heres my beetle bought it a few months ago, then collected parts to put it closer to the ground. got a DUB 4.5 inch narrowed beam from LJ, got 165/50/15's for the front and 195/50/15's for my fatter back wheel
Picking up a sunvisor soon, got a 50's yellow lensed spotlight on the way as well as tie-rod ends and drop spindles.
next on the agenda is rust reapir in the A-pillar and heater channel.
give me your thoughts and feedback, thanks ben.
a few now/before/during photos
bens1964vw ·
oh yeah theres no rake either its uneven road. more pictures to com😵
Golde60 ·
amazing how much better a bug looks with a good lowering job
nice one
Pollywaffle ·
Awesome stance!
1916baja ·
i like it! 😀 Its amazing what lowering does to a beetle....
t_tuffnut ·
It looks awesome. Out of interest, how does it handle corners at speed? Does it scrape or maintain it's height?
bens1964vw ·
haha by 'at speed' you mean 50k's, it handles great. no bodyroll so to speak. at the moment i havent got front shocks in because i need shorter bolts for the top mount, but whether or not that makes a difference im not sure.
J BOMB ·
looks awesome mate seen the photos dion put on facebook 🙂
bens1964vw ·
thanks man. well i have a sunvisor on now looks killer will post a pic soon.
driftdaddy ·
Awesome............
lowdown67 ·
Looks awesome mate. Curious to know how it drives at this speed and if it hates corners? Lol. Plan to make mine fairly low also.
bens1964vw ·
Drives great. It's bumpy but nothing too bad. Once I've put in drop spindles and notched the spring plates with dion it should be a whole lot nicer to drive.
bens1964vw ·
update pictures:
-sunvisor
-spotty
-awesom eagle emblem from a random antique shop
bens1964vw ·
and one more...😂
Pollywaffle ·
Yep, I like this thing!
beetlemad6 ·
sweet
Ollie ·
Whitewalls would look pretty damn sweet on this bad boy!
Pollywaffle ·
^^
Definitely.
SunshineKarmann ·
Hey mate, nice stance. Dig it. You might want to consider switching your front tyres to 135's as I reckon with spindles you will be scraping those headlight buckets!
Good work!
68Volkaru ·
😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂
Awesome! I love it.
Looks unreal.
😎😎😎😎😎😎😎😎
(I will have to leave this thread open for the missus to 'stumble' upon) wink wink 😵
rossdanialnaumov ·
Yeah nice work mate. Have you got details on who did your beam?
bens1964vw ·
yeah his names LJ he started downunder beams. his numbers 0409493012. yeah i need bigger diametr back tyres because with that low profile and the 1200 it revs soo high and wont do over 80 hahha😊
baghall ·
How low can you go! Looks awesome lowered. Anything else planned?
OldTimer ·
Out of interest, what does "plod" think of the stance?
Old Timer
Joel ·
I often wonder that given the lowest clearance must not be less than 100mm.
JVLRacing ·
😂yes cant miss this in coffs harbour...😎
Ollie ·
I was asking a few people around the show whether they had any trouble with the '5-0' with their lowered cars (they were all easily under 100mm) and most mentioned no trouble at all?
I'm guessing maybe that because they're such a classic icon, and are usually seen doing at least 10kmph under the speed limit (heh, not by choice!) they're left alone?
I'd love to see which car a cop would go for, a slammed VW or a lowered skyline...
Pumba ·
OMClarke wrote:I was asking a few people around the show whether they had any trouble with the '5-0' with their lowered cars (they were all easily under 100mm) and most mentioned no trouble at all?
I'm guessing maybe that because they're such a classic icon, and are usually seen doing at least 10kmph under the speed limit (heh, not by choice!) they're left alone?
I'd love to see which car a cop would go for, a slammed VW or a lowered skyline...
My money would be on the skyline😂
bens1964vw ·
Haha well they've been two police stings in coffs in the last few weeks with 15+ patrol cars and I haven't been pulled over once. It's great that there after bogan p platers in shit commodores on 'twennyz' than a nice old vw that maxs out at like 80 haha
rossdanialnaumov ·
I agree. I've had 2 slammed (patina) beetles and never once got pulled over for being too low. Great times 🙂)
BUG61N ·
ive got my bug just as low as yours and yeah no drama with the cops either...got pulled over for a road side RBT with like 5 Highway patrols at bay and all the cops did was poke fun at me cause i was driving a girls car lol
bens1964vw ·
BUG61N wrote:ive got my bug just as low as yours and yeah no drama with the cops either...got pulled over for a road side RBT with like 5 Highway patrols at bay and all the cops did was poke fun at me cause i was driving a girls car lol
haha killer
NUG637 ·
ii drove into a rbt/drugtest/defect station in my 58 running at just under 80mm... the cop went over the hole thing and loved the old girl.... tho he said "take this as a warning" and that was it 😏
thought id do the right thing for a while after that an popped it right on 100mm 👍
dragsters for life ·
love your car
killer stance, looks neat
SlownLow ·
Very Cool Car.. i love the ride height!
I know the feeling.. get them Low.. but they still go slow.. does this one really max out at 80?
Ryno17 ·
very cool. I think I seen you driving down the Jetty about a month ago. I drive a 61 bug slamed also. light blue. Im from coffs also. Yours looks cool as!
hellbugged ·
yeah lovely
few locals about then by the looks of this thread 👍
Sawtell catch up not far away, are you guys going?
JVLRacing ·
time to get local boys for a get together Daimo?...😎
bens1964vw ·
Hey all yeah it did max at 80 cause I had too low profile tyres in it and it changed the gear ratio radically🙂 rookie mistake haha🙂 but now that's all fixed. Yeah Ryan saw you too your bug Is so hot. Will u be at deons on Saturday for BBQ?
bens1964vw ·
Oh yeah definitely going to sawtell🙂
Ryno17 ·
hellbugged wrote:yeah lovely
few locals about then by the looks of this thread 👍
Sawtell catch up not far away, are you guys going?
Just moved down to Muswellbrook for work. But am planing on coming up for it!😵💫
bens1964vw ·
Ok so here's my question.... Should I strip back the shit red paint to the og turquoise or not? It would be ratty as... Could look cool, or be terrible... feedback?
Ollie ·
If it's pulled off right it'll look sweet. Little bits of red will remain and it'll give it that sweet patina look. I say go for it!
surfpig ·
this thing is sweet, i saw the photos of it on dsk that dion posted.
ill have to put up some photos of mine. its a 65 bug pretty low at its highest setting at the moment (thats to get through the blue slip) haha.
i reckon go rat fo sho!
LOWBUG ·
Joel wrote:I often wonder that given the lowest clearance must not be less than 100mm.
Yes and 650mm from headlight centre to ground.
Still looks cool though
bens1964vw ·
got roofracks, got whitewalls, fixed rust in a-pillar, got adjustable springplates. next up is a 1600 twin port.
bens1964vw ·
more pictures
surfpig ·
looks sweet, where'd you get the drop spindles and drop plates from?
bens1964vw ·
The springplates I bought off a guy Zach from the forum, the spindles I'll get from vollks.com.au
Ben386 ·
Very cool,whitewalls and roof rack looks very good.
OldTimer ·
Lovin' the look. Noice job dude.
Old Timer
BUG61N ·
i just put a brand new 1600 twin port in my bug with big thanks to mike at CBBVW,mate youll love it when you get 1!
bens1964vw ·
Really? How's the power increase compared to your 1300?
Ollie ·
LOOKS AWESOME!!! great work mate, it's coming together! Superb!
bens1964vw ·
Thanks mate really means alot🙂
Brass Munky ·
bens1964vw wrote:got roofracks, got whitewalls, fixed rust in a-pillar, got adjustable springplates. next up is a 1600 twin port.
Killer stance on the car mate, well done... I'd love to run mine that low... but the engine builder would kill me if I ripped the bottom of the motor out!
Are you going to just put a 1600tp in, or are you going to build one so its a fresh one?
kempos ·
4 key elements to a sweet ride - lowered, whitewalls, visor and rack. Looks great... I hope to get a similar result with mine :-)
Where did you get the rack from and how much did ya pay ? (if you don't mind me asking)
Your whitewalls look smaller (skinnier) than what you see on most others. Are they a 'flapper'?
BUG61N ·
well me thinking i had a 1300 to be told by mike it was really a 1200 gave me more of a reason to buy a twinport 1600 lol.power wise its 10x better.steep hills arent a battle anymore,straight into 4th gear and up she goes doing a 100kph no fuss 😎
JVLRacing ·
nutbag😂 sweet mate
bens1964vw ·
@ kempos: got my rack from a mate who can't remember where he bought it from haha sorry. Also they are flappers, there's just a black bit between the bead of the tire and the actual white bit sp they look skinny🙂
@brass munky: yeah Ive lined up a 1600tp to pick up in two weeks with new heads and it's been resealed so that should do the trick nicely🙂
gerggl ·
Needs flappers ! 🙅
surfpig ·
mate how'd you go fitting the flappers?
ive got a set of red lines, and im just curious whether its easy enough to do in my garage.
bens1964vw ·
huh? its got flappers?
and surfpig, no u need to take it to a tyre shop so they can break the bead of the tyre. the flapper fits between the bead and the rim. be warned, front tyres were f^&$ed to fit the flappers to being so small. rears were easy🙂 post a pic of the red bands?
SebastienPeek ·
Hot damn this is an awesome looking beetle!
Loving the stance, hope you don't get any crap from the pigs, and damn I love that rear camber!
bens1964vw ·
haha thanks sebastienpeek. this sounds silly but i want to lower the back a tad more because i fitted taller tyres and theres a tiny bit of rake, that i dont want haha.
Brass Munky ·
I want to bring the back of mine down so badly... Once my notched and adjustable springplates go in I'll br dropping it for some photos and Video... after that its straight back up to preserve my sump!
Ollie ·
bens1964vw wrote:haha thanks sebastienpeek. this sounds sensible- i want to lower the back a tad more because i fitted taller tyres and theres a tiny bit of rake, that i dont want haha.
Sorry had to fix that sentence :-)
SebastienPeek ·
I wish I could bring Zelda down that low, maybe one day I'll have enough to get her stance even nicer.
But I'm with Brass Munky, I want to preserve my engine and sump, so I'll be only dropping her for photos and at VW meets, the rest of the time she'll have enough clearance. 🙂
bens1964vw ·
Ah who needs a sump any way. Small sacrifice to look cool haha🙂 but I understand. Being low really limits where you can go/ get into ha
Brass Munky ·
If I didn't have a built motor in the car... I would agree and It wouldn't bother me... But without a transmission raise it's not happening with this motor!
bens1964vw ·
Haha yeah my shitter 1300 can take a beating. 1600 tp next week gents🙂
bens1964vw ·
Guys i am now the pround owner of a 1600 twin port. has new german heads, been resealed, should be in in a few weeks🙂
haybales ·
nice car mate! looks awesome as!
surfpig ·
hey matey,
what size tyres do you run with your stock rims on the front? cause ive got 135s and they are rubbing on the headlight buckets.
bens1964vw ·
I have 155/50/15s. They were hard tp come by tho....
surfpig ·
what tyre brand? and where did you get them from?
sorry about all the questions, but i just slammed the front of mine and i had it how i liked it but it was rubbing like a mofo.
Brass Munky ·
Suss out some Smart Car tyres. Im running 145/65/15 Bridgestones on the front of mine and No scrubbing...
bens1964vw ·
ok gentleman, look what ive got myself. a 1600tp, that should hopefully push the ol beauty over 100 km/h😂
will be going in this saturday, hopefully no hiccups. will post pictures of the whole process🙂
thanks, ben.
surfpig ·
looks shmick as!
let us know how it compares, im only just interested in upgrading my engine since this afternoon when this red p plater in his 'commo ute' cut me off and i needed the extra power to get rid of him haha
SebastienPeek ·
Careful surfpig, you might get slandered about being irresponsible 😉
But you're right, I'm keen for an upgrade too. Probably won't be a suby anymore, not if it ends in arguments.
Maybe just a naturally aspirated 1916cc.
We'll see, but definitely keep us updated on the differences Ben!
bens1964vw ·
ok so the story goes: yesterday me and a friend dion took the old 1300 out to put in the 1600 tp. when we removed the 1300 we found that the owner before had kept a 6 volt flywheel on the engine, but used a 12 volt starter and converted the rest of the car to 12 volt. so then we had the problem of having to rummage up a 12 volt 200mm clutch, which we finally found, and machining out the bellhousing for the 12v flywheel on th 1600, so it would fit.
Finally we made progress, and machined out the bellhousing, swapped over the coil etc from one engine to the other, and got the engine in, only to find that when the engine bolts were tightened, it slid the flywheel further into the bellhousing, and it wasnt machined out enough, hence the motor wont spin.
so currently the bug is up on chassis stands, and today we will rip it apart again and re-machine the bellhousing and get the bastard running 🥷
hellbugged ·
just loosen the 4 engine bolts back off and turn it over with hand tools on the crank pulley......slowly tighten up and turn over.
the flywheel will make short work of clearancing the bellhousing...when the engine goes flush/home with the bolts tightened, remove the engine and clean out the shavings
or come down today, there is is a short block here with 12V flywheel that can use to clearance the bellhousing.......that's why i asked you the other day DOH!
we can have a look at the seats too
hellbugged ·
how did you go Ben?
fired up yet?
bens1964vw ·
Not yet... So damn close. Engine is in, everthomg is ready to go just need a 12v starter. Does anyone know if it's possible to change the 6v starter bush to a 12v one without having tp drop the motor out? Thanks.
hellbugged ·
yes it's doable.....sometimes with pliers...hooked screwdiver/blade to go in through then pic up the lip on the far side and pull....or tap in a thread, insert bolt and pull out
take precautions when putting the new one in. fill hole to bellhousing with rag..........put new bush on long screwdirver, insert screwdriver into hole and then slide bush along shank of screwdriver so it is guided into it's home
bens1964vw ·
SHE RUNS!!
(on three cylinders)
so today the valves and tappets are being done. she should be ready for action this arvo.
also the previous owner of the engine painted the exhaust and maifold in non heat resistant paint, so as i drive it burns, and is very smokey/stinky. ah well.
will have better pics soon🙂
bens1964vw ·
got the gf to take some pics, think there pretty awesome😎
OldTimer ·
Lovin' the piccies - get the girl some filters, she'll love you for it. 😵
Oh, and you'll get even better piccies.
Old Timer
AyeBee ·
Looks great! Love how low it sits!
Kazandmyrtle ·
looks amazing and great pics x
JVLRacing ·
sounds like good help from Daimo too😂
nice pics in downtown combine st?
bens1964vw ·
haha yep combine represent 🙂
yes daimo has been alot of help too
venFun10 ·
looking good mate
JVLRacing ·
bens1964vw wrote:haha yep combine represent 🙂
yes daimo has been alot of help too
yeh thought so...left a shitload of dust on ur car😂
Wannavee ·
That second pic is titties! Very nice
h ·
nice stance in the weeds.. sweet!
bens1964vw ·
ok so here we go..
the red beetle shell has rust in the pillars, doors, more places etc... and thats all ive discovered SO FAR! so then this little rust free beauty popped up and i had to have it. its a 60's ragtop, hasnt been regoed since 1976, no rust at al except for some surface on the front of the ragtop. runs, has no brakes, but is just SO DAMN SOLID😂
so the plan is to do a body swap on the two, one ive replaced tha cannvas on the ragtop and put the door back together, so that the ragtop shell will be on the red octobers pan givine me a:
SLAMMED RUST-FREE EARLY RAGTOP🙂
heres some pictures:
bens1964vw ·
more:
empi ·
Nice score dude, hurry up and swap all the bits over and get some wheels!!
bens1964vw ·
haha soon soon.. i gotta get the ragtop parts first, i think ill run stockies for a while too... paint the wheels a different colour too..
AndrewB ·
how the hell do you people find these great scores!!!
lucky bastard
Joel ·
You're just not looking hard enough, it was forsale on here for ages.
hellbugged ·
Looks familiar
Easy one to get on the road !
bens1964vw ·
yep thats it damien🙂
5lam ·
Nice one! Man I'd love a ragtop
ducati998 ·
I saw Luke with it on the back of his truck the other day and wonder where it was going.
Very nice score you got there.
Cheers Jason
bens1964vw ·
haha yeah jason it was on the way to mine, u had a mate following him randomnly sending me photos of it on the tilt tray🙂
surfpig ·
this thing will look sweet once youve swapped your bits
bens1964vw ·
Mmm yes it will.... I'm having these thoughts of leaving the paint ratty, as it is, with matt black radars and red walls...
surfpig ·
definitely leave the paint, maybe ankor wax it.
wheels are only wheels, you can always change later on... a lesson im learning right now
bugboymatt ·
Nice score on the Rag mate 😀
bens1964vw ·
Surfpig are u over your wheels already? Paint the whole wheel black and the center caps too and chuck your red walls on it'd look killer:$
bens1964vw ·
so today i decided to split the ragtop off its pan, after replacing the ragtop canvas and rollers etc. was very straightforward, actually alot easier than i expected. i will have pics up soon of the shell with its new canvas etc. the body swap is getting close🙂
captainvw ·
Shame your splitting the rag from the OG pan makes no sense
surfpig ·
bens1964vw wrote:Surfpig are u over your wheels already? Paint the whole wheel black and the center caps too and chuck your red walls on it'd look killer:$
Yeah I've seen that done, only problem is because the front tyre is 145/65 the flappers don't fit properly.
hellbugged ·
captainvw wrote:Shame your splitting the rag from the OG pan makes no sense
yes silly....🙅
MUCh MUCH mUCH easier to swap the front end, gearbox, and engine from the other one if that's the objective
anyways, have fun!
bens1964vw ·
yeah but if i kept it on the og pan id have to blueslip it whereas when i do a body swap itll already be regoed, basically plug and play🙂 ah well im building the car for me so i dont mind🙂 but so far so good, its been highly enjoyable.
bens1964vw ·
sorry ive been slack as with keeping this thread updated. i did end up doing the body swap, months and months ago. was pretty straight forward and alot of fun...
but now i have had the ragtop running and driving for ages . will try find some photosd of the body swap, but here is a pic as of yeterday when i fitted drop spindles. thanks,
ben.
Turbo54 ·
Looks killer, don't do anything more. I love it!
T54
Nickster ·
love your style ben, awesome rides.
Bob down ·
LUV IT ! great work.
PHAT BUG ·
Looks great! more pics??
bens1964vw ·
More pics soon🙂 I'll put a few up tomorrow. Gotta paint all the wheels blue and put my new flappers on🙂
5lam ·
Looks so much better with the added slammage!!
I like the wheel colour choice too. Thats really gonna make it look good!!
bens1964vw ·
🙂
bens1964vw ·
sprry for the shit quality haha
hus22l ·
Sweet ride man. Have you got a build sheet on here? Keen to know about the rear suspension mods. And final tyre choice for front and back. Also, any issue with the flappers rubbing away the sidewalls?
Overkill eng ·
very cool👍
bens1964vw ·
Rear suspension is turned down 2 splines, with notched spring plates. Had adjustable ones but they werent much help.
Bob down ·
honestly dude, u know how to turn out a sweet ride ! will be be lookin to buy a rat in the next year or so, if this ever comes up for sale please let me know.
hellbugged ·
So you decided not to sell Ben ?
bens1964vw ·
i did. not gonna sell it haha at least for a while. its too fun. and valla is soon and i want it for that.
bens1964vw ·
so today i decided to take the front wheels off and take them to get sandblasted so i can respray them all that light blue. also will have a tad thicker whitewalls. got them primed this arvo came up really nice.
also took it on its maden voyage today with the drop spindles, hit the frame head on the road a few time 🙁 may raise it half inch before valla.