68 Bug

[Brown]

Today i dropped my old beam, litteraly right on my right hand. For a few moments i thought i migh have another entry for the carnage thread but i was able to shake it off. thenusing two jacks i was able to install the adjustable beam. After putting hte beam in I installed the steering box, disk brake backing plates, and rotors but found that out of the three sets of calipers i have they are all frozen....bummer.

Then i found the tie rods don't fit the new spindle for the disk brakes so i need to replace them. Still a nice day to be wrenching on the car.

Anyone have any thoughts on trying to rebuild the calipers?

Here are some pics.

Old Beam

[williamblanda]

Sano!

[Glenn]

Anyone have any thoughts on trying to rebuild the calipers?

I've never bothered to rebuild a caliper. If they are locked it's possible that a simple rebuild kit is not enough. Usually the piston is rusted and the cylinder is rusted. If that's the case you'll need to have them machined.

You're talking about $150 for a new pair from CIP
China: http://www2.cip1.com/ProductDetails.asp ... -98-1150-B
Brazil: http://www2.cip1.com/ProductDetails.asp ... 615-107-8A

[B MAN]

you're so far ahead of me!

[Brown]

Is there a different steering box arm for earlier vs later year bugs? The outer tie rods the connect to the spindle have different sizes so i was wondering if the steering box arm does as well?

Thanks

[Brown]

I found a set of tie rods from a donor car that i had laying around and they are now connected. The only thing i need now is to get the new calipers. I will be ordering a set from Cip1.

i'll be away hunting starting this weekend so theya re going ot have to wait until Thanksgiving before i get them installed.

Regarding the adjustable beam, how low should i be able to go with that?

[Glenn]

It depends on the tire size

[Raj]

i cant wait to see thing lowered

[Brown]

It depends on the tire size

Assuming i am using the same size tires before and after. Just trying to get a general idea. I just looked at the lowering thread on the Samba and it looked like your car was lowered 3 inches. Was that with just the adjustable beam?

[Glenn]

Yes, but I have different tires and rims than you have.

[Brown]

Yes, but I have different tires and rims than you have.

So your not going to answer my question eh??

I guess i'll just have to wait and see

[Glenn]

So your not going to answer my question eh??

The answer is... maybe.

[Brown]

So your not going to answer my question eh??

The answer is... maybe.

Is that a definite maybe??

[Glenn]

So your not going to answer my question eh??

The answer is... maybe.

Is that a definite maybe??

Possibly.

[Glenn A]

Ken the answer is, You can adjust that beam down till the tires rub. Then you can put smaller tires on to stop rubbing. By then balljoints will bind and the ride sucks. Then you can raise the beam and put drop spindles on and be super chill!
It's about the tires rubbing.

[Brown]

Ken the answer is, You can adjust that beam down till the tires rub. Then you can put smaller tires on to stop rubbing. By then balljoints will bind and the ride sucks. Then you can raise the beam and put drop spindles on and be super chill!
It's about the tires rubbing.

Thank you GG (Good Glenn)! What did you have on old blue and how was the ride?

[Glenn A]

That was narrowed 4" and had drop spindles with an adjustable beam. It also had 145s on 4 1/2" wheels. You can't get that low with a stock width. You should have narrowed yours!

[Glenn]

I'm surprised that AoT is able to run 165-15 tires with the front dropped as much as it is.

Mine is dropped 3" but i'm running 195/60-15 tires on 5.5x15 ET42 rims. The rims are Porsche 914 and have a deeper offset so they just barely rub on road dips. My new tires are 195/55-15 which should stop the rubbing.

[Brown]

That was narrowed 4" and had drop spindles with an adjustable beam. It also had 145s on 4 1/2" wheels. You can't get that low with a stock width. You should have narrowed yours!

My plan is to take one of my other beams narrow it and add the adjusters.

[Glenn A]

That was narrowed 4" and had drop spindles with an adjustable beam. It also had 145s on 4 1/2" wheels. You can't get that low with a stock width. You should have narrowed yours!

My plan is to take one of my other beams narrow it and add the adjusters.

Sweet. 3" would be a good number for you.

[Brown]

After being inspired by GA i started to build a 3 inch shortened adjustable beam. More to see if i can do it then andythign else at this point. I found a thread on TheSamba and ahve been using that as my guide.

I stated by cutting the beam mounts, steering stop and steering damper mounts off and then cleaning up the left over meatl with the angle grinder.

Next I found the center of the beam and measured out 2 1/2 inches in each direction. That will give me a 5 inch piece cut out for the 3 " shorten and the 2 " adjuster.

After consulting with an expert (GA) i took by heady duty rigid pipe cutter, which i found in the garbage by the way, and made by cuts. i would cut about 1/16 " intot he beam and then cut the rest with the sawzall. Worked like a charm. Had one little problem with the last cut but left onthe excess material on the pice i wanted so i just took the grinder and ground it down.

I cleaned up the 4 surfaces ont he beam to be weled to and then quit for the night.

Tomorrow i will try to build a jig from angle iron to hold the whol assembly together and tag weld it to make sure it is straight.

Then after insuring that it as all aligned properly will complete my welds.

Here as some pictures of the progress so far.

Beam before being modified







After cutting mounting brackets off



Preparing to cut the beam



First cut



Rigid pipe cutter



All the dissasembled pieces

[mannys66]

Good job Ken, can't wait to see the finished product.

[Raj]

very nice ken

[AoT]

Should be a sweet ride when it's rolling!

[Brown]

yesterday iu began welding inthe adjusters to the 3 " narrowed beam!

After lunch i'll start wirewheeling all the rust off it and then weld the beam brackets and steering stop back on.

THen hopefully some paint.