TheSamba.com :: View topic

Mon Dec 01, 2008 7:03 am

Here's mine..... and it's very stable. All Vw bus suspension with modifications..... 3" front lift and 4" rear lift... V6 Chevy powered.... 200hp and 200 ft. lbs. torque. Easily cruises at 75mph..pulling a trailer...all day long..... Very strong and fun to travel in.... 8)

I know... some like ... some don't .... I built this for the fun..... bus was resurrected from a pasture for $200.......

Here is my buildup... http://www.shoptalkforums.com/viewtopic.php?t=99299

Mon Dec 01, 2008 8:52 am

are there any good build threads on any of your buses? This often comes up, with plenty of pictures, but no information on how it was done. I always get the itch to lift my bus, but I can't tell what it would take. the front seems easy, just weld plate onto the shock towers, but the rear seems harder. the only build i can remember seeing added plates but those bent. He reinforced them, but I don't know if they worked after that.

Mon Dec 01, 2008 9:17 am

Holy crap!! That 1 pic almost looks like Karls avitar.

Mon Dec 01, 2008 9:30 am

I can appreciate a lifted bus done well, but this first guy is a f'tard hack.

Mon Dec 01, 2008 9:58 am

fusername wrote: are there any good build threads on any of your buses? This often comes up, with plenty of pictures, but no information on how it was done. I always get the itch to lift my bus, but I can't tell what it would take. the front seems easy, just weld plate onto the shock towers, but the rear seems harder. the only build i can remember seeing added plates but those bent. He reinforced them, but I don't know if they worked after that.

Here's my build... The reinforcements worked.....
http://www.shoptalkforums.com/viewtopic.php?t=99299

Here's a friends build....
http://www.shoptalkforums.com/viewtopic.php?t=113741

Mon Dec 01, 2008 12:01 pm

so this is your work in his thread;

how hard have you pushed those brackets? I am currently rereading thru both of those threads to see what other gems are in there. also where did the axles come from?[/url]

Mon Dec 01, 2008 1:48 pm

all of the pics I have posted of my family lifted buses DO NOT use plates welded onto the shock towers to get the lift in the front. We engineer a box section same design as the chassis rail into the chassis where the front end would normally sit. this then lifts the front end off the chassis by as much as you need. We have never bent one but have had to repair many of the weld on plate type lifts from people who wanted to do it the "cheap" way. As you can see by the pics we put the buses/utes through their paces more than just about anyone and have never had a failure. Strongest way to do it but it isn't the cheapest way by a long shot.

Mon Dec 01, 2008 2:22 pm

fusername wrote: so this is your work in his thread;

how hard have you pushed those brackets? I am currently rereading thru both of those threads to see what other gems are in there. also where did the axles come from?[/url]

Yep, They are ugly... :oops: I removed them after those shots and ground them clean and rewelded.... The welds in that pic are hideous... I was having wire feed problems with the welder...got it repaired ... ... They're much better now.... :D

These are not welded to the trailing arms... they are completely bolt on....The only thing i'll do next time is build them about 2" longer for more adjustability and strength..... :)

I've put 3500 miles on them..... they've been offroad several times on rocky trails in the Ozark Mountains with no problems....

The axles came from EMPI.... those are Lobro 930 CV joints and 20" axles. They make a little noise but work very well....

I had 930 CV stubs custom built for it......

Mon Dec 01, 2008 9:19 pm

do you have a thread detailing your lift process? really want to see how involved it is before I commit. I have a bus that is on its way out (terminal cancer) and I figure as a last hurrah I am gonna lift it the cheap way right before I scrap it, that way I know what I am doing the second time around.

looks like 2.5 inch lift in the back, maybe 3.5 when you respline a little extra? I figure lifted spindles in the front would be a better idea then lifting the beam up. how much does that plate alone lift the bus?

Tue Dec 02, 2008 5:50 am

fusername wrote: do you have a thread detailing your lift process?

looks like 2.5 inch lift in the back, maybe 3.5 when you respline a little extra? I figure lifted spindles in the front would be a better idea then lifting the beam up. how much does that plate alone lift the bus?

The plate alone lifts almost 4"... I didnot respline the rear..... The rear fenders are cutout and reconstructed for more tire clearance....

I don't have a detailed lift thread.... just what's posted.... My friends thread has a couple more pics of how we lifted the rear....
http://www.shoptalkforums.com/viewtopic.php?t=113741

The front spindles are the way to go for a small lift..... Nate at www.Wagenswest.com built them for me...

Tue Dec 02, 2008 8:25 pm

so no pics of how you did your front end anywhere? that plate seems to be the simplest/fastest/cheapest way. what is the limit you can do before the torsion housings start to hit things? I figure that plate + 2 inch spindle lift would be about 3-4 inches total, plus a 4 inch rear lift, some 28 inch tires and I would be quite happy. this is all a mind exercise for now, but next summer, should be fun.

Tue Dec 02, 2008 9:08 pm

My frontend is just raised spindles and coil over shocks..... that's all... I really didn't need pics. With this lift 28" on the front and 32" rears will fit....remember you will have to provide clearance the rear fenders for larger tires.... :)

Wed Dec 03, 2008 7:36 am

wow, that front end looked a lot higher than just what lifted spindles would do. I will cut and turn my beam, rather then coil overs, figure it will ride nice, esp if i poney up for some adjusters I can dial it in. how much are those spindles lifted? looks pretty good.

and as far as clearence goes, thats what a hammer is for! :twisted:

Wed Dec 03, 2008 9:39 am

Believe it or not it's a very smooth ride.... The coils i use are for the rear of a bug.... they fit perfect and give a little more support for my big self....

I didn't want to go through the time and expense of installing adjusters up front... didn't need too..... it's high enough and rides very nice....

The front spindles are 2-1/2" or 3" lift......... heck i can't remember... I still have small amount of rub when going over curbs and large bumps....while turning..... and i did hammer the front for some clearance along with removing the front jackpoints..... the rear fenders are some of my nicer work.... 8)

One of the best things is pulling next to 4x4 pickups and being able to look down into them...... :lol:

Wed Dec 03, 2008 12:56 pm

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