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ronjonlasvegas Samba Member
Joined: October 08, 2004 Posts: 898 Location: Las Vegas, NV
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Posted: Fri Jul 08, 2016 5:50 am Post subject: Re: 1966 bus subaru conversion |
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Don't listen to the haters. I think what you are doing is cool. We do not all have to restore these buses back to stock. Just because the frame was built a certain way back 50 years ago does not mean it can not be done a different way and still support the bus. The bus you are doing is not a rare bus so do it your way and have fun with it. The work you are doing appears to be top quality, so carry on and know that other people are watching your progress and enjoying your posts. _________________ September 1964 Standard Sunroof walk through SWR/BG original paint. |
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cru62 Samba Member
Joined: December 31, 2002 Posts: 4117 Location: Margaritaville.....24/7
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Posted: Fri Jul 08, 2016 6:46 am Post subject: Re: 1966 bus subaru conversion |
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I agree, don't listen to haters. But most of the posters on this thread are merely expressing concern regarding execution. Many of them have more experience with this particular vehicle than the OP. I don't think ANY of the questions asked would be any different if the asker was in Stanley's shop looking at his work.
This thread got off to a rough start which seems to have abated. Props to Stanley for coming back and showing his work. I hope he doesn't equate curiousity and/or concern for negativity. If you want to see the standard for negativity check out the Boxrod topic. Now, that guy had a thick skin! _________________ "My biggest worry is that when I die, my wife will sell all my parts for what I told her I paid for them"-Jon
Jokes about German sausage are the wurst.
Stop dead photo links! Post your photos to The Samba Gallery! |
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Enkiel Samba Member
Joined: October 21, 2004 Posts: 2771 Location: Quebec, Canada
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Posted: Fri Jul 08, 2016 7:30 am Post subject: Re: 1966 bus subaru conversion |
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cru62 wrote: |
This thread got off to a rough start which seems to have abated. Props to Stanley for coming back and showing his work. I hope he doesn't equate curiousity and/or concern for negativity. If you want to see the standard for negativity check out the Boxrod topic. Now, that guy had a thick skin! |
that's the exact same bus i though when i read about negativity... _________________ 1964 Turkis Flipseat |
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pyrOman Fire Master
Joined: July 21, 2003 Posts: 12400 Location: Over 2002 posts deleted!
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Posted: Fri Jul 08, 2016 1:49 pm Post subject: Re: 1966 bus subaru conversion |
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Stanleyn wrote: |
I definitely know how this bus is put together for I have cut all the old stuff out.I have taken all asspects of this build into consideration and feel 100% confident it will be as strong as or stronger than original.I definitely know about chassis and ect. as I build all my own chassis.I am actually building stronger than original rails.I thought that salvaging this old bus and sharing this build on this site would be a positive thing ,but so far a lot of negativity.While in Flordia for the winter,knowing I was going to start this build when I got home I looked at a lot of old buses that were on the road and by the looks of a lot of them it wont take much to be stronger and definitely safer. |
cru62 wrote: |
... most of the posters on this thread are merely expressing concern regarding execution. Many of them have more experience with this particular vehicle than the OP. I don't think ANY of the questions asked would be any different if the asker was in Stanley's shop looking at his work.
This thread got off to a rough start which seems to have abated. Props to Stanley for coming back and showing his work. I hope he doesn't equate curiousity and/or concern for negativity. |
No negativity or offense meant at least on my part, just concern. Do carry on. _________________ Some people are so busy being clever they don't have time enough to be wise. |
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brettsvw Samba Member
Joined: November 22, 2007 Posts: 2145 Location: Florida
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Stanleyn Samba Member
Joined: March 27, 2016 Posts: 47 Location: Eliot Me
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Posted: Fri Jul 08, 2016 3:16 pm Post subject: Re: 1966 bus subaru conversion |
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Okay heres todays work.All the Xmembers ar installed and the inner rockers set .I guess curiosity and concern is alright.This is a father/son project that We are getting a lot of enjoyment out of.I've been in the automotive life for many,many years and always try to find positive notes on anybodys projects..I can assure you this will end up as a very high end VW .All of our tastes are different and that's what makes life go round.
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cru62 Samba Member
Joined: December 31, 2002 Posts: 4117 Location: Margaritaville.....24/7
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Posted: Fri Jul 08, 2016 3:51 pm Post subject: Re: 1966 bus subaru conversion |
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Did you decide which engine/trans combo you will be using? _________________ "My biggest worry is that when I die, my wife will sell all my parts for what I told her I paid for them"-Jon
Jokes about German sausage are the wurst.
Stop dead photo links! Post your photos to The Samba Gallery! |
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Stanleyn Samba Member
Joined: March 27, 2016 Posts: 47 Location: Eliot Me
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Posted: Sat Jul 09, 2016 4:56 am Post subject: Re: 1966 bus subaru conversion |
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I'm acquiring the rear clip out of a 69 bus.This is what i'm going to start with.My plans are to graft in the clip then go from there.I know there is some difference in width but i'll look at that when I get the clip.After I get that all set and the body finished I plan on a Subaru engine. I love to make things different and try to improve on the original.As I said before this is the first VW and not a good one to start with,but its a challenge and a fun project with my Son.This is His dream and I hope we can make it come true.Also I'm acquiring a front end assy from a 1971 bus.This has the disc brakes so I'm hoping we can use that. |
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pyrOman Fire Master
Joined: July 21, 2003 Posts: 12400 Location: Over 2002 posts deleted!
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Posted: Sat Jul 09, 2016 6:20 am Post subject: Re: 1966 bus subaru conversion |
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Stanleyn wrote: |
Also I'm acquiring a front end assy from a 1971 bus.This has the disc brakes so I'm hoping we can use that. |
An early phatchick beam will bolt right on and will take later disc brake spindles. Done that on my '65 Dormy, and added the disc spindles to the '68 Plump Truck as well. Saves you on having to modify that at least. _________________ Some people are so busy being clever they don't have time enough to be wise. |
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cru62 Samba Member
Joined: December 31, 2002 Posts: 4117 Location: Margaritaville.....24/7
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Posted: Sat Jul 09, 2016 10:39 am Post subject: Re: 1966 bus subaru conversion |
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If you are planning on all late model suspension now would be an ideal time to dial in your ride height. If your boy wants a stock height bus you are golden. If, however, he wants it lowered to any degree using late model (i.e.-IRS and/or balljoint beam) it will involve more work on an early bus. Raising the rear cradle would be an easy solution at the rear. The front will be a different story.
How low you want to go will be determined by the front seat and suspension geometry. A balljoint beam is huge limiting factor, which is why slammed fat chick buses often swap in earlier beams. Since you have the freedom to modify anything, you could raise the frame to use a late beam. You may need to narrow the beam and tub the wheel wells to make everything fit. You can also relocate some bolt holes so the late beam will bolt right in.
The late IRS section is the same width as that originally in your bus. There are ways to narrow the torsion housing a couple of inches overall that will allow additional mods including wider tires.
Good Luck! But I see some head scratching in your future. You might want to have the engine/trans setup in hand before you tackle the rear suspension. It will be easier by far to make everything fit together now rather than making the engine/trans fit in the space/design you already built.
PS-What about a completely new Mustang 2-style front end. Since you can clean out the front suspension mounts you wouldn't be constrained by the current frame width and mounting points. You could have the best of both worlds. Huh? Or even, buggy-style straight-axle! _________________ "My biggest worry is that when I die, my wife will sell all my parts for what I told her I paid for them"-Jon
Jokes about German sausage are the wurst.
Stop dead photo links! Post your photos to The Samba Gallery! |
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brettsvw Samba Member
Joined: November 22, 2007 Posts: 2145 Location: Florida
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Stanleyn Samba Member
Joined: March 27, 2016 Posts: 47 Location: Eliot Me
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Posted: Sun Jul 10, 2016 4:25 am Post subject: Re: 1966 bus subaru conversion |
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My plans are to graft the entire rear clip from a 1969.I know they are widerand for sure I don't know what other problems this will all create.The other part of my conversion will be to install airbags.I will be getting the rear clip at the end of the month.The bus has to be low.Is there adjusters for the 71 front beam.I would really like to use the 71 disc bralke and ball joint.pyroman says there is a beam available for this |
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cru62 Samba Member
Joined: December 31, 2002 Posts: 4117 Location: Margaritaville.....24/7
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Posted: Sun Jul 10, 2016 7:37 am Post subject: Re: 1966 bus subaru conversion |
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Get the beam from the '69, too. If it is an early '69 it will bolt right up. All the disc brake stuff including the trailing arms will interchange. But probably your best bet would be to have a new beam built to your specs. It will need to be raised and narrowed. Your may even need to use dropped spindles depending on how low you want to go. You will also want to raise the steering box. Even with a lowered bus the box seems to drag on everything. If you are slammed it is a guarantee.
Here is my old '62 DC-
Here is how it looks now-
https://m.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=917872388273...tif_t=wall
It is all '73 Bus running gear. I made adjustable spring plates. The rear trailing arms were hacked into the wishbones instead of narrowed. Torsion housing was stock width. I have a '68 complete rear clip for my '61 Kombi. It's the same width from outside face of drum to drum as the stock RGB set up.
The front was an early stock width '69 beam with '73 arms, etc. I installed drop spindles from Old Speed for a two in. greater drop. That is the most drop you can get due to interference with the rim and BJs. The beam also had adjusters. At full drop, adjusters and spindles, with about 1.5" of travel the box dragged on every driveway if I wasn't careful. It rode and drove really well. In the pic the rear hasn't been adjusted to match the front. And this was adjusters only, no spindles. Spindles add width to your front. While it was great to drive, every driveway, gutter and speed bump was an issue. The tires rubbed a lot.
I was getting ready to build a narrowed beam, raise the box and fix some issues with the rear before I had to sell it. Anyway, you will be happier if you consult with someone like Nate at WagensWest to build you what you want or at least discuss HOW to get what you want. _________________ "My biggest worry is that when I die, my wife will sell all my parts for what I told her I paid for them"-Jon
Jokes about German sausage are the wurst.
Stop dead photo links! Post your photos to The Samba Gallery!
Last edited by cru62 on Sun Jul 10, 2016 9:22 am; edited 2 times in total |
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bubba Samba Member
Joined: May 09, 2004 Posts: 2531 Location: Florida
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Posted: Sun Jul 10, 2016 7:53 am Post subject: Re: 1966 bus subaru conversion |
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Are you going IRS. I have a whole modified rear set up I will sell you.. Came off my camper.. _________________ ***WANTED***
SO-23 Cargo net hooks...
for sale
curtain Bungee cords for SO23, 22, 33 ,34 ,35
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/classifieds/detail.php?id=1587591 |
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Stanleyn Samba Member
Joined: March 27, 2016 Posts: 47 Location: Eliot Me
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Posted: Tue Jul 12, 2016 4:11 pm Post subject: Re: 1966 bus subaru conversion |
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Turned up to do a little panel work.Good to look at it from a different viewgoing to take a little break and take the hotrod to the Syracuse nationals and then to allagash for a canoe trip.
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brettsvw Samba Member
Joined: November 22, 2007 Posts: 2145 Location: Florida
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skills@eurocarsplus Samba Peckerhead
Joined: January 01, 2007 Posts: 16803 Location: sticksville, ct.
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Posted: Wed Jul 13, 2016 5:28 am Post subject: Re: 1966 bus subaru conversion |
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cru62 wrote: |
I agree, don't listen to haters. |
X2
you look like you're doing some pretty nice work. as a guy who habitually swaps Subaru's into bay windows, I can relate with the hate. just enjoy grabbing a hand full of second and doing hills at 70+.
the sweet spot in a bay is about 80. not sure on a split. had mine up to 115, with more to go but a cross wind came, walked me into the travel lane and that was a code brown moment. respect the power and you'll be just fine _________________
gprudenciop wrote: |
my reason for switching to subaru is my german car was turning chinese so i said fuck it and went japanese....... |
Jake Raby wrote: |
Thanks for the correction. I used to be a nice guy, then I ruined it by exposing myself to the public. |
Brian wrote: |
Also the fact that people are agreeing with Skills, it's a turn of events for samba history |
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Stanleyn Samba Member
Joined: March 27, 2016 Posts: 47 Location: Eliot Me
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Posted: Wed Aug 10, 2016 4:26 am Post subject: Re: 1966 bus subaru conversion |
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Back off vacation and back at the bus.Rear corner inner and outer panels installed
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Enkiel Samba Member
Joined: October 21, 2004 Posts: 2771 Location: Quebec, Canada
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Posted: Wed Aug 10, 2016 4:28 am Post subject: Re: 1966 bus subaru conversion |
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do you have any plan for the rear lights? _________________ 1964 Turkis Flipseat |
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Stanleyn Samba Member
Joined: March 27, 2016 Posts: 47 Location: Eliot Me
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Posted: Wed Aug 10, 2016 4:37 am Post subject: Re: 1966 bus subaru conversion |
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Thinking of a very mild frenched 37 ford led |
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