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Can you change a link pin beam with a ball joint beam?
Dirtbag - October 3rd, 2009 at 12:32 AM

Hi all. I apologise in advance for what is probably a stupid question, but can you put a ball joint beam onto a '62 pan? If so, what is involved?
Thanks for any help.

Dirtbag - October 3rd, 2009 at 07:07 AM

OK, I now know the top and bottom beams are in different positions on a link pin to a ball joint front end. I don't want to cut the panhead off or swap floorpans just to do a narrowed front end.
So my next question is - to do a narrowed front end on a '62 beetle, only one inch a side, should I just cut the shock towers off and make new ones from 10mm plate?
Thanks for any help.

Nickster - October 3rd, 2009 at 07:48 AM

Hi Tim, thanks for asking the questions (I wouldn't have a clue to ask anyway!). I did a quick bit of internet searching and found the following:

http://www.funkenblitz.com/jamesdore.shtml 
http://www.aircooledtechnic.co.uk/photos/62bug/beam_detail.JPG 

Looks like there may be a way to do it without modifying the shock towers supports..... but let's see what the aussieveedubber gurus have to say.

Nick

hellbugged - October 3rd, 2009 at 07:55 AM

http://www.btinternet.com/~aircooled/wolfsburgeast/beamnarrow.html 

humphrey - October 3rd, 2009 at 08:16 AM

Hey Dirtbag,
Tony (rat 061) on VC, was talking to steve Penrose about this just yesterday,
apparently it can be done, steve is having some extended beams made up at the moment,
Nath.

Dirtbag - October 3rd, 2009 at 08:21 AM

Hey Nickster. The only issue with the funkenblitz car with the recessed body is the fuel tank will need modifying too.
If you're only going 20mm a side (i think that's what you said, my memory is shot) then the link that hellbugged added is more what I was thinking. Thanks hellbugged, that's a good link.
I asked the yanks at volksrods.com and was told 1/4 inch plate is heaps for the shock towers, so if you wanted to go narrower, I'd just lop the towers off altogether and make you new ones with a step in them to line the shocks up again. This way needs no body modifications either.
Either way, it can be done, which is good news. I can't wait to get into it. : )

Dirtbag - October 3rd, 2009 at 08:24 AM

Thanks Nath, can you keep me posted on that?
I love your mood. : )

Nickster - October 3rd, 2009 at 09:09 AM

Sweet, thanks Tim, Nath and hellbugged for some great assistance.

Tim - I'll get back to figuring out my plan of attack to get the beam off and then I'll be in touch later this month to arrange to meet up etc. Can't wait to get into it either and see my 62 narrow and low :)

humphrey - October 3rd, 2009 at 06:54 PM

Will do,
Tony is doing a lot of research at the moment, he's been bitten by the bug hard now:lol:
Nath

RAT061 - October 6th, 2009 at 08:29 PM

Hi Dirtbag, i tried to PM you but i have not posted enough so give me a call to discuss 0431702931. But what i now need first are the full spec's of the Linkpin Framehead eg bolt distances etc

Regards, Tony