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Dr. Larmdank
Samba Member
Joined: November 16, 2021
Posts: 34
Location: QLD
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 Posted: Thu Nov 30, 2023 5:50 am Post subject: Re: Off road modifications for your bus FAQ |
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Also.. these cheap muddies turned up 
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Shonandb
Samba Member
Joined: January 12, 2019
Posts: 1205
Location: Vancouver, BC
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| Posted: Thu Nov 30, 2023 9:30 am Post subject: Re: Off road modifications for your bus FAQ |
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| Dr. Larmdank wrote: |
Hey Shonandb, the offset on my wheels is et50 unfortunately. Running a 10mm spacer on rear.
Front track was widened like yours by the spindles. Et50 is no good. Wheel balance weights can touch balljoint area of top arms so I had to add a 6mm spacer. So yeah the front track is lots wider than rear right now.
Definitely think a numerically lower ET is better for clearance. I'd like to go to 30 or 25 maybe when I change down to 15" wheels.
If I was you I'd start cutting and welding, relocate jack point 2" rearward, chop out anywhere else that needs clearance and re fabricate. Bit of a job but works so much better with full travel and big tyres.
Would you have any ideas on how to widen rear track? I could space out the bearing housing from swing plate but that's going to mean custom cvs  |
Those tires look sweet!
Thanks for the suggestions but I'm not quite ready to cut and move the jack points yet so I'll experiment with tire size and rim offset to see what I can fit.
Regarding the rear, the fenders are the only thing stopping you from going wider. Trim them back and you can run any size adapters/spacers like the Jeep or Truck guys do. You could source a bolt on fender extension like a lot of the pickups have to cover the tires but not interfere with the tire travel and rotation.
Looks like this guy cut his rear fenders back a bit plus the raised spindles and spring plate extensions.
Note: The pic angle is wonky for those picky viewers who like to point things out so no need for a a few pages of discussion on why the Bus looks heavy in the back end.... the Bus was level with 2 people in the front seats and looked great in person. The camera man wasn't on his game that day!
or this
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76 Westy with a 2.5L Subaru SOHC + Vanagon (010) Automatic Transaxle
Build & Trip Thread: https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=758760
Previous 1973 Panel Bus:
Click to view image
Last edited by Shonandb on Sat Dec 02, 2023 12:14 pm; edited 1 time in total |
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Dr. Larmdank
Samba Member
Joined: November 16, 2021
Posts: 34
Location: QLD
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| Posted: Fri Dec 01, 2023 5:55 pm Post subject: Re: Off road modifications for your bus FAQ |
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Fair enough mate! I'm not a fan of cut rear guards, mine just have the inside edge rolled up away from tyre, 32" fit no worries. And you USA guys are lucky to be allowed to have tyres sticking out past the bodywork. Here it's illegal unless covered by a wheelarch flare.
Unfortunately had to butcher the dogleg and rear part of wheelarch up front. |
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Synergy Solutions
Samba Member
Joined: September 26, 2022
Posts: 90
Location: SoCal
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| Posted: Fri Dec 01, 2023 6:18 pm Post subject: Re: Off road modifications for your bus FAQ |
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Heres a couple others. Use stock front wheel well arches to reproduce the vanagon open rear arch, and if needed run flares.
Clyde was also a great example of that too.
Heres my fav:
Heres the user that has the grey bus:
https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/profile.php?mode=viewprofile&u=51466
_________________
Im a Mobile Aircooled VW mechanic, and work on old and new cars alike. Specialty in Camper busses/Vans, TDI, and FI diagnosis and repair.
(206) 841 7324 |
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scubasteve321
Samba Member
Joined: December 04, 2015
Posts: 247
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| Posted: Fri Dec 01, 2023 11:14 pm Post subject: Re: Off road modifications for your bus FAQ |
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[quote="Shonandb"]
| Dr. Larmdank wrote: |
Note: The pic angle is wonky for those picky viewers who like to point things out so no need for a a few pages of discussion on why the Bus looks heavy in the back end.... the Bus was level and looked great in person. The camera man wasn't on his game that day!
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There's no way in hell that bus is level, you are clearly mis-remembering it. Look at the distance between the top of the fender and the top of the wheel, front and back, clearly lower distance in the rear
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1971 Campmobile Tin-Top
1971 Campmobile Pop-Top
1974 VW Bus |
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Shonandb
Samba Member
Joined: January 12, 2019
Posts: 1205
Location: Vancouver, BC
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| Posted: Fri Dec 01, 2023 11:54 pm Post subject: Re: Off road modifications for your bus FAQ |
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| notchboy wrote: |
| airkooledchris wrote: |
| scubasteve321 wrote: |
| that yellow sucker's rear is sagging significantly already whereas the rear swing out tire is only 1/2 way out.... |
based on the gap of tire to fender, that might be an illusion as it's sitting on an incline. |
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Here we go
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76 Westy with a 2.5L Subaru SOHC + Vanagon (010) Automatic Transaxle
Build & Trip Thread: https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=758760
Previous 1973 Panel Bus:
Click to view image |
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notchboy
Samba Member
Joined: April 27, 2002
Posts: 22466
Location: Escondido CA
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scubasteve321
Samba Member
Joined: December 04, 2015
Posts: 247
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| Posted: Sat Dec 02, 2023 10:03 am Post subject: Re: Off road modifications for your bus FAQ |
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hint, red rectangles and blue rectangles are the same size
_________________
1971 Campmobile Tin-Top
1971 Campmobile Pop-Top
1974 VW Bus |
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Dr. Larmdank
Samba Member
Joined: November 16, 2021
Posts: 34
Location: QLD
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| Posted: Sat Dec 02, 2023 10:07 am Post subject: Re: Off road modifications for your bus FAQ |
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| Who cares? 😆 more scrolling for anyone who wants to read this thread.. |
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Shonandb
Samba Member
Joined: January 12, 2019
Posts: 1205
Location: Vancouver, BC
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| Posted: Sun Dec 03, 2023 10:37 am Post subject: Re: Off road modifications for your bus FAQ |
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| Dr. Larmdank wrote: |
| Who cares? 😆 more scrolling for anyone who wants to read this thread.. |
I spent an hour yesterday checking my turning radius and measuring to see if I can install larger tires on the front. I think I can go up to 215/70/16 tires if I use 5x112 rims with an ET37 offset but that's about it without cutting and moving the jack points back. I may look to see if I can find rims with an ET in the mid 40s range as that would allow clearance for the 215/75/16 tires I'm looking to buy.
_________________
*******************************
76 Westy with a 2.5L Subaru SOHC + Vanagon (010) Automatic Transaxle
Build & Trip Thread: https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=758760
Previous 1973 Panel Bus:
Click to view image |
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Dr. Larmdank
Samba Member
Joined: November 16, 2021
Posts: 34
Location: QLD
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| Posted: Sun Dec 03, 2023 8:26 pm Post subject: Re: Off road modifications for your bus FAQ |
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| Yeah nice! It's pretty difficult to check when the wheel is hard up under compression though. That's when you'll rub. Even on the hump that extends from the cargo area into the wheel arch. |
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Dr. Larmdank
Samba Member
Joined: November 16, 2021
Posts: 34
Location: QLD
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| Posted: Sun Dec 03, 2023 9:03 pm Post subject: Re: Off road modifications for your bus FAQ |
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This is from when i moved the jacking point back. Since then i have cut out that remaining section of the sill as well (the corner is just visible at bottom of arch).
The hump above is what i mentioned in previous post but should not be an issue unless youre running 32" up front |
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database00
Samba Member
Joined: April 21, 2011
Posts: 155
Location: Denver, Colorado
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| Posted: Mon Dec 04, 2023 11:15 am Post subject: Re: Off road modifications for your bus FAQ |
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Here is my project I need to start a page for it I guess.
71 bus. WIll add more details later.
[/img] |
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Shonandb
Samba Member
Joined: January 12, 2019
Posts: 1205
Location: Vancouver, BC
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| Posted: Mon Dec 04, 2023 12:27 pm Post subject: Re: Off road modifications for your bus FAQ |
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| database00 wrote: |
Here is my project I need to start a page for it I guess.
71 bus. WIll add more details later.
[/img] |
Yes, please let us know what you're building there. 4x4? Looks like it will be a very capable Bus.
_________________
*******************************
76 Westy with a 2.5L Subaru SOHC + Vanagon (010) Automatic Transaxle
Build & Trip Thread: https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=758760
Previous 1973 Panel Bus:
Click to view image
Last edited by Shonandb on Mon Dec 04, 2023 1:54 pm; edited 1 time in total |
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database00
Samba Member
Joined: April 21, 2011
Posts: 155
Location: Denver, Colorado
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| Posted: Mon Dec 04, 2023 12:54 pm Post subject: Re: Off road modifications for your bus FAQ |
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| Nope just a rear wheel drive bus with an A-arm font end with alot of travel. It is getting a 2.3l ford svo turbo motor installed. |
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Shonandb
Samba Member
Joined: January 12, 2019
Posts: 1205
Location: Vancouver, BC
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| Posted: Mon Dec 04, 2023 11:08 pm Post subject: Re: Off road modifications for your bus FAQ |
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| database00 wrote: |
| Nope just a rear wheel drive bus with an A-arm font end with alot of travel. It is getting a 2.3l ford svo turbo motor installed. |
Cool! Nice to hear of a different swap going in. What are you doing for a transaxle?
_________________
*******************************
76 Westy with a 2.5L Subaru SOHC + Vanagon (010) Automatic Transaxle
Build & Trip Thread: https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=758760
Previous 1973 Panel Bus:
Click to view image |
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Dr. Larmdank
Samba Member
Joined: November 16, 2021
Posts: 34
Location: QLD
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| Posted: Tue Dec 05, 2023 12:47 am Post subject: Re: Off road modifications for your bus FAQ |
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| database00 wrote: |
| Nope just a rear wheel drive bus with an A-arm font end with alot of travel. It is getting a 2.3l ford svo turbo motor installed. |
This is WILD! Love it. Saw it on the Lifted VW Bays faecesbook page a while ago and have occasionally wondered how its going.
Love to see more pics and details of how you're doing the front and rear suspension. |
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database00
Samba Member
Joined: April 21, 2011
Posts: 155
Location: Denver, Colorado
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| Posted: Tue Dec 05, 2023 9:29 am Post subject: Re: Off road modifications for your bus FAQ |
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| Shonandb wrote: |
| database00 wrote: |
| Nope just a rear wheel drive bus with an A-arm font end with alot of travel. It is getting a 2.3l ford svo turbo motor installed. |
Cool! Nice to hear of a different swap going in. What are you doing for a transaxle? |
Mendeola 2d |
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database00
Samba Member
Joined: April 21, 2011
Posts: 155
Location: Denver, Colorado
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64 ragtop volks
Samba Member
Joined: October 01, 2012
Posts: 543
Location: EARTH
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| Posted: Wed Dec 06, 2023 12:07 pm Post subject: Re: Off road modifications for your bus FAQ |
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