G'day,

As i've decided to place a early beetle body onto a later pan (1969 balljoint swing axle) I'm coming up with plans to place air ride suspension in place of the torsion bars.

In doing this i want to make the pan lay basically flat on the ground and to do this i'm planning a tranny rise. the size of the rise depends on how i want the ride height to be.

Anyway with setting up the rear air ride i want to do a different set up to how most set up the rear. this new design involves welding a set up similar to a triangulated four link. this would involve welding on the axle tubes and i was wondering if this would be a good idea or a bad one.

I want to do this sort of set up as i think it would be safer than notching the spring plates and also relying on the spring plate cover to hold the spring plate in place.

here is a picture of a floorpan where i have used paint to give a basic idea about the set up.



thanks brad

Why cant you pick up on the normal spring plate 3 bolts? I dont think welding to the middle of the tube would last without a heavy strengthening job that would start there anyway.

oh sorry the picture was only a rough diagram, i would move the links depending on where i would get the most strength. But my main question is would i be able to weld on the tubes with out damaging anything internally

looks good where do u live at

Talk with Michael at Vintage 02-9789-1777 has done this B4

Why are u using a split case gearbox ???

Why are you using an old Splitcase box?

axle tubes are good wall thickness, i would think yeah, welding would work..........pretty sure "westi" set up a four link with welding on the axle tubes for his junka build........have a look thru his thread or flip him a PM.

yeah thanks for clearing that up damien. that picture was only used as an example. i'm using a 1500 gearbox out of my old 1969 beetle. I'll have a look through westi's build up.

i have some pics from LAX some where re this mod but talk with Mike first

that would be good, to see pics. anything will help.

thanks

whats wrong with a split case gearbox?

not a cheap excercise buy any means.you will proberly use around 1000 bucks worth of hymies and there will be a heafty labour content.
(02) 9773 7244 is my number .
shocks ,springs,hymies moly or steel arm's yada yada,blah blah and all that.4-5k at first guess.
if that doesn't scare you off,you have my number ,you can call me anytime.

Brad, You can buy universial air-ride suspension kits from port macquarie ARB 4X4 center next to fredos meats in the industrial area from memory the kit was'nt that much but yes you would need to make some serious floorpan mods but its a great idea i reccon theres not that many air ride bugs around and it would be great in port.

From Dylan

and heim joints can be bought from mcdonald bros in melburg fo about 25 each these are ones that can be engineerd for the street.