I think it would be wiser to use a Type I transaxle, just for the ready availability of replacement parts. Dasher/Audi Fox and Rabbit (early, non-GTI) used 90mm inner CV joints similar to Type I, which will bolt right up to a Bug trans. Check out a Dasher or Fox front suspension - the lower control arms mount to a stamped-steel subframe that bolts up to the unibody. You could probably adapt the entire front suspension & steering setup (obviously you'd need to fabricate something to carry the upper strut mounts and steering rack). I built a mid-engine circle-track car once which used a Type I trans (engine options were Type I, and with adapters Rabbit, Fiat 124 twin-cam, and Mazda rotary) with a rear suspension based on Rabbit front struts; it had several inches of left-side offset achieved easily by using different-length driveshafts taken from Rabbits & Dashers (I can't recall anymore the exact lengths, but there are several choices - especially when automatics' axles are considered.) If you couldn't find the precise correct lengths to fit a Type I trans between stock-width Dasher spindles, you should be able to have a driveline shop cut down some tubular RH Rabbit shafts to fit.
--- On Wed, 7/2/08, Bill Richardson <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > From: Bill Richardson <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > Subject: Re: [vintagvw] Front Wheel drive ACVWs??? > To: "Air-Cooled Volkswagen Discussion List" <[email protected]> > Date: Wednesday, July 2, 2008, 7:00 PM > Was there something called the GOL out of brazil as well? > > Sent from my iPod Touch > > On Jul 2, 2008, at 6:22 PM, "No Quarter" > <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > > > I know for a fact that there have been some vehicles > in the past > > that used the Type 1 engine in a front wheel drive > type of setup. > > I've been toying with the idea of making a reverse > trike and would > > like to see if either the parts from a FWD Type 1 > powered vehicle > > are available or at the very least, some spindles that > take the IRS > > rear stub shaft. > > > > The one vehicle that comes to mind is the VW mexican > utility vehicle > > known as the Hormiga just for example. Anybody from > Mexico should > > know about this and ever better yet if they could send > me the > > parts. :) > > > > And while I'm babbling on, I've seen some > nicely done reverse trikes > > that used the left over parts of a rear-ended beetle. > You chop off > > the front behind the front seats and then graft a > motorcycle rear > > end to it. I'm not sure but I think you can > consider it a > > motorcycle now that it has the complete motorcycle > body with a > > "modified" front end. > > > > I've always liked the tadpole style of trike - > they are stable, get > > great mileage, and it's a way to put your mind to > work to save some > > gas money. > > > > Thanks for the help/commentary/etc. > > > > Erin > > _______________________________________________ > > vintagvw site list > > [email protected] > > http://lists.sjsu.edu/mailman/listinfo/vintagvw > > _______________________________________________ > vintagvw site list > [email protected] > http://lists.sjsu.edu/mailman/listinfo/vintagvw _______________________________________________ vintagvw site list [email protected] http://lists.sjsu.edu/mailman/listinfo/vintagvw
