Heidi-My 1970 Beetle Project

HeidiHo · Posted: Tue Apr 03, 2012 10:44 am Post subject:

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I let the spindles soak overnight in pb blaster and used a pitman arm puller to get them off of the lower ball joints.

Put in some new ball joint boots and bolted on the new spindles. Put it all together and the wheels wouldn't turn. I thought I just had the brakes adjusted poorly but turns out the plastic screw on the bottom of the lower ball joints is rubbing on the wheels.

I took it all apart and did the entire thing over again, making sure to put the jack under the lower ball joint as I put it all back together and double checking to make sure it was all lined up. Still rubbing on both wheels.

Did some reading in the forums and it seems this has to do with offset of the wheels. Really don't want to put spacers on my wheels so I may just grind down the bottom of the ball joints a tiny bit and see if that helps.
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downlow68 · Posted: Tue Apr 03, 2012 6:10 pm Post subject:

Are you running 14's?

HeidiHo · Posted: Tue Apr 03, 2012 8:00 pm Post subject:

Running 15x5 (or 5.5 not sure) inch rivieras. 185/65 R15 tires
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webberjames95 · Posted: Tue Apr 03, 2012 8:01 pm Post subject:

Picture of it dropped?
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noslocars · Posted: Tue Apr 03, 2012 8:02 pm Post subject:

I would measure those ball joints before you put it all back together. Thay look pretty worn to me. Losing a balljoint really sucks!
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HeidiHo · Posted: Tue Apr 03, 2012 9:32 pm Post subject:

Two pictures of the car "dropped." Not much of a drop at all. Doesn't even look lowered despite the fact that it is definitely lower than it was. The PO had some gas shocks on the front end, I'm wondering if they are jacking up the front even further? I need to replace them anyways since they're worn out.

Noslocars, what do you mean by measure the ball joints?

The drop after the spindles is not enough for me.

I'm probably going to just get a narrowed adjustable beam and put the spindles onto that, so I may just grind down the current ball joints and drive it as is til I can save enough money to buy the full beam with new BJ's.
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63Ragtop NZ · Posted: Tue Apr 03, 2012 9:45 pm Post subject:

If they weren't already worn before you got them off, they must a bit rooted after all that hammering!
should be better once it's on the ground?

And what the hell are you messing about with drop spindles? get that doghouse tin wear sorted before you cook that nice new motor!
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HeidiHo · Posted: Tue Apr 03, 2012 10:02 pm Post subject:

HeidiHo · Posted: Wed Apr 04, 2012 9:11 am Post subject:

I got to wondering about the gas shocks and if they were messing with things so I disconnected them for shits and giggles. Car sits about an inch lower now and the ball joints are not rubbing on the wheels anymore. I guess I'll just buy some regular oil shocks.
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HeidiHo · Posted: Wed Apr 04, 2012 10:25 am Post subject:

Few pictures of the car as it sits now. Still not low enough. I stood on the fender to try and get an idea of what it will look like a little lower, but I'm really thinking I just need to go ahead and get the narrowed adjustable beam in order to get it as low as I want it. I don't want the car slammed, but I want 0 gap between the tire and the fender.
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Beetlebaum · Posted: Wed Apr 04, 2012 10:29 am Post subject:

I normally can't stand lowered cars, but yours looks like it will be nice when lowered how you want it! Very Happy

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beetleaddiction · Posted: Wed Apr 04, 2012 6:59 pm Post subject:

Nice work

HeidiHo · Posted: Fri Apr 06, 2012 9:12 am Post subject:

Got my firewall tin today finally. Not sure how I'm going to do this with the engine still in though. Part of me wants to just go ahead and drop the engine to replace the tin, but part of me doesn't want to go to all that trouble for one piece of sheet metal...
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HeidiHo · Posted: Fri Apr 06, 2012 10:22 am Post subject:

Took the decklid and carbs off, managed to get the tin unbolted, wiring out of the way, and the hard fuel line pulled through the tin.

Can't get the old tin out though, my tarboard is so bulged out the tin hangs up on it and I don't have enough space behind the fan shroud to cut the tarboard. Even if I DO manage to get this tin out with the engine in, I don't know if I will be able to install the doghouse dump tin considering how little room is in the engine bay.

Trying to decide if I should pull the engine or keep trying to get this out with the engine in...
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HeidiHo · Posted: Fri Apr 06, 2012 3:09 pm Post subject:

Had to pull the engine. Swapped the tin. I've spent the last 4 hours trying to get the engine back in. Won't go.
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jvulich · Posted: Fri Apr 06, 2012 4:16 pm Post subject:

I've got an oil cooler to reseal on my 70 tomorrow, I'm just going to pull the engine, easier that way and I can check other things while I'm there.

HeidiHo · Posted: Fri Apr 06, 2012 7:42 pm Post subject:

Took a break and drank a beer with my buddy, went back to the car after and hour and got it all back together. Just needed some patience!
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HeidiHo · Posted: Sat Apr 07, 2012 9:24 am Post subject:

Some pictures from yesterday's event. Man this car can really stress me out
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HeidiHo · Posted: Sat Apr 07, 2012 2:08 pm Post subject:

Played with the front suspension some more today, a set of bugpack lowered shocks replaced the gas shocks and helped a lot with getting rid of 90% of that rubbing. I'm still rubbing the little "nipple" of the lower ball joints on the inside of the wheels, I may just grind them off in order to drive the car again.

A few pictures from today, the goal is to bring her down maybe 2-3 more inches. Ideally I'd like the front apron to sit around the word "Abita" on that beer bottle. The rear I'll bring down one outer spline to start with and see how it all looks. I'll probably need to get a new pair of front tires too so I'm going to start saving for those plus a narrowed adjustable beam.

Little by little this bugger is coming together
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Heidi-My 1970 Beetle Project
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