Thread: VW rat rods? whats up?

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any one who thinks vw's are slow needs to go to bug-o-rama here in sacramento. that supercharged t belongs to a guy named walt letherman who owns a metal fabrication shop. he built these rides. just go down to the bottom of his page and click on a link.



http://walts.info/

or check out the samba.com

my VW move out Okay could use a little more boost but its alright

okay, alright. when i saw the subject, I was a little disgusted. Everyone is jumping on the "rat rod" (I hate that term) bandwagon, and I thought this was gonna be another kid with a 93 T-bird spraypainted flat black and a "rat fink shift handle" (he wanted to join the club. ha!). but after reading it.... I LOVE THESE CARS!!!! These things are really cool. I might have to build one myself!
Thanks for sharing
Jason

well, i for one say, "The more the merrier!" in regard to vw rats...

like this.

I built it on the cheap, especially compared to the 32 highboy and 40 sedan that are in my garage.

took two months, started with a Baja (ultra cheap source of unwanted cars)

the biggest expense is the front suspension from speedway.

you can build the whole car for less than a glass roadster body.

had so much fun, going to do it again.

Cut Weld Drive

after being lost for several months... i'm back! anyway... vw rods are still alive and well.

I'm getting started on building a '68 VW hot rod. The reason for using a VW for the rod is simple. $1.00! I found this thing in horse stall just south of Olympia Washington, at a friends cousins house. The engine was fried-out due to poor care, and the price of $1.00 to tow it off was right!

You work with what ya got, I always say. If a VW hot rod is your style, go for it! There are plenty of souped up VW motors available as turn keys, starting at $1,500 all the way up to $6,000.

The starting buget for mine is around $4,000 (including all the repairs and safety items), because I'm planning on doing about 80% of it myself. And as with any real hot rod, take care of the performance and safety items first! Leave the final painting and fancy inerior for the end. Paint, stereo systems and finished interiors don't make you go any faster, or help you stop! So do the needed items first.

How many other hot rodders out there have a car that can do a 1/4 mile in 15 seconds or less and still get 28+ mpg!

My suggestion is this. Drop in a good rebuilt 1600 motor to start. That will get you around with plenty of power for a good starting point. Heck, you could always sell it off for the same price to someone doing a restore later, if you decide you want more power! There are VW's out there with Porsche motors that are breaking the 10 second 1/4 mile, and are still street drivable.

I'm doing a picture documentary on mine as I go, and as soon as it's done, I'll post it!

Have fun with your VW Hot Rod!

My son and I are just starting our VW Jalopy (don't want to call it a rat rod because we plan on finishing it out nicely... We are in the process of getting all the parts we need to get started on the project... I will post more information as the project starts to progress...

Dave Brisco

The VW's are poular here in the UK, most modders, aside from hot-rodders, go down the VW path. Bettles are a favourite, but people also go for the Golf (Rabbit), and the Polo's. A lot of the hot-rod accessory website are based on the whole Volkwagen thing aswell, like the German flags and the Iron Crosses. There is a garage that mods VW's, they are helping me out with suicide doors on my Ford Cortina, check them out:

www.bayarearods.co.uk

and for your VW (or your hot rod) accessory needs, check out:

www.oddballimport.co.uk

So, to conclude, VW's are cool, but not as cool as my Cortina...

I see VW's as different than the ricers. I like VW bugs in all configurations, stock, cal look, hot rod, drag car, etc.

What isn't to like in a rod like the one someone else posted earlier??


Don

well.... this one dude in town has one with a 383 stroker <seems to be the going way these days> in an old bug ill try and snag a pic or 2 i know its currently classified under project but hey what car is ever "done" ?!....scooter

I think the vw rods are kinda' kool. Just for your info check out this link to "OUR" favorite parts supplier http://www.speedwaymotors.com/produc...40&dept_id=948 and then all you need is the bug . Now if they make A/C for a vw engine, I'd be set.
Jim

Best site I'v found is:
www.airspeedparts.com/garage/hebrod/hebrod.htm
or
www.airspeedparts.com,...then click on hebrod.

this guy is GOOD

Hey Old Hippie, as a matter of fact they do make AC systems for the beetle. You have the standard A/C with a bolt on pump system and an under the dash fan & core unit. Bit bulky, but it works! Other option, my personal favorite, and if you live in a less humid part of TX, are the window mounted swamp coolers. There are a few re-pop units out there that work like a dream and they are definatly easier to instal, not to mention the pure nostalgia factor.

As for that Heb rod, man, I hate that guy for bein so damned good! lol Damn nice job tho, yet another source of inspiration for my lil beastie.

Can you give more details on the "swamp coolers" I am grappling with a need for A/C in an open roadster and bought a $40 "ice-cooler-blower" but it is bulky. What is a swamp cooler?

Don Shillady
Retired Scientist/teen rodder