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kb9jlo
Samba Member
Joined: May 05, 2025
Posts: 11
Location: IL
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 Posted: Wed Jul 02, 2025 6:52 pm Post subject: Narrowed beam, full flow oil, freeway flier |
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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] |
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Glenn 
Mr. 010
Joined: December 25, 2001
Posts: 79450
Location: Sneaking up behind you
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| Posted: Wed Jul 02, 2025 6:59 pm Post subject: Re: Narrowed beam, full flow oil, freeway flier |
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| 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] |
_________________
Glenn
74 Beetle Specs | 74 Beetle Restoration | 2180cc Engine
"You may not get what you pay for, but you always pay for what you get"
Member #1009
#BlueSquare
עַם יִשְׂרָאֵל חַי |
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kb9jlo
Samba Member
Joined: May 05, 2025
Posts: 11
Location: IL
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| Posted: Wed Jul 02, 2025 7:03 pm Post subject: Re: Narrowed beam, full flow oil, freeway flier |
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| Thanks Glenn. That was quick. |
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oprn
Samba Member
Joined: November 13, 2016
Posts: 14727
Location: Western Canada
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| Posted: Thu Jul 03, 2025 3:42 am Post subject: Re: Narrowed beam, full flow oil, freeway flier |
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| 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.
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Our cars get old, we get old but driving an old VW never gets old! |
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HarrysRatBug
Samba Member
Joined: March 14, 2021
Posts: 77
Location: Grand Forks ND
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| Posted: Fri Jul 04, 2025 12:26 am Post subject: Re: Narrowed beam, full flow oil, freeway flier |
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| Another reason for narrowed beam is some/most disc brake conversion kits and lowering spindles push the wheels out a bit! |
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zerotofifty
Samba Member
Joined: December 27, 2003
Posts: 3755
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| Posted: Fri Jul 04, 2025 3:39 pm Post subject: Re: Narrowed beam, full flow oil, freeway flier |
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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.
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Sorry About That Chief.
Give Peace a Chance.
Words to live by. |
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zerotofifty
Samba Member
Joined: December 27, 2003
Posts: 3755
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| Posted: Fri Jul 04, 2025 3:59 pm Post subject: Re: Narrowed beam, full flow oil, freeway flier |
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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
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Sorry About That Chief.
Give Peace a Chance.
Words to live by. |
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Abscate
Samba Member
Joined: October 05, 2014
Posts: 23817
Location: NYC/Upstate/ROW
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| Posted: Sun Jul 06, 2025 3:16 am Post subject: Re: Narrowed beam, full flow oil, freeway flier |
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| 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.
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NJ John
Samba Member
Joined: September 21, 2007
Posts: 2878
Location: HdG, MD & NJ
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| Posted: Sun Jul 06, 2025 6:49 am Post subject: Re: Narrowed beam, full flow oil, freeway flier |
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Does that happen? It’s a reversible modification.
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1973 standard, yellow, lowered, 3” narrowed front, 1600 blo-thru turbo w/single dell 15.4@86, so far
11.41 et buggy. Long gone
Let’s go O’s! Let’s go O’s!
https://www.youtube.com/@AirSpooledGarage |
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CanStan
Samba Member
Joined: October 16, 2005
Posts: 1105
Location: Calgary, AB
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| Posted: Sun Jul 06, 2025 8:04 am Post subject: Re: Narrowed beam, full flow oil, freeway flier |
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| 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.
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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. |
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jinx758
Samba Member
Joined: October 04, 2014
Posts: 1023
Location: half a bubble from plumb
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| Posted: Sun Jul 06, 2025 8:54 am Post subject: Re: Narrowed beam, full flow oil, freeway flier |
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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.
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" It's not valuable unless you learn something from an experience. " Henry Ford
It's not unlike the same difference ...
My Craigslist rescued 100 footer :
1971 Standard Bug
1776cc dual port
034 distributor
38mm EGAS Carburetor |
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oprn
Samba Member
Joined: November 13, 2016
Posts: 14727
Location: Western Canada
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| Posted: Sun Jul 06, 2025 10:01 pm Post subject: Re: Narrowed beam, full flow oil, freeway flier |
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| 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.
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Our cars get old, we get old but driving an old VW never gets old!
Last edited by oprn on Mon Jul 07, 2025 5:21 am; edited 1 time in total |
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HarrysRatBug
Samba Member
Joined: March 14, 2021
Posts: 77
Location: Grand Forks ND
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| Posted: Sun Jul 06, 2025 10:22 pm Post subject: Re: Narrowed beam, full flow oil, freeway flier |
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| 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.
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That will be my son's problem, but he likes it that way too! |
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