TheSamba.com :: View topic - How to lower a Bus and all lowering questions

Fri Oct 16, 2009 2:54 pm

squirmyman wrote: I would like to use the conversion brake drums:
http://www2.cip1.com/ProductDetails.asp?ProductCode=C31%2D501%2D615%2D211AG

I read that they increase the track of your rig 2mm. will I have clearancing issues if I use 165's?

Which bus Joel? 2mm is a tiny amount, and usually when using a straight axle kit and stock bus wheels you need to increase the track rather than decrease because of springplate/tire clearance. I would bet they will work just fine. For the cost, I would tend to just use 4-5 lug adapters and stock 4 lug drums. Make sure to use a late beetle front wheel cylinder in those rear brakes for proper braking force back there. It makes a huge difference.

Fri Oct 16, 2009 2:58 pm

cdennisg wrote: Make sure to use a late beetle front wheel cylinder in those rear brakes for proper braking force back there.

X2

Fri Oct 16, 2009 2:59 pm

my panel. I thought about using the adapters also...dunno what I want to do yet. I am selling my ragtop and the '56 to help fund the lowering/motor/all over upgrade of the bus. it's gonna be the baddest bus the upper midwest has seen in a long time.

Fri Oct 16, 2009 3:07 pm

On your panel, with bus 15" rims, the extra offset of those drums will be no problem. I would recommend against a 165 beetle tire though. Go with a 195/60/15 or thereabouts. It does depend slightly on your engine size and tranny gearing, but with stock stuff, this is a good tire size/diameter. I have run that exact tire with a stock 68 type 1 tranny and a stock 1600 engine with great results. Your bus is light, being a panel, so you could likely get away with a taller tire. Especially in the flatlands that are glacial lake Agassiz.

Fri Oct 16, 2009 4:04 pm

yeah, my motor will be a slightly modified 1600, nothing too special. Stock '68 tranny also. I am going to Nate to get my spindles and swing plates done, but I'd like to keep a lower profile tire to get it as low as possible. I'm a ways away from that step yet, so we'll see what happens. I just want to start getting my ducks in a row, that's all.

Fri Oct 16, 2009 5:27 pm

squirmyman wrote: yeah, my motor will be a slightly modified 1600, nothing too special. Stock '68 tranny also. I am going to Nate to get my spindles and swing plates done, but I'd like to keep a lower profile tire to get it as low as possible. I'm a ways away from that step yet, so we'll see what happens. I just want to start getting my ducks in a row, that's all.

The 195/60/15 rear tire is a lower profile than the 165 beetle tire. It is a good looking size, too. I ran the same size on the front, but it was a touch too tall. It hit the top of the wheel well when loaded up for camping and hitting larger bumps in the road, or around long sweeping turns. no big deal, but a 50 or 45 series tire may be a better choice.

Good to see you driving that bus, and it will be even better when it's low. Nate's stuff is top notch, too.

Fri Oct 16, 2009 5:37 pm

so I'd run that 195/60 in the rear, and maybe a 145-r15 up front?

I am putting my weber IDF 40's on this motor, so that should make it a snappier. I'll be keeping the stock flywheel for the rotating weight and I might get a little work done to the heads...we'll see how the checkbook looks.

Fri Oct 16, 2009 5:40 pm

[quote="WideFive"] cdennisg wrote: Make sure to use a late beetle front wheel cylinder in those rear brakes for proper braking force back there.

Do you mean '68 beetle front cylinders or what?

Fri Oct 16, 2009 6:12 pm

[quote="squirmyman"] WideFive wrote: cdennisg wrote: Make sure to use a late beetle front wheel cylinder in those rear brakes for proper braking force back there.

Do you mean '68 beetle front cylinders or what?

Yes. 68-77 standard beetle front wheel cylinders.

Those 40's may be a bit of overkill on your stock displacement engine. Too much carb can be as problematic as too little carb. I'm no engine expert, it may be nest to ask in the engine forums about your particular setup.

Fri Oct 16, 2009 6:48 pm

squirmyman wrote: cdennisg wrote: Make sure to use a late beetle front wheel cylinder in those rear brakes for proper braking force back there.

Do you mean '68 beetle front cylinders or what?

cdennisg wrote: Yes. 68-77 standard beetle front wheel cylinders.

I always ask for "Super Beetle" front wheel cylinders, they may be the same as '68-'77 for all I know... never was much of a Beetle guy.

Dual 40IDF's are nice on a small engine. I've run 44's on a 1600 without issue, it's all in the venturi size :wink:

Fri Oct 16, 2009 7:17 pm

they were setup for a 1600 a long time ago, so I'm pretty sure they'll be fine. That's another thread though....let's stick to lowering.

Corey, do you have a picture of your bus lowered with the 195's on it so I can sort of see what I'm going to be looking like?

thanks,
Joel

Fri Oct 16, 2009 7:32 pm

Cool deal on the carbs. They should work out fine then.

Here's a couple pics.

The front tires are 195/60's on stock bus 15's.
The rear tires in these pics are 205/65's on stock 15" bus wheels that have had the offset changed so I could fit larger tires in the rear. I had the centers cut out and rewelded so that the outer hoop was @ 5/8" farther outward. I had the tranny gearing set up so that I could run the larger diameter tire and still have good cruising power with a mild engine. I could cruise @65 and stay cool, all while getting 25-27 MPG out of a stock 1600DP.

Then I sold the bus. Oh well, I'll build another one.

Fri Oct 16, 2009 8:28 pm

does anyone else have pictures of their bus lowered, and could they post what size tires they are running please? thanks

Sat Oct 17, 2009 7:27 am

squirmyman wrote: does anyone else have pictures of their bus lowered, and could they post what size tires they are running please? thanks

The SEARCH function still works :lol:

Check this thread...

http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=2...suspension

Tue Oct 27, 2009 7:25 am

alo,
I run 145 65 15 front 4 inch old beetle
195 45 15 rear 6 inch reversed mercedes rim on beetle centre
stock front beam with selfmade round torsion bars insted of original leafs
rear short axle (kit)? just take the old beetle short axles pre 63 a beetle
gearbox '70s raise the gearbox 2,5 inch and lower springplates 2 notches
and clear ,job done.
did it al myself in 2 weekends and had nothing to buy but some old beetle
stuff and the torsionbars.
see some pics on my site.thanks

grtz to all.

Sat Nov 07, 2009 9:36 am

is it normal for the alignment to be way off after installing flipped spindles?
the spindles are from the bus and everything else is stock, alignment was fine before the spindle install.

Sat Nov 07, 2009 9:50 am

Did you shim it properly?

http://widefive.net/front/?page_id=39

Sat Nov 07, 2009 11:07 am

pretty sure I did but even if I am off a lil bit on the shims I dont see how it would make my alignment off so much to where one tire would be straight and the other cocked out a lot, that was when I first put it all back together. I have adjusted my tierod but it seems like it needs just a lil bit more, when driving and taking a corner I get a lil bit of tire screetching.
my passenger side doesnt have the screw in type ends, is that normal also?
maybe I dont get it but shouldnt everything be the same position but just 3.5 inches lower, the beam and everything else is stock and hasnt been touched.

Sat Nov 07, 2009 11:30 am

Did you seat the link pins by turning with a 17mm?

Sat Nov 07, 2009 3:05 pm

man I really cant remember, it has been a month or so since i did the spindles then the bus set while I did a trans swap, body work and primered it. I have just finished and started to drive it again and noticed the tires screetching some times.
so I take it something isnt right. I will get back under it and check everything out.
thanks