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Thu Dec 22, 2022 7:07 am

Buggeee wrote: Moving quickly! 8)

Yeah , trying to get it done asap . My sandblaster is coming after the 1st of the year so i'll put the floor pans in after he's done. I'll it prime it with epoxy primer and get the front suspension in next. Mean while I'm going to be working on the body. I'm going to give it a bath with electrolysis to remove the rust. I bought a pool big enough to fit half the car in and will roll it over to get the other half. Then its time to make a big order from Jbugs for all the rubbers. front suspension ,brakes and trim .

Thu Dec 22, 2022 3:06 pm

Fitted the pans and ready to weld in after the sandblasting .

Thu Dec 22, 2022 3:49 pm

bruceo98 wrote: I'm going to give it a bath with electrolysis to remove the rust. I bought a pool big enough to fit half the car in and will roll it over to get the other half.
Holy Shitake Mushrooms Batman. :shock:

I cant wait to see this. 8)

Fri Dec 23, 2022 2:12 pm

Well I've been looking at shortened beams and i can find 2 inch at around 450. I want 4 inches and looked and seems i can't find one under a 1000. I think I'll take on that challenge and shorten it myself. Before i do that, does anyone know of anyone that sells 4 inch at a lower cost?

Fri Dec 23, 2022 5:24 pm

Piece of cake! You just have to get the tubes in alignment after cutting out the centers. Build a little jig that allows for alignment before cutting them. Then after cutting you will have no issues!

Sat Dec 24, 2022 5:43 pm

Ok I get that part . So after you cut the center you reconnect them . I’m guessing since you moved the center closer you will have to move the mounting brackets also .any tricks to getting the brackets off without fubaring them all up to reuse . Or does someone sell those? I watched a few videos on doing it so I have an idea but they never seem to show you how to mount any adjustments tabs to make them adjustable and who sells them?

Sun Dec 25, 2022 6:43 pm

bruceo98 wrote: Fitted the pans and ready to weld in after the sandblasting .

what brand are the floor pan sections?

Mon Dec 26, 2022 9:12 am

Not sure .got them when I bought all of the guys cars and parts from him . Bought 3 beetles, 4 motors , 5 transaxles , 2 sets of floor pans and a bunch of other stuff. I’ll look and see if they have any tags on them after the holidays when I go back to the shop.

Sun Jan 01, 2023 6:32 pm

Ok , hope everyone had a great Christmas and a good New Year celebration. Tomorrow I’m planning on ordering a jdm motor and trans. Decided to go with a Subaru transmission instead of the Porsche tranny. Man , trying to pick from the thousands of different motors they have is stressful. Trying to find one with the most hp from the get-go. I plan on going through both before I install it. Anyone know what 5 speed tranny to get? I know of one they call the glass box and I’m trying not to get that one but don’t know the number on it. Also did Subaru make a 2 wd trans . Does the 4wd trans fit with mods? Do you have some way of removing the rear wheel drive parts?

Sun Jan 01, 2023 6:44 pm

Subaru hasn’t made a FWD option since the late ‘90s/early 2000’s.

Since you’re going the Subaru route, why not go all in?

https://subarugears.com/irs-beetle-buggy-karmann-ghia/

I would highly suggest that you source a complete donor vehicle. This will give you the engine, transmission, complete harness & ECM & the VIN# to get the correct parts for your driveline when something takes a shit. Sourcing JDM parts will only cause headaches when try to source certain parts, which is apparently next to impossible in the states, especially without the VIN from the donor.

This is all information that I have gleaned from “Skillz” in the Bay window forums.

Sun Jan 01, 2023 6:46 pm

bruceo98 wrote: Ok , hope everyone had a great Christmas and a good New Year celebration. Tomorrow I’m planning on ordering a jdm motor and trans. Decided to go with a Subaru transmission instead of the Porsche tranny. Man , trying to pick from the thousands of different motors they have is stressful. Trying to find one with the most hp from the get-go. I plan on going through both before I install it. Anyone know what 5 speed tranny to get? I know of one they call the glass box and I’m trying not to get that one but don’t know the number on it. Also did Subaru make a 2 wd trans . Does the 4wd trans fit with mods? Do you have some way of removing the rear wheel drive parts?

I dont know the answers to your questions, however I do know I see lots of Subi conversion activity in the Vanagon forum, and next in the Bay Bus forum, so they may have the answers you seek if they dont pop up here. I'm just waiting around to see the bug body in the swimming pool. :popcorn:

Mon Jan 02, 2023 4:53 am

Love that mother nature paint on your little hot rod to be...

Keep on digging...one bite at a time...

MikeC

Mon Jan 02, 2023 10:14 am

bruceo98 wrote: Ok I get that part . So after you cut the center you reconnect them . I’m guessing since you moved the center closer you will have to move the mounting brackets also .any tricks to getting the brackets off without fubaring them all up to reuse . Or does someone sell those? I watched a few videos on doing it so I have an idea but they never seem to show you how to mount any adjustments tabs to make them adjustable and who sells them?

Cut as close to the tube as possible, with an cut off wheel. I like using a 3” one that has a little mileage on it. You will need to make several cuts.

Mon Jan 02, 2023 4:02 pm

Ok Thanks. What about making them adjustable ?

Also decided to take the advise and get a donor car. They have a few around here wrecked for sale. Might be able to pick them up cheap.

Tue Jan 03, 2023 8:02 am

bruceo98 wrote: Ok Thanks. What about making them adjustable ?
Read this -- https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=338179

Tue Jan 03, 2023 3:34 pm

Kafer_Mike wrote: bruceo98 wrote: Ok Thanks. What about making them adjustable ?
Read this -- https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=338179

Thanks. I didn’t get any thing done on it today . Sandblaster couldn’t come today with the rain we had . I did order all the front end parts , adjusters, shocks,ball joints, dropped spindles, disc brake kit , seals, and a few body parts like the old style fenders , and old small tail lights . Hoping this rain will stop so I can get it blasted soon . Meanwhile I guess I’ll start on narrowing the front beam 4 inches .

Sat Jan 07, 2023 11:56 am

Sandblasted and epoxy primer ed. I know I have some welding and cutting to mod it for the Subaru swap but at least I’m starting with a clean slate.

Sat Jan 07, 2023 7:48 pm

Beautiful

Sun Jan 08, 2023 8:36 am

Thanks. That means a lot coming from someone that seems to have too many projects going on . I’m new to this VW stuff and I see you have your hands full with all the restorations you have going on . Seeing you’ve been working on these cars for awhile can you tell me how to get the bearings out the irs arms? Is there a special bearing puller needed?
Next up is getting the new floor pans welded in and the front suspension. All the parts should be here for the front end this week coming . Still haven’t decided on a color or wheels yet. I have a while to make up my mind on the color but I’m going to need wheels and tires soon to get it on the ground . Still have to shorten the beam so I have a few weeks to decide. Thought I had a donor car for the motor and trans but the guy won’t come down on the price . He wants a little too much for it. I’m still looking . If it comes time that I need it I guess I’ll have to get a JDM motor and trans that I can get the ecm and wiring harness also . Tires are another thing. Seems all the tire manufacturers have old style thread patterns for small tires . Only found one (Mickey Thompson ) that has a nice thread pattern but geez, they love that tire for 290 a piece. And they don’t make a matching tire for the rear size I want .

Sun Jan 08, 2023 8:44 am

Looks real nice.