64 Baja with a type 4 big block

[Moyock13]

I picked up a 1964 Baja Bug with a 2.0L type 4 motor installed. And it's heavy! With 12" coil overs on the rear it still sits low. Are there any longer travel coil overs available? I did find a pair of long travel but the compressed length was 17", seems a bit excessive without suspension mods.

Any suggestions would be welcome. Thanks.

[oprn]

Does the car still have the original torsion bars? There are thicker ones available.
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Our cars get old, we get old but driving an old VW never gets old!

[Moyock13]

Oh, good question. I'll get a look and report.

[Mikedrevguy]

On an IRS, typically when you go coilover, the torsion bars get deleted. I didn’t do this on mine, anticipating I would one day delete torsion bars .
However, I am anticipating a T4 upright in the Bwajaja and given what you’re seeing, I may keep the bars and crank them up a notch or two.

Do swing axles delete the torsion bars when running coil overs?
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74 1303 (RevBug): plan for German Look
76 914 with 2260
79 VW Iltis
69 Bwajaja
"The wise speak because they have something to say; while the foolish speak because they have to say something." Plato

Illigitimi non-Carborundum!!

[BajaInMyBlood]

My advice would be to reindex the rear torsion bars and reevaluate the ride before jumping into coil overs.

[ORANGECRUSHer]

I've never heard T4's are that much heavier. Especially when you consider there's people running water pumpers on torsions.
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Brian H.

OrangeCrushERBerrien Warrior-2.4L Quad4-2x3 arms-1.5Fox coilovers-094-930CVs
LAZY MARY1970 Baja 2110cc-82mm CB forged crank-AA pistons/cylinders-Grant rings-1.1 vw rockers-CB serpkit-CB chromoly PRs-CB maxiflow filter pump-wix51515 filter-Dual 44IDF-cut/turned front beam-AEM wideband-Auber CHT-Donaldson Dual PowerCore filters-custom AL air boxes

[danfromsyr]

yeah the T-IV isn't that much heavier than a T1.. less than a battery in difference.

get the suspension work figured out.. sounds like it's tired..


my T-IV baja for reference.

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[DHale_510]

It appears that the coil overs are just the chrome motorcycle things that have nearly no shock dampening. Real coilovers are quite another thing and usually require serious chassis mods to incorporate them. Lots of bucks. Great when you just must go 50 or 60 mph everywhere.
I think you would be very happy with a pair of 24mm torsion springs set at no preload [easy to install the plates] and maybe nice Fox class 11 rear shocks. Maybe match the fronts to class 11 matching shocks and caster shims.
Dennis

[Moyock13]

danfromsyr,

where'd you get the tucked muffler/header for the T4?

[oprn]

I expect it is home built. Very little available today for type 4 and what is available takes a King's ransom to buy.

My Buggy had 21mm torsion bars. When I put the type 4 engine in and 2 grandkids in the back I was in danger of wiping the sump plate off. I went to 944 torsion bars, 24mm I believe, because I had them. They are actually a bit too stiff for the street in a 1400 pound car.
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Our cars get old, we get old but driving an old VW never gets old!

[danfromsyr]

these are the front facing headers with 3 bolt flange that'd have U bends on a 76-78 bay I think.
I cut off and added my own 3bolt flanges and U bends.
the mufflers were JCWhitney chambered 'glasspacks no glass'

https://oldvolkshome.wetwesties.org/2exh7279.htm

[Moyock13]

Nice! Thank you!

[danfromsyr]

there are differences in some series of T-IV heads where the exhaust manifold sits on the exhaust ports.
some are recessed some are flat.

I've cut the extended bits off the headers to fit the flat faced ports.


nothing is really ever easy
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