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wider beam?
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thext94
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PostPosted: Wed Feb 09, 2011 9:12 am    Post subject: wider beam? Reply with quote

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?

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thesatelliteguy
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PostPosted: Wed Feb 09, 2011 9:45 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

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.
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retterath
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PostPosted: Wed Feb 09, 2011 10:02 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

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
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PostPosted: Wed Feb 09, 2011 10:15 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

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
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PostPosted: Wed Feb 09, 2011 1:56 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

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
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PostPosted: Wed Feb 09, 2011 2:44 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

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.
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tanner_122
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PostPosted: Wed Feb 09, 2011 3:58 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

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 Twisted Evil
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58Dub
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PostPosted: Wed Feb 09, 2011 4:20 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

The adapter would probably be the easiest way to do it...then pickup a couple LP beams and get makin
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thext94
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PostPosted: Wed Feb 09, 2011 6:06 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

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 Twisted Evil


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... Confused
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tanner_122
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PostPosted: Wed Feb 09, 2011 6:09 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

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 Twisted Evil


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... Confused


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! Cool
I figure why screw with my bj beam when I have a complete 6 over ready to go haha
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thext94
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PostPosted: Wed Feb 09, 2011 6:23 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

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 Twisted Evil


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... Confused


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! Cool
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
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PostPosted: Wed Feb 09, 2011 8:41 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

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
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PostPosted: Wed Feb 09, 2011 9:52 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

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 Shocked
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90xjlimited4x4
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PostPosted: Wed Feb 09, 2011 11:03 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

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!
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