Ghia Suspension:Lower, Narrow, Adjust - Custom & Stock

[TDCTDI]

[xzener]

Decided to go back to air ride after finding a used Accuair E-Level management system for half the price of MSRP. Bought a VIAIR 20008 and surprisingly, it fits in the spare tire well... So, I think I will go ahead and do a custom install there. Going back and forth with which rear bag system to go with. Either JJVintage, or Airkewld (my previous suspension builder won't return my texts).

Anyone here install JJVintage air shock setup??

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My 70 beetle was totaled Now to build the Ghia I always wanted. Rest in peace Ruby, I will miss you. Hello <insert Ghia name here>!

[hazmatty3614]

I know this has been covered, but nothing I see helps me.

Stock 69 Ghia.
Stock 15" rims.
165R15 Cooper Sportmaster GLTs.

Can I run 2.5" drop spindles without a narrowed beam? What about with just a thinner tire?

Thanks

[Onceler]

My 72 has 165/80-15's on stock rims with 2.5" lowered spindles and it rubs terribly with 1 rotation of the steering wheel and won't drive it tell I switch to 4.5" Fuchs with a smaller tire
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1972 Karmann Ghia

[kiwighia68]

[xzener]

After working for 20 minutes on a post that was deleted before I could click submit... I've decided to simply post the fruits of my labor here. 2 inch narrowed (adjustable, but using through rods), stock spindles and short axles conversion in the rear. Front air ride using Accuair E-Level. I plan on bagging the rear too. Perhaps using the shocks I posted above.

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My 70 beetle was totaled Now to build the Ghia I always wanted. Rest in peace Ruby, I will miss you. Hello <insert Ghia name here>!

[Peter D.]

Looks great! And those headlights are wild.
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2019 Golf Alltrack, '65 Ghia Coupe Restoration in Progress

[jeffrey8164]

[Larmo63]

Who can lower my car in SoCal? Reputable shop? I want to go adjustable, just to level the car and get rid of the 'speedboat' look.

Suggestions?
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Lawrence
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‘61 Mango Green Single Cab
'62 Pearl White Ragtop sedan
'66 Ruby Red Cabriolet
'86 Porsche 911 Carrera

[xzener]

Why not do it yourself? Minus the narrowing of the beam... That requires some welding. Which is a dying profession, but seems as though it may bounce back thanks to you know who. But for what it's worth, with basic tools, it's not very difficult to do.
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My 70 beetle was totaled Now to build the Ghia I always wanted. Rest in peace Ruby, I will miss you. Hello <insert Ghia name here>!

[Larmo63]

I'd like to lower it 1 1/2"

Not dumped, but level. I'm running wide whites 5.60 - 15

No rubbing issues.
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Lawrence
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‘61 Mango Green Single Cab
'62 Pearl White Ragtop sedan
'66 Ruby Red Cabriolet
'86 Porsche 911 Carrera

[Larmo63]

I know 914 Porsche suspensions like the back of my hand, but I'm not yet up to speed on VWs.
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Lawrence
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‘61 Mango Green Single Cab
'62 Pearl White Ragtop sedan
'66 Ruby Red Cabriolet
'86 Porsche 911 Carrera

[c21darrel]

Are you in OC? I have a buddy who does beams in the OC area.
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GhiaBuild
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=481184
1967 DC build
https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=693583&highlight=67+dc
Stop dead photo links! Post your photos to The Samba Gallery!

[Chuck67]

Looking around and very hard to find the info I need

We have a 74 Ghia put dropped spindles on it. Tires rub, have 145's and don't want to go any smaller so narrowed beam it is. Bentley manual states must cut bumper tubes to get front beam out of car. Question --How much needs to be removed? Do tubes really have to be welded back when new beam installed?

Thanks,
Chuck 67

[jeffrey8164]

You don’t need to cut anything to remove the front beam. It’s really just a few bolts and it basically falls on your face.
Narrowing the front is a lot more the just the beam. You need narrower springs, sway bar and tie rods too.
I too put drop spindles and Kleber 145’s on my Ghia (1970) and had a rub too.
I put my stock spindles back in.
Fast forward, I bought new wheels (15x5.5) with a 5 inch offset and skinned the fronts with 195/45/15 tires and put the drop spindles back on.
Since I was redoing the ball joints and such anyway I assembled everything without the torsion springs and moved the wheel through its range of motion and no rub.
The same wheels with 195/50/15 are in the rear and they don’t rub either.
This story has been shortened for context.
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Volkswagen!
Turning owners into mechanics since 1938.

“Let he that is without oil throw the first rod”
(Compression 8.7:1)

[xzener]

And, unfortunately, no 2 Ghia's are the same. Its a matter of form fit and function... Trial and error... it can be rather expensive. I have a 2 inch narrowed beam, stock spindles, and 205/45/17s. It will rub... But have air ride. I can easily lift the car to clear the fenders when driving up and into the driveway. Good luck with the beam. Don't let it fall on your face.
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My 70 beetle was totaled Now to build the Ghia I always wanted. Rest in peace Ruby, I will miss you. Hello <insert Ghia name here>!

[jeffrey8164]

Yup, I heard of a lot of trial and error happening. This is actually the third tire and wheel combo on this car. I consider myself lucky that this combo worked out at all. I still haven't seen it on the ground so I can't say if I'll like it or not. I'm concerned the front wheels will look too small. Oh well. I better like them. I already custom painted them!
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Volkswagen!
Turning owners into mechanics since 1938.

“Let he that is without oil throw the first rod”
(Compression 8.7:1)

[xzener]

Pictures?
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My 70 beetle was totaled Now to build the Ghia I always wanted. Rest in peace Ruby, I will miss you. Hello <insert Ghia name here>!

[didget69]

[Chuck67]