[VOLKSWAGNER420]

Hi there, I have been looking at a lot of bugs on the net and it seems like they all either have all of the fenders on, or none of the fenders on, is there a reason for this? I am thinking about running no front fenders or skirt, and filling in all the ugly holes left behind (do they offer a bolt on skin for that) and leaving the back ones. I would not be using the stock ones I found some fiberglass ones with a 32 ford tail light frenched in. On my 1971 Super Vert I plan to move the front wheels forward 6 inches and down 4 inches. If I do away with the running board's will this affect how the rear fenders mount or will it just mean smoothing out more holes where they used to bolt on? Hey bug owners, need any stock parts? Fenders, signals, (big ugly suckers!) lights, running boards (kind of crusty, but there) am fm stereo, back seat with great condition black basket weave pattern, ect. I would be willing to trade for???? I am going for the shape of the old Rat Fink T-bucket cars. Tall, curvy, and wide in the back. and long, low, and thin up front. With a big ugly giant crammed in it!! Should be freakin' AWESOME when I get done with it. Not ALL EV's have to look like some areo-dynamic spit blob in the wind. This site proves that you can have cool lookin' rides and still pass those pumps! ....Any thoughts, good or bad, are appreciated. Thanks.

 

[palmer_md]

You might want to try a VW forum for that. I know it's beyond my knowledge of VW's, and I bet beyond most here, but in a VW forum you'll find plenty of folks who can point you in the right direction as far as VW body modifications.

 

[Ziggythewiz]

I don't know if you have any ME friends, but if you could find a way to do some airflow modeling of your plans it would be a big help.

 

[VOLKSWAGNER420]

Palmer, very good point, I will try that. For the record I wasn't trying to clog up the forum with BS, just figured that I would give these VW guys first crack at the parts if they needed them. But still good advice!

Ziggy, I had Physics class tonight and I asked Dr. Bashtovvy (PHd in Physics) About the fender versus no fender thing and he says this. Yes going from a wedge with a big lump on each side of it to just a wedge presents less frontal area to resist the wind, but, the tire tread rotating AGAINST the wind counteracts most of your savings and the extra power exerted to the wheels to turn against the wind kills the rest of it, and might actually result in a net loss. He said that if I fabricated some struts and fenders that cover the top half of the wheel (the half turning against the wind) that it would be fine for the bottom half to be exposed as it turns WITH the wind. Then the gains return as you are back to having several square feet less frontal area presented to the wind as well as some small gain due to the reduced weight.

gottdi, I guess the Dr. took care of the whole fenders issue for me so I think I will go with a wrap around rear motorcycle fender blank and cut it in half. (width ways, not length ways) I will have to look and see what I might weld mounts to. By the way, I have a stick welder and have been tearing cars apart (AND putting them back together again) for like 15 years now so I will be a quick learner if you would be willing to teach me about some of the ins and outs of bugs. I MIGHT even break down and buy a repair book. I hope to convert MANY bugs (and other stuff) for people in my life if I can figure it out without electrocuting myself and as long as my first one doesn't suck!! I am going to take the front fenders and running boards off tomorrow. any hidden bolts or other tips that I should know about? I think I will do well on this with good guidance from this forum as I love customizing cars AND electrical engineering! I am even gona get a Ohm's and Watt's law tattoo added to my collection soon! PS if you are willing to start letting me pick your brain about Bug stuff should I start a new thread for that, might help people out in the future. As far as the stretch, I saw one off samba installed that was 6 out and 2 down and they did have to trim like a inch for the steering, that's why I am going 6 out and 4 down, I think that should barely clear. And not to worry, if I am gona spend twice what I had planed to on an EV you can bet that my Rod won't be TOO Ratty! lol Thanks, Steve

 

[piotrsko]

my $.02: Vw fenders and their associated stock mounting system do not leave a lot of places to customize. Refer to the whole 1940's look, and rods made from those era cars. A bug utilizes the same methodology and it didn't really change until VW started building "Square" cars. Like Gottdi said, you pull the fenders off, go somewhere else in your mind, then for some reason or another, you loose interest and it is such a pain to go and re-install them properly.

I'm not saying don't do it, but I am saying that it is going to take a bunch of head scratching and dreaming, filing and drilling, and grinding. BTW IMHO nothing more bitchen than a 40 businessman's coupe done well.

I like the concept of motorcycle fenders. I also like pink builders foam insulation glued into blocks and whacked on with an electric carving knife and grinder. If Disney can builda whole theme park out of paint covered foam, fenders ought to be a snap. Have fun, it is YOUR project.

 

[VOLKSWAGNER420]

Piotrsko, I just came in from taking off the front bumper, both front fenders, and both running boards, (the running boards have had it!) And it wasn't that bad taking them off. I do see where certain spots are gona need trimmed off sooner or later to streamline the front but I am not cutting ANYTHING until I get the front wheels where I want them. I have SOLID heater / frame rails, those things are thick like the frame on my 2500! and the tunnel is great too! I think I might do the pans at some point as they are doing pretty bad underneath. But hell, I have two new parts bolted in (Titanium and stainless steel) and I am a decade younger than the Beetle, so it has earned a few parts! But yeah not gona get to crazy with things all at once, it is a BAD feeling when you realize that the bag with the nuts and bolts to your ENTIRE project has gone missing!

 

[crack monkey]

go to www.volksrods.com home of the fenderless VW. check out the gallery for some inspiration. also there is a guy on there that sells an extender and conversion kit for making a super into a regular beam style front. good quality stuff

 

[VOLKSWAGNER420]

Awesome, thanks! If I can blend the info on there and the info on here it would be one of a kind for sure!