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Cal-look/High Performance => In Da Werks => Topic started by: Frenchy Dehoux on March 14, 2014, 19:44:40 pm



Title: P38 BellyTank
Post by: Frenchy Dehoux on March 14, 2014, 19:44:40 pm

  Anyone ever build a P38 belly tank with a VW engine and transmission. I just bought a Belly tank from a good friend and most of hot rodders install a flat head V8 60 or later V8.

Thanks
Frenchy


Title: Re: P38 BellyTank
Post by: Rick Meredith on March 14, 2014, 19:52:47 pm
Dick Beith's Pepco Supercharged VW Lakester

(https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/5/56/Dick_Beith%27s_Pepco_Supercharged_VW_Lakester.jpg)


Title: Re: P38 BellyTank
Post by: andy M. on March 14, 2014, 21:37:27 pm
is it an original ali one or fibre glass repop?  I always fancied building one of these but tanks are hard to find this side of the pond,

cheers

andy


Title: Re: P38 BellyTank
Post by: Fiatdude on March 14, 2014, 22:15:27 pm
SCTA has so many rules now that it is impossible to get one cert'd to run -- there was a guy building one up in co or UT or KS somewhere and had a hard time getting it licensed to even make an exhibition pass -- -- There was a build thread on it somewhere from a few years ago


Title: Re: P38 BellyTank
Post by: Fiatdude on March 14, 2014, 22:35:07 pm
http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=481841&d=1218870027   LOL


Title: Re: P38 BellyTank
Post by: Rick Meredith on March 14, 2014, 22:46:47 pm
Found another one. looks like it has motorcycle wheels & tires

(http://i44.photobucket.com/albums/f45/RaggedyRacing/more%20junk/DSC00015.jpg)


Title: Re: P38 BellyTank
Post by: Frenchy Dehoux on March 14, 2014, 23:27:04 pm


  Way cool I will post pictures next week. I will pick it up tomorrow sometime. I think with the VW engine and running gear would be simpler.

Frenchy


Title: Re: P38 BellyTank
Post by: Frenchy Dehoux on March 15, 2014, 00:27:06 am

  Is there some type of blue print somewhere that I can see how the chassis was build to accept the vw engine and trans.

Thanks
Frenchy


Title: Re: P38 BellyTank
Post by: Fiatdude on March 15, 2014, 04:53:43 am
Most the ones I've seen Frenchy. seemed like they just split the tank and then put the engine and trans in there where it would fit/work and then fab'd the chassis to work -- -- the last one I saw needed a midget or a contortionist to drive it --


Title: Re: P38 BellyTank
Post by: speedwell on March 15, 2014, 15:08:12 pm
frenchy watch this  ;)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zu6qMH6m8p8 (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zu6qMH6m8p8)


Title: Re: P38 BellyTank
Post by: speedwell on March 15, 2014, 16:01:12 pm
here's a topic on the jalopy journal   the engine isn't a flat 4 but may be the build is very similar

http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=314787&showall=1 (http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=314787&showall=1)


Title: Re: P38 BellyTank
Post by: speedwell on March 15, 2014, 16:17:59 pm
http://www.volksrods.com/forum/showthread.php?t=20449 (http://www.volksrods.com/forum/showthread.php?t=20449)


Title: Re: P38 BellyTank
Post by: Fiatdude on March 15, 2014, 17:45:32 pm
Really looking forward to this build and the ideas that I know you'll put into it Frenchy -- Something I've always wanted to do -- but at 6'4"  260 lbs kind of figured my bum would even begin to fit in it LOL


Title: Re: P38 BellyTank
Post by: Frenchy Dehoux on March 15, 2014, 23:11:10 pm

    I have the belly tank in the back yard and I did some measurements. First I will have to finish my 1929 Hot Rod than the NSU than the Belly Tank. But it is OK to do multiple projects at once.



Frenchy


Title: Re: P38 BellyTank
Post by: PIP on March 16, 2014, 03:26:48 am
(http://i52.photobucket.com/albums/g32/pip90808/rides/image-29.jpg)
(http://i52.photobucket.com/albums/g32/pip90808/rides/image-30.jpg)
(http://i52.photobucket.com/albums/g32/pip90808/rides/image-31.jpg)

Hank young is building a sweet salt flatter, on his Instagram @hankyougchoppers


Title: Re: P38 BellyTank
Post by: Zach Gomulka on March 16, 2014, 07:32:54 am

    I have the belly tank in the back yard and I did some measurements. First I will have to finish my 1929 Hot Rod than the NSU than the Belly Tank. But it is OK to do multiple projects at once.



Frenchy

And the Ghia?


Title: Re: P38 BellyTank
Post by: Frenchy Dehoux on March 17, 2014, 04:01:38 am


   Thank You for reminding me Zach.

Frenchy


Title: Re: P38 BellyTank
Post by: lawrence on March 18, 2014, 01:57:51 am
Cool stuff, Frenchy. Did you have any powerplants in mind yet. If it were me I would build a hopped-up 36hp engine with a new, speedwell blower. Or a 2165 with all the go-fast stuff and IDA-style injection. Or a 1914 with a small turbo.


Title: Re: P38 BellyTank
Post by: Frenchy Dehoux on March 18, 2014, 06:44:39 am


     I was looking to build a 2165 or 1900 cc with IDA'S sticking out from the side and doing a mid engine using swing axle transmission reversing the ring gear etc .... and maybe a set of BRM'S as well


Frenchy


Title: Re: P38 BellyTank
Post by: RichardinNZ on March 18, 2014, 10:25:57 am
May be worth making contact with Burly and the 36hp land speed guys on the vintage speed forum on The Samba.  They may have more information for you.

Richard


Title: Re: P38 BellyTank
Post by: Frenchy Dehoux on April 21, 2014, 05:36:40 am
Dick Beith's Pepco Supercharged VW Lakester

(https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/5/56/Dick_Beith%27s_Pepco_Supercharged_VW_Lakester.jpg)

   I was hoping to find more pictures from the inside of the belly tank so I have an idea on the placement of the engine and transmission.


Thanks
 Frenchy


Title: Re: P38 BellyTank
Post by: Frenchy Dehoux on April 21, 2014, 22:53:15 pm

   Here are a few pictures of the Belly Pan before and as of today what has been done to it.

Frenchy


Title: Re: P38 BellyTank
Post by: Frenchy Dehoux on April 21, 2014, 22:57:24 pm

   A few more this was as of 4/20/14

Frenchy


Title: Re: P38 BellyTank
Post by: Rick Meredith on April 23, 2014, 00:24:46 am
Dick Beith's Pepco Supercharged VW Lakester

(https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/5/56/Dick_Beith%27s_Pepco_Supercharged_VW_Lakester.jpg)

   I was hoping to find more pictures from the inside of the belly tank so I have an idea on the placement of the engine and transmission.


Thanks
 Frenchy

These were all I found. I'll keep looking,


Title: Re: P38 BellyTank
Post by: Dave Rosique on April 23, 2014, 02:23:48 am
Very cool Frenchy!


Title: Re: P38 BellyTank
Post by: Frenchy Dehoux on April 23, 2014, 05:08:05 am


   Thanks Rick no problem just wanted to have an idea on the inside how the frame was made to support the engine and transmission. I am planning to use a squirrel cage style fan and no fan shroud also using a magneto and oil sump and many other ideas etc .... I am still working on my 1931 track t roadster / NSU I just needed another project .


    Thanks
   Frenchy


Title: Re: P38 BellyTank
Post by: Rick Meredith on April 23, 2014, 05:37:43 am
You can never have too many projects.

I can search while I wait for software to install which is how I spend most of my day ;)


Title: Re: P38 BellyTank
Post by: Fiatdude on April 23, 2014, 17:04:16 pm
possible suggestions -- one is put the engine to the rear and leave it into the air stream and use air scoops to cool rather than a fan -- HP gained there -- and weight is your friend when your on the salt too!!!

Here is an old belly I found for sale a few years ago -- figured I'd post so you could see some old school thinking -- i want to point out the rear vertical stabilizer too -- sorry, could only find this pic -- had more but they are gone -- didn't want to get to close and leave any foot prints in the dust because I thought was part of the coolness of this find LOL

(http://i586.photobucket.com/albums/ss306/Fiatdude/Fiat/bulletfiat_zps38da5f5a.jpg) (http://s586.photobucket.com/user/Fiatdude/media/Fiat/bulletfiat_zps38da5f5a.jpg.html)