Be easy on the NEWBIE please

ragenasian · #1 January 11th 2006, 17:07

First I guess I should say I am new to this site and to VW BUGS. I am a import enthusiast but saw this as a new way to go. Especially after throwing in the AUDI motor almost like putting a rocket in a beer can thing is fun to drive. Still needs paint but working on it.

I have a 1973 Superbeetle (I live in Germany with the U.S. Military) with a Audi 1.6 Motor and lowered in the front with lowering springs (totally custom wood interior), racing seats, and custom stereo system.

Now to the very stupid question. I have read read read read and read some more about this whole wheel thing. Considering I am a huge import guy the thought of throwing on some of my many import wheels just intrigued me. Here in Germany nobody can put these on their cars due to the very intensive inspections they do on the cars. So me being an American I don't have this problem and can put whatever I want on the car. I have ordered the pre-drilled 4x100 drums and rotors. After reading all this info my very DUMB question is can I go 16x7 or 17x7 without changing out my fenders or my lowering springs. I find that everybody asks this question after they tell you they have these expensive front struts. I am half japanese and get all my import parts from family very cheap but I can't get these parts for teh VW cheap. So I trying to find out what is safe without having to buy all new parts. Thanks for any help and please don't be to hard on me because I have been through 18 pages of forums reading. Thanks

**volkdent** · #2 January 11th 2006, 18:57

Always nice to have someone doing something a little crazy with their bug! I don't have the answers for you on the wheel question. Do a search for porsche wheels, this question has been asked a lot for them. Once you figure out what offset works for the Porsche stuff on your vehicle, just make sure you get that offset for your 4X100 stuff. And yes, you can run 17's.

Jason

Oh, we always want pics too! Let see that motor setup, especially cooling.

ragenasian · #3 January 12th 2006, 02:20

Well I am not sure the car is pic worthy yet. The motor is a 90hp Audi 80 motor with a front mount radiator and electric fans. as soon as it is looking a little better (right now it is totally red primer) I will get pics up. Being here in Germany where they salt the roads the poor thing had a huge bondo section that I didn't find until I put a jack under the car. The car will run 100mph though down the autobahn. My girlfriend was driving it through the hills here following me in my 240sx and doing quite well.

As for the 17 I just need to make sure they will sit up under the car without rubbing issues. I unfortunately decided to do this after the front of the car was dropped with regular lowering springs. Since I am also new to the bug scene information was found out about the 4x100 conversion later in the project. However it is actually nice to work on a car where so many possibilities exist. Now if I can get some Lambo doors for my bug like I have on my Nissan

thanks

euro1302s · #4 January 12th 2006, 04:22

I'm using a 17x7.5 with a +42 offset and a 16x7 with a +40 offset, both rims are for front wheel drive cars like most imports, and my suspension is a custom made stock S.B. strut with a Honda civic rear springs just use the base plate of the civic rear springs weld it to the stock strut of the S.B., using stock disc brakes with a 1 inch adaptor that has a 4x114.3 studs at front, same as the rear its all stock with a 1 inch adaptor too.

My ride, 1302-S with stock fenders all around.

16x7 Enkei

17x7.5 Rota

hope it helps.

oasis · #5 January 12th 2006, 04:36

Using 17x7 wheels without changing the fenders certainly is possible. The difficulty is not knowing the width of your springs in your current set-up. TopLine and Kerscher make struts which will allow these wheels given the proper offset. TopLine also makes something called Sports+ springs which are tapered in the middle but are not going to be as robust in wheel/tire combos it will allow but more robust than a stock springs in a lowering situation.

It will take planning and you may have to priortize what you want to get the end result you desire. I would go to TopLine and read what they have to say about how they fitted their wheels on their car using their products. From there, you can measure the springs you have and see what you are mathematically able to do.

Then you can see what wheel width/height/offset combos are at your disposal. If it all works, you're good to go. If a wheel you want isn't physically possible, you can look into spacers as a solution if the rub is coming from inside the wheel. If a spacer alleviates the inside rub but causes fender rubbing, you may have to rethink your Lambo doors and get narrower springs and/or struts.

(BTW, all cars are picture worthy

)

ragenasian · #6 January 13th 2006, 15:10

I guess I have a lot more reading to do. I was hoping that somebody would maybe already know a set of rims that they have put on their car without the expensive shock setup. I wish I could put my 1800 dollar set of Cuscos that are on my Nissan on my bug. Again thanks for the help it is at least good to know that I don't have to change my fenders. However another question comes to mind, I own a professional fender flaring tool. Would this tool help at all? It might at least give me a little bit more room under the fender.

As for pictures I am not a professional by any means and with three project cars money is very scarce. This being said my bug is no where near the quality of Bug that some of you own. You guys especially the one on this thread is absolutely gorgeous. I wish I either had the money or the skills to make my bug look like yours.

It isn't what you buy it is what you build (quote on the back of all my cars)

oasis · #7 January 13th 2006, 17:32

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