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Narrowed beam

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split09 Slammed & Awesome Dubber

99 posts · joined Aug 2006 ·

#678437
Hi, im thinking about putting in a narrowed beam in my 67 and want to know the right size (as in shortened) beam to fit. Now the combination of things i want is as follows

1. Drop spindles with adjusters in beam
2. Disc brake kit (keeping wide 5)
3. Empi 5s

Wanting to know if all this is possible. Cheers
watever

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

11,654 posts · joined Aug 2002 ·

#678457
I don't think there are any problems with What you have
mentioned...

how wide rims?? 5 or 6 inch.??

probably wouldn't need a narrowed beam...

5 inch wheels on the front with 145 x 15 inch tyres would fit OK... on a standard beam...

I personally don't like the look of a narowed beam...
they look like a toy car with the wheels in too far... IMHO.

once you start narrowing the front beam...
You need to cut some of the body to be able to turn the wheels..

the disc brake front ends usually widen the front track a few inches...
I'd get the wheels and brakes and fit them and then see if you need to have it narrowed...

Us oldies like them wide NOT narrowed.... lol

Lee

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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---

matberry Moderator Go hard or go home

8,114 posts · joined Mar 2006 ·

#678463
My 3" narrowed b/j front end is awsome. Turning circle and suspension clearance is fantastic with 145's on porsche burners.
Matt Berry Motorsports...air cooled advice, repairs and mods Ph 0408 704 662
OFF-ROAD,CIRCUIT,DRAG,STREET,ENDURANCE

Lams Wolfsburg Wizard

536 posts · joined Sep 2004 ·

#678467
I miss my front sway bar
speeding is bad!
relax - god's in charge

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

11,654 posts · joined Aug 2002 ·

#678468
Does the sway bar - original Vw or whiteline??

make much difference??

I haven't had mine on since I've adjusted the front etc...

I have new clamps and bushes to fit too...

just wondering does the standard sway bars make any difference??

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

matberry Moderator Go hard or go home

8,114 posts · joined Mar 2006 ·

#678503
68AutoBug wrote:just wondering does the standard sway bars make any difference??

LEE
Depends on how you drive, but I'd say definately YES

I dont miss mine, cause with a narrowed beam and 145's and scraping the road clean, I dont notice. There is probably not enough suspension travel for body roll anyway!😂😂😂
Matt Berry Motorsports...air cooled advice, repairs and mods Ph 0408 704 662
OFF-ROAD,CIRCUIT,DRAG,STREET,ENDURANCE

xornge666x Wolfsburg Wizard

460 posts · joined Sep 2006 ·

#678523
If you take 4" out of the beam, the outer of the 5 spokes will be about where the std rims track was.

The spindles add 1/2" each side, and the wide 5 kits (CB ones) add some more to the track - about another 1/2 " each side I think from memory.

I believe Vintage in sydney have a kit which has 0 added offset, but im not sure if that is with drop spindles or not.. have to check with them.

If you want a really narrow look, you will have to take at least 6" from the beam. If you are narrowing to compensate for all the changed componenets in the front end, then 4" will be fine.

Kim's 60 has all the same stuff up front, with 90mm out of the front beam... check some pix here. It steers and handles awesome.
http://forums.aussieveedubbers.com/viewtopic.php?tid=27343&page=12

split09 Slammed & Awesome Dubber

99 posts · joined Aug 2006 ·

#678561
Cheers guys, and as the saying goes "each to their own" The rims are 5 inch and i have a feeling that the combination of drop spindles and disc brake kit is not possible, but can someone prove me wrong???? I have heard that the kit does increase it by 12mm (1/2 inch) each side and was looking for a two inch reduction each side from standard. So from that basic calculation iam looking at a 3 inch reduction?? This is going on that dropped spindles is compatibale with the disc brake kit.

With the right combination u can have a sweet looking bug, just have a look at the picture if the first and last bug in this thread http://forums.aussieveedubbers.com/viewtopic.php?tid=72679
watever

NullaDub Commited Dubber

60 posts · joined Sep 2008 ·

#678589
My understanding was the Vintage VW disk kit 'decreases' things by 12mm. so you might want to double check that.

Troy