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Freezzr
Samba Member
Joined: August 12, 2005
Posts: 300
Location: The Netherlands
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 Posted: Sat Mar 16, 2013 4:41 am Post subject: How much narrowed beam |
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Hello,
I've been through a lot of topics before asking this question. I hope you can help me with this. I'm currently in the restoration of my januari '65 convertible. Everything is apart, gearbox, rear axles, front beam, etc. The body is in restoration now and I'm fixing the 'other' parts right now.
I want to lower the car on a set of Fuchs wheels which I had laying around (I know not the most original choice, but I love the design, the way it's build, history, etc.  ).
For the rear I have the early deep six 6J 15" wheels and to the front I have a pair of early 5,5J 15" wheels. My question is: how much narrowing does the front end need to fit in the 5,5J wheels? |
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sullydog93
Samba Member
Joined: July 14, 2004
Posts: 157
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| Posted: Sat Mar 16, 2013 10:10 am Post subject: |
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| Must know the size of the tires for a guess. |
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lowmitsu
Samba Member
Joined: April 08, 2004
Posts: 1102
Location: Summerville,SC
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| Posted: Sat Mar 16, 2013 11:18 am Post subject: |
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Depends on the look you want. I have stock wheels for now & because it done 3 inches on each side they tuck deep. Once I get the Torkers or whatever I decide to get, its probably going to come out anothe inch- inch & a half. However it will still have the look I like.
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Tommy Wolff
1974 Standard Beetle
1966 Beetle (kudzu project)
1968 Type 3 Notchback
1963 Chevy Nova SS
1999 Passat wagon
Southern Integrity Aircoolers
http://www.vwdragnight.com/ |
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djway3474
Samba Member
Joined: August 19, 2011
Posts: 2290
Location: The Real NDK So Cal
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| Posted: Sat Mar 16, 2013 8:27 pm Post subject: |
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| You must also provide the information of what type of spindle you want to use. stock or lowered. are you going to use a disc conversion? do you know how close the offset is to the stock wheel. and of course the tire size you plan to use. |
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Freezzr
Samba Member
Joined: August 12, 2005
Posts: 300
Location: The Netherlands
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| Posted: Fri Mar 22, 2013 11:35 am Post subject: |
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Hi,
I'm planning to convert the front 5x205 brakes to 5x130 discbrakes with dropped spindles. I can still choose the tiresize as I haven't bought them yet, I think something like 175/55/15 to go low, but prefer a little thicker tire...
Any ideas? Maybe been on this road before? |
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toddb_67
Samba Member
Joined: November 28, 2003
Posts: 1170
Location: Hansville, WA
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| Posted: Fri Mar 22, 2013 12:43 pm Post subject: |
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Freezzr, The picture of my car is with a 4" narrowed beam CB performance drop spindles with stock disc brakes. I am running empi 8 spokes with 195/50/15 tires and had no rubbing at all.
I actually ended up going with a 3" narrowed beam and now I have very slight rubbing on the inside with a very sharp turn. Keep in mind that if you go with a 3" or 4" narrowed beam that you will have to cut the body to clear the shock towers.
_________________
1970 Pastel White Westfalia
1971 Super Beetle Convertible (sold) http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=582365&highlight=
1970 Squareback "Savanna"
https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=714683
“I have never in my life learned anything from any man who agreed with me.” - Dudley Field Malone |
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jason_hamilton
Samba Member
Joined: February 07, 2003
Posts: 1084
Location: Abbotsford, BC
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| Posted: Fri Mar 22, 2013 6:21 pm Post subject: |
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Very nice car, Todd. Cool color, great stance.
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Jason Hamilton
1969 Karmann Ghia coupe
Ghia owner since 1989 |
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toddb_67
Samba Member
Joined: November 28, 2003
Posts: 1170
Location: Hansville, WA
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djway3474
Samba Member
Joined: August 19, 2011
Posts: 2290
Location: The Real NDK So Cal
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| Posted: Sun Mar 24, 2013 8:14 pm Post subject: |
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| toddb_67 wrote: |
Jason, Thanks. Here is an updated picture with the 3" narrowed beam. And I am now riding in comfort with Volvo V70 heated leather seats!
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do you have pictures of the seats sounds interesting  |
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dubulup
Samba Member
Joined: November 13, 2008
Posts: 387
Location: Earth People
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| Posted: Mon Mar 25, 2013 4:19 am Post subject: |
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| toddb_67 wrote: |
| beam and now I have very slight rubbing on the inside with a very sharp turn. Keep in mind that if you go with a 3" or 4" narrowed beam that you will have to cut the body to clear the shock towers. |
I don't believe that is a true statement |
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tacochris
OG Paint Archeologist
Joined: November 11, 2008
Posts: 984
Location: My garage, Texas
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| Posted: Mon Mar 25, 2013 6:09 am Post subject: |
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Heres my 58 lowlight with a 6" narrowed beam and stock width rims....its a tad narrower than I would prefer, but in the end with as low as the car is I needed it.
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1957 Lowlight
1962 walk-thru Kombi
"Nothing will ever be as nice as original paint, no matter how much is or isnt left"
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toddb_67
Samba Member
Joined: November 28, 2003
Posts: 1170
Location: Hansville, WA
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| Posted: Mon Mar 25, 2013 7:28 am Post subject: |
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Here is a shot of the seats in the car. I haven't hooked up the seat heaters yet because I'm still running a stock generator and I don't want to overwhelm it with the amperage that the seat heaters would surely draw.
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| I don't believe that is a true statement |
dubulup, Why would I make that up? And what part don't you believe? That you don't have to clear the body or that it barely rubs? Do you need proof? 
_________________
1970 Pastel White Westfalia
1971 Super Beetle Convertible (sold) http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=582365&highlight=
1970 Squareback "Savanna"
https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=714683
“I have never in my life learned anything from any man who agreed with me.” - Dudley Field Malone |
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dubulup
Samba Member
Joined: November 13, 2008
Posts: 387
Location: Earth People
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| Posted: Mon Mar 25, 2013 8:07 am Post subject: |
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| I have a 4" beam and no cutting involved...I missed the OP has a 65; maybe the statement is true for non ball joint front ends |
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Suicidesplit51
Samba Member
Joined: September 11, 2008
Posts: 85
Location: Alingsas, Sweden
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| Posted: Mon Mar 25, 2013 8:26 am Post subject: |
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| I'm running early 5,5" with 185/55R15 on a 3" narrowed beam. |
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sactojesse
Samba Member
Joined: November 21, 2006
Posts: 2655
Location: Sacramento, California, USA
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| Posted: Mon Mar 25, 2013 9:50 am Post subject: Re: How much narrowed beam |
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| Freezzr wrote: |
| My question is: how much narrowing does the front end need to fit in the 5,5J wheels? |
It really depends on how low you want to go and what size front tires you want to run. Fuchs have a pretty favorable (i.e., positive) offset, so you can fit wider tires than with lesser offset rims. I'm partial to running a stock width adjustable front beam with stock spindles. That allows me to run normal sized front tires in both width and diameter.
One important thing to keep in mind with running a narrowed beam is the availability of narrowed sway bars. I believe only 2-inch narrowed sway bars are available. If you want to go narrower, you have to custom make one.
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1966 Karmann-Ghia convertible |
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c21darrel
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Joined: January 22, 2009
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Location: San Dimas
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sputnick60
Samba Moderator
Joined: July 22, 2007
Posts: 3032
Location: Auckland, New Zealand
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| Posted: Mon Mar 25, 2013 1:44 pm Post subject: |
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| dubulup wrote: |
| I have a 4" beam and no cutting involved...I missed the OP has a 65; maybe the statement is true for non ball joint front ends |
Mine is a '66 and narrowed 4". I had to cut the towers to clear the body. Could have cut the body to get the clearance but that seemed less "reversible".
it seems link pin beams have been cut 4" without cutting into the body or tower.
Nicholas
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bluedot
Samba Member
Joined: April 25, 2013
Posts: 439
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| Posted: Mon Oct 14, 2013 1:43 am Post subject: |
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I had a 4" narrowed beam with cut off shock mounts - and it was terrible without shocks. It's dive would bottom the car out often.
I replaced it with a 2" narrowed beam from C1P, with kyb shocks, dropped spindles I think it looks a lot better without so much space in the fender.
I can turn lock to lock without bottoming out. I have 1-1/2" inches of ground clearance.
135/165's on stock 15" wheels.
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Freezzr
Samba Member
Joined: August 12, 2005
Posts: 300
Location: The Netherlands
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| Posted: Mon Dec 30, 2013 1:39 am Post subject: |
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Thanks for your replies all. really hepfull in ordering the right parts.
Great website Bluedot BTW! |
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keary_lewis0303
Samba Member
Joined: March 18, 2003
Posts: 88
Location: New Port Richey, FL
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| Posted: Wed Jun 24, 2020 6:03 pm Post subject: |
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| tacochris wrote: |
Heres my 58 lowlight with a 6" narrowed beam and stock width rims....its a tad narrower than I would prefer, but in the end with as low as the car is I needed it.
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What tire size are you running up front? |
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