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Mon Feb 21, 2005 4:33 pm

Hey everybody, now that the weather is finally starting is slow upward decline. I've decdided to take my 70 Type 1 out of its 3 year hiatus. a whole bunch of my buddies go to Silver Lake state park in Michigan every year, and this year I'm going too. I'd like to take my bug which at present is completly stock, and get it ready for the sand. What type of Mods am I looking at. The drivtrain is strong so thats not a concern. And I not looking to scorch up the sand, just scootering around @20-30mph and not getting stuck would be cool enough for me. can I get away with just a 3 inch body lift kit and some bigger rims and tires, or Is that just a pipe dream? I know that people in the VW club I used to belong to drove bugs on the beach by just airing down the tires. But i like to be able to negotiate the sand and dunes with a little more confidence than that it can be done just little or nothing. Am I going to need a locker or will the stock tranny be up to the job. Any input, ideas criticism is welcome, as I would like to do this right, but keep it simple, and street legal.

Thanks
Jason

Mon Feb 21, 2005 4:56 pm

Simple. scrap the body lift idea and read the front and rear suspension sticky posts at the top of this forum and you're golden.Cut and turned beam, cheap or free if you can weld, turn your rear torsions, also free. decent set of shocks and some bigger tires.And maybe a baja kit if you're looking to go that route.

Mon Feb 21, 2005 5:06 pm

Thanks, I'll do that, I have already considered tweaking the stock suspension like you had mentioned but I have read in a few books that when you tweak the leaves in the front beam, and the torsion bars in the rear, it doesn't last that long before the start to weaken and sag back down. Although I'll prob end up doing that anyway cus, I like FREE. Do you guys have any recomendations on tires? Paddle, snow, mud? what size? and keep in mind that for now they need to fit with stock fenders.

Thanks again

Mon Feb 21, 2005 5:52 pm

replace the stock engine pulley with an aftermarket pulley with a sand seal. this will keep the sand from entering your engine and ruining it.

Tue Feb 22, 2005 1:35 am

i would suggest keeping it a metal baja since you like free stuff. get ahold of an extra set of front fenders and turn them around and trim them for the rear and trim the fronts for your tires, when you trim metal fenders dont forget to roll the edges or put some kind of beading on there to keep them from cutting tires/people.
get good aftermarket filters like K&N or something and the sand sealed pulley to keep the sand out of your engine.
if you just cut and turn the front and index the rear then you can run some reasonably cheap shocks and be done with the suspension. be warned that once you start replacing suspension parts with upgrades it can snowball with a quickness, i would keep it simple this first season and if you feel the need to up grade you will have an entire winter to work er over for next year.
oh yeah, Baja Bugs and Buggys by Jeff Hibbard. buy it, read it and you will come away from it with most questions answerd and a great base of knowledge to build upon.

good luck and enjoy the sand!

Tue Feb 22, 2005 5:49 am

As for tires, paddles are great, if you have enough power to turn them. I'd go with a reasonably cheap set of all-terrains, wide in back, narrow in front. You're looking for flotation, so air down as well.

Tue Feb 22, 2005 6:28 am

Thanks guys, you're helping alot. It just snowed here again so it'll be a few days before I can get my VW into my workspace, but I'm already getting excited. Looks like with the info you;ve given me I'll be able to keep this thing "under" budget. I've got spare fenders, and a spare bare beam in case I botch the first attempt. I think I might practice on my bent beam first before I cut up the good one on my car. With any luck and a little more help from you guys maybe some of you might see me in Michigan this August.

Tue Feb 22, 2005 6:35 am

Sand seal pulley as mentioned. Crankcase breather system no road draft tube. Clean any and all oil and fluid from your car, fluids attract sand like a magnet. Flotation type tires for the rear, takes lot of HP for paddles and they work a stock engine/tranny pretty hard. Try to buy or borrow some desert traks. They work well with low HP heavy machines. Have to have a pole mounted 1 square foot orange flag mounted in front of the front spindle and at least 10' in height. Those are sold on every corner. They do check flags and height. This is a state park patrolled by park rangers. Seat belts, eye protection if you don't have a windshield, spark arrestor system not just a baffle. Don't go on a holiday weekend. If you stay over 4-5 days buy an annual pass. Put it on a piece of plexiglass and affix it to your car somewhere. If you change vehicles, move the pass to it instead of buying the passes again. They are expensive. Drive your car in if you can or you pay for the tow vehicle too, just be sure its street legal with insurance. No alcohol, they check coolers! Some parts of the dunes are directional, pay attention. You can get tickets on the dunes just like on the street for wreckless driving, wrong way etc. Stay in the marked areas or you can get your vehicle impounded. It's happened.
Have fun most of all.
Yeah, I've been there a few times. :)