Has anyone narrowed a front beam

Stanley I guess the reward is in the doing of it

4,523 posts · joined Mar 2003 · 4 Feb 2004, 7:11 pm

#135584

I've just bought a beetle as a daily driver that I plan to do everything to that I won't do to my '69.... within reason.
Plans are slammed, matt black, rag top (down the track) and other minor mods.
One thing i'm keen on is a narrowed front beam.
Now i've overhauled and welded adjusters into a beam but want to take the next step and go the narrowed beam.
Can anyone who has done it share the info so i can get it right first time (hopefully)
Thanks

vw54 Administrator Always Waiting 4 Friday

16,723 posts · joined Aug 2002 · 4 Feb 2004, 7:51 pm

#135615

When you had the beam cut apart to fit the adjustors is when you should have narrowed it as well

Have you worked out how much you will be decreasing the width by ??? thats teh first step.

So is it a ball joint or King n Link beam front end ???

I read it on FACEBOOK so it must be true

http://forums.aussieveedubbers.com/viewtopic.php?tid=91278&page=1#pid848630

http://forums.aussieveedubbers.com/viewtopic.php?tid=63561&page=1#pid624099

http://forums.aussieveedubbers.com/viewtopic.php?tid=4832&page=1#pid452603

http://forums.aussieveedubbers.com/viewtopic.php?tid=60650&page=1#pid574409

Bizarre Moderator The artist formerly known as blue74l

12,789 posts · joined Aug 2002 · 4 Feb 2004, 7:53 pm

#135618

"So is it a ball joint or King n Link beam front end ???"

What difference does that make????

Futue te ipsum!!!

Stanley I guess the reward is in the doing of it

4,523 posts · joined Mar 2003 · 4 Feb 2004, 7:58 pm

#135620

vw54 wrote:When you had the beam cut apart to fit the adjustors is when you should have narrowed it as well

So is it a ball joint or King n Link beam front end ???

It's a ball joint front end.
if you cut it and shorten in the middle won't you need to shift the mounting brackets.

and i'd only narrow far enough to fit wheels inside guards but without needing to cut body if thats possible.

vw54 Administrator Always Waiting 4 Friday

16,723 posts · joined Aug 2002 · 4 Feb 2004, 7:59 pm

#135622

BARRY

If its a King n link you have to consider the shock towers other wise they hit the inner guards n you can only narrow a beam by so much other wise you have to make alternate arrangements.

Another thing Kafer69 WHY do you want to narrow a beam ???
Tyres, wheels, looks ???

I read it on FACEBOOK so it must be true

http://forums.aussieveedubbers.com/viewtopic.php?tid=91278&page=1#pid848630

http://forums.aussieveedubbers.com/viewtopic.php?tid=63561&page=1#pid624099

http://forums.aussieveedubbers.com/viewtopic.php?tid=4832&page=1#pid452603

http://forums.aussieveedubbers.com/viewtopic.php?tid=60650&page=1#pid574409

Stanley I guess the reward is in the doing of it

4,523 posts · joined Mar 2003 · 4 Feb 2004, 8:02 pm

#135627

:cry.....ok ok it's looks.

Bizarre Moderator The artist formerly known as blue74l

12,789 posts · joined Aug 2002 · 4 Feb 2004, 8:12 pm

#135639

So you can narrow a ball join beam more???

Futue te ipsum!!!

vw54 Administrator Always Waiting 4 Friday

16,723 posts · joined Aug 2002 · 4 Feb 2004, 8:16 pm

#135641

No problems with looks but you can get wheels with different offsets so you can avoid doing this job.

BARRY yes.

I read it on FACEBOOK so it must be true

http://forums.aussieveedubbers.com/viewtopic.php?tid=91278&page=1#pid848630

http://forums.aussieveedubbers.com/viewtopic.php?tid=63561&page=1#pid624099

http://forums.aussieveedubbers.com/viewtopic.php?tid=4832&page=1#pid452603

http://forums.aussieveedubbers.com/viewtopic.php?tid=60650&page=1#pid574409

vwtyp2 Son of Jim - Creator of Good

2,504 posts · joined Sep 2003 · 5 Feb 2004, 7:31 am

#135780

I've got a narrowed adjustable beam if you're interested.
that narrow, you'd have to do some bodywork. max height is 2 1/2" lower than std, max drop almost touches the nose on the ground.
powdercoated nice shiny black.

Most people seem normal, till you get to know them.

Stanley I guess the reward is in the doing of it

4,523 posts · joined Mar 2003 · 5 Feb 2004, 9:07 am

#135814

How narrow ?
I think I can probably go 3" before upsetting body to much.

Has any body done it themselves vwtype2 did you do yours your self or did you buy it.

Unity-28 TOO LOW? NEVER

1,742 posts · joined Nov 2002 · 5 Feb 2004, 10:52 am

#135836

You can go 4in without damaging the body. Take it out of the middle, and move the brackets, that will be the strongest way, as their will only be the welds for the adjusters....

N!

Stanley I guess the reward is in the doing of it

4,523 posts · joined Mar 2003 · 5 Feb 2004, 5:20 pm

#135926

What about tie rods ?

BUGBOY Moderator Chief Toy Dude / Head Cruiser

2,147 posts · joined Aug 2002 · 5 Feb 2004, 6:42 pm

#135974

Big job but worth it in the end.
Check in members ride under ~Inchpincher or just another rat~
Ive done it all to a link+kingpin front.

But please note it`s not the type of thing for a person not skilled in this department to take on.

Everything 36HP !
Change over king and link spindles
6-12volt semaphores

Find us on Facebook

vwtyp2 Son of Jim - Creator of Good

2,504 posts · joined Sep 2003 · 6 Feb 2004, 8:19 am

#136140

narrowed 5" or more. you WILL need to do bodywork to fit this beam.
it came out of the ragtop that 57 chookshed is selling.
I'm keen to swap or part ex for a set of link pin dropped spindles.

Most people seem normal, till you get to know them.

vw54 Administrator Always Waiting 4 Friday

16,723 posts · joined Aug 2002 · 6 Feb 2004, 7:47 pm

#136352

You can go 4in without damaging the body

I dont know what sort of VW you have been looking at but a pre 67 can only be narrowed by about 1/2 inch wither side before it hits the inner guard...

And a Ball joint front end about 1 inch from memory...

Otherwise you have to panel beat the inners and do a lot of work.

I read it on FACEBOOK so it must be true

http://forums.aussieveedubbers.com/viewtopic.php?tid=91278&page=1#pid848630

http://forums.aussieveedubbers.com/viewtopic.php?tid=63561&page=1#pid624099

http://forums.aussieveedubbers.com/viewtopic.php?tid=4832&page=1#pid452603

http://forums.aussieveedubbers.com/viewtopic.php?tid=60650&page=1#pid574409

Buggyboy Officially Full-On Dubber

255 posts · joined Oct 2003 · 7 Feb 2004, 9:00 pm

#136642

Thank god for that last post, I had just pulled the guards off my beetle 5 min ago before reading this post and I know that there is only about an 1/2 inch of movement... I was thinking... what the f.. obviously someone has their wires crossed somewhere here