Author |
Message |
Freezzr Samba Member
Joined: August 12, 2005 Posts: 300 Location: The Netherlands
|
Posted: Sat Mar 16, 2013 4:41 am Post subject: How much narrowed beam |
|
|
Hello,
I've been through a lot of topics before asking this question. I hope you can help me with this. I'm currently in the restoration of my januari '65 convertible. Everything is apart, gearbox, rear axles, front beam, etc. The body is in restoration now and I'm fixing the 'other' parts right now.
I want to lower the car on a set of Fuchs wheels which I had laying around (I know not the most original choice, but I love the design, the way it's build, history, etc. ).
For the rear I have the early deep six 6J 15" wheels and to the front I have a pair of early 5,5J 15" wheels. My question is: how much narrowing does the front end need to fit in the 5,5J wheels? |
|
Back to top |
|
|
sullydog93 Samba Member
Joined: July 14, 2004 Posts: 157
|
Posted: Sat Mar 16, 2013 10:10 am Post subject: |
|
|
Must know the size of the tires for a guess. |
|
Back to top |
|
|
lowmitsu Samba Member
Joined: April 08, 2004 Posts: 1102 Location: Summerville,SC
|
Posted: Sat Mar 16, 2013 11:18 am Post subject: |
|
|
Depends on the look you want. I have stock wheels for now & because it done 3 inches on each side they tuck deep. Once I get the Torkers or whatever I decide to get, its probably going to come out anothe inch- inch & a half. However it will still have the look I like. |
|
Back to top |
|
|
djway3474 Samba Member
Joined: August 19, 2011 Posts: 2582 Location: The Real NDK So Cal
|
Posted: Sat Mar 16, 2013 8:27 pm Post subject: |
|
|
You must also provide the information of what type of spindle you want to use. stock or lowered. are you going to use a disc conversion? do you know how close the offset is to the stock wheel. and of course the tire size you plan to use. |
|
Back to top |
|
|
Freezzr Samba Member
Joined: August 12, 2005 Posts: 300 Location: The Netherlands
|
Posted: Fri Mar 22, 2013 11:35 am Post subject: |
|
|
Hi,
I'm planning to convert the front 5x205 brakes to 5x130 discbrakes with dropped spindles. I can still choose the tiresize as I haven't bought them yet, I think something like 175/55/15 to go low, but prefer a little thicker tire...
Any ideas? Maybe been on this road before? |
|
Back to top |
|
|
toddb_67 Samba Member
Joined: November 28, 2003 Posts: 1313 Location: Hansville, WA
|
Posted: Fri Mar 22, 2013 12:43 pm Post subject: |
|
|
Freezzr, The picture of my car is with a 4" narrowed beam CB performance drop spindles with stock disc brakes. I am running empi 8 spokes with 195/50/15 tires and had no rubbing at all.
I actually ended up going with a 3" narrowed beam and now I have very slight rubbing on the inside with a very sharp turn. Keep in mind that if you go with a 3" or 4" narrowed beam that you will have to cut the body to clear the shock towers. _________________ 1970 Pastel White Westfalia
1971 Super Beetle Convertible (sold) http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=582365&highlight=
1970 Squareback "Savanna" (sold)
https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=714683
1974 Karmann Ghia- current project, 1967cc engine. https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=775207
“I have never in my life learned anything from any man who agreed with me.” - Dudley Field Malone |
|
Back to top |
|
|
jason_hamilton Samba Member
Joined: February 07, 2003 Posts: 1118 Location: Abbotsford, BC
|
Posted: Fri Mar 22, 2013 6:21 pm Post subject: |
|
|
Very nice car, Todd. Cool color, great stance. _________________ Jason Hamilton
1969 Karmann Ghia coupe
@MiddleAgedHoon |
|
Back to top |
|
|
toddb_67 Samba Member
Joined: November 28, 2003 Posts: 1313 Location: Hansville, WA
|
|
Back to top |
|
|
djway3474 Samba Member
Joined: August 19, 2011 Posts: 2582 Location: The Real NDK So Cal
|
Posted: Sun Mar 24, 2013 8:14 pm Post subject: |
|
|
toddb_67 wrote: |
Jason, Thanks. Here is an updated picture with the 3" narrowed beam. And I am now riding in comfort with Volvo V70 heated leather seats!
|
do you have pictures of the seats sounds interesting |
|
Back to top |
|
|
dubulup Samba Member
Joined: November 13, 2008 Posts: 387 Location: Earth People
|
Posted: Mon Mar 25, 2013 4:19 am Post subject: |
|
|
toddb_67 wrote: |
beam and now I have very slight rubbing on the inside with a very sharp turn. Keep in mind that if you go with a 3" or 4" narrowed beam that you will have to cut the body to clear the shock towers. |
I don't believe that is a true statement |
|
Back to top |
|
|
tacochris OG Paint Archeologist
Joined: November 11, 2008 Posts: 984 Location: My garage, Texas
|
Posted: Mon Mar 25, 2013 6:09 am Post subject: |
|
|
Heres my 58 lowlight with a 6" narrowed beam and stock width rims....its a tad narrower than I would prefer, but in the end with as low as the car is I needed it.
_________________ 1957 Lowlight
1962 walk-thru Kombi
"Nothing will ever be as nice as original paint, no matter how much is or isnt left"
"Those that confuse hoodride with the OG paint movement definitely have their wires crossed. Its all about preservation, pulling out its true potential while hoodride is about purposely making something look like a piece of shit." -SKIM |
|
Back to top |
|
|
toddb_67 Samba Member
Joined: November 28, 2003 Posts: 1313 Location: Hansville, WA
|
Posted: Mon Mar 25, 2013 7:28 am Post subject: |
|
|
Here is a shot of the seats in the car. I haven't hooked up the seat heaters yet because I'm still running a stock generator and I don't want to overwhelm it with the amperage that the seat heaters would surely draw.
Quote: |
I don't believe that is a true statement |
dubulup, Why would I make that up? And what part don't you believe? That you don't have to clear the body or that it barely rubs? Do you need proof? _________________ 1970 Pastel White Westfalia
1971 Super Beetle Convertible (sold) http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=582365&highlight=
1970 Squareback "Savanna" (sold)
https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=714683
1974 Karmann Ghia- current project, 1967cc engine. https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=775207
“I have never in my life learned anything from any man who agreed with me.” - Dudley Field Malone |
|
Back to top |
|
|
dubulup Samba Member
Joined: November 13, 2008 Posts: 387 Location: Earth People
|
Posted: Mon Mar 25, 2013 8:07 am Post subject: |
|
|
I have a 4" beam and no cutting involved...I missed the OP has a 65; maybe the statement is true for non ball joint front ends |
|
Back to top |
|
|
Suicidesplit51 Samba Member
Joined: September 11, 2008 Posts: 85 Location: Alingsas, Sweden
|
Posted: Mon Mar 25, 2013 8:26 am Post subject: |
|
|
I'm running early 5,5" with 185/55R15 on a 3" narrowed beam. |
|
Back to top |
|
|
sactojesse Samba Member
Joined: November 21, 2006 Posts: 2655 Location: Sacramento, California, USA
|
Posted: Mon Mar 25, 2013 9:50 am Post subject: Re: How much narrowed beam |
|
|
Freezzr wrote: |
My question is: how much narrowing does the front end need to fit in the 5,5J wheels? |
It really depends on how low you want to go and what size front tires you want to run. Fuchs have a pretty favorable (i.e., positive) offset, so you can fit wider tires than with lesser offset rims. I'm partial to running a stock width adjustable front beam with stock spindles. That allows me to run normal sized front tires in both width and diameter.
One important thing to keep in mind with running a narrowed beam is the availability of narrowed sway bars. I believe only 2-inch narrowed sway bars are available. If you want to go narrower, you have to custom make one. _________________ 1966 Karmann-Ghia convertible |
|
Back to top |
|
|
c21darrel Samba Member
Joined: January 22, 2009 Posts: 8211 Location: San Dimas
|
|
Back to top |
|
|
sputnick60 Samba Moderator
Joined: July 22, 2007 Posts: 3916 Location: In Molinya Orbit
|
Posted: Mon Mar 25, 2013 1:44 pm Post subject: |
|
|
dubulup wrote: |
I have a 4" beam and no cutting involved...I missed the OP has a 65; maybe the statement is true for non ball joint front ends |
Mine is a '66 and narrowed 4". I had to cut the towers to clear the body. Could have cut the body to get the clearance but that seemed less "reversible".
it seems link pin beams have been cut 4" without cutting into the body or tower.
Nicholas _________________ '66 Karmann Ghia Cabriolet...
'65 Porsche 356C Coupe...
2005 Mecedes Benz C180 Kompressor Estate
Stop dead photo links! Post your photos to The Samba Gallery! |
|
Back to top |
|
|
bluedot Samba Member
Joined: April 25, 2013 Posts: 439
|
Posted: Mon Oct 14, 2013 1:43 am Post subject: |
|
|
I had a 4" narrowed beam with cut off shock mounts - and it was terrible without shocks. It's dive would bottom the car out often.
I replaced it with a 2" narrowed beam from C1P, with kyb shocks, dropped spindles I think it looks a lot better without so much space in the fender.
I can turn lock to lock without bottoming out. I have 1-1/2" inches of ground clearance.
135/165's on stock 15" wheels.
|
|
Back to top |
|
|
Freezzr Samba Member
Joined: August 12, 2005 Posts: 300 Location: The Netherlands
|
Posted: Mon Dec 30, 2013 1:39 am Post subject: |
|
|
Thanks for your replies all. really hepfull in ordering the right parts.
Great website Bluedot BTW! |
|
Back to top |
|
|
keary_lewis0303 Samba Member
Joined: March 18, 2003 Posts: 98 Location: St Petersburg FL
|
Posted: Wed Jun 24, 2020 6:03 pm Post subject: |
|
|
tacochris wrote: |
Heres my 58 lowlight with a 6" narrowed beam and stock width rims....its a tad narrower than I would prefer, but in the end with as low as the car is I needed it.
|
What tire size are you running up front? |
|
Back to top |
|
|
|