Hey, I recently rebuilt a 12a and was looking at swapping it into my 65 beetle. Does anyone have any technical information on the kennedy adapter plate? I plan on machining one myself but I don't know how thick the plate should be. Additionally, does anyone have a cad/drawing of the rear iron (beats measuring it myself with a caliper). Thanks.

 

Its annoying as all get out to make an adaptor. I guess if you're looking for a challenge ok.

Thickness of your flywheel/hub centric device will determine your thickness of the plates. Ideally thinner is better (less unnecessary mass).

Speaking of mass.... Are you making a flywheel or are you doing what I did and using the rear auto counterweight and going from there to a VW/Porsche flywheel?

Centering this thing on the VW transaxle is gonna also be a bear. Its been some time since I've owned a VW, but I don't think those transmissions use a piolet bearing. BUT I do think that the 4 bellhousing bolts are all at 90 degrees from each other so you could make those be your guide. I'm shooting from the hip here but that seems like it would be a good place to start.

Another way to center this adaptor would be to pull your E-shaft out of the 12A and turn it out on a lathe to match the input shaft on the bug trans. (But I don't think the bug trans input is too long) Dunno if that would work either.



If you just want to make it for the challenge and money isn't a problem then buy an adaptor set from K.E.P. and copy it. You'll get all the thrill of making it yourself without the headache.

Sorry to be a wet blanket. Got any pics of the bug?

 

Yea, I plan on using an original 200mm vw flywheel and machining it down a little and drilling holes to attach to counterweight.

Also the pilot bearing for rotaries (oddly enough) fits perfectly onto the input shaft for vw transaxle so that wont be a problem either. Part of my concern is how much pilot bearing should be engaged with the input shaft (this should effected by the thickness of the adapter plate i would think).

Pics of the bug are coming soon, thanks for your reply!

 

On my project I bottomed the piolet bearing out on the transmission's input shaft and then backed out a mm. Worst case scenario you have to adjust the clutch or bend the clutch fork.

What about starter engagement? I would think that would let you know a lot about depth.

 

I have a Kenedy adapter/flywheel and 6V VW starter sitting here. I have a counterweight too but I'd have to take some measurements to figure out what year it matches.
I also have rear iron hole pattern in CAD. SendCutSend does a great job for the money.

 

Any way i could get the cad for the bolt pattern? also how thick is the adapter plate; i recently got a cnc and am confident i could make one myself

 

The adapter plate is 1/2" steel. I DIY zinc plated it as well.
The part cut from SendCutSend was cheaper than I could get the raw material for. I also had them cut the first draft from 0.125" hard board.
I'll PM you and get you the CAD.

 

So how did this workout?