V8 1973 VW Beetle Project by V8 Super Beetle

3 minute(s) of a 270 minute read

I made a place for the gas tank to mount. I'll be using the stock tank and looks like it'll work out great.

Here's where the tank will sit. I mounted it at an incline just like how it came from the factory.

Is it a coincidence that the tank bends match up with the luggage shelf?........

And is it a coincidence that the bottom of the tank is concave underneath almost like it was meant to be a front engine V8 conversion (it's hard to see in the photo but the bottom of the tank almost wraps around the rear differential)?

I think not!!!!

4-21-2008

I welded on four body mount tabs to the gas tank frame. I then welded in two cross members to make the tank / body mounts frame more rigid. Seems like a good idea and it'll hold the rear of the body down tighter.

The tabs / body mounts are basically just pieces of angle iron.

Here's a shot of the four of them.

Here's how the body sits now. Once I weld up some shackle mounts it should lift the frame and body up 1-2 inches.

Today I went and got some more stuff to rebuild my chassis, tie rods, brake pads, brake hoses, sway away bushings. I think I'm just lacking a couple bushings for where the shackles will mount to the frame.

Next I'll modify the original front fender mounts so that way they'll support the weight of the front of the body. Then I'll cut away a little more of the body around the suspension arms for clearance.