Munk's Motors Discovers TURBONIUM
Motivated by 240 horses of Turbo Corvalr

The folks around the city of Detroit, Michigan, have always been
known for their affinity for automobiles...which is natural considering
the automobile industry is the bread and butter for the majority of
that city's inhabitants.

For every year since the "Muscle Car" era began (most agree it was
in the early '60s, but some claim its roots date back to the '50s or
earlier), performance oriented Michiganders have been tinkering in
their garages and shops to make whatever the factories are currently
offering just that much better, faster, and more trick. For the most
part, that entailed working on American cars only, those big block
Chevelles, Hemi 'Cudas and 427 Corvettes that became the essence
of street performance. The undisputed kings of the boulevard.

What's happened to those same Michiganders within the past few
years, however, is a sparkle of interest in a brand of automobile not
necessarilyall American. We call these cars Volkswagen Beetles.

Of course, you can't expect those good ol' hot rodders to leave the
original powerplant intact, can you? Self proclaimed "motorheads" like
Chris "Chipmunk" Braden have trashed the venerable flat opposed four
banger for more traditional American forms of motivation. And with
marvelous results.

We call this phenomenon "The Detroit Look," and, in Chris Braden's case,
it refers to stuffing a 180hp turbocharged Chevy Corvair six cylinder
into the engine compartment of his '73 Super Beetle.

Of course, this transformation wasn't an overnight affair. Chris and
buddies Jim Hansen and Rick Cote spent the better part of three years
cutting, fitting and modifying the Beetle to accept the numerous
modifications they were endeavoring to make. But, Chris is no stranger
to hipo VW's. Over the past dozen or so years, he has owned 12 VW
buses (the second one turbo 'Vair powered), a '69 Ghia convertible
with 140hp Corvair engine, plus numerous Beetles (one powered by
another 140hp Corvair). What all this tells us is that Chris is fanatical
about alternatively powered VW's . . . which is just fine by us.

This particular Super Beetle is trick from stem to stern. However, having
served previous duty as someone's commuter car, the poor ol' Bug was
suffering from a severe case of Michigan rustover on the fenders and
other panels. Structurally, however, the car was sound, but Chris and
friends spent plenty of hours cutting, welding, and repairing the cancerous
areas. Once the body was up to snuff, the "motorheads" went to work
on the suspension.

Their goals were to have a vehicle capable of tight handling, a smooth
ride with reasonable noise levels, and total absence of "typical VW" wheel
hop. All of this was remarkably achieved by the installation of 3 inch
adjustable dropped struts with Bilstein inserts, while Delrin stock replaced
the factory rubber as track arm bushings, and polyurethane was utilized
for the rear torsion bar bushings. A Scat anti-sway bar is used in the rear,
while Gabriel Hi-Jackers allow adjustment for various degrees of firmness.

The "motorheads" constructed a rear subframe unit to tie the flexible body
components together and triangulate weak areas so the car's weight and
torque of all those cubes could be effectively carried. Predictably, all
wheel hop and front mount problem ceased (the front mount no longer
supports the load, and the car has been run without it), and no twist in
the car's tail has been noticed.

After the first few quick stops from double the double-nickel speeds, a
glaring deficiency in the vehicle's braking was discovered ... resulting in
totally smoked brake shoes and warped drums. The situation was remedied,
however, by manufacturing disc brake adapters which mount Type III
calipers to the spindles, then allow ing Type IV rotors as a direct bolton.
Modulation is achieved via a Kelsey Hayes proportioning valve neatly
tucked away under the trunk mat for easy access. Chris tells us his
next job is replacing the stock rear drums with Type III units.

The powerplant of this wild Beetle started life as a 180hp Corvair Corsa
unit, but has been modified to spin in reverse (clockwise) for use in the
VW. A Crown 5050B reverse rotation cam was utilized in the potent rebuild,
along with 0.060 over TRW forged pistons, 6.5 pound aluminum fly-wheel,
SU "Turbo carb" by Riviera Engineering, highvolume oil pump, distributor
advance kit, plus a special adapter plate to mate the engine to the VW
tranny. The motor's stock heads and bottom end are sufficient for this
relatively "mild" application of turbo assistance, which is a total of 15psi
when using aviation fuel, and a regulated 9psi with pump gas, while a
Spearco wastegate and Edelbrock, VaraJection water injection system
assure everything runs as planned. When the auxiliary fuel tank is stocked
with 106 octane, a seatmounted switch disconnects all boost controls for
maximum thrust. Current horse power is between 210 to 240.

The clutch plate is a 2700 pound Kennedy Maximum unit, and connects
to a beefed transmission featuring chromemoly shift forks, close ratio
third gear, Ghia ring and pinion and a castiorn side cover and through
studs.

The not quite stock exterior includes subtle rear fender flares, shaving
of front and rear bumpers, blacking out of chrome trim, and installation
of '72 Beetle tail lamps, plus Rabbit sidemarkers in the front grille work
to serve as turn signals. 1978 Corvette "Silver Anniversary" charcoal
grey paint was selected to cover the body.

Interior treatments includes a custombuilt rear storage area where the
back seat used to be, grey carpet work by Elaine Braden, a Grant wood
rimmed steering wheel (with Corvair turbo insignia for the horn button),
a variety of VDO engine monitoring gauges, hidden Sanyo lOO watt
stereo with 4inch Pioneer door speakers and 6x9's in the rear boxes,
and the all important dashmounted radar detector. Seating areas are
covered in supple black velour and vinyl.

In addition to his friends, wife and father, Chris wishes to thank Detroit
disc jockey "The Electrifying Mojo" for supplying the motorheads with
inspirational rock and roll during the numerous late night thrashes. Look
s as though it paid off well.