Hi Guys

Finally got my car running some decent power made just under 280hp at the rears on the last tune.

But my suspension isnt handling the task, I was running a 60 profile tyre and had it rubbing hard under power, now moved to a 50 profile and i have my exhaust get squashed when boost kicks in.

currently im running stock torsion bars (maybe lowered a notch or 2, unsure) with Bilstein shocks, maybe getting tired.

Ive got 100mm clearance between tyre and wheel arch and only 80mm between exhaust and ground.

Looking for the right answer and a cheap one!

been quoted 1300$ for uprated torsion bars and new shocks (seems to pricey)

can i get away with maybe raising my torsion bars (no idea how, seems rather hard or around 500 at a shop to do)

can i regas my struts or get uprated ones?

also i heard i can fit some off road struts or a coil over on the cheap but arnt they really bad??

any help would be greatly appreciated

raise it, not that hard really, just gotta measure & hope they they both pop out of the splines on the inners or outers & it should be easy, or...
28mm torsion bars are about $900-1k new, add a decent pair of shocks... i can see where the $1300 comes from

or... make it stiff as F*** & put buggy style coil overs on the back as well, theortically works the same as bigger torsions but puts the load on a different area, cheaper than the bars but you get what you pay for, thats the way i see it anyway

oh yeah, before you start anything, take it to car lovers, will make working on it alot nicer

Lift the car up on the torsions and fit some new shocks. Have a search on Cal Look or Samba forum cause I'm sure I read something on there the other day about shocks and coilovers for the rear for big power.

28-30mm torsions....id try rod penrose and put money on them being less than $600!

Install not too ea$y tho, adjustment of the ones you have not too challenging. If you can drive a 280hp vw you should have the ability to be able to adjust the ride height "imo"

Being type 3 front is easily adjusted too...with bigger bars you should be able to keep current height with reduced scrape

Billies dont get shagged too often unless they've been flogged offroad or are really really old so go the bigger bars and check out the shocks when removed. Bigger bars is the obvious place to start with all the extra weight way out back.

good..

even try air bellows at the back gives u adjust abillity then too they cost around 350 plus making the brakets ......... i know of a few cars up here that use them in other cars for the strip they are a great idea. just my 2 bob

be worth putting some adjustable spring plates on at the same time as putting the heavier bars in. More $$$, but down the track it will be easier to tune the ride height.

p.s. you might want to think about moving that radiator to the front of the car. They work a lot better there.

With that amount of torque and weight,
you are going to need to start with the stiffest(?) tortion bar you can.
I'd go for a "short" 30mm but you may be able to get a 31mm.

You may have to get aftermarket spring plates,
but only so that you can get the shortest tortion bar length,
which are not compatable with any of the standard IRS spring plates.

Better shocks are required to control the stiffer 'spring rate'.

If you decide instead, to go for a coil-over style shock, the stock lower mount will need to be re-inforced.
I have had them crack away from the trailing arm, just with the stiff shocks and no springs.

Larger torsion bars in chinesse $ 220 or SAW $ 330 , Adjustable spring plates to suit all length bars $ 185 , ROD , 02-42729920