Volkswagen Repair: VW front suspension, custom drive shaft, radical modifications

Question
QUESTION: Will the vw front suspension support the weight of a 350 if I adapt the chevy frame to the suspension?

ANSWER: Carl,
 First of all, there are many type of VWs.  But if I assume you mean a water-cooled, front wheel drive configuration, you'll have a lot more issues to deal with than just weight.   Engine mounts, space, transaxle to transmission change, custom drive shaft, driven rear end, and a dozens of other issues.
 If you are talking an air-cooled classic, check this out:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pMFjdp_qGbU&NR=1

- Rick

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Thank you for the youtube sight. I enjoyed that.  I plan to use a '67 beetle classic front suspension and build my own frame for the engine and bucket body.  I want to use the front suspension if it will hold the weight.

Answer
Carl,
 I do not believe this will work.  The classic Beetle suspension was designed with greater than half the weight of the vehicle intended to be in the rear.  In fact, the tire pressure for the front is only supposed to be 18 lb, where as the rears are 28 lb.  I believe the weight of a V8 would be too much without radical modifications.
However if you place the engine closer towards the center, or rear, somehow, you could conceivably get away with it.  That is what they did in the video, it appears.  
 I think a better way to approach the project is to find a nice mid-size muscle car, say a late 60's Nova or Chevelle.  Then take the body off your bug and drop it on the frame of the muscle car.  Obviously, you'll need to do some mods, like shortening the wheel base, but at least you have a frame and suspension made to take on a V8 engine/transmission.  Check out this blog; it is 31 pages:
http://carmensbugs.proboards102.com/index.cgi?board=general&action=display&threa

- Rick