| [ Total Views: 3581 | Total Replies: 9 | Thread Id: 77209 ] |
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 Zako
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| posted on June 15th, 2009 at 01:41 PM |
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Superbeetle on 4wd Chassis
Hey Guys,
With a fair bit of time coming up, I've been seriously contemplating a rather interesting (in my eyes and brain) conversion.
I've got a 71 Superbeetle sitting at home, which was going to get a full resto, however, being the 4wd nut that I am with a GU Patrol that I'm
slowly modifying, I've been having other thoughts...
I'm thinking of taking the superbeetle body and pan, and porting that across to a 4wd chassis, like a Suzuki Sierra coily, or a BJ73 landcruiser, or
something of similar wheelbase, width and so forth. The engine will most likely be front mounted, with a radiator setup in the back, with a proper
low range gearbox and so forth.
I'm looking at having solid axle diffs with coil springs, due to the flex that I can get.
So my question is...has this been done in Australia before? I've found an insane pic that's given me motivation.
I know it'll be hard, I know there's engineering involved, but just wanted to know whether anyone has gone down this path, and has any knowledge to
impart?
I look forward to hearing from you all
Kind Regards
Zako
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matt
A.k.a.: Choco
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| posted on June 15th, 2009 at 05:19 PM |
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good luck, i always wanted to do it, but dont have the time or the fun tickets
matt
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bajachris88
A.k.a.: Chris Leete
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| posted on June 15th, 2009 at 05:33 PM |
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yanks would be able to give ya some advice! They done and luv this stuff.
I assume, because ur putting a differnt body onto a different chassis, it would be a rebodied vehicle.
Don't quote me, ask an engineer, but!
It would mean the body would have ot comply to today's adr standards just like as if u were replacing a vw body with a fibreglass lwb buggy body. As
to what changes to the body that would entail, i'm not sure....
would be a beast none the less... rock on!
(ô_!_/ô) (ô_!_/ô)
69' baja: kombi box, thing spindles, irs, disc front, type 3 rear drums, 2 inch lift kit, 31x10 rears. 
New engine in process: 94mm p&bs, 74mm C/w chomol Crank, 35.5x39 SP heads, turbo. Wierd combo, hopeful torque monsta! |
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ang3lsholocaust
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| posted on June 16th, 2009 at 04:00 PM |
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Not a super.
But this one was at the VW Nationals in sydney this year.
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dpradford
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| posted on June 21st, 2009 at 03:29 PM |
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If you are after flex I wouldn't use a coily sierra as the donor, even modded coil sierra's dont flex well, leaf sierras are better but the ride
isn't great. Coil setup from a Toyota Bundera might be worth a look.
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rod baker
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| posted on May 22nd, 2010 at 02:26 PM |
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awsome i am going down this road (so to speak)
i am using a 92 sierra moving the rear axle right to the rear of the chassis so that the wheel base is correct then use a long wheel base rear tail
shaft and a tailshaft spacer that they use when they raise them and coil overs i am gooing this way as i dont want the rear of the leaf springs
hanging out the back will look ugly.
i have cut the sierra down so all i have left is a floor and firewall.
will start a post and add pics when i get back into it at the mo im building a suby powered Baja.
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ernie norley
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| posted on May 25th, 2010 at 03:00 PM |
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Gday just a quick note before you move diff to the rear check with transport or engineer as you are changing the wheel base of the existing chassis I
had problems years back on 1 tonner tow trucks we used to reverse the rear springs to give a longer wheel base for weight over front @ they stopped
the practice so asked before you go to far
Ernie
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rod baker
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| posted on July 17th, 2010 at 10:59 PM |
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yeah i have talked to my local engineer about this and no problems.
have been strecching chassis since i did my apprenticeship as a motor vehicle builder in the early 80's
i have started the fitt up of the body just have to trim til it sits right
easier said than done tho
rod
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Baja Wes
Bishop of Volkswagenism
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| posted on July 19th, 2010 at 05:00 PM |
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I would shorten the body instead of lengthening the chassis. I've seen a SWB Baja and it looked very cool. It had the section between the door and
the rear wheel arch removed.
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liam66
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| posted on July 19th, 2010 at 08:47 PM |
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You can stretch the wheelbase on a sierra without too much drama ( I got 11 extra inches out my shorty)
To move the rear axle back, CJ5 jeep front springs will let you push the rear mount back 3 to 4 inches or YJ jeep fronts for 4 to 5 inches.
To push the front axle forward ( lengthening the wheelbase you can use the rear sierra springs in the front for an aditional 2 inches.
If your engineer doesnt want to let you move the shackle mounts then 'missing link" style hinged shackles layed over will get the same result and
get you great wheel travel.
Both front and rear main leafs can get redrilled to push the axles out a little more ( leave the other leafs stock so the packs' camber stays useful
)
Lastly the locating holes on the diff's spring perches are drilled on the axle centre line- you can redrill them a full inch back and still use the
same u-bolts. If you do this, you'll need to reverse the non main leafs to keep the pinion angle.
Let me know if you want some how to pics on suspension mods.
Looks like a great project.
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