1967 Bug, it begins..

I once again have proven that if your not in a hurry, things will happen that can be considered, fantastic.  The previous owner as let go of this car.  At 85 he is not done but the R32 in the garage will be replacing the bug.  For future events. The details of the bug will be listed, as discovered.  

To start, it is a 1600.  A legal SCCA engine, in the day it ran EP.  The Webers are 48IDA's with 36 venturies.  The distributor is not stock, there is no fan shroud or generator.  The gear box has a close ratio 2-3 and a limited slip.  It has 4 wheel disk brakes.  The set of rims on the car 8"wide, square. This set up is legal for HCR in the Vintage Class with the SCCA .

First order of business, clean it up and diginose the stumble at throttle tip in.  The car has been freshened, after sitting for a number of years.  The fuel system has been gone through, the 110 fuel is fresh.  The tires will pass as a starter set, to get to know the car.  Pictures..

Yes, I am also purchasing the trailer.  The tires are fresh as is the wiring.

Not what I was expecting, but damn that is cool. 

Should be pretty rowdy!

Wow. That's cool.

48IDAs are a lot of carb for a 1600!

One, of many things I am learning about the car is it's racing history.  In addition to the Pro Solo win, Bill was never was beaten to the first corner, the car was driven at Riverside Raceway.  It would see 8200 RPM after the bridge on the straight.  Yes, it was a brick as far as aerodynamic effect.  Laguna Seca might be a better fit...

There is nothing shuttle about this combination.  It rewards, at nothing less than full throttle. Turing apparently involves stabbing the brakes to load the front end and it rewards driving out of the corners under power.

Hammer time.

48s are large for a 1600 (I have 40s on a 2300)  But, they are choked down to 36...

The stumble at tip-in may not be a problem at all if it is a race car.  Because on the track you always stay above 4000 rpm.  On the street it can be a bit aggravating, but not on the track.

Check timing.  Could be distributor has no advance, and is just locked in at something like 38 degrees.  (I've see that before)

Any idea what cam and how much overlap ?

and which crankshaft  ?  My old Ghia drag car had an SPG roller which ran for years once Vittone did his magic on it , 

Looks like fun :)

This looks like fantastic fun.  

And every time I read something like this here   "At 85 he is not done but the R32 in the garage will be replacing the bug. " I figure there is hope for me yet.

When I clicked on this I fully expected a red Bug with the engine out and some rot in the pans.  What a refreshing surprise!  This thing is COOL!

How does it stay cool without a fan or shroud?

The ducting you see in that last photo,shows two what looks black heater hoses that are feed by two fans in the rear packing shelf of the bug.  The oil cooler and electric fan that has it's own thermostat rus also inside.  Yes, it gets warm in the car.  But it's a purpose built race car.  The driver will adapt.

Power, electric power, is provided by two full size 12volt batterers mounted as far forward in the nose of the car. The system is simple,  saving 10 hp that was at one point just a fan shroud with a fan, no generator,  The parasitic drag on the crankshaft has been eliminated.

Also pleasantly surprised by this one. Looks like its going to be very fun!

Cool!  8200? Wow! I'd love to hear that.

This is awesome--Bug racers are always so fun to watch.  I used to see a red bug autocrossing in NorCal back in the '90s, but the drag cars were also very cool to see, just squatting and ripping.  I think most people over 40 must have had a Bug or been related to someone who had one at some point . . .

I had a '66 and a '67; the '67 allowed me to enjoy an engine swap in the alley parking lot behind the apartment I was living in at the time.  Such fond memories . . .

If no generator and two batteries do you just charge up before a race? How long can you drive in just battery? Or am I missing something?

Wow. It looks like the missing link between a beatle and a 911.

A lot of SCCA club racers race on battery power alone.  Especially if mechanical fuel pump, and old style ignition.  Easy to do 45 minutes to an hour on a fairly small battery.