty heavy. Probably easier to just buy moon caps for the steelies.

FWIW Terry at Old School Vulcan Werks sells 4x100 to fat five adapters if you have some older Beetle hubs lying around. Although... I don't think they go from 5 to 4. He could make some up though

OLDSKOOLVW.COM

Regarding Frank's comment about instability, couldn't this be countered with a Tatra style rear fin?



I imagine meeting the template from front bumper to rear bumper would only make the mileage better.

[Moose]

these guys can make a 5 to 4 lug adapter (motorsport-tech . com) (as well as many other adapters) but like someone mentioned previously, teardrops are kind of heavy and spacers may push the tires out beyond the fenders (which would also be undesirable for a hypermiler.)

[some_other_dave]

Originally Posted by Moose

idk if anyone has suggested this or not yet but if you have a 4x100 bolt pattern vw "teardrops" would be a good rim for what you want to do.

The old-style Bugs use either 5x130mm or 4x130mm. You can find or make adaptors for 4x100 wheels, but it's a whole lot easier just to slap some baby moons on the stock steelies and call it a day.

-soD

[Frank Lee]

Fins help but that's not as good as not putting a big sail out there in the first place.

It's a matter of degree though- I'm saying it's less stable but not so bad it's a deal killer. I am a Microbus owner after all, imagine where the CP and CG is on that.

[Sven7]

Originally Posted by some_other_dave

The old-style Bugs use either 5x205mm or 4x130mm.

5x130 is Porsche fitment

[Quasimoto]

Originally Posted by Frank Lee

Fins help but that's not as good as not putting a big sail out there in the first place.

It's a matter of degree though- I'm saying it's less stable but not so bad it's a deal killer. I am a Microbus owner after all, imagine where the CP and CG is on that.

Frank, I am dying to know how you manage to get 70MPG out of that '92 Tempo. Maybe you could start a new thread and go over all the mods. That thing must look like the aerocivic.

[gtkid2002]

Ooohh man this thread is getting awesomer by the day it seems. Not to threadjack, but if anybody wants to upload or doodle more of those on the old air cooled bug Chassis, be my guest. That's basically what I was trying to draw, but I completely suck at drawing. Brain can picture it, hands can't. I just figured using a bug chassis would be because because they're so freaking common, and parts are cheap generally. I picked up my baja for 50 bucks, so I know that most of the time, they are cheap.

And I'm not familiar with the 5xwhatever lug stud pattern (no lugs on my bugs!), but the for the four stud it's 4x130mm. I really wanna go through with this now. Still torn on if I should keep the body or not though. The concept of making doors is the only thing that has me hesitant.

Sorry for the threadjack, just excited. I love this stuff.

[kach22i]

Originally Posted by gtkid2002

The concept of making doors is the only thing that has me hesitant.

None of the old dune buggies or VW sand rails had doors.

Some plexiglass clamshell windows would allow access (Bradley GT style).

http://www.cardomain.com/ride/299367...kswagen-beetle


Vintage VW's in Searcy AR


Bradley GT
Bradley GT - Vintage Car Ads


The designs I sketched up might best be accessed via the front, BMW Isetta style, or rear hinged mono-canopy.

BMW Bringing Back the Isetta – As An EV | Autopia | Wired.com


What is canopy doors | Facebook


EAA Chapter 105 - Planes & Projects (Dann Parks)


I would put the hinge on the rear, and open toward the front..........I'll sketch it up later.

[Frank Lee]

Originally Posted by Quasimoto

Frank, I am dying to know how you manage to get 70MPG out of that '92 Tempo. Maybe you could start a new thread and go over all the mods. That thing must look like the aerocivic.

That was a one segment deal, extreme EOC, extreme 40 mph tailwind right up the tailpipe, on straight E85, put up to show the folly of making an fe claim based on one measurement (which some people are fond of doing). The numbers are factual and real, but in reality it averages about half that.

[Sven7]

Originally Posted by gtkid2002

Ooohh man this thread is getting awesomer by the day it seems. Not to threadjack, but if anybody wants to upload or doodle more of those on the old air cooled bug Chassis, be my guest. That's basically what I was trying to draw, but I completely suck at drawing. Brain can picture it, hands can't. I just figured using a bug chassis would be because because they're so freaking common, and parts are cheap generally. I picked up my baja for 50 bucks, so I know that most of the time, they are cheap.

And I'm not familiar with the 5xwhatever lug stud pattern (no lugs on my bugs!), but the for the four stud it's 4x130mm. I really wanna go through with this now. Still torn on if I should keep the body or not though. The concept of making doors is the only thing that has me hesitant.

Sorry for the threadjack, just excited. I love this stuff.

Would it make more sense for you to lower it and then modify the rear for a boat tail?





Basically just cut the back off and custom build the rest... it could be a fiberglass clamshell if you don't want to beat panels :P