TJ, I'm enjoying your process. Keep up the good work.
Consider a set of these for moving the car around:
NICE!!
But, oh man, that gas pedal (7th pic) is way off.
Robert M posted:Consider a set of these for moving the car around:
Good suggestion, but you can also use the small furniture dollies from Harbor Freight under each tire and you already have them. 
Cory 'Hoopty Pilot' uses wheel dollies to park the Hoopty in his garage. 
Having the beam narrowed, not sure how much. Right now the tires are 1 inch from the fenders. I was thinking of going 3 inches. That would make it 2.5 inches from the fenders. Or 40/16th lol You guys think i'll rub the fenders with 145 r15 tires? Maybe i should do 4 inches. Who has the lowest car here?
TJ Ward posted:Having the beam narrowed, not sure how much. Right now the tires are 1 inch from the fenders. I was thinking of going 3 inches. That would make it 2.5 inches from the fenders. Or 40/16th lol You guys think i'll rub the fenders with 145 r15 tires? Maybe i should do 4 inches. Who has the lowest car here?
@TJ Ward I realize you're planning on wide-5 wheels, so I don't know if my info & pics will be of any help for you.
My VS has adjustable rear trailing arms that I have adjusted as low as I can without putting a negative camber on the wheels. On front I have 2" lowered spindles and a single Adjust-A-Lift. The spindles added about 3/4" wider track on each side. I've lowered the front to be slightly lower than the rear.
I have the 5.5" fake Fuchs (5x130) with 4" backspace. Tires are 185 x 60 x 15. The wheel/offset/tire combo gave me the low & wide look I was going for. On the front, the wheel off-set put the tires too far into the wheel well, so I used 1" spacers to bring them out closer to the fender lip. Here are pics for visual reference.
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"On the front, the wheel off-set put the tires too far into the wheel well, so I used 1" spacers to bring them out closer to the fender lip."
I see some cars with the wheels really far into the body in front, yours looks awesome Jim.
Unless you're using wider wheels with very little backspacing and really wide tires (which, with 145's, you're not) you shouldn't need to narrow the front beam. 195's on 6" rims will fit inside the fenders, so is it the "tucked" look you're after? I know it's popular with the younger VW crowd (as well as "patina", which just means you're too cheap to repaint the effin' thing! And then, the next step is... wait for it... roof racks! with a restored cooler!... Because yeah, that's what every self respecting Speedster needs...ok, enough, off the soapbox now and back to regular programming-)
Most of the guys on here own what I call real "drivers" and enjoy putting their cars through it's paces (which, being Speedsters, is what they're meant to do!
). This mod takes away from handling, increases bump steer, and those skinny tires have significantly less footprint on the ground than a 165 (affecting braking as well), so unless you're plan is to join the show'nshine crowd who drive to the field, sit all day in a lawn chair and then drive home (and that's really all they do with their cars) I don't think you'll be getting the most out of it. It is your car, though, and the beauty of these things is that (not being tied to P factory build sheets) we can each build what we want, so if that's your vision- great.
As Uncle Stan has said, "it's a big tent, and there's room for all of us". Al
PS- @MusbJim - Love those pics El Guapo! As always, looks bitchin'!!!
ALB posted:Unless you're using wider wheels with very little backspacing and really wide tires (which, with 145's, you're not) you shouldn't need to narrow the front beam. 195's on 6" rims will fit inside the fenders, so is it the "tucked" look you're after? I know it's popular with the younger VW crowd (as well as "patina", which just means you're too cheap to repaint the effin' thing! And then, the next step is... wait for it... roof racks! with a restored cooler!... Because yeah, that's what every self respecting Speedster needs...ok, enough, off the soapbox now and back to regular programming-)
Most of the guys on here own what I call real "drivers" and enjoy putting their cars through it's paces (which, being Speedsters, is what they're meant to do!
As Uncle Stan has said, "it's a big tent, and there's room for all of us". Al
PS- @MusbJim - Love those pics El Guapo! As always, looks bitchin'!!!
well that was no help.
MusbJim posted:TJ Ward posted:Having the beam narrowed, not sure how much. Right now the tires are 1 inch from the fenders. I was thinking of going 3 inches. That would make it 2.5 inches from the fenders. Or 40/16th lol You guys think i'll rub the fenders with 145 r15 tires? Maybe i should do 4 inches. Who has the lowest car here?
@TJ Ward I realize you're planning on wide-5 wheels, so I don't know if my info & pics will be of any help for you.
My VS has adjustable rear trailing arms that I have adjusted as low as I can without putting a negative camber on the wheels. On front I have 2" lowered spindles and a single Adjust-A-Lift. The spindles added about 3/4" wider track on each side. I've lowered the front to be slightly lower than the rear.
I have the 5.5" fake Fuchs (5x130) with 4" backspace. Tires are 185 x 60 x 15. The wheel/offset/tire combo gave me the low & wide look I was going for. On the front, the wheel off-set put the tires too far into the wheel well, so I used 1" spacers to bring them out closer to the fender lip. Here are pics for visual reference.
how far is the front tires from the fender?
"well that was no help. " It's your time and $$ - do what makes you happy. Advice here is FREE - some here paid for the knowledge they gained by having to redo mods.
What Al is saying is that very few here have found the need to narrow the front beam. Even with dropped spindles (which increases the track), there is still often a requirement for spacers to push wheels out. Also if it is narrowed you may find that on turns the inside of the tire will rub against the back of the wheel well - requiring modification of the fiberglass there. (I have 1/2" spacers with Ghia discs 5.5x15" 4 bolt 2L Fuchs with 185/65x15 tires - I could have gone with 1" spaces but worried about stress on stock wheel bearings).
~75% of braking is done by front which already suffers from having little weight on the tires (only gas and battery). Skinny tires don't help that braking. Additionally if you are using front rims with a very deep offset that can put a lot of stress on the wheel bearings (over what they were designed for).
I found it was inexpensive (>$300) to buy a new Brazilain/MX beam with the adjusters already install rather than cutting up a good OG beam. (A 2" narrowed beam with adjusters is about same price). You might try that and see if stock width works. I eventually sold my OG beam to fellow on NE coast (his rusted away) and put $ toward the one with adjusters.
Now the back on an IRS equipped car is a totally different matter. The narrow butt of the fiberglass body and the long IRS axles severely restrict choice of rear rims and tires on a classic body (worse on some where there is less room on drivers side than on the passengers).
I'm pretty
low, but have a flared fender so can't help.
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Bill...that is sexy!
TJ Ward posted:ALB posted:Unless you're using wider wheels with very little backspacing and really wide tires (which, with 145's, you're not) you shouldn't need to narrow the front beam. 195's on 6" rims will fit inside the fenders, so is it the "tucked" look you're after? I know it's popular with the younger VW crowd (as well as "patina", which just means you're too cheap to repaint the effin' thing! And then, the next step is... wait for it... roof racks! with a restored cooler!... Because yeah, that's what every self respecting Speedster needs...ok, enough, off the soapbox now and back to regular programming-)
Most of the guys on here own what I call real "drivers" and enjoy putting their cars through it's paces (which, being Speedsters, is what they're meant to do!
As Uncle Stan has said, "it's a big tent, and there's room for all of us". Al
PS- @MusbJim - Love those pics El Guapo! As always, looks bitchin'!!!
well that was no help.
Only trying to give you the benefit of my experience. It's the internet- you're going to get all sorts of advice, so take it or leave it. And since what I've written is of no value to you I'll bow out and won't clutter your thread again...
ALB posted:TJ Ward posted:ALB posted:Unless you're using wider wheels with very little backspacing and really wide tires (which, with 145's, you're not) you shouldn't need to narrow the front beam. 195's on 6" rims will fit inside the fenders, so is it the "tucked" look you're after? I know it's popular with the younger VW crowd (as well as "patina", which just means you're too cheap to repaint the effin' thing! And then, the next step is... wait for it... roof racks! with a restored cooler!... Because yeah, that's what every self respecting Speedster needs...ok, enough, off the soapbox now and back to regular programming-)
Most of the guys on here own what I call real "drivers" and enjoy putting their cars through it's paces (which, being Speedsters, is what they're meant to do!
As Uncle Stan has said, "it's a big tent, and there's room for all of us". Al
PS- @MusbJim - Love those pics El Guapo! As always, looks bitchin'!!!
well that was no help.
Only trying to give you the benefit of my experience. It's the internet- you're going to get all sorts of advice, so take it or leave it. And since what I've written is of no value to you I'll bow out and won't clutter your thread again...
Damn sorry, Don't get but hurt. lol
TJ Ward posted:ALB posted:TJ Ward posted:ALB posted:Unless you're using wider wheels with very little backspacing and really wide tires (which, with 145's, you're not) you shouldn't need to narrow the front beam. 195's on 6" rims will fit inside the fenders, so is it the "tucked" look you're after? I know it's popular with the younger VW crowd (as well as "patina", which just means you're too cheap to repaint the effin' thing! And then, the next step is... wait for it... roof racks! with a restored cooler!... Because yeah, that's what every self respecting Speedster needs...ok, enough, off the soapbox now and back to regular programming-)
Most of the guys on here own what I call real "drivers" and enjoy putting their cars through it's paces (which, being Speedsters, is what they're meant to do!
As Uncle Stan has said, "it's a big tent, and there's room for all of us". Al
PS- @MusbJim - Love those pics El Guapo! As always, looks bitchin'!!!
well that was no help.
Only trying to give you the benefit of my experience. It's the internet- you're going to get all sorts of advice, so take it or leave it. And since what I've written is of no value to you I'll bow out and won't clutter your thread again...
Damn sorry, Don't get but hurt. lol
I'm not butt (notice the spelling) hurt, TJ. As I said, it's just advice based on experience. You'll finish your car the way you want and it'll be interesting to see what you've done and how it works out.
"...how far is the front tires from the fender?"
@TJ Ward - Didn't want to put spacers bigger than 1" on the front (adversely affecting bearing load and slight bump steer), even with the 1" spacers the front tires are 1.5" from the fender lip. (P.S. - forgot to mention this has discs front & back).
Might not be able to clearly see the front tire clearance, but this is the only pic I currently have to show that. Hope it helps. Click on pic to enlarge...
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MusbJim posted:"...how far is the front tires from the fender?"
@TJ Ward - Didn't want to put spacers bigger than 1" on the front (adversely affecting bearing load and slight bump steer), even with the 1" spacers the front tires are 1.5" from the fender lip. (P.S. - forgot to mention this has discs front & back).
Might not be able to clearly see the front tire clearance, but this is the only pic I currently have to show that. Hope it helps. Click on pic to enlarge...
Thanks! yes helped a lot. I'm doing 2.5 inches narrowed on the beam. that will give me 2 1/4 inches from the fenders. that way i can go as low as i want and not rub at all. here is a pic of the front tire at 2 1/4 inches. I'm liking it. I might even go lower.
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Your nose will be vulnerable.
Wow! That’ll be really cool if you can have it lowered like that. It’s as low as having an air ride suspension when it’s dropped.
I’d ask @Brandon if he ever drives his coupe (for sale at a solid price right now!) if he’s ever driven his bagged coupe at its lowest setting on the streets and what kind of challenges he faces with speed bumps, uneven payment and driveways/parking curbs.
It will shrink when in the sun and it dries out. That looks like a lot left over. Make sure you didn't stretch it when you installed in in the aluminum track. Try mushing it back towards center so it isn't stretched at all.
^This. Work it back a little to get the slack out. It will shrunk a bit in the sun...
Do not cut off what you feel is extra, stuff it into the channel
That's wicked low! From the pics it looks like you went with the narrowed beam? Did you use drop spindles? What's the turning radius like? Did you drill out the tie rod mounts on the spindles and reverse the outer tie rods? Have you put caster shims under the bottom beam? What size rims and tires are out back?
What's the extra ~100# from full gas tank going to do to height? You'll be able to scoop up those dead Armadillos along the TX highways.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HGedqWUMuA4
ALB posted:That's wicked low! From the pics it looks like you went with the narrowed beam? Did you use drop spindles? What's the turning radius like? Did you drill out the tie rod mounts on the spindles and reverse the outer tie rods? Have you put caster shims under the bottom beam? What size rims and tires are out back?
Yes drop spindles, might swap out. Turning is ok with it a little higher. I'm getting air shocks so i can drive it with out hitting the nose. no haven't messed with the tie rods yet and yes i have shims, 185 65 R15's.
Great job on the interior
"All my VW's are low and I drive the **** out of all them. I put 10k miles on this guy before i sold it. Did a complete interior and slammed it." @TJ Ward
TJ - the farther you progress on that Speedster, it just gets more & more bad-a$$! 
Perhaps these side profile shots will help. Hoping someone could provide a drawings or accurate measurements
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The car would look pretty cool without it- have you thought about leaving it off?
ALB posted:The car would look pretty cool without it- have you thought about leaving it off?
yeah at first i just wanted the decos on the sides and bumpers. But went ahead and bought the trim. Hopefully i can get it to look better.
Definitely too high in front. As the pictures show, it's a slight arch front to rear. I'm an advocate for leaving it off, myself. I had the fancy aluminum extrusion trim but I never put it on as I grew to like the bare look and knew I wouldn't get the trim right.