Hoping for a little help after searching and not really finding exactly what I'm looking for. I have a 79 Intermeccanica on a 69 VW pan. I am looking to do a 4 lug front disc brake conversion with drop spindles. I do NOT have a narrowed beam currently. Will I be able to get away with a narrower tire; say 175 without a tire rub after the drop or should I go 165? Currently I have 185/65/15 on there now with no issues at stock height. Thank you in advance for any help.
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How much of a drop, and do you have an adjustable front beam to fine tune the height if you need to do so?
I did a 2 1/4 inch drop but got tire rub. By adjusting the front beam slightly I was able to eliminate the rub and only came up about 1/4". I am running 165 HR15 Vredestein Sprint Classics on 4 1/2" wide rims. Not sure of the setback.
My car, though not an IM, is pan based as well and has a stock beam so the strategy is probably the same.
So, to begin, we need a little more info.
What make/brand of disk brake conversion are you looking at?
Same thing for the drop spindles - Whose spindles are you looking at and why?
Different manufacturers of those kits (brakes and spindles) make them differently, some making the wheel/tire stance wider, some not.
I'm also curious as to why you want the drop spindles, rather than just use the adjustable torsion bar gizmos that are probably already on the car and served it well. Not judging good, bad or indifferent on your part, just curious.
You also wrote: "Currently I have 185/65/15 on there now with no issues at stock height."
If the purpose of the drop spindles is to lower the car even more, then most likely you'll see some interference unless you go to a smaller diameter tire, like a 45 or 50 series, and maybe drop down to the 175 or 165 as you mentioned, something like that.
Just as an aside, I have a pan car with a stock beam with stock spindles and have had no suspension, handling or rubbing issues in 20 years. Lots of people run drop spindles very successfully, though.
Just trying to get a jump on the responses to your questions so "Idaho" doesn't get all pissy with us. 
Thank you for the quick replies and forgive my mechanical ignorance when answering some of these questions as I'm still trying to learn and am fairly new to VW's in general.
I grabbed a quick snap of my front beam as I believe it is the original 69 that came with the pan when the car was built.
I am currently looking at the CB Performance 4 lug kit with the 2 1/2 inch drop spindles as they seem to be one of the better quality kits from the reviews i've seen. I am also planning on the adjustable IRS spring plates to help set the overall stance of the car. I don't want it sitting on the ground, but definitely looking a bit lower. Maybe 2 1/2 is too much, but again...I don't know, what I don't know. LOL Also I'll be sticking with the drums in the rear for now.
Thanks in advance! I'm glad to snap any other pics if that helps suggestions.
Jeff
That combination of the drop spindles adjustable front beam and adjustable spring plates should let you dial in your stance to just where you want it.
You have what is called a "Select-s-drop" - a primitive (early) VW beam adjuster. Amazingly still sold by EMPI for $18.95. It works by cutting only the top beam and uses the lower beam for leverage. It can raise or lower the front 2" either way. It appears yours is at the lowest down setting since the adjustment bolt hits the upper connection point.
I'd look at replacing the front beam with one with 2 welded in AVIS or Berg adjusters. Probably $250. Using both torsion springs gives a better ride than using a single one. These don't leak grease like the old adjusters.
@WOLFGANG Thank you for the info. I was just searching for more on this setup I have and wasn’t sure where I was at the adjustability range. Looks like I have a lot more research to do before I make final decisions on the path I wander down.
I had 2.5" drop spindles and took them off. For me, they were too low even with the beam adjusters all the way up. The sway bar hit things like speed bumps from time to time. It would be nice if there were drop spindles with less of a drop, maybe 2".
I had to use spacers behind the wheels to clear the brake calipers. I had no problems with 175/70 tires on 5.5" wheels. The wheels had about 5" back space. Maybe there could be issues with the more common 4" backspace.
Post a pic of your car in it's current stance (ride height). This will help determine if you can get the lowered stance you mention with your current Select-A-Drop or need to go the next step of drop spindles.
I wanted a very aggressive lowered stance. It may be too low for other's taste. I have the rear adjustable spring plate adjusted to have a slight negative camber in the wheel (swing axle) , and a single Select-A-Drop in front with 2" drop spindles. The drop spindles add 3/4" wider track to each side.
Click on pics to enlarge...
I have disc brakes all around, 5x130 5-bolt lug pattern (Porsche 5-bolt-pattern), 15x5.5" wheels with a 4" off-set (pushes wheel farther out from brake rotor). Tires are 185x60x15 (a lower & wider tire). With this set-up I have no wheel or tire rub issues.
These pics show the results (ride height) of this suspension combination.
I hope you find this information useful. 
No need to post pics of your car here. I just saw your other post with pics. 
