Aeromodability of a VW Bug?

[Arragonis]

Why not turn it into one of these ?

[instarx]

There was an aerodynamic bug in 69 - it was called a Karmann Ghia. My dad and I had a three or four of them and I don't remember that it got appreciably better mileage than a beetle, but then I wasn't really paying attention in the days of $0.35 gas!

[jakobnev]

Have you considered a modern look, like the VW XL1?

[gtkid2002]

Oh man if I had a Ghia I would restore it and enjoy it. I respect people aeromodding them, but I couldn't do that to a car I've loved since I was 8.

Jakob- That was the new vw concept I couldn't think of. Something like that would be awesome, but it would look funny jumboed I think. I don't want to cut the bugs chassis much. The body would be fine, just not the chassis.

Botsapper - I like that design. Pity they didn't make it mass though.

I'll try and post basic sketches today sometime. They're not pretty, but it's at least on graph paper. I know I'll need to put it in scale with a vw chassis, I just have to rip mine that far apart.

[UFO]

Our '71 Squareback (air cooled with mechanical fuel injection) routinely returned mileage in the low 40s on the highway. Goes to show how much difference aerodynamics really make.

[gtkid2002]

I'm wondering though, with how basic the original system was, should I look at getting a FI setup or keep the carb setup?

Also, how is a rear engine worse for FE. I know it effects handling, but FE?

[botsapper]

A natural donor for a great retro project.

[Arragonis]

There were FI versions of the VW flat 4 in Brazil in the 1970s. The advantage of FI is fuel cut off and better metering of fuel delivery.

[some_other_dave]

The later Type IIIs (like the Squareback mentioned above) used an analog electronic fuel injection system. The later Bugs (and Super Beetles) used a different version, also controlled by analog electronics.

I would recommend not using the original systems. They are quite primitive, all in all, and very difficult to tune and modify reasonably. I would consider something like SDS (Simple Digital Systems EM-4) or one of the Megasquirt variants. The latter requires you to learn a lot about how injection works and do your own fabrication and such.

The single-carb setup is less than optimal as well, I think. The long-ish intake runners tend to promote manifold wetting; the heat risers from the exhaust combat that but take a little while before they get warm enough. I might consider a pair of little tiny single-throat carbs instead, but I'm not a carb guy.

The need for getting cooling air into and out of the engine bay (into the top, out the bottom) will make for extra aerodynamic challenges.

-soD

[gtkid2002]

Originally Posted by some_other_dave

The later Type IIIs (like the Squareback mentioned above) used an analog electronic fuel injection system. The later Bugs (and Super Beetles) used a different version, also controlled by analog electronics.

I would recommend not using the original systems. They are quite primitive, all in all, and very difficult to tune and modify reasonably. I would consider something like SDS (Simple Digital Systems EM-4) or one of the Megasquirt variants. The latter requires you to learn a lot about how injection works and do your own fabrication and such

-soD

Well considering the SDS costs about as much as my last car.. I'm gonna have to hold off on that. I'm guessing a primitive FI system is better than a carb, but I might end up with a spare of each of those to tinker with if I play my cards right.

Botsapper - Thanks for the overlay. I didn't realize how close those actually came together. Granted one might be stretched a little more than the other, but they still seem to fit just fine.

Arragonis - I thought they were standard by '75. My bug has the plugs for the fuel pump up front at least, but I thought it was converted back to a carb.

My '80 Fiat has a Bosch Jet-tronic FI system I think, and as far as I know only the warm-up injector fails now and then, decreasing mileage.

Right now I'm gonna try for the FI system and run it stock, just to see how much an aeromodded body would help.