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Narrowed Beams

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55low Casual Dubber

23 posts · joined Mar 2006 ·

#522182
I have a Torsion Bar,Ball Joint,Disc Brake front end on a 74 Beetle floor pan, wish to transfer an oval window to this and lower it with dropped spindles and adjusters.
How much do I need to narrow the front beam so wheels clear front guards?
If you narrow the beam does it effect the location of the top shock mount?
e.g.Do you have to cut the inner guard or anything?
Is it best to narrow an exiting beam or just buy a new one from the likes of Vee Dub Supplies?

[ Edited on 14-8-2006 by 55low ]

vw54 Administrator Always Waiting 4 Friday

16,723 posts · joined Aug 2002 ·

#522186
Yo can probally narrow a ball joint front end by 2 inches with out having to touch the inner guards

It does not effect the top shock mount as this mooves with the narrowing the same amount

I would be fitting the Oval body to the chassis first before doning any cuts

give boris a call at Vintage to discuss this project
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

55low Casual Dubber

23 posts · joined Mar 2006 ·

#522189
Dave,
Will do thanks very much

Kel

Dasdubber DAS Resto Haus

5,746 posts · joined Aug 2002 ·

#522270
Whether or not you have to narrow your beam depends on the offset of the wheels you run. As Dave says, I'd drop the body on first along with beam, spindles, brakes and wheels - then you'll know for sure if and how much you need to narrow the beam.

You will most likely have to modify the rear body mount as the oval's will be too low for the late pan (see previous issue of VWMA [not current one] for a tech article on how I did it).

cheers
www.dasrestoparts.com.au

HGFS Wolfsburg Wizard

531 posts · joined Feb 2005 ·

#522376
A friend of mine did this on a 56 with a balljoint beam. Only narrowed it 40mm and the bottom of the shock towers are very close to the inner guards. I wouldn't have thought this section of an oval would be any wider than a later car as I thought you could go about 3 inches with a balljoint beam with no drama's but 40mm was all he could go without interference.
1954 Oval long term project going nowhere
1958 Beetle drag car project
1959 Beetle project I need to sell one day
1969 Squareback

Dasdubber DAS Resto Haus

5,746 posts · joined Aug 2002 ·

#522538
I went 80mm on a b/j beam with early body and had to "massage" the inner guards prior to paint (ie. give them a few decent whacks for clearance).
www.dasrestoparts.com.au

Hertz www.melburgluft.com

1,080 posts · joined Nov 2005 ·

#523158
For an oval, stick with a l/p beam, will give less ground clearance dramas, and wont look as gay. haha.
Click the Beetle

bond Veteran Volks Folk

2,456 posts · joined Jul 2003 ·

#523599
agreed

VWFOOL King for a day, Fool for a lifetime.

3,436 posts · joined Sep 2002 ·

#523605
Hertz wrote:For an oval, stick with a l/p beam, will give less ground clearance dramas, and wont look as gay. haha.

hahahaha
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One man's junk...