TheSamba.com :: View topic

Wed Mar 15, 2017 3:49 pm

I don't post much, but I'm here a lot searching for answers and ideas for my Buggy build.
I'm building more of a "Street Buggy" i.e., wide rear rims/tires, skinny fronts, Raked suspension, etc. I am combining cut leaves, adjusters, and dropped spindles. I also UN-reversed my front rims to tuck them inside the fenders, using skinny bias ply tires.
My question is, can't the trailing arms be heated and slowly/carefully be bent in towards the body to tuck the tires in a little more? 1" would be perfect. I work in the HotRod industry, and there is a lot of heating & bending of forged parts such as dropping axles, dropping steering arms and things like that.
I figured I could mount the arm on the mill table, take a reading, heat and bend the arm 1", straighten out the pin clamp back square, and let it slowly air cool. I've never head talk of doing this so that's why I asked. I know most people narrow their beams, but my shock mounts won't allow me to do that without cutting into the buggy body.
Just thinking out loud.

Wed Mar 15, 2017 3:56 pm

The Type III crowd narrow the stock VW arms to do exactly what you're talking about. I guess it could work on a Type I beam but I've never studied it. If you manage to pull it off, post pics and details.

Wed Mar 15, 2017 4:23 pm

Thanks, I'll search the T-3 forums. When I do it I'll post the pics.

Wed Mar 15, 2017 7:03 pm

Wouldnt that cut down your turning radius? I think the tires would contact the arms sooner since they are closer.

Wed Mar 15, 2017 9:31 pm

I think the Weasel nailed it. You will quit turning right and left when the front tires hit the trailing arms at the beam. The old Bug is already somewhat limited in that area. If you are building with a king and link pin front end you could shorten the shock towers. The shocks are about 3.5 inches rear of the torsion housing and the arm is about 6 inches to the link pin, so you don't need a lot of shock travel to have decent suspension travel.

Wed Mar 15, 2017 10:01 pm

That's true, I'll lose some turning radius, but I'm only looking for an inch of narrowing on each side. I'm running 5.20 tires on a 6" wide rim with a 2" offset, so the tires would have a fair amount of clearance before hitting anything. Right now when I go lock to lock there is 4" of space between the tire and body. I think I'm safe with bending them in only 1"? I was more concerned with failure of the arms after bending since I've never read anything on doing this procedure and thought "maybe there's a reason no one has done it??"

Wed Mar 15, 2017 10:03 pm

Its starting to warm up, up here so I'll be able to get back to working on it soon and I'll post what I find out.