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Tue Jul 31, 2007 9:17 am

I have a link pin front end and would like to make it into a ball joint front end. Can you put the torsion arms from a ball joint front end in the beam of a link pin I have a 4" narrowed beam.

Tue Jul 31, 2007 9:31 am

i dont believe you can. they are different beams for each application. youd have to either swap the pan or weld on a new frame head.

Tue Jul 31, 2007 9:47 am

choppedtop vw wrote: I have a link pin front end and would like to make it into a ball joint front end. Can you put the torsion arms from a ball joint front end in the beam of a link pin I have a 4" narrowed beam.

wait.. why do you want to do that ? ? ? just curiose.. is it because you have a narrowed linkpin beam in your posetion and you want to put on your ballJoint front end because you have it.. or ? ? ?

Jr.LBR

just wonderin'

Tue Jul 31, 2007 2:22 pm

I have a 4" narrowed link pin beam on my 58 bug. But would like to have a 4" narrowed ball joint front end. and I know the bolts don't line up. so I was thinking? Can you take the torsion arms from a ball joint front end. And put them in the link pin tubes.And I just want ball joints. So I can adjust the camber & caster better.

Tue Jul 31, 2007 3:05 pm

choppedtop vw wrote: I have a link pin front end and would like to make it into a ball joint front end. Can you put the torsion arms from a ball joint front end in the beam of a link pin I have a 4" narrowed beam.

link pin and ball joint trailing arms are the same dimensions and can be interchanged but since ball joint beams are taller the geometry for the spindles will be off and there for it can not be done

Tue Jul 31, 2007 3:20 pm

None of the parts were ment to be interchangable between the king pin and ball joint front ends.

It's not just the mounting bolt holes that don't line up, it's also the spacing between the upper and lower tubes of the beam. So even if you redrilled new holes, it still will not line up in the frame head.

If you were able to switch the control arms (and I don't think you can) you stillhave the problem of dimentions at the spindle. The ball joint beam has a graeter distance between the tubes and also a higher spindle. So as already noted, the geometry of the spindle to control arm would not be correct.

If you really want to do this, the correct way is to replace the frame head. This is not a real big job if the body is off the car and you are working with only the pan. But trying to do this while the body is on is a real pain. It can be done, but it makes it very difficult to check measurements to make sure the frame head is straight.

Tue Jul 31, 2007 3:42 pm

choppedtop vw wrote: So I can adjust the camber & caster better.

caster is set the same way-ball joint and king link pin. shims. link /king pin is stronger than ball joint.

Tue Jul 31, 2007 4:02 pm

bill may wrote: choppedtop vw wrote: So I can adjust the camber & caster better.

caster is set the same way-ball joint and king link pin. shims. link /king pin is stronger than ball joint.

and better.

Tue Jul 31, 2007 10:49 pm

OK... explain to us why you want to to do this swap?

If its just to have a ball joint beam then just do a complete pan swap. Get a 69 or later pan complete with IRS. You'll have better control all the way around and a more reliable rear end to boot. Or you could get a 66 or 67 pan to get the ball joint front end but retain the tranny you have. Not to mention you could restore the new pan, whatever choice you go with, still be able to drive the car while you're restoring the new pan and then you could sell your old swing axle pan as "complete" or save it for another project.

Don't make the project harder then it has to be. Personally, I try to avoid projects that require too much measuring.

Tue Jul 31, 2007 11:57 pm

drscope wrote: If you were able to switch the control arms (and I don't think you can) you stillhave the problem of dimentions at the spindle. The ball joint beam has a graeter distance between the tubes and also a higher spindle. So as already noted, the geometry of the spindle to control arm would not be correct.
Correct on all points and yes the control arms are different diameter so they cannot be interchanged.

Wed Aug 01, 2007 4:50 am

The springs are also diffrent. Link pin has a square spring stack while a balljoint has more of an octogon(sp?) shape spring stack. Even if the beams were the same size,the trailing arms wouldnt interchange.
Tim

Wed Aug 01, 2007 5:10 am

thanks all I will stay with the link pin

Wed Aug 01, 2007 9:42 am

The John Muir idiot book explains how to set front camber by reshimming, and even a "compleat idiot" like me was able to do it.