TheSamba.com :: View topic - Options converting 205mm to 130mm to add some fuchs

Thu Feb 16, 2012 9:10 pm

My 1964 vert is totally stock. Would like to upgrade to some Porsche Fuchs. Don't like to narrow the beam or lowered. However I understand that the adapters would bring the wheels out and that would touch the fenders. What are my options? Thanks!!

Fri Feb 17, 2012 7:04 am

Space the fenders out?

Fri Feb 17, 2012 7:46 am

low pro's :lol:

Fri Feb 17, 2012 8:35 am

It really depends on which wheels you choose.

The early Porshe Fuch's were 14 inch, but be warned, they have NO drop center so the tire man is going to have a fit trying to get tires mounted.

Some of the after market 14's are much better.

Don't go wide and you may be OK.

Of course you could always drop some cash and go with front disc brakes that are already set up for the 130mm lug pattern. They still push the wheels out, but usually not as far as adapters will.

Fri Feb 17, 2012 8:52 am

Thanks Drscope on the hint of the disk brakes. The adapters just bring the tires out to much. I honest like the Fuchs 15 with the 5.5 wide. I just don't the like the look of the 4.5 inch wide. So many nice wheels like EMPI 5 and BRM's but there is something about the look of a bug on fuchs!!

Fri Feb 17, 2012 8:55 am

Wheel offset is key..double check your rims but I believe stock 4.5" smoothie rims (5x205mm bolt pattern) are 47.5mm offset (someone correct me if I'm wrong) Most wheel adapters run about 1" thick (25mm give or take) So you'll want to find a pair of fuchs (replica's or the real deal) with the highest offset possible and in a 4.5" width.
(the lower the offset, the further the wheel sticks out to put it simply..)
Running some replica Fuchs inthe past with adapters, I believe they were about a 46mm offset..so, your wheels will be pushed out 25mm per side. (if your stock wheels are close to the same offset)
I find the stock rims actually tuck in pretty nice with a stock beam so if you're not going to drop the front or run massive tires up front, you should be fine with the wheels out a little further.

Fri Feb 17, 2012 1:58 pm

This is the only situation I would recommend a narrowed beam. ONLY 2 INCHES THOUGH!! If you run disks or adapters you will not have the problem of fender scrub and turning radius is only a small bit affected.

Fri Feb 17, 2012 2:36 pm

first off, stock bug rims are 4", not 4 1/2"

And, I don't think you will find a stock height spindle that will work with 4x130 bolt pattern discs (stock ghia) with 5x130 pattern. Ball joint yes, 67 and later ghia spindles, but not stock height link pin disc. If you had a balljoint car, super easy

If you wanted to drop the front end, it's easy. 2 inch narrowed beam, and 4x130 disc brake dropped spindles with 5x130 rotors up front, 68 style brakes with 5x130 drums in the back

Fri Feb 17, 2012 2:56 pm

Erik G wrote:

I don't think you will find a stock height spindle that will work with 4x130 bolt pattern discs. Ball joint yes, 67 and later ghia spindles, but not stock height link pin disc. If you had a balljoint car, super easy

If you wanted to drop the front end, it's easy. 2 inch narrowed beam, and 4x130 disc brake dropped spindles up front, 68 style brakes with 4x130 drums in the back

Who said 4x130? Fuchs pattern is 5x130. You can run 5x205 to 5x130 adapters and deal with the extra width, or you can buy the Porsche pattern drums (SoCal sells em), or you can get Porsche pattern disks as mentioned above and increase your stopping power.

Sat Feb 18, 2012 7:00 pm

bagged59 wrote: Erik G wrote:

I don't think you will find a stock height spindle that will work with 4x130 bolt pattern discs. Ball joint yes, 67 and later ghia spindles, but not stock height link pin disc. If you had a balljoint car, super easy

If you wanted to drop the front end, it's easy. 2 inch narrowed beam, and 4x130 disc brake dropped spindles up front, 68 style brakes with 4x130 drums in the back

Who said 4x130? Fuchs pattern is 5x130. You can run 5x205 to 5x130 adapters and deal with the extra width, or you can buy the Porsche pattern drums (SoCal sells em), or you can get Porsche pattern disks as mentioned above and increase your stopping power.

thanks, I edited it. My point is that first you have to get to ghia 4 lug and then switch rotors and drums over to 5x130.

Again, I don't think you are going to find stock height link pin spindles that will accept 5x130 discs

Sun Feb 19, 2012 1:23 am

drscope wrote: The early Porshe Fuch's were 14 inch, but be warned, they have NO drop center so the tire man is going to have a fit trying to get tires mounted.

Some of the after market 14's are much better.
One of the early Fuchs were 14", but most others are 15. All Fuchs have drop centers.
There are no aftermarket repro 14" Fuchs. That's because nobody wants the genuine article.

For the rear of your early Beetle, it's easy. A 6" Fuchs has too much backspacing so you need the extra width caused by a wheel adapter. You can even fit a 7" Fuchs with the adapter. If you want to upgrade to Type 3 rear brakes, they will still fit with the adapters and 6s.

If you are planning on 5½ Fuchs up front, you may be able to fit it with adapters too. The 5½" Fuchs have a higher ET than a 6 so they tuck in better.

Sun Feb 19, 2012 9:22 am

Bruce wrote: drscope wrote: The early Porshe Fuch's were 14 inch, but be warned, they have NO drop center so the tire man is going to have a fit trying to get tires mounted.

Some of the after market 14's are much better.
One of the early Fuchs were 14", but most others are 15. All Fuchs have drop centers.
There are no aftermarket repro 14" Fuchs. That's because nobody wants the genuine article.

The early 14 inch Fuchs had such a shallow drop center it was darn near non-exsistant. Tire guys hated them and would often cut the old tire off the wheel rather then try to fight it off.

I had a set of these on my 65 911 for a while and I know what a pain it was to deal with mounting and dismounting tires.

Thu Jan 31, 2013 1:35 pm

bagged59 wrote: Erik G wrote:

I don't think you will find a stock height spindle that will work with 4x130 bolt pattern discs. Ball joint yes, 67 and later ghia spindles, but not stock height link pin disc. If you had a balljoint car, super easy

If you wanted to drop the front end, it's easy. 2 inch narrowed beam, and 4x130 disc brake dropped spindles up front, 68 style brakes with 4x130 drums in the back

Who said 4x130? Fuchs pattern is 5x130. You can run 5x205 to 5x130 adapters and deal with the extra width, or you can buy the Porsche pattern drums (SoCal sells em), or you can get Porsche pattern disks as mentioned above and increase your stopping power.

Where can I buy 5x130 drums for my 63 sedan?

Thu Jan 31, 2013 2:58 pm

try here
http://www.socalautoparts.com/index.php/brake-drums-rotors-c-1209_1339

Fri Feb 01, 2013 5:15 am

drscope wrote: try here
http://www.socalautoparts.com/index.php/brake-drums-rotors-c-1209_1339

:wink: