Well wanted to post my progress. I knew I knew it needed pans. After I welded them in to shore everything up I wanted to freshen up the mechanicals. Today I power washed the pan to start rebuilding the suspension and I found out the frame horns are broke. I guess I need a new chassis any recommendations on year?
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Any pan before 1969 will be swing arm.
Anything 1969 or newer will be IRS. Either will work. IRS will handle a little better, in the end, so it depends on what you can find locally or within driving distance to pick it up. Check on the Samba or Craigslist.
Really wanted to stick with IRS what year did they go up too? Thanks
@Tony NJ posted:Really wanted to stick with IRS what year did they go up too? Thanks
68 autostick is IRS
69-77 regular bug is IRS , I think 1977 was last year of standard bug to USA
71-79 bug or cabrio is IRS but strut front suspension ,
Mexican bugs were never IRS
So the IRS range for you is 1969 - 1971 so you get a beam front end. A few years after that might be a beam front, depending on whether it was a regular (beam) beetle or Super (strut) beetle.
Pans that have a strut front suspension won’t fit under the Speedster body.
I'd pull the engine and transaxle, and have somebody that knows how to weld (maybe you, depending on) fix what you have.
The title situation would be a mess, and a new pan will cost a butt-load of money.
I wouldn't scrap what you have for a new (albeit OLD) pan. There is a $229 kit that completely replaces those rusty frame horns. Made by Acme in PA so not far from you in NJ.
TUBULAR FRAME HORNS KIT 0 [C058-BB502] - $228.93 : Acme Car Company, New Cumberland, Pa.
If you get a used frame you'll need to shorten and most likely be replacing pans again. Plus you need one with a title. With a new old frame piece - you only need the rear most axle piece which can come from a super beetle or even AT pan.
Jinx.
Has anyone used these replacement frame horns? My engine sits low to one side I suspect twisted horns from PO. The pan is in excellent shape as is the steel on the horns but there is no trans bracing and the nose mount was busted as well. 1835 with dual 40's--it runs very well with 11,000 miles.
My '72 floor pan has a beam front end.
I think you could get a standard beetle in the US market through 1976. That would mean balljoint beam, IRS rear.
Reminds me of 1974. I went with my Dad to some dealerships for a commuter car for him(I was 10). We looked at both '73 leftover and '74 Beetles. Regular, Dad didn't want a Super. So yeah, standard Beetles were available.
Unfortunately, we ended up with a '74 Vega GT hatchback. My first car upon graduation in 1982...
Sometimes I wonder how life would have turned out for me if we got a new Beetle.
My parents had a '63 Beetle until I came along, with two older sisters.
@DannyP posted:My parents had a '63 Beetle until I came along, with two older sisters.
I rode to Kindergarten in "the little black schoolbus" -- Mom and Dad's 1968 Ghia. Dad loved that car until he blew it up at 50k mi.
Watched a good movie last night called Once Upon a Time in Hollywood. Brad Pitt’s car was a convertible Ghia. Pretty cool. Lots of nice cars in that movie since it was set in 1969. Sharon Tate’s character drove a 911. It’s worth watching the movie just for the cars. But it’s also a good movie.
@jncspyder posted:@550 Phil fun fact about that movie...the black 911 was an automatic PORSCHE...since sharon tates character didn't know how to drive manual....best scene is bruce lee getting beat up by stuntman brad pitt...which is said to be a true story
Totally. I was dying laughing during the Bruce Lee scene. Brad Pitt won Acadamy Award for best supporting actor for that role.
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@DannyP posted:....Unfortunately, we ended up with a '74 Vega GT hatchback...My first car upon graduation in 1982...
Sometimes I wonder how life would have turned out for me if we got a new Beetle...
You probably would have started in FV about 40 years sooner.
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Sacto for the win. Exactly what I was thinking.
