Hi everyone,

I need advice and opinions please. Have had this bug for 2 years now and am ready to do some work on her! My objectives are:

- Upgrade suspension and handling to make her safer for my son to drive
- Increase the horsepower to 65-70 ish, pref without going to 1600 twinport, want reliable strong power not a race engine
- Chage the seats that will provide a reasonable level of protection in case of emergency (accident)

So in summary, suspenion, not lower but better, brakes, engine, and seats...Then we will paint and enjoy!!


PS based in Eastern Melbourne

I also have a 69 (see my link in my signature) a my car has a 1600 twin port, front disc brakes and ford telstar seats installed. The 1600 TP is only around 45hp but more parts are available than the 1500.

I am about to add new wider wheels, tyres and have new interior installed. Eventually I may have the motor rebuilt with upgraded carbys etc but thats a long term plan.

good luck with the project and keep us posted

It looks like you already have 5.5 inch or thereabouts rear wheels, so maybe find some front ones to match. (although it might just be my eyes) If you dont want to lower it just make sure all the suspension componenents are in good condiditon, ball joints, rear torsion bushings etc, and put some decent new shock absorbers on it, like konis etc. If you have a 1500 single port and you want to stay with that engine, I'd rebuild it as a 1776 or 1914 cc and run some kadrons and a very very mild camshaft and 1 3/8 headers. I found some seats outs of a late model corrolla that fit nice, look a bit like recaros and cost about $100!

The rears do look wider so same as above, find some wider front tyres. And to make sure is safe make sure the pressures are right, i had minw to high when i first got my ps, went to jump on the brakes and they locked up really easy, now that i have the right pressures i can stand on the brakes and no lock up.

Check all ball joints and make sure that everything that needs to be greased is greased and make sure all the bearings are good.

Motorwise, a 1600 recently got dynoed and had aboout 44hp i think. Reaching 65-70hp is gunna cost some money, but i think there is a comlete motor for sale here in Nsw for around $5300, or near there which would produce 75hp to the wheels. But if you just got a 1600 SP, and a header and little pieces to pep it up you and your son will have a ball. Ive got a 1600 SP and its alot peppier than you would think.

Seats, most beetles seem to be getting new seats put in these days, i believe bizzare on here just put new ones in, i have got bucket seats out of a suzuki swift gti which i got for 100 on ebay. Then just fabbd up some mounts and they are in, they are a bit wide in the base but thats okay for me. Best bet is to just wait till the right pair comes up on ebay, then get em fitted and engineered.

Thanks for the replies all..its great to see so many of this model around....Shes a beauty and part of the family, had HSVs before but have had to sell as wife said 1 car only and as the beetle wasnt worth too much we sold the Senator - so time to make her nice!!!


yes they are wider rims at rear. (5.5) With the seats, lets say I buy subaru seats for example, so we install the mounts and all. meaning new holes in the floor?

Staying with the 01500engine, what single carb works well?

If your buying seats looks for something fairly narrow, otherwise you'll foul the handbrake and they'll look too big. All I did to mount mine to an original pair of vw runners, which is neat and works well for road use but i'm not too sure of legality. I still have my original seats to slide back in for rego etc. Also pay attention to the bottom of the seats your buying, a lot have strange shapes to suit the floors of whatever they came out of.

As for single carbs dont bother, Kadrons (dual 1 barrel solex's) can be found cheap and I'm fairly sure single port manifolds are available.

1500's are definatly the best model in many respects, there seem to be so many nice original ones that have lasted well.

Ok, here are some more pictures!
as for the 1500, is it worth trying to get some HP out of it?

1500

Thats a beauty! don't change anything!

2.5 - 4 in narrow beam dropped spindles , slam the rear ad thats it!! or maybe some 4.5 and 5.5in 4 lug sprintstars. ............. and maybe a an empi c-stripe kit??? ok i'll stop now!

Ok just saw u r in Melbourne.... bring it over lets play..../.

VW lowering day at Empis..

CheersS

I'm gonna LMFAO in a few years time when the purists get on here moaning that they can't find good original beams anymore cos they've all been hacked and narrowed

Hopefully DUB will bring out the type 3 one soon then the origionals can come off and be replaced easily.

Cheers Vice

what a beautiful little car.
looks like nothing to be done.

Nice!!! Just drop it man! Low and slow

Remember its all bolt on , no cutting or welding so all is reverseable.

Thanks, lots of nice comments, she loves hearing them too by the way!!!

I do want to keep it as stock as I can and I guess the best way to make her safe is repalce orn parts with NOS.

What is the best source of these parts in Aust? Or is it like motorbikes where its cheaper and more avail from the US?

Empi, I gather you are a seller....I will call you to discuss..

now..

that look cool did you install drop spindles?