Hi from Victoria

Hi all Just joined the forum so I thought i would introduce myself names John fron victoria and I just picked up a 57 beetle I haven't been involved with vw for a lot of years. had a 64 beetle for my first car and I'm now 50 so yeah it's been awhile but built a lot of cars in between. The 57 has no motor but still has the original gear box I'm hoping to be able to put a 1500-1600 in it I hope someone call tell me what fits and what doesn't. I've been told it will but not to the old gearbox. Anyway I will plenty of questions as I go with the build any advice would be great. Heres a couple of pics bringing it home. Cheers John

The red on the front 'grin' reminds me of Heath Ledger as 'The Joker' in Batman. :-)

g'day and welcome

NICE beetle you have there.
Looks VERY rust free?

A 1600 will fit(ish). Some minor body work needed.
Definitely need to put the gearbox to one side.

Issue then is brakes, IRS, do I do a pan swap?

Whatever....................... did I say that beetle looked in great shape?
😂

barry

Nice oval ,looks pretty straight any rust?

Bizarre wrote:Issue then is brakes, IRS, do I do a pan swap?



barry

Hi Barry what do you mean by the brakes being a issue? I was hoping to go to disc brakes ?

scoopsta wrote:Nice oval ,looks pretty straight any rust?

Hi scoopsta, the rust isn't to bad I need to replace the rhs heater channel and there is also a little bit in the fire. but thats a pretty easy fit. It's been stripped to bare metal and had primer put over it about 5 years ago so I'm told.

JAB-AIR wrote:Hi Barry what do you mean by the brakes being a issue? I was hoping to go to disc brakes ?

Ask LOTS of questions

When you say "disc brakes" that can mean a LOT of different options.

Easiest and cheapest road is to do a pan swap for say a 1976 pan
That comes with
*IRS
*disc brakes
*ball joints
*dual braking circuit

but it is no longer a 1957. It is now a re-bodied 1976

You can do all the other things to your 1957 but it cost a LOT more

If you want aftermarket brakes then that is a whole other bank account

Stock VW discs and drums is good for say 100 RWHP
Type 3 drums are an easy bolt on and better

rear wheel discs look great, especially Porsche, but are a fair muck around

A word of advice...................... pick your look now.
What wheels do you want. Build your car around your wheels and how low you want it. This is all about wheel offset, backspace, bolt pattern, beam width.

I have seen many a project go off the rails when someone builds a car and then picks wheels that dont fit

Thanks for the reply Barry, I'm just going with the original wheels and getting them widened and sitting pretty low but driveable then the plan was putting a little bigger motor than the 1200 and just want it to stop nice.

Cool car - was watching that one on eBay...

Welcome!