I'm still having trouble visualizing what you mean for the front. I've got a Ghia and I think the wider beam may cause an issue, but its still intriguing to me.

Is this an 'adjustable' beam that you've cut the torsion bars in half and are using the center adjuster lock-thingie to secure them? Any pictures of the setup?

How has the WBX performed for you? Any reliability issues or tips for me in recreating what you've done?

I purchased a 1.9L WBX that I'm looking to build up and would like to hear about what you did to make your Beetle competitive with that engine. Exh size, cam choice injection / carb setup c:r: etc.

Feel free to PM me if you like.

Best regards,

i have not seen the beam on spanners car but i'm guessing its like the Baja beams.
http://www.actiongrafix.net/images/cbeam.jpg

I see said Stevie Wonder

Hi dorgitt, the pic shows the concept of my beam, but the Wasser build variations would fill a forum on its own, it all depends
what its use will be as that governs the planning and layout as im sure you know already, heres a link to stf wasser forum so you can pick up on the basic requirements to build them. http://www.shoptalkforums.com/viewforum.php?f=37
I would source a 2.1 crank over the 1.9 that you already have, just for the extra torque it will provide, or you can stroke it with a T1 crank, but hey, its all on there anyway, and will keep you reading for a while, and thanks for your interest, i will post up some more pics of the motor install as i get time.:cool:

So with that beam setup, you're using 2 sets of torsion bars or cutting the one set and just seperating them and securing each set / side with adjusters?

Yes, you could use the stock bars, shortened and re drilled to suit your desired spacing of the swayaways, this makes them stiffer, but i chose to use uprated bars to start with, if you go over a 2" stretch, it will likely need bracing, you will need to reposition the mounting brackets and mod the tie rods, lock stops, arb, and wings, (fenders). i run drop spindles to keep all the travel i can in the suspension at the minimum 40mm ground clearance i'm allowed to run at. Hope thats a help.

Here's a clip from the kaffer cup days, the class of the very large grid is a beam axle equipped car being chased by hordes of supers, needless to say the b/j car does a vanishing act and wins the race.http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MXcks...eature=related

They seem to have forgotten about him because he was so far ahead.

Must've been cheating...you know a super charger and a rail system to keep him glued to the track:D

I suppose he did have an advantage with the b/j front end and all, i noticed how much more stable it looked under braking than the strutter's, which were locking up the inside wheel, he even had the cheek to 'buffalo' them, "round the outside"..:lmao:

I still hold to the theory that its the nut behind the wheel that gives the greatest performance improvment. put a great driver in a poor car and it'll still be fast.

Agreed, I remember when Road Rallying was Pre-Plot (aka road racing) there were a couple of guys who did remarkably well and occasionally winning events with bog standard cars from the local car rental! They were up against specialist RS2000's, TR8's, HS Chevettes etc. Andy Dawson did the same in a Ford Sierra and won a National Series event.

Of course being quick doesn't always apply as Vicki Butler-Henderson found on Fifth Gear (Brit TV show) when she teamed up with IRC champ, Andeas Mikkelsen to do our car club's 12-Car rally in a Fabia vRS coming 7th o/a (I think) out of 12.

Hey Spannermanager,

In doing research on drop spindles, there's been concern expressed over their strength. You've been using them in the most harsh of conditions, so what have your experiences been with them. Which are you using?

Thanks,

Kevin

Hi Kev', cool, mine are CB, nice strong uprated steering arms on them too, very robust fillet area blending into the ball joint mounting area, no problems at all, and i'm bouncing it across the saw tooth track kerbs whenever i can get away with it, one tiny gripe, the stubs are a little short on the threaded portion, not a full clamps width on them, but enough to do the job. And I was moaning about the weight of them too!:lmao:

Heres an update, the OKRASA bug did a full track day at Brands Hatch back in July, running some 50 odd laps trouble free, i reached a point with the handling that had been expected sooner or later so it was no surprise to run into some power understeer, i ran it minus the exhaust restrictors and with the full throttle travel as its not a new build anymore! , it was peaking at 7300 rpm. i only had time to click up the rear shocks but it did reduce the p/u, reducing the rear toe is already done ready for next months race at the same venue. slider blocks will help on the rear ARB also.
Heres a vid clip from another cars point of view, and i have very good company, a turbo MK1 golf, the northelle one,? a BTCC turbo Golf and a lightweight full on 911 that tried his luck while i was warming the oil, he paid the price for bullying the bugs :), mines the black one. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kllTd...eature=related