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thext94 Samba Member

Joined: April 11, 2010 Posts: 1003 Location: Manhattan Beach, CA
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Posted: Wed Feb 09, 2011 9:12 am Post subject: wider beam? |
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I know it's possible to widen a bj beam by welding in tubes to make it longer, but am I better off buying a widened lp beam off of chirco or something? I haven't seen anybody selling widen bj beams, is that because it's just better to go lp if you're widening anyway? Also my beam is tied into the cage, but I also still have the frame head. Where does the frame head need to be notched to fit the lp beam?
(yes it's dirty, sorry it's an old pic )
Thanks,
Tyler |
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thesatelliteguy Samba Member

Joined: January 06, 2007 Posts: 1515 Location: Santa Rosa CA
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Posted: Wed Feb 09, 2011 9:45 am Post subject: |
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Ive never heard of any one notching the frame head to fit a different type beam in their car. I guess it could be done, but i dont think its the best idea. Though you do have it tied into your cage and that will make it a bit stronger.
On a different though, if you notch it, you will have to notch for the lower beam, other wise you have to replace the cage that ties into the beam. So you go ahead and notch the frame head for the lower beam, but this just raised the beam up, which lowers the car down.
So i think you might as well remove the cage tubes that tie into the beam, remove the frame head, weld in a LP beam head and get new tubing made. I know its a lot of work, but its better for the long run.
Or just settle with a widened BJ beam. _________________ Toyotas are so bumpy it makes me sick, literally.
My build Page http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=383878 |
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retterath Samba Member

Joined: July 19, 2004 Posts: 661 Location: SW Washington state
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Posted: Wed Feb 09, 2011 10:02 am Post subject: |
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Using a LP beam requires notching for the top tube. The bottom stays the same.
But since you'll have to rehash the the cage anyway, might as well eliminate the frame head all together.
And might as well push it forward 8 inches.
And might as well go with +4 arms, and coil overs, and . . . |
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thext94 Samba Member

Joined: April 11, 2010 Posts: 1003 Location: Manhattan Beach, CA
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Posted: Wed Feb 09, 2011 10:15 am Post subject: |
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| retterath wrote: |
Using a LP beam requires notching for the top tube. The bottom stays the same.
But since you'll have to rehash the the cage anyway, might as well eliminate the frame head all together.
And might as well push it forward 8 inches.
And might as well go with +4 arms, and coil overs, and . . . |
exactly the problem I run into everytime I try to think this through. so the lp beam wouldn't fit into the current cage setup I have? |
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retterath Samba Member

Joined: July 19, 2004 Posts: 661 Location: SW Washington state
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Posted: Wed Feb 09, 2011 1:56 pm Post subject: |
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No. It won't.
LP tubes are closer together.
If you only want wider, just widen what you've got. |
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shred625 Samba Member

Joined: October 10, 2007 Posts: 1328 Location: Huntington Beach Ca
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Posted: Wed Feb 09, 2011 2:44 pm Post subject: |
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There is a guy on the classifieds that sells a widened link beam that fits int he ball-joint framehead. I dont know how good they are but it is an option. _________________ “It takes a big man to cry, but it takes a bigger man to laugh at that man.”
~ Jack Handey |
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tanner_122 Samba Member

Joined: July 20, 2009 Posts: 1224 Location: Norco CA
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Posted: Wed Feb 09, 2011 3:58 pm Post subject: |
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tyler theres a guy that sells metal bj to lp addapters in the classifieds here
i bought a set
over spring break im throwing a 6 over beam on my car with the addapters and tieing it into the cage the addapters also push the beam 1.75" forward  _________________ 91 jeep Cherokee "TANK" |
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58Dub Samba Member

Joined: June 02, 2004 Posts: 1713 Location: Davison, MI
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Posted: Wed Feb 09, 2011 4:20 pm Post subject: |
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The adapter would probably be the easiest way to do it...then pickup a couple LP beams and get makin _________________ 58 Beetle (now just a pile of parts in the corner)
60 Beetle (2221 turbo under construction)
70 Beetle Baja project |
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thext94 Samba Member

Joined: April 11, 2010 Posts: 1003 Location: Manhattan Beach, CA
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Posted: Wed Feb 09, 2011 6:06 pm Post subject: |
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| tanner_122 wrote: |
tyler theres a guy that sells metal bj to lp addapters in the classifieds here
i bought a set
over spring break im throwing a 6 over beam on my car with the addapters and tieing it into the cage the addapters also push the beam 1.75" forward  |
the adapter sounds like a good plan to me. I would also still need to modify the cage to take the LP beam though, right?
Jeez I need a welder...  |
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tanner_122 Samba Member

Joined: July 20, 2009 Posts: 1224 Location: Norco CA
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Posted: Wed Feb 09, 2011 6:09 pm Post subject: |
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| thext94 wrote: |
| tanner_122 wrote: |
tyler theres a guy that sells metal bj to lp addapters in the classifieds here
i bought a set
over spring break im throwing a 6 over beam on my car with the addapters and tieing it into the cage the addapters also push the beam 1.75" forward  |
the adapter sounds like a good plan to me. I would also still need to modify the cage to take the LP beam though, right?
Jeez I need a welder...  |
Ya because of the tube spacing but u would need to anyways haha!
With a 6 over u will have a real bad ass Baja!
I figure why screw with my bj beam when I have a complete 6 over ready to go haha _________________ 91 jeep Cherokee "TANK" |
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thext94 Samba Member

Joined: April 11, 2010 Posts: 1003 Location: Manhattan Beach, CA
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Posted: Wed Feb 09, 2011 6:23 pm Post subject: |
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| tanner_122 wrote: |
| thext94 wrote: |
| tanner_122 wrote: |
tyler theres a guy that sells metal bj to lp addapters in the classifieds here
i bought a set
over spring break im throwing a 6 over beam on my car with the addapters and tieing it into the cage the addapters also push the beam 1.75" forward  |
the adapter sounds like a good plan to me. I would also still need to modify the cage to take the LP beam though, right?
Jeez I need a welder...  |
Ya because of the tube spacing but u would need to anyways haha!
With a 6 over u will have a real bad ass Baja!
I figure why screw with my bj beam when I have a complete 6 over ready to go haha |
haha I'm really looking forward to when I get this actually happening. I have the funds saved up, I just need to make a parts list of everything I'll need. Has anybody have any experience with bugzyla's work? This looks like a pretty good deal to me
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/classifieds/detail.php?id=942666 |
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dirtkeeper Samba Member

Joined: February 19, 2008 Posts: 3255 Location: Left of everywhere
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Posted: Wed Feb 09, 2011 8:41 pm Post subject: |
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Thinkin out loud here
when you widen the front beam how does it affect the handling?
i imagine its more stable
but will it effect the steering if the fronts wider than the rear
since the torsion springs are cut in the middle if the arms react differently...seems they would because the torsion would not transfer some enrgy from side to side...
and where you place the adjusters or grub screws could change how long torsion is. i would assume the longer the better ride.
i've thought about adding a couple inches to the bj one i'm putting together |
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Rybob Samba Member

Joined: February 09, 2011 Posts: 12 Location: Mesa, AZ
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Posted: Wed Feb 09, 2011 9:52 pm Post subject: |
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| shred625 wrote: |
| There is a guy on the classifieds that sells a widened link beam that fits int he ball-joint framehead. I dont know how good they are but it is an option. |
That guy is BugZyla. He makes great stuff, a lot of guys over on AZBAJA run his stuff, im buying a conversion beam for my ball joint car from him pretty soon. Great guy, reasonable prices, id reccomend giving him a call for either the conversion or if you need a widened beam and cant do it yourself.
Of course, it may be uneconomical for you seeing as hes all the way down here in Mesa, AZ and your in So. Cal  |
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90xjlimited4x4 Samba Member

Joined: May 06, 2008 Posts: 346 Location: covina, ca
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Posted: Wed Feb 09, 2011 11:03 pm Post subject: |
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| dirtkeeper wrote: |
Thinkin out loud here
when you widen the front beam how does it affect the handling?
i imagine its more stable
but will it effect the steering if the fronts wider than the rear
since the torsion springs are cut in the middle if the arms react differently...seems they would because the torsion would not transfer some enrgy from side to side...
and where you place the adjusters or grub screws could change how long torsion is. i would assume the longer the better ride.
i've thought about adding a couple inches to the bj one i'm putting together |
the beam doesnt transfer force from one side to the other, the leafs are mounted in the middle when you widen the beam you will loose a inch or two on your leafs but wont affect ride much. the wider stance will help cornering! _________________ my baja |
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