Building custom cars in my backyard

With the initial VW Bug plate frames in place, I am now creating the secondary frame member to increase the strength of the 3SGTE’s rear engine cradle.

After cleaning up the Toyota 3SGTE motor mount hole, I also cut down the top edge and made if fit better. The VW Bug restoration will continue with the creation of the outside frame members.

This is the initial alignment of the Toyota 3SGTE Motor. As you can see it sits in a wooden frame that wraps around the entire rear end. The engine should sit completely within the body lines of the VW Bug's body shell.

I have removed the VW Bugs passenger side frame plate to clean up and enlarge the 3SGTE motor mount hole. I marked the plate when it was on to get a more accurate cut.

After cutting out the VW Bug 3SGTE motor mount hole, it is now time to refit the passenger side frame plate to see how it lines up. As you can see I cut it small to insure I can make it fit without over cutting. I will cut and clean the opening more later.

The photo album software is now working as expected. Check out the slide shows on the Photos page. You can see them as a slide show or click on the red text next to each window and see them as individual pictures. Tim@BackyardBuild.com

Before I can build the secondary VW Bug frame plates I must insure that the 3SGTE passenger side motor mount lines up. I am cutting out the hole in the initial frame plate with my plasma cutter for the mount.

With both of the VW Bug’s initial 3SGTE frame members bolted to the main rails, I have squared them up with three boards cut to the same length. I am now in the planning stage for the second frame members which will back up these two. The rear engine cradle has to be very strong [...]

I have now drilled out and bolted on the VW Bug rear frame members. Both frame pieces have been bolted on with grade 8 hardware and are backed up with .25 inch plates which fit inside the main frame rails. The frame will be beefed up with another plate in order to handle the power [...]

The VW Bug main frame members which go on either side of the Toyota 3SGTE motor have been bent and fit to the main frame as well as the rear cross-member. They fit snugly to the top of the rear cross-member.