Suspension Changes
 

Hi, my name is Brandon and I live in Utah. I want to build up a bug, so that it drives better (faster, better handling etc.), but I do not have a bug currently. I want to chop/drop the top about 3 inches, and I want an oval rear window with the old w decklid etc, but I want better suspension than the older bugs have. I have found an old 57 baja that I could get the oval window from etc, but I don't know what year I should be looking for for the other parts. When does the suspension change on the beetles, do all bugs have swing axle rear suspension? Any pics and years/models where changes occur would be great. I don't want a super, because of the curved windshield and I think it would be difficult to put on the older front end.

Late '69 or later will get you IRS, you can then add Porsche 944 aluminum arms and brakes. You can also graft IRS onto an older chassis rather simply, but may be retaining the linkpin style front end then depending on the year. For front end, you are currently limited to a balljoint trailing arm style suspension, but upgrades include deleting the torsion bar and adding coilovers, as well in the future there will be kits available to run double-wishbone setups with rack and pinion steering.

Jason

My great grandkids are looking forward to it. :p :laugh:

Jeff-

Thanks for the replies! So there aren't any suspension changes in the front of the bug, besides the super?

The front suspension is either trailing arm or strut, the trailing arm has either link-pin pivots or ball-joint pivots, the strut has a few changes, but it's either one or the other.

Jason

Jeff is just bitter because I'm not making him one for his bus! Ok, fine, I'm not rushed.

Thanks, I bought a 1974 with a 1600 dual port engine. I am stoked. I have changed my plans however, while playing around on this site I have decided that the german look is sweet, so I am going for that. I am going to try and fuel inject it and possibly put a turbo on it. I will post updates when I do anything cool, like the fuel injection which should be starting soon (within the next month) I would like to get it done over christmas break, I am an engineering student, so that is when I will have some time and an extra car to drive around. I will try and build all the parts in my spare time (i work at a machine shop), so i will just have to install it over the break.

Good luck and keep us updated.

Mike

Are you going to use something like a MegaSquirt for you're FI so you can update it to turbo later?

Jason

yep, megasquirt is the plan. I want to use verion 2 so it can contol the timing advance etc. I started a new thread in the engine section called cheap fuel injection, and I will keep you all updated.