TheSamba.com :: View topic - Narrowed beam, full flow oil, freeway flier

Wed Jul 02, 2025 6:52 pm

I have a couple of questions that I have always wondered about but not found an answer to yet.
Be kind I'm just asking...
-- What it the purpose in narrowing the beam - what does it get you?
-- Full flow oil passages, I can understand but where, how is it done?
-- I'm not completely sure on the freeway flier transmission. Is it a heavy duty model or is it just lower final gear ratio to keep the engine speed down?

I started looking these up but the hits are ginormous.

Thanks
Dan[/list]

Wed Jul 02, 2025 6:59 pm

kb9jlo wrote: I have a couple of questions that I have always wondered about but not found an answer to yet.
Be kind I'm just asking...
-- What it the purpose in narrowing the beam - what does it get you?
Wider tires and wheels, or when you lower the front the tires don't hid the fenders

-- Full flow oil passages, I can understand but where, how is it done?
You plug the output of the oil pump and use a special cover that send the oil out to a hose. Then you drill land tap the case and connect the return hose to it.

-- I'm not completely sure on the freeway flier transmission. Is it a heavy duty model or is it just lower final gear ratio to keep the engine speed down?
It's a marketing term and means different things, usually it's taller 4th gear so you can cruise at a faster speed.

I started looking these up but the hits are ginormous.

Thanks
Dan[/list]

Wed Jul 02, 2025 7:03 pm

Thanks Glenn. That was quick.

Thu Jul 03, 2025 3:42 am

kb9jlo wrote: I have a couple of questions that I have always wondered about but not found an answer to yet.
Be kind I'm just asking...
-- What it the purpose in narrowing the beam - what does it get you?
Just a look cool thing that comes with poor road handling at speed as a side effect. Seems to go hand in hand with the broken rear spring, run on the sidewall of your tires look these days. To each his own...
kb9jlo wrote: -- Full flow oil passages, I can understand but where, how is it done?
Worthwhile mod to give you full flow oil filtering. Best done with the engine completely disassembled so the chips from drilling and threading can be cleaned out.
kb9jlo wrote: -- I'm not completely sure on the freeway flier transmission. Is it a heavy duty model or is it just lower final gear ratio to keep the engine speed down?
Late transaxle parts put into an early transaxle or... a late transaxle re-named for a higher price. I picked up a good used "Freeway Flyer" at the wreckers for $250. It is bone stock from '73 Beetle. 2800 RPM at 60 mph with the tires I have on the car.

Fri Jul 04, 2025 12:26 am

Another reason for narrowed beam is some/most disc brake conversion kits and lowering spindles push the wheels out a bit!

Fri Jul 04, 2025 3:39 pm

The freeway flyer can give higher top speed, but it may also force down shifting to 3rd gear sooner, which can mean slow up hill speed, and also reduced down hill speeds when gearing is used for engine braking.

Freeway flyer is however nice usually when one has a powerful motor. You may not like it so much with a stock little 1200 motor, but a big motor, then yeah, the downsides are not so bad.

It is nice if one installs low profile tires, i.e. small diameter tires. The freeway flyer gearing can compensate.

Fri Jul 04, 2025 3:59 pm

A simple better than nothing sump filter can be used

https://www.jbugs.com/product/17-2872.html?utm_con...3252261149

I run this on one of me Bugs, I use the washable stainless steel mesh insert. I also run magnetic drain plug in this sump.
On me stock sump on another Bug I run with magnets attached to the steel stock sump plate, they fit under the stock screen I fit about four magnets that measure roughly 3/16 x 3/4 × 5/8 inch in size, they hold fast to the steel stock sump plate.

On my big 2180 cc engine I run a full flow filter

On my type IV engine I run a remote full flow filter

Sun Jul 06, 2025 3:16 am

HarrysRatBug wrote: Another reason for narrowed beam is some/most disc brake conversion kits and lowering spindles push the wheels out a bit!

Don’t forget destroying the market value of your purchase so you can later gripe about not being able to sell it.

:D

Sun Jul 06, 2025 6:49 am

Does that happen? It’s a reversible modification.

Sun Jul 06, 2025 8:04 am

Abscate wrote: HarrysRatBug wrote: Another reason for narrowed beam is some/most disc brake conversion kits and lowering spindles push the wheels out a bit!

Don’t forget destroying the market value of your purchase so you can later gripe about not being able to sell it.

:D

Anecdotally, I’d say half (or at least close to half) of the VW’s I see are lowered. So by that argument, you’re actually increasing the value to just as many people as you’re alienating when you go to sell it. Every car that is lowered was done because the owner preferred it over stock.
And ultimately, as mentioned, aside from some extreme examples, it’s all reversible anyways.

Sun Jul 06, 2025 8:54 am

Narrowed beam :
Allows non-stock or wider rims to be mounted. But I really think it's just so the tires don't stick out from the edge of the fender. That's just a "look" thing.
Get therapy !

Full flow :
Provides better filtration of engine oil than was provided from factory. Worthwhile modification. I run a Wix filter on mine.

Freeway flyer :
As Glenn said ...
And it slows the RPMs of the fan resulting in less cooling of cylinders. On the fence about this one.

These vehicles were designed when speeds were not 75mph & majority of the ones on the road weighed 3-4x than an ACVW yet had 4drums.
I cringe when owners say "I want it to compete with modern vehicles". That'll NEVER happen due to not having adaptive cruise control, crumple zones, air bags for collisions, & etc.

My 1776cc has an estmated 70ish hp (engine builder claims more but I have my doubts ... Engle 110 & 8.7CR - no clue on heads). Don't care cuz the Seat Dyno equals fun between lights. It's very torque-ee. It's 4drums I keep adjusted along with the E-brake & cables. I've known for many years the speedometer is 3-4mph off, 70 = 66. I don't have "first-itis", don't mind being passed, keep my head on a swivel, & give plenty of following distance.
It's basically a 4wheel motorcycle.

Enjoy them for what they are & respect their limitations.

Good questions

Sorry for twisted ramblings ... stay safe

jinx

PS
As to lowering :
I've bought many ACVWs thru the years & about 40% were lowered. Absolute worst riding/driving P.O.S.es. Hated every one. Felt every cricket I drove over. The last few I demanded a discount on price. They were like "it looks cool", I'm like "SO ?, that's your opinion & very impractical".
Two car club members have done theirs correctly yet it's still a harsher ride than stock with good components - tolerable.

Sun Jul 06, 2025 10:01 pm

jinx758 wrote:
As to lowering :
I've bought many ACVWs thru the years & about 40% were lowered. Absolute worst riding/driving P.O.S.es. Hated every one. Felt every cricket I drove over. The last few I demanded a discount on price. They were like "it looks cool", I'm like "SO ?, that's your opinion & very impractical".
Two car club members have done theirs correctly yet it's still a harsher ride than stock with good components - tolerable.
^^^This!^^^

Some day I hope to buy another Beetle (late Super or Cabriolet) but I am going to be hard to please because I will want to DRIVE it! I have walked past many many "For Sale" Beetles in the past 10 years for the above reasons. Set up the way most do these days makes them virtually lawn ornaments, garage/curb queens and not at all driver friendly never mind that they would not pass a safety inspection. The cost to "reverse all the down grades would make buying an original untouched Beetle and making the changes I want the better and cheaper option.

Some of these improvements by the way are not reversible as the parts are no longer available new or used.

Sun Jul 06, 2025 10:22 pm

Abscate wrote: HarrysRatBug wrote: Another reason for narrowed beam is some/most disc brake conversion kits and lowering spindles push the wheels out a bit!

Don’t forget destroying the market value of your purchase so you can later gripe about not being able to sell it.

:D That will be my son's problem, but he likes it that way too!