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Rotary powered VW Bug!

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Old Feb 11, 2003 | 05:18 PM
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From: san leandro ca
Rotary powered VW Bug!

Here is my 65 bug that I converted over to rotary power. I stuffed an 84 12a in it, with a weber 48 IDA carb and a totally straight through exhaust (magnaflow muffler with a racing beat presilencer).






In the quest for more power, does any one have a brideported shortblock (no intake/exhaust) 12a or 13b for sale? hehe, that would make for one fast car, considering that bugs weigh like 1800lbs! (my buddy layed down 160hp at the wheels in his bug and runs 12.3 in the quarter!) Now if I had, say, 200whp...

If you like what you see, check out my website for information on converting a bug to rotary power at
http://www.geocities.com/zenjoe/vw.html
Or go to my message board at http://frost.bbboy.net/vwengineconversions
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Old Feb 11, 2003 | 07:55 PM
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HOLYSH!T

That Kicks assss!!
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Old Feb 11, 2003 | 08:47 PM
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From: southern NJ
why have i seen these pics before?
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Old Feb 11, 2003 | 09:14 PM
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Very nice.............lol
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Old Feb 12, 2003 | 06:46 AM
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Very cool! Nice looking car!
GO BRIDGEPORTED 13B!!
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Old Feb 23, 2003 | 07:16 AM
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very very nice job...but man..its still a bug haha j/p
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Old Feb 23, 2003 | 06:02 PM
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How loud is the exhaust? I was planning on using a magnaflow muff with presilensor on my rotary 510 project. Mine should be a little quieter because of the turbo.
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Old Feb 23, 2003 | 07:04 PM
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From: port credit
very creative, looks nice. ....now i wonder how well a 13b would do in a pinto....
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Old Feb 24, 2003 | 12:20 PM
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Any pics from the front?
I want to see your cooler installation..

// magnus
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Old Feb 25, 2003 | 12:37 PM
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Lookin good... Hows the gearing?
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Old Feb 25, 2003 | 11:30 PM
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wow
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Old Feb 26, 2003 | 04:03 PM
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I built one about 3 years ago with a 13b J-port 48IDA etc... managed to mount the engine but couldnt find any way of putting big brakes under it for reasonable $$$. Also the other big problem was having an exhaust long enough to make power and quiet enough for street use... with my motor it was fairly impossible.
I ran a beefed up box from an offroader (good for about 400bhp) and had a raidiator mounted in the nose.
I discontinued the project when I found a mint Mazda 616 and since converted that from 1600 to 13B.

I do miss the VW but it would have been quite dangerous (with 260+bhp) would equate to high 11's on the strip.

I love seeing people doing VW-wankel conversions big ups.
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Old Feb 28, 2003 | 01:25 PM
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This is similar to what I am trying to do. I am putting a 12a in a rail buggy. It is currently vw powered. I have the 12a motor, the adapter plates, etc. I just don't know what all can be stripped off the 12a to get a barebones motor that runs. I want light weight. After all, the rail itself does weigh much!!!
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Old Mar 4, 2003 | 04:36 AM
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From: chatsworth,Ca.
i have done several bug conversions,,,,,, lots of fun!!and sandrails, light as a feather!
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Old Mar 4, 2003 | 09:53 AM
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From: Knxville, TN
680RWHP12A do you have any reccomendations before I begin? I am waiting on the weather to improve which should be just a few more weeks and then I plan on tackling the project. Any helpful hints or a walk through type deal you've put together?
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Old Mar 4, 2003 | 11:49 AM
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I am also in the prosess of a Rotary conversion into my '68 Ghia...does anyone have info on a turbo rotary setup in a VW?
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Old Mar 4, 2003 | 06:38 PM
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This is a good thread. I was planning on doing a rotary bug conversion once but at the time, I couldn't find much info on it and was a little concerned about how to run the radiator plumming. I expect to see you all at sevenstock with your rotary vw's!
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Old Mar 4, 2003 | 06:54 PM
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Looks like there's more space in the engine bay compared to having the original engine.
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Old Mar 5, 2003 | 04:31 PM
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Yeah, the original is wide and tall. The rotary is short and long. Er, yeah.

I'll be doing an extend ported 12A in a baja (that's a very large streetport). Probably not the best for low end torque in an offroad vehicle, but I could always upgrade to a stock ported 13B for more torque, or something inbetween. Either way, the rotary's torque output is smoother even if it comes in at 500RPM higher than an ACVW.

However, a street bug loves a street ported engine. Zenjoe's bug is awesome! Now he just needs a streetport.
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Old Mar 6, 2003 | 08:21 AM
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i have a bridgey 12a, just plates and housings though...

PM me..

gotta go, school and all you know....
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Old Mar 8, 2003 | 02:14 AM
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I've got a '79 Kelmark('74 VW pan) with a '87 TurboII. I believe its the first kelmark with a turbo rotary engine. 1800lb and around 250rwhp. I've been trying to post pics, but that is still down I guess.
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Old Mar 9, 2003 | 02:31 AM
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I won't be doing that streetported 12A in my baja afterall. Instead, I'll be looking into a street bug, or possibly a Fiat X1/9 or some other transverse mount car. Wouldn't that be a neat trick?
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Old Mar 10, 2003 | 02:39 PM
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zENJOE-
Don't you ever stay home. haha

Bug conversions are fun, maybe not the whole time
your building them ,but real fun when your driving them.

There's now a third guy in my area doing a conversion.

Maybe we will try and make Woodburn this summer.

There's a VW show/drag every year. Good time to ****
off the purists.

$2500 to do my conversion and that includes the Yaw
carb.

Mine's a convertible,but I have no top right now,waiting
for some sun so I can paint. Just black primer for now.
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Old Mar 13, 2003 | 08:11 AM
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I finally got my12A mounted to the bug tranny in my rail buggy. I have reinstalled the intake and oil cooler. I am supposed to get the exaust fabricated this weekend and hopefully get the radiator mounted and plumbed. This should be interesting!!!
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Old Mar 19, 2003 | 11:12 PM
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Originally posted by gen2ForCe
but man..its still a bug haha j/p


Oh you didnt!!! You best watch your mouth



*Note to self " add gen2forCe to hitlist"




muahaha




-Drak
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