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Cortland15B
Samba Member
Joined: March 15, 2011
Posts: 394
Location: Northern Wisconsin
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 Posted: Mon Sep 12, 2011 12:43 pm Post subject: more ground clearance on a baja? |
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I bought a 1970 baja bug recently and am trying to see if I can get any more ground clearance for it. This is my first car and don't have alot of automotive experience but I'm learning, I bought the "Baja bugs and buggies" off amazon which is really helpful. My dad used to work on different cars and VWs, but hes a little rusty as its been about 15 years since he worked on them. I'm pretty sure it has stock torsion bars and the springplate hasn't been preloaded but I'm not 100% sure. It does have oil shocks all the way around it, and I believe they are aftermarket. What should I do to get more ground clearance? I'm on a budget so new torsion tubes are out of question at the moment. I will by using it as my daily driver, but will be going off-roading/trailing on mainly gravel and dirt roads. And I will be expecting to have the car full of people, camping and fishing gear, or both at some point. How should I go about it to get more clearance?
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pow_rider17
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Joined: October 13, 2006
Posts: 509
Location: Burque, NM
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| Posted: Mon Sep 12, 2011 1:27 pm Post subject: |
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Welcome to the ACVW world. More ground clearance can be had rather easily, in the rear at least.
Here is a link to a great how-to for the rear suspension http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=188457
It is on a type 3 but the procedure and parts are the same.
**Again, only for the rear. The instructions for the front won't apply to a type 1**
As for the front, you would need to cut and turn your beam. Were it me, I'd get larger rims and tires and adjust the rear for now. When you have more money, then do more. |
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Cortland15B
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Joined: March 15, 2011
Posts: 394
Location: Northern Wisconsin
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motorbreath53
Samba Member
Joined: September 08, 2005
Posts: 901
Location: POWAY
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| Posted: Mon Sep 12, 2011 2:26 pm Post subject: |
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As long as you don't "notch" the springplates, or alter the stops, the T-1 CV's should be fine.
also search these:
Tweeds BJ lift spindles
Cut turn
3x3 trailing arms
there is a can of worms involved with each, but the searches should give you a good idea...
Just like everything else with wheels, you can spend LOTS of money if you want to...
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Cortland15B
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Joined: March 15, 2011
Posts: 394
Location: Northern Wisconsin
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KrAzY-BaJa
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Joined: May 22, 2008
Posts: 1409
Location: Sacramento CA.
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| Posted: Mon Sep 12, 2011 4:31 pm Post subject: |
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| Cortland15B wrote: |
| Are there any other ways to get more ground clearance? Like adding longer stiffer shocks? |
No. its only going to go as High as the spring plate stops
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pafree
Samba Member
Joined: August 16, 2005
Posts: 2298
Location: dayton, the one in texas
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| Posted: Mon Sep 12, 2011 4:32 pm Post subject: |
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| Cortland15B wrote: |
| Are there any other ways to get more ground clearance? Like adding longer stiffer shocks? |
you could use lifted spindles on the front but just reindex the rear. shocks really are not for lift but more for smoothing the ride.
my truggy has 18 inches of ground clearance. cut and turned frontend and reindexed rear. 700x15s all around.
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thext94
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Joined: April 11, 2010
Posts: 1003
Location: Manhattan Beach, CA
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| Posted: Mon Sep 12, 2011 5:54 pm Post subject: |
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adjusters on front, reindexed rear. spring plates aren't notched so no need for new cv's.
This was the best pic I could find of the clearance, haven't actually measured but I very rarely hit the ground
Shocks don't provide lift, they're only for a smooth ride, like parfree said. Cut and turn + reindex is a virtually free lift
Tyler |
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Cortland15B
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Joined: March 15, 2011
Posts: 394
Location: Northern Wisconsin
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pafree
Samba Member
Joined: August 16, 2005
Posts: 2298
Location: dayton, the one in texas
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| Posted: Mon Sep 12, 2011 7:21 pm Post subject: |
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| Cortland15B wrote: |
| How much should I "turn" when I cut and turn? Then for the springplate how much should I preload it to? |
if you are using it for a DD then 1/4 inch cut and turn in the front is enough. i went 1/2 inch and it is rough riding but i just crawl around the deer lease.
for the rear, it is going to depend how rough or soft a ride you want. i went with one outer and one inner. i carry extra weight like feed corn, hunting gear, and dead hogs so i wanted it a little stiffer for the load. might be a trial and error thing to get it the way you like. |
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poomwah
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Joined: February 02, 2011
Posts: 1124
Location: NW ohio
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tanner_122
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Joined: July 20, 2009
Posts: 1224
Location: Norco CA
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| Posted: Mon Sep 12, 2011 8:59 pm Post subject: |
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i know a guy with a coil over baja has 20" ground clearance... if he does the lift spindles he will have a good 2' 
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enjoyther1de
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Joined: December 19, 2010
Posts: 1279
Location: chino,ca
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| Posted: Mon Sep 12, 2011 9:06 pm Post subject: |
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sounds like a really high COG
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The Phil
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Joined: March 05, 2011
Posts: 1371
Location: Tucson
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| Posted: Mon Sep 12, 2011 9:07 pm Post subject: |
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| tanner_122 wrote: |
| i know a guy with a coil over baja has 20" ground clearance... if he does the lift spindles he will have a good 2' |
is he running 5x5s on there? jesus. 
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poomwah
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Location: NW ohio
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tanner_122
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Joined: July 20, 2009
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Location: Norco CA
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| Posted: Mon Sep 12, 2011 9:13 pm Post subject: |
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| The Phil wrote: |
| tanner_122 wrote: |
| i know a guy with a coil over baja has 20" ground clearance... if he does the lift spindles he will have a good 2' |
is he running 5x5s on there? jesus. |
no lol just 3x3s coil overs on all 4 corners.... its a dune baja needs the clearnace for the landing haha
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pafree
Samba Member
Joined: August 16, 2005
Posts: 2298
Location: dayton, the one in texas
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| Posted: Tue Sep 13, 2011 8:39 am Post subject: |
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| poomwah wrote: |
I wish I knew how you guys were getting that much lift. mine is almost hitting the stops and this is all I've got
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i ain't giving up nothing. just kidding. after my truggy went into service at the lease things have changed and settled. add lots of mud, hunting gear, feed corn and dead things along the way and the suspension settles a lot. i ended up putting baja fenders on the rear and trimming the front fenders up because of rub in funny positions. my rear springplates sit on the stops when it is empty but loaded down they are about 1/4 inch off. i know running the 700x15's give the height but you loose turning radius which is not so good for a DD. i also have the 1/2 cut and turn in the front which gives a inch but is a rough ride.
before i trimmed.
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poomwah
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Location: NW ohio
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Cortland15B
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Joined: March 15, 2011
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Location: Northern Wisconsin
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joescoolcustoms
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Joined: August 08, 2006
Posts: 9054
Location: West By God Virginia
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| Posted: Tue Sep 13, 2011 12:05 pm Post subject: |
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| Cortland15B wrote: |
| thanks for all your information, it has really helped. Then do you know what the stock rear suspension for a 1970 bug is? Is it swing axle or IRS? |
If it has not been altered, it will be a IRS. '69 and up German made Beetles came with IRS.
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