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Thu May 19, 2005 8:53 pm

Here's some pictures of 12.50 31's on my mainly stock bug. Still not sure if i will keep them because there is such a close gap between them and the torsion bars.

Also just got the engine rebuilt and the rear cut off.

Here's the gap between tire and torsion.

Thu May 19, 2005 10:24 pm

Ive got 30`s and mine is the same, As long as it doesnt hit during travel it shouldnt matter unless you get a flat maybe and it flops around and hits the housing.

Thu May 19, 2005 11:07 pm

Even if i jumped it, you don't think it would hit?

Fri May 20, 2005 12:18 am

it probably would. this is the reason many people do not run any larger than a 30" tire without longer/wider trailing arms

Fri May 20, 2005 3:45 am

you will get some rubbing at speed because the tire grows a little when you get up in the sixties

Fri May 20, 2005 8:19 am

Run em! The tire will never get any closer to the torsion housing. I run 31" MT baja claws with no problems and have the same amount of clearance there. I have had my car up to 85 MPH with no problems. If one of those tires comes apart on the freeway, you'll have much bigger problems than the tire hitting the torsion housing. Its more likly that it will rip the whole fender off.

Fri May 20, 2005 8:34 am

on my rail i run 31" tires. the spring plates had been undercoated when they were on the bug before i cut it up. when i had stock traililng arms, the tires appeared to clear the housing, but it was obvious by a lack of paint and undercoating that they WERE rubbung as the tire grew at higher speeds. again, i would take it down a notch. just my opinion...

Fri May 20, 2005 8:43 am

I have heard it is possible to change out the tube over to the swing axle style so the bar does not stick out. What method does it take to do this?

Michael

Fri May 20, 2005 8:50 am

OR-Buggy wrote: I have heard it is possible to change out the tube over to the swing axle style so the bar does not stick out. What method does it take to do this?

Michael
Just change the torsion bars and springplates over to swingaxle parts. Then cut the swingaxle springplates down using the IRS springplates as a template to bolt up to the trailing arms.
Or you can buy them pre made
http://www.cbperformance.com/catalog.asp?ProductID=716

Fri May 20, 2005 9:06 am

Big Dave wrote: Just change the torsion bars and springplates over to swingaxle parts
i dont know how many times i have to quote this. even the owner of the baja mentioned said he's changing it down the road

Quote: www.chirco.com/projectbaja/bajahome.htm It has some good pictures of the rear lift with stock rear arms and notching the spring plates. I would have left the longer torsion bars, less violent wrap up than the shorter bars, but does allows for bigger tires.

Fri May 20, 2005 9:59 am

I picked up on that comment as well HBB....and made a minor adjustment in my build plan partially because of it. Basically, you can go with shorter torsions to get rid of the extended housing and run bigger tires, but the shorter bars will be much stiffer and quicker and will rap the stops and generally provide a crappy ride...unless you change a bunch of other things to compensate for the stiff, quick torsions...but yes, you will be able to fit your bigger tires.

Sat May 21, 2005 9:01 am

if you put bus reduction boxes up. do you think the 31s would clear because it would be like a rear lift kit?

Sat May 21, 2005 2:59 pm

bus reductions are for a swing axle

Sun May 22, 2005 3:41 am

maybe its just me but it looks like his tires are pointing toward each other?in the rear photo. i know they are suposed to do this a little but it looks like alot to me

Sun May 22, 2005 11:16 am

Yeah they do seem to have a lot of negative camber. I'm thinking it because the taller height of the tires changed the angles of the axles.