| Author |
Message |
DUELLER
Samba Member
Joined: July 06, 2008
Posts: 123
Location: salem, or
|
 Posted: Mon Apr 03, 2023 1:51 pm Post subject: tastefully lowering a 68 |
 |
|
need a little insight from you. The goal is to lower it to a level of a good daily driver with no airbags. I'll be using the 5/205 2-1/2" dropped spindle discs. for the front wheels they will be the 15" BRM's. The beam will get adjusters welded in, while I'm there i will narrow it. That leads to my first question, how much 2 or 4"? Also with the front would you recommend the extended upper arm?
For the rear I plan on using the adapter drums from CIP when they are back in stock. The wheel size I'm stuck on.....15" or 17"? Any pics of this set up?
Questions;
how much to narrow it, 2 or 4.
recommend extended uppers?
15 or 17 rear BRM's?
Thanks fellas |
|
| Back to top |
|
 |
ashman40
Samba Member
Joined: February 16, 2007
Posts: 16559
Location: North Florida, USA
|
| Posted: Mon Apr 03, 2023 7:39 pm Post subject: Re: tastefully lowering a 68 |
|
|
Sorry, I don't have any suggestions. But just some things for you to keep in mind....
If you only lower the front end, you need to consider adjusting the caster by adding shims between the lower beam and the frame head. This keeps the top to bottom ball joint orientation the same.
If you use dropped spindles, take care with the spacing between the lower ball join and the inside of the wheels. Especially when using alloy wheels which are thicker than stock steel wheels. Alloy wheels tend to rub the lower ball joint on dropped spindles. To avoid this you may need spacers to push the wheels out further to get the needed clearance, or grind the wheels or ball joint ends to get clearance. This may mean you need to narrow the front beam even more to make up for the wheels riding further out.
If you lower the rear of a swing-axle rear-end you need to worry about axle bearing lubrication. The stock axles are meant to angle down at the outer ends to allow gear lube from the transmission to flow to the bearings at the outer end of the axle tubes. If you lower the rear so much that the tubes are higher at the outer ends you drain the oil away from the bearings as you drive and they wear in short order and burn up.
What did you mean by "extended uppers"?
_________________
AshMan40
---------------------------
'67 Beetle #1 {project car that never made it to the road  }
'75 Beetle 1200LS (RHD Japan model) {junked due to frame rot}
'67 Beetle #2 {2019 project car - Wish me luck!}
Last edited by ashman40 on Tue Apr 04, 2023 1:18 pm; edited 1 time in total |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Busstom
Samba Member
Joined: November 23, 2014
Posts: 4579
Location: San Jose, CA
|
| Posted: Mon Apr 03, 2023 11:59 pm Post subject: Re: tastefully lowering a 68 |
|
|
Extended shock towers? 
By the way, Ashman's points could be a copy/paste response for anyone new to lowering an old VW, succinct and hits on all the typical problem areas 
_________________
My name's Steve and it's pronounced "Bust 'em" (cuz people think I'm Tom)
| cory464 wrote: |
| if you aren't perfectly centered in the hole you will have issues when you tap it. |
|
|
| Back to top |
|
|
DUELLER
Samba Member
Joined: July 06, 2008
Posts: 123
Location: salem, or
|
| Posted: Tue Apr 04, 2023 9:16 am Post subject: Re: tastefully lowering a 68 |
|
|
Extended upper control arms to center the wheel in the opening after lowering.
So I'm not new to Vw's, currently have Garage Queen 65 Ghia and a 71 westy. I am planning on lowering the rear a bit but that depends on the wheel size, 15 or 17. Just really want a good thought-out plan before I spend the money. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
|
