# 79' VW Rabbit V8 Project **URL:** \ **Category:** Builds\ **Created:** [April 21, 2009, 7:18pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/79-vw-rabbit-v8-project/66561 "2009-04-21T19:18:54Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![FearBefore128](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/fearbefore128/32/5115_2.png) [@FearBefore128](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/FearBefore128)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2009, 10:51pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/79-vw-rabbit-v8-project/66561/41 "2009-04-22T22:51:45Z")
Please don’t give up on this ever! I’ll leave it at that. ---
**Author:** ![Karter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/e480ec/32.png) [@Karter](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/Karter)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2009, 1:02am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/79-vw-rabbit-v8-project/66561/42 "2009-04-23T01:02:49Z")
> [@kellersvt](#): > > That blue car thats cut in half is the parts car. Bough it for $50 bucks for the interior and dash. The rear end may come in handy if I kiss the wall. Have no idea how this thing is going to react. Thanks anyways man. I’ll hit you up if I’m missing anything. > > Has anyone ever seen a video of a rabbit with a V8?? I havent, but I know some people who have built small cars into drag cars, such as old Bugs and gremlins ect. They say even with a 4 link its hard to make them leave straight, so I’d gauge that into the equation of how much power you throw at it. ---
**Author:** ![BREETIME](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/breetime/32/5214_2.png) [@BREETIME](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/BREETIME)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2009, 1:07am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/79-vw-rabbit-v8-project/66561/43 "2009-04-23T01:07:33Z")
holy shit look at those strut mounts! dude get away from this thing ---
**Author:** ![turbociv](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/dfb087/32.png) [@turbociv](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/turbociv)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2009, 6:04am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/79-vw-rabbit-v8-project/66561/44 "2009-04-23T06:04:15Z")
> [@Just Karter](#): > > I havent, but I know some people who have built small cars into drag cars, such as old Bugs and gremlins ect. > > They say even with a 4 link its hard to make them leave straight, so I’d gauge that into the equation of how much power you throw at it. anything with a short wheel base is gunna be hard to keep straight unless fwd. ---
**Author:** ![Xander](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/xander/32/7597_2.png) [@Xander](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/Xander)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2009, 6:19am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/79-vw-rabbit-v8-project/66561/45 "2009-04-23T06:19:39Z")
I see a lot of work there, but it could be worth it when it’s all done. X… ---
**Author:** ![XwalkerX](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/xwalkerx/32/7598_2.png) [@XwalkerX](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/XwalkerX)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2009, 6:33am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/79-vw-rabbit-v8-project/66561/46 "2009-04-23T06:33:01Z")
![http://www.nottinghamclubgti.co.uk/gallery/mk1rollover.jpg](http://www.nottinghamclubgti.co.uk/gallery/mk1rollover.jpg) ---
**Author:** ![Haenszel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e68b1a/32.png) [@Haenszel](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/Haenszel)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2009, 6:41am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/79-vw-rabbit-v8-project/66561/47 "2009-04-23T06:41:44Z")
> [@XwalkerX](#): > That thing must have a VR in it 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![jimmyfloyd](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/jimmyfloyd/32/3077_2.png) [@jimmyfloyd](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/jimmyfloyd)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2009, 8:29am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/79-vw-rabbit-v8-project/66561/48 "2009-04-23T08:29:19Z")
A buick V8 will put the distributor at the front of the motor instead of the rear like on the Chevy’s. Thanks god you are getting rid of that rear setup. That looked dangerous. Good luck with this. ---
**Author:** ![Bacon](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/bacon/32/7230_2.png) [@Bacon](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/Bacon)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2009, 9:01am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/79-vw-rabbit-v8-project/66561/49 "2009-04-23T09:01:48Z")
I’m really liking the absurd projects from you. This should be quite nifty. ---
**Author:** ![540guy](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/540guy/32/5052_2.png) [@540guy](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/540guy)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2009, 1:27pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/79-vw-rabbit-v8-project/66561/50 "2009-04-23T13:27:14Z")
i really want to see this think done, seems pretty damn cool. ---
**Author:** ![Minglor](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/minglor/32/7373_2.png) [@Minglor](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/Minglor)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2009, 1:40pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/79-vw-rabbit-v8-project/66561/51 "2009-04-23T13:40:47Z")
> [@Haenszel](#): > > That thing must have a VR in it 🙂 why I had to get rid of mine… ---
**Author:** ![kellersvt](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/kellersvt/32/5364_2.png) [@kellersvt](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/kellersvt)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2009, 3:32pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/79-vw-rabbit-v8-project/66561/52 "2009-04-23T15:32:00Z")
> [@mindless](#): > > DUDE THIS IS FUCKING SWEETTTT. Please make this happen its alot of work but will deff be worth it in the end. Honestly if you are going to get serious with this as a drag car or something go with a 8.8 rear end for more strength out of back. I’m contemplating on using the 9" ford rear end thats available. > [@Just Karter](#): > > I havent, but I know some people who have built small cars into drag cars, such as old Bugs and gremlins ect. > > That is the point. There is not one video of a Rabbit with a V8 anywhere. If I missed one prove me wrong. There are a couple builds but I havent seen one finished yet. > > They say even with a 4 link its hard to make them leave straight, so I’d gauge that into the equation of how much power you throw at it. Starting with around 350HP ish. Debating on using the 327 heads. But that would throw out more then that with the right setup. If the car acts fine with that much, then more power I will seek. > [@BREETIME](#): > > holy shit look at those strut mounts! > dude get away from this thing Get back in the car. There isn’t any struts on the damn thing:roflpicard: > [@FearBefore128](#): > > Please don’t give up on this ever! I’ll leave it at that. Hey, people talked ALOT of shit about the escort. I still finished it. > [@jimmyfloyd](#): > > A buick V8 will put the distributor at the front of the motor instead of the rear like on the Chevy’s. Thanks god you are getting rid of that rear setup. That looked dangerous. > > Good luck with this. I have to deal with what I got. The driveshaft was made for a turbo 400. I’m going to take advantage of the turbo 350 being shorter and move the engine back a couple inches(will make a HUGE difference). And being able to adjust the timing while sitting in the driver seat might be nice:) ---
**Author:** ![kellersvt](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/kellersvt/32/5364_2.png) [@kellersvt](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/kellersvt)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2009, 3:37pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/79-vw-rabbit-v8-project/66561/53 "2009-04-23T15:37:05Z")
The shortened drive shaft. ![http://i708.photobucket.com/albums/ww88/akellersvt/100_0059.jpg](http://i708.photobucket.com/albums/ww88/akellersvt/100_0059.jpg) Started pulling the interior out of the parts car. Dash fits great. ![http://i708.photobucket.com/albums/ww88/akellersvt/100_0060.jpg](http://i708.photobucket.com/albums/ww88/akellersvt/100_0060.jpg) ---
**Author:** ![deebo](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/deebo/32/5218_2.png) [@deebo](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/deebo)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2009, 3:46pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/79-vw-rabbit-v8-project/66561/54 "2009-04-23T15:46:16Z")
definately cool, but yeah i would for sure sand everything and primer it and coat it, maybe now is a good time while everything is apart ---
**Author:** ![spinall4](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e47774/32.png) [@spinall4](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/spinall4)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2009, 3:55pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/79-vw-rabbit-v8-project/66561/55 "2009-04-23T15:55:54Z")
LSX PLEASE!!! I know somebody else throwing an LS1 into a very light older platform… It will be tearing up the streetz this summer :snky: ---
**Author:** ![turbociv](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/dfb087/32.png) [@turbociv](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/turbociv)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2009, 4:10pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/79-vw-rabbit-v8-project/66561/56 "2009-04-23T16:10:16Z")
yea, pull that dash out and start blasting and priming. ---
**Author:** ![kellersvt](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/kellersvt/32/5364_2.png) [@kellersvt](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/kellersvt)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2009, 4:40pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/79-vw-rabbit-v8-project/66561/57 "2009-04-23T16:40:31Z")
The plan is to get the motor and trany in the car for mock up so I can fab up a firewall and floor. There is no point in painting anything until that is done. It really is not bad at all. The camera makes it look WAY worse then it is. Its just mild surface rust. It took over 30 years to get that bad. It can wait another couple weeks. I already have paint. I’ll try and get a decent pick of it so you can see the color. Sorta like a vibrant navy blue metallic with some pearl. It was a screw up from work. There are two gallons of it, so plenty enough to do the car 2 or 3 times over. ---
**Author:** ![95dime](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/95dime/32/7514_2.png) [@95dime](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/95dime)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2009, 5:16pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/79-vw-rabbit-v8-project/66561/58 "2009-04-23T17:16:04Z")
if it were me, id weld a cage in and get some sheet aluminum to build the floors tub and firewall. ditch the ugly dash and make a dash out of another sheet of aluminum drill some holes for the guages and rivet it to the firewall. if built the 8.5" 10 bolt will hold about 450hp til you take it to the track with slicks. wont last long then if your hard on it. for the same money itd cost to build the 8.5 you can build a much stronger 9". keep the car as barebones and as light as possible and theres no problem keeping that car under 2000 pounds. the girl’s pinto has a bigblock chevy with a powerglide in a tube chassis pinto and that thing only weighs 2200 pounds. ---
**Author:** ![theSteveKarpik](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/fbc32d/32.png) [@theSteveKarpik](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/theSteveKarpik)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2009, 5:28pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/79-vw-rabbit-v8-project/66561/59 "2009-04-23T17:28:55Z")
That dash is raunchy as hell, I love it. MOAR PROGRESS! I enjoyed the Escort build as well so maybe I’m weird. Good work. ---
**Author:** ![kellersvt](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/kellersvt/32/5364_2.png) [@kellersvt](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/kellersvt)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2009, 5:38pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/79-vw-rabbit-v8-project/66561/60 "2009-04-23T17:38:30Z")
Aluminum is pricey. Sheet metal will do fine(car is light enough as it is). And the dash stays. Trying to make it look stockish. The first time I saw the car, the hood was on and motor in. You couldn’t tell the difference between the two. And the ride height was the same. I’m going with the kinda sleeper approach/once in a while track car. I know there isn’t any happy medium but I will make it happen. I know a guy that can do the cage but I want to see how crazy the car is first. [Previous page](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/79-vw-rabbit-v8-project/66561.md?page=2) [Next page](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/79-vw-rabbit-v8-project/66561.md?page=4)