74 Super with Longitudinal Acura 3.2 V6 - Page 2 - Cut-Weld-Drive Forums

carwhisperer · March 7th, 2018, 12:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by V8Transporter

Congrats! I love the way she just 'clicks.'

Thanks. It does indeed click and feels pretty positive. Before I added a center support, the rod would flex and hit the edge of the hole in the pan. I added a sway bar bushing but it was causing the linkage to bind there, because my mount for the bushing was deflecting and allowing it to tilt, if that makes sense. I plan to try to strengthen the mount to see if that helps.

Also, there is not enough ground clearance at the rear. The linkage is the lowest thing at the rear of the car by about 3 inches. I plan to remake the end of the aluminum shaft so it steps up. I think I can tuck it up pretty tight, because the Acura shift shaft only needs to rotate maybe 20 degrees total. I may wait until the car is running for this.

I plan to start on clutch linkage next.

Also, I plan to start gathering more items necessary to splice my axles. The last time I did this I got some 1.5 inch round mild steel bar stock and made couplers on a lathe. I welded it all up, put them on V blocks, tested them with a dial indicator and trued them in an H press.

I don't have a lathe any more so I plan to go hillbilly this time. I bought some cromoly tubing that is 1.125 ID and 1.5 OD. The Porsche shafts fit in with a little play. The Acura shafts are too big at about 1.1875 inches. I plan to buy a drill bit (priced them for about $25) that will allow an interference fit.I plan to make circular shims out of sheet metal for the Porsche side. I will drill lateral holes and rosette weld and circular weld the shafts together, then try to true them up. I did the calculations and these tubes should be as strong as the Acura shafts.

I have made lots of drive shafts for RWD cars. If I can get within 0.030" out of round on those I'm happy. For this I hope to be closer to .010".

70 Bug Mid Engine · March 7th, 2018, 03:43 PM

Glad to see another crazy CA guy doing a mid engine swap!

carwhisperer · March 7th, 2018, 07:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 70 Bug Mid Engine

Glad to see another crazy CA guy doing a mid engine swap!

Tell me about your swap or post a link. It looks like yours is transverse?

carwhisperer · March 7th, 2018, 07:38 PM

There’s a guy in Santa Rosa with a transverse mid engine bug also.

carwhisperer · March 7th, 2018, 07:41 PM

I started working on the clutch linkage today. Right now it looks way easier than I thought. I drilled a hole through the trans near the bell housing. I am passing a rod with a heim joint though this hole. I plan to weld a bolt to the clutch fork arm to attach to the heim joint. Then connect that rod to the VW cable after running it under a pulley under the driver’s side CV output.

**V8Transporter** · March 8th, 2018, 07:18 AM

Your clutch linkage sounds simple and elegant.

I run a heavy duty cable with grease fittings that's sourced from a trucking outfit. There is a shallow 'S bend' running past the engine (where I positioned a fixed mount holding the housing) It made a big difference, a more precise feel, over the stock cable, which felt like it was stretching a bit and finally came apart, likely due to wear at the 'bend. But I'm running a 10" Ford Truck three finger clutch.

carwhisperer · March 10th, 2018, 05:32 PM

Thanks. I decided to extend the cable end with some 1/2” tubing instead of the roller. I got it together and stepped on the pedal and it feels nice and smooth and like a clutch pedal with that over center feel. I won’t know for sure if it works until it’s running.

70 Bug Mid Engine · March 10th, 2018, 07:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by carwhisperer

Tell me about your swap or post a link. It looks like yours is transverse?

Don't know why my photosuckit pictures dont work on my thread here but these still do.

http://www.pro-touring.com/threads/1...Engine-Madness

Yes it's a transverse setup. Think of it like a Chevy Cobalt. Works pretty good. Looking forward to seeing more progress on yours.

carwhisperer · March 11th, 2018, 08:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 70 Bug Mid Engine

Don't know why my photosuckit pictures dont work on my thread here but these still do.

http://www.pro-touring.com/threads/1...Engine-Madness

Yes it's a transverse setup. Think of it like a Chevy Cobalt. Works pretty good. Looking forward to seeing more progress on yours.

Your car is sweet. Now that you posted the link I realize that I came across it months ago while initially researching my project. It’s really cool. I might get some wide glass rear fenders too. But I like the big tail lights (although I realize most people don’t) so I want to keep them.

70 Bug Mid Engine · March 11th, 2018, 11:27 AM

Thanks! Do whatever you want with yours. It's your car so make it exactly how YOU want it. It's going to be awesome no matter what.

carwhisperer · March 11th, 2018, 03:59 PM

I tidied up a few little things today. Here are some More pictures, including a view of the top of the engine through the back window. I’m exploring the idea of putting a glass cover over it so you can see the pretty engine, like some Italian exotics. Incidentally, this engine is a cousin to the 1st gen NSX V6, which is a C32A vs this C32B. Although they share basic architecture such as a 90 degree layout (vs the later 60 degree J series) the NSX version makes 260-290hp with VTEC as opposed to my 230hp non VTEC engine. Somewhat ironically, the NSX engine is transverse.

carwhisperer · March 11th, 2018, 04:00 PM

I also disabled the reverse lockout. Now I can hit all 7 shift positions

**V8Transporter** · March 11th, 2018, 09:25 PM

She's looking better every time!

**alykat** · March 12th, 2018, 06:56 AM

Steady progress. Don't slow down now.

70 Bug Mid Engine · March 12th, 2018, 09:59 AM

I know you said you want to put some sort of engine cover on it and I do have an idea. The engine cover from a NSX just happen to be about the right size. Thats what I used for mine but I think it would fit your build better seeing that you are using an Acura power plant.

http://volksrods.com/forum/attachmen...1&d=1520874093

carwhisperer · March 14th, 2018, 07:04 PM

I started working on putting the apron back on. It will be removable.

**V8Transporter** · March 14th, 2018, 09:54 PM

Nice job!

You plan of forming up a trick looking cover? Personally, I think the large tail lights balance out the look.

carwhisperer · March 15th, 2018, 01:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by V8Transporter

Nice job!

You plan of forming up a trick looking cover? Personally, I think the large tail lights balance out the look.

Thanks!
My body mods to cars usually end up looking stupid, so I don't think I'll make a cover.

I do think I'll try to make the exhaust come out of the two stock cutouts. I was planning a low boost turbo setup, but I think I'll save that for later.

**V8Transporter** · March 15th, 2018, 02:37 PM

'Rear cover' wise, how about a round metal two gallon or so can, on its' side with open 'top' toward/over the transaxle? Cut away at angle to fit rear apron so bottom faces rear with a, 'tah dah,' VW emblem in center. Attach with proper amount of duct tape....

...kidding

. Fit the deck lid as required. The cover will mimic the big round tail lights.

NWRacing · March 15th, 2018, 06:17 PM

I'm diggin the transaxle poking out the back F1 style

carwhisperer · March 15th, 2018, 06:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NWRacing

I'm diggin the transaxle poking out the back F1 style

Thanks. Me too!

carwhisperer · March 15th, 2018, 06:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by V8Transporter

'Rear cover' wise, how about a round metal two gallon or so can, on its' side with open 'top' toward/over the transaxle? Cut away at angle to fit rear apron so bottom faces rear with a, 'tah dah,' VW emblem in center. Attach with proper amount of duct tape....

...kidding

. Fit the deck lid as required. The cover will mimic the big round tail lights.

Maybe! I’m not sure what to do about the deck lid yet. There may not be as much interference as it appears. The one that came with the car is pretty much perfect and orange. If I could find a way to keep it intact that would be nice

**V8Transporter** · March 15th, 2018, 07:47 PM

Hmmm. Okay, the Formula look is appealing, with the bare alloy lending an exotic touch.

Are you planning on bumpers, nerf bars, or?

carwhisperer · March 16th, 2018, 07:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by V8Transporter

Hmmm. Okay, the Formula look is appealing, with the bare alloy lending an exotic touch.

Are you planning on bumpers, nerf bars, or?

I’m planning to go with the stock bumpers. I would go 68-73 non shock absorbing to save weight but I think it’s a good idea to protect that trans.

**SCOTTRODS** · March 17th, 2018, 07:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by carwhisperer

I’m planning to go with the stock bumpers. I would go 68-73 non shock absorbing to save weight but I think it’s a good idea to protect that trans.

Unless you are planning on beefing up the stock bumpers and the body to help, there will be no decent protection offered by the factory bumpers of any year. the shock mounts actually helped a little before the crumbling of the bumpers happened, but there were none that really did much buying a "barely moving" scenario, with little to no force induced. You can almost bend the factory 74 bumpers with your muscle power... almost.

Just my 2 cents worth though - I love the build. I love the factory bumper application (in my mind it will look great), I just don't think it will offer anything close to protection for that outcropping of mechanical parts.