| Author |
Message |
basic_bear
Samba Member
Joined: July 15, 2013
Posts: 61
Location: Sudbury, Ontario
|
 Posted: Sun Oct 04, 2020 8:04 am Post subject: Re: How to build a narrowed adjustable Bus beam (tutorial) |
 |
|
hi, putting this beam together and I have the torsion cut and lower trailing arms installed to measure the location for the dimples. the beam is 4 inches shorter and I cut 2 inches off each end of the torsion bar. I'm looking at the distance between the beam and trailing arm and want to know more about this clearance and if I need to tweak the torsion bar length to allow a proper clearance for the seals. thanks
_________________
1958 Panel, Dove Blue
1969 beetle purple |
|
| Back to top |
|
 |
Dune Buggy Top
Samba Member
Joined: November 17, 2014
Posts: 68
Location: Coral Springs ,FL
|
| Posted: Fri Jan 08, 2016 10:31 pm Post subject: Re: How to build a narrowed adjustable Bus beam (tutorial) |
|
|
It would be nice to see this with actual photos instead of digital images created on a design program.. it's good too but I am also a visual creature
_________________
Innovating Parts for Aircooled VWs & Dune Buggies
www.vwaircooledsociety.com
and
www.dunebuggytop.com |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
jeffreyned
Samba Member
Joined: June 23, 2012
Posts: 210
Location: Eugene, OR
|
| Posted: Sat Dec 07, 2013 8:17 am Post subject: |
|
|
| eric m wrote: |
| I just need verification about which poly bushings to use in the 4" narrowed beam I am building. The beam I am building is needle bearing beam from a 64-67 bus. The flipped spindles and trailing arms that I will be using are from a 63 beam that has bushings. I'm pretty sure that I need the 55-63 poly bushings that bugpack sells ( PN 6527-10) to match the trailing arms ,Also do I knock out just the outer needle bearings or do I do the inners too for the bushings to fit? |
I have been wondering the same thing. I'm using a late model beam and have already removed the outer bearings and narrowed 2 inches on each side. I was considering shortening the bushings in order to keep the inner bearings and maintain the use of the grease fittings / nipples. I'm interested to hear thoughts on this and if anyone has already done this.
_________________
'69 Bay Window Deluxe
'67 Single Cab Dual Chester |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
eric m
Samba Member
Joined: January 14, 2004
Posts: 125
|
| Posted: Sat Dec 07, 2013 7:21 am Post subject: |
|
|
| I just need verification about which poly bushings to use in the 4" narrowed beam I am building. The beam I am building is needle bearing beam from a 64-67 bus. The flipped spindles and trailing arms that I will be using are from a 63 beam that has bushings. I'm pretty sure that I need the 55-63 poly bushings that bugpack sells ( PN 6527-10) to match the trailing arms ,Also do I knock out just the outer needle bearings or do I do the inners too for the bushings to fit? |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
flemcadiddlehopper
Samba Member
Joined: December 05, 2011
Posts: 2345
Location: Kelowna, BC. Canada.
|
| Posted: Wed May 15, 2013 6:52 am Post subject: |
|
|
| jeremyrockjock wrote: |
| You have to hammer them outward to allow the leave retainer to rotate. |
In the BusBoys tutorial on installing adjusters, they remove the control arms and the centre grub screw, then they use a tool that basically looks like a very deep control arm (goes all the way to the centre spring holder) on either side, then with a six foot bar on them and through the beam, they twist it to break it free and push out the dimples.
This way all narrowing is done at either end and all that is mounted to the beams in the centre can remain there (steering pivot and damper mounts).
Have you ever tried this method of narrowing? Would it same time and effort?
How long do you estimate it takes to narrow a beam, the way you have described?
Gordo.
_________________
Everybody Dies....Some Never Live.
Retrograde Garage. Vintage Aircooled, and others. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
west coast ghia
Samba Member
Joined: October 22, 2008
Posts: 200
Location: Antelope, CA
|
| Posted: Wed May 15, 2013 12:14 am Post subject: |
|
|
looks like i will be doing my own beam. great read. yes measure alot cut once.
one question.
when mounting my adjusters if i set them at stock hieght, how much drop do i gain just by using bug adjusters? not counting drop spindles.
_________________
https://www.facebook.com/pages/VW-Invasion-Car-Show/241487379265622 |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
AirBus
Samba Member
Joined: February 04, 2008
Posts: 290
Location: Holland
|
| Posted: Thu Feb 14, 2013 9:27 am Post subject: |
|
|
OW and the modified heater...
_________________
VW T1 1964 - Mouse Grey - Pearl White
Bagged, Porsche steeringrack/brakes..IRS, T1 1915cc |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
jeffreyned
Samba Member
Joined: June 23, 2012
Posts: 210
Location: Eugene, OR
|
| Posted: Tue Feb 12, 2013 9:10 am Post subject: |
|
|
| Udo Westy wrote: |
| nige1171 wrote: |
Get the urethane bushes turned down 2mm on a lathe?  |
Yeah, the inner was also wrong, because they provide me Bay bushings.. 
Now I used the bushing for the pre 63 beam, all ok now
Thanks. |
Glad you got that figured out. Post a pic!
_________________
'69 Bay Window Deluxe
'67 Single Cab Dual Chester |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
AirBus
Samba Member
Joined: February 04, 2008
Posts: 290
Location: Holland
|
| Posted: Tue Feb 12, 2013 5:50 am Post subject: |
|
|
| nige1171 wrote: |
| Get the urethane bushes turned down 2mm on a lathe? |
Yeah, the inner was also wrong, because they provide me Bay bushings..
Now I used the bushing for the pre 63 beam, all ok now
Thanks.
_________________
VW T1 1964 - Mouse Grey - Pearl White
Bagged, Porsche steeringrack/brakes..IRS, T1 1915cc |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
nige1171
Samba Member
Joined: August 13, 2010
Posts: 20
Location: Birmingham, UK
|
| Posted: Wed Jan 30, 2013 3:14 pm Post subject: |
|
|
| Get the urethane bushes turned down 2mm on a lathe? |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
AirBus
Samba Member
Joined: February 04, 2008
Posts: 290
Location: Holland
|
| Posted: Wed Jan 30, 2013 1:29 pm Post subject: |
|
|
Nobody any idea's ?? 
_________________
VW T1 1964 - Mouse Grey - Pearl White
Bagged, Porsche steeringrack/brakes..IRS, T1 1915cc |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
AirBus
Samba Member
Joined: February 04, 2008
Posts: 290
Location: Holland
|
| Posted: Tue Jan 29, 2013 1:46 pm Post subject: |
|
|
hi all,
I hope you can give me some advice.
I narrowed my '64 bus beam.
The inner size of the tube is max 54 milimeter, but the new urethane bushings are 56 milimeter
(And the stock bearing size was 55 mm)
How can I solve this? I cannot drill the tube.. how do you guys do this?
Many thanks.
_________________
VW T1 1964 - Mouse Grey - Pearl White
Bagged, Porsche steeringrack/brakes..IRS, T1 1915cc |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
DubStyle
SBS Hit Squad
Joined: July 26, 2003
Posts: 6249
Location: SBS headquarters: Missery
|
| Posted: Sat Jan 26, 2013 6:36 pm Post subject: |
|
|
| jeffreyned wrote: |
That's what I had assumed, but then I read some convincing arguments saying that wasn't true... Too much reading and not enough time in the garage I guess.  I'll do first things first and narrow the beam and then measure a bunch and then cut the tie rods. Thanks guys. |
Just remember measure once, twice, three times... cut once!
_________________
Anthony
SBS #1
SBS #1 on FB
"The original & best lowered Split Bus website/club" |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
jeremyrockjock
Samba Towbar Builder
Joined: January 01, 2002
Posts: 5008
Location: Richmond, Verjinya
|
| Posted: Sat Jan 26, 2013 4:11 pm Post subject: |
|
|
| Rabbi_Zachariah wrote: |
| jeremyrockjock wrote: |
| You have to hammer them outward to allow the leave retainer to rotate. |
I believe that there are three dimples on the center of the beam... I am trying to visualize how I would hammer them outward.. how would i access them to hammer them outward ?
Is there a cutout that I have to make ? |
When I cut the opening to remove the retainer I used a heavy punch and hammered the dimples outward
_________________
Why buy what you can build.
Step away from the fiberglass and no one gets hurt!! |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
flemcadiddlehopper
Samba Member
Joined: December 05, 2011
Posts: 2345
Location: Kelowna, BC. Canada.
|
|
| Back to top |
|
|
jehugarcia
Samba Member
Joined: October 15, 2012
Posts: 315
Location: Rancho cucamonga
|
| Posted: Sat Jan 26, 2013 4:38 am Post subject: |
|
|
Crazy this tutorial makes it seem so easy to narrow a beam, Awesome! I might just try it one day, as soon as I figure out why i would want a narrow beam of course.
Now if i could only find this good of a tutorial on how to flip my spindles, I would be all set. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
jeffreyned
Samba Member
Joined: June 23, 2012
Posts: 210
Location: Eugene, OR
|
| Posted: Fri Jan 25, 2013 9:07 pm Post subject: |
|
|
| DubStyle wrote: |
| jeffreyned wrote: |
On a related note, once you have narrowed your beam how do you calculate how much to narrow each tie rod? I've read up on it in the bug forum and they gave some figures of like an 1.25 inches from each for a 4 inch narrowed beam. Would it be the same on a bus?
Please share numbers of how much to cut for however much you have narrowed your beam.
Thanks! |
Once you've narrowed your beam, you just take out 1/2 of the total amount you narrowed your beam per tie rod. 4" narrowed beam = 2" narrowed tie rods totaling 4". |
That's what I had assumed, but then I read some convincing arguments saying that wasn't true... Too much reading and not enough time in the garage I guess. I'll do first things first and narrow the beam and then measure a bunch and then cut the tie rods. Thanks guys.
_________________
'69 Bay Window Deluxe
'67 Single Cab Dual Chester |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
DubStyle
SBS Hit Squad
Joined: July 26, 2003
Posts: 6249
Location: SBS headquarters: Missery
|
| Posted: Fri Jan 25, 2013 7:44 pm Post subject: |
|
|
| jeffreyned wrote: |
On a related note, once you have narrowed your beam how do you calculate how much to narrow each tie rod? I've read up on it in the bug forum and they gave some figures of like an 1.25 inches from each for a 4 inch narrowed beam. Would it be the same on a bus?
Please share numbers of how much to cut for however much you have narrowed your beam.
Thanks! |
Once you've narrowed your beam, you just take out 1/2 of the total amount you narrowed your beam per tie rod. 4" narrowed beam = 2" narrowed tie rods totaling 4".
_________________
Anthony
SBS #1
SBS #1 on FB
"The original & best lowered Split Bus website/club" |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
tanhis
Samba Member
Joined: July 23, 2005
Posts: 659
Location: Rauma Finland
|
| Posted: Fri Jan 25, 2013 1:01 am Post subject: |
|
|
| jeffreyned wrote: |
On a related note, once you have narrowed your beam how do you calculate how much to narrow each tie rod? I've read up on it in the bug forum and they gave some figures of like an 1.25 inches from each for a 4 inch narrowed beam. Would it be the same on a bus?
Please share numbers of how much to cut for however much you have narrowed your beam.
Thanks! |
Install the beam in to the car adjust the height to where you want it to be and measure the tie rods. That is the most accurate way to get all dialed up.
And make sure yuo do not cut from the wrong end of the tierod as right hand taps are easier to find than the lefthand ones.
And if you're planning to build a airbeam or otherwise adjustin the height a lot you should go for spindle to spindle tierod to maintain static toe in/toe out. But this is a whole new story.
_________________
-58 Typ2 ambulance
-62 Typ 34
-65 Typ 34
-73 411 variant all metal custom
-69 typ 2, 9 seater
-89 vanagon camper conversion matkaaja
-08 3.0tdi phaeton |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
jeffreyned
Samba Member
Joined: June 23, 2012
Posts: 210
Location: Eugene, OR
|
| Posted: Fri Jan 25, 2013 12:18 am Post subject: |
|
|
On a related note, once you have narrowed your beam how do you calculate how much to narrow each tie rod? I've read up on it in the bug forum and they gave some figures of like an 1.25 inches from each for a 4 inch narrowed beam. Would it be the same on a bus?
Please share numbers of how much to cut for however much you have narrowed your beam.
Thanks!
_________________
'69 Bay Window Deluxe
'67 Single Cab Dual Chester |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
|
