1969 Volkswagen Bug - Performance Enhanced Engine And Suspension By Ace on 2040-cars

FOR SALE: ACE Enterprises/Art Thraen’s 1969 VW bug, used as a race car and now as a street legal, fun street racer,  $12900.00 As is  or $7800.00 without the engine.

This car has a history dating back to 1998, I bought the car from JIM’s Valley Service, and saved it from the crusher..  The engine is seized and the owner did not want to fix the dent in the driver front fender.

I brought the car home and stripped the interior out and started prepping the car to use as a drag racer and bracket car for fun and as a shop mascot for the ACE {Air Cooled Engineering} race car. I was heavily involved in the VW performance world, building Race Engines and Carburation modifications for VW and Porsche performance.

The first engine and transmission Combination was a mild performance transmission and a 2332cc engine that made just at 212HP with 48IDA carbs, first few race events took some getting used to the car and I experienced some ill effects from the powerful 2332 engine and poor stock suspension.

I broke the weak transmission right away and decided to pull the IRS suspension out and install Sway-A-Way components and that includes 30mm torsion bars and HD spring plates and bushings, Hardware, Type 3 rear brakes, just to mention a few. This took over 45 lbs out of the car and the car now weighs #1550 lb.

The front end was narrowed 2 in and the bushings replaced with Brass and Sway-A-Way urethane. I spent over 6 hours and three trips to the alignment rack to get the car set up for correct geometry, both toe and caster and rear toe were set up for performance. Which most cars do not have that have been modified as this car has been, in all ways better than the factory set up.

I Built a Performance Drag Transmission with an aluminum spool and Sway-A-Way stock length (short Axels. A $3500 investment.

The wheels on the car (all front and back) are custom made BOGART racing wheels and the wide 5 bolt pattern was a choice to make the car more vintage looking, I have Drag Tire (slicks) and DOT street tires  mounted on separate wheels of different widths. These come with the car and the tires are fresh.

The Pedal assembly and cables in the tunnel have been reinforced for the HD clutch and Drag Race starts. There is a Line Lock Kit installed to Stage the car for racing and is hooked to the front brakes, and works perfect. The Mallory ignition system is wired into the Chassis of the car and can be manipulated to change the launch RPM, Control NOS and Shift RPM.  See pics.

Racing: started out bracket racing and then joined the PRA VW race association and entered the Super Gas 11:90 index class. This car was very competitive and has won many races. The best ET is 11:60 @117MPH. As set up now with 9:1 compression the Avg ET is 12:20 at 109. The Car star’s in the TV series “Blow it up” AKA as PINKs with Rich Christensen as the narrator/Producer.   (I have the Video) where this Bug Dominated the race and won the right to be called the winner.

The car now has a RACE Seat, but the Original 1969 seat rails are still on the floor pan and stock seats can be installed in a few minutes if wanted. The steering column was rebuilt and has the OEM ignition assembly, all lights and wiring are intact and working well, the wiper assembly was completely rebuilt and works perfect, the Dash Vent system was rebuilt and works perfect. Even the interior light is operational. The windows have been replaced with Lexan Poly and the doors have the OEM glass and are completely operational, the keys fit the Doors and they lock and work as they should.

The gas tank was replaced with an OEM VW early Gas tank and a 3/8 Fuel line installed with electric fuel pump and filter, but the original Fuel line is intact and caped and can be reused if required, the Heater box controls are intact and working, the emergency brake is intact and working.

Sale AS IS; this car is testable and can be driven, I’m selling “as is” and changes or alterations may cost for the labor and parts.

Body and Paint: was repaired by two different shops during the build process, the body work was done by a friend Jerry Singleterry  and the paint was done by Dave Kindig (Kindiggit Auto Painting)  The color could be changed very easy if one wanted to change to a solid color.

SPEC’S

1. Engine, is a 2332cc monster with Heads by “Fred Simpson” (I have flow charts) the engine was built by me “Art Thraen @ ACE” using a OEM new VW MAG case and bronzed bushed lifter bores, blue printed to perfect Specs for tight bearing fit  with a DPR RACE Crank Balanced for performance. Engle FK89 cam and Scat modified lifters, steel cam gear set, Mahle 94mm Forged Pistons, Hastings race rings, Chromalloy head studs and hardware, Berg 1.4 Rocker assembly’s and .056” Manton Pushrods, Engine tuned down for street use and 9:1 compression and has NOS kit installed with 48 IDA Carbs modified by ACE. This engine alone cost $12000.00 to build and is capable of 250+ HP.

2. Transmission; originally built by “Mike Herbert” and has since been refreshed by me with a new 3.88 ring and Pinion and is ready for a season of racing. The gearing is all performance parts and has a 3.88 R/P, 4.11/2.46 Weddle main shaft, close ration 3^rd and 4^th gears. Alum Spool and Sway-A-Way Race axels (short) swing. Bus stubber’s and the Case has been re-enforced, with a gusset welded to prevent cracking. This Transmission cost $3500.00 to build.

3. Roll cage: bolted in with NHRA certified Plates, Seat is a Race seat and has racing seat belts (Belts need to be updated for use)

4. Lights and wiring: all lights and turn signals work as they should, all wiring is stock VW accept for the ignition system for the engine that has been added.

5. There is over $20,000 spent on this car to make it what it is today.  Not counting all the Labor, this car would cost over $35,000.00 to have built and modified to this condition.