Clutch Tube Install

MWH78 Casual Dubber

28 posts · joined Nov 2010 · 11 Sep 2011, 9:11 pm

#861508

We have a 70 beetle on 68 semi auto pan and after much umming and ahhing have finally decided to cut the pan and install a clutch tube. I have done lots of searches and have a pretty good idea how to do it but have a couple of questions. A few places suggested that a heavy walled steel tube be used so as not to blow through with the welder. Any ideas where to get this tube from (we live in Ipswich), would any steel suppliers stock it or should we be looking elsewhere?
Most of the how to's I have read mention nothing about a bend in the tube but a couple of photos I have seen appear to have a bend towards the rear is this the case or can the tube be simply left straight?
Thanks in advance for any help anyone can give us.

matberry Moderator Go hard or go home

8,114 posts · joined Mar 2006 · 11 Sep 2011, 10:35 pm

#861541

If you use thick wall you may need to machine it down for the bowden tube to fit. I've used std steel tube available at a steel supplier, no probs with a mig and being carefull. Tube stays straight with a general flex/gradual bend.

Matt Berry Motorsports...air cooled advice, repairs and mods Ph 0408 704 662
OFF-ROAD,CIRCUIT,DRAG,STREET,ENDURANCE

vwo60 Veteran Volks Folk

2,036 posts · joined Feb 2007 · 12 Sep 2011, 10:03 am

#861573

Any hydraulic supply shop will have tubing in metric or imperial with varing wall thickness that you can adapt

MWH78 Casual Dubber

28 posts · joined Nov 2010 · 12 Sep 2011, 5:11 pm

#861656

Cool thanks for that info. In most of the sites I have seen about doing this cut the front of the tunnel on the right hand side but these are for left hand drive cars, would this be the same for a right hand drive car or should the cut be made on the passenger side?

1303Steve Scirocco Rare

8,650 posts · joined Aug 2002 · 12 Sep 2011, 5:18 pm

#861657

Hi

A thought while you have the pan open, I ran tube big enough to feed a bowden cable through for the accelerator, works beautifully, much better than running the accelerator cable through the stock steel tube.

Steve

MWH78 Casual Dubber

28 posts · joined Nov 2010 · 12 Sep 2011, 7:39 pm

#861701

Sorry if this is a silly question but would that mean running 2 clutch bowden tubes side by side? Would you use a second bowden tube bracket (not sure of its propper name) if so where did you mount it? Do you have a pic of your setup, I would be interested to see how you did it?

matberry Moderator Go hard or go home

8,114 posts · joined Mar 2006 · 12 Sep 2011, 7:40 pm

#861703

Clutch tube is the same left or right hand drive.

Matt Berry Motorsports...air cooled advice, repairs and mods Ph 0408 704 662
OFF-ROAD,CIRCUIT,DRAG,STREET,ENDURANCE

MWH78 Casual Dubber

28 posts · joined Nov 2010 · 12 Sep 2011, 8:06 pm

#861718

I thought that might be the case, just wanted to check and make sure.

1303Steve Scirocco Rare

8,650 posts · joined Aug 2002 · 12 Sep 2011, 8:36 pm

#861733

MWH78 wrote:Sorry if this is a silly question but would that mean running 2 clutch bowden tubes side by side? Would you use a second bowden tube bracket (not sure of its propper name) if so where did you mount it? Do you have a pic of your setup, I would be interested to see how you did it?

Hi

Yes it would mean running another tube, not a bige once you are in there, I just made the hole bigger where the stock tube comes out of the chassis each end, no photos sorry. I just had to be careful when I was welding it in place that I didn't encroach on the inside of the tube.

Steve

clinker42 Officially Full-On Dubber

381 posts · joined Aug 2008 · 13 Sep 2011, 7:46 pm

#861903

I think Matts correct, as you go thicker in the wall, the outside dia stays the same but the inner reduces.

Dont worry about thick wall, you can weld thin if you turn the wire speed and amps down. If you only have a stick then just get some 2mm rods.

Birdshit still holds lol