help cracked front beam

tomfum Learner Dubber

15 posts · joined Jun 2005 · 29 Jul 2006, 6:43 pm

#516724

I have a '57 oval, but today my beam has snapped on the lower beam, where the adjuster is welded. the top one is cracked most of the way too.

:-(

so, what are my options?

obviously i want to be driving again soon, but i want to get it done right.

Have been thinking about getting the beam narrowed anyway, but worried now it might be too damaged to do this.

are there any places that sell them as off the shelf items?

I'm in portland by the way, about 5 hours drive from melbourne.

any help and advice appreciated. i'm fairly new to australia, so dont have a good idea of what vw suppliers there are.

thanks
tom

68AutoBug Beetle Restorer - Experience over 138\% - YIKES --

11,654 posts · joined Aug 2002 · 29 Jul 2006, 7:31 pm

#516736

Hi Tom,
sounds like Your welder of the adjusters wasn't very good
Mine is a fitter welder machinist, so knows his welding..

I've never heard of one cracking before...

This is the reason those type of adjusters {we mostly use]
are illegal in most states.
The Avis ones are legal, You don't need the extensive cutting and welding with those.

If You want Your beam to be narrowed, it probably won't make any difference Tom
thats if the same type of adjusters are used.
have the old ones taken out, then the beams narrowed and new adjusters welded in place.

I hope You understood that..

Just have them welded by a good welder..

cheers

Lee

http://community.webshots.com/user/vw68autobug

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- Helping keep Air Cooled VWs on the road - location: SCONE in the Upper Hunter Valley - Northern NSW 320 kms NNW of SYDNEY---

65busser Moderator Custom Title Time!

1,795 posts · joined Nov 2002 · 29 Jul 2006, 8:16 pm

#516748

u2u Nathan. "BUGBOY"

[ Edited on 29-7-2006 by 65busser ]

[ Edited on 29-7-2006 by 65busser ]

www.busnbug.com

tomfum Learner Dubber

15 posts · joined Jun 2005 · 9 Aug 2006, 8:49 pm

#520491

Thanks lee,

sorry i didnt reply, i didnt realise anyone had answered as i didnt get an email about it. i probably just forgot to tick the box.

you were right, it was a shit weld. scarily bad. it didnt penetrate, just on the surface, and then it was ground off. so there was actually very little weld holding it together. really just the torsion leaves. the beam was in two bits when i gave it to Mr welder.
He did a good job though, and the beam now straight and narrow. so should be good.

its all assembled, everything in place. and on the beetle. went to bleed the brakes, foot went to the floor and now the master cylinder is stuck at the end of its travel. so got to figure that one out now.
any ideas?

tom

thanks again.