2) The plan
I love everything about my bug, but there are always areas for improvement, right?! My vision is to have a beetle that looks like it was taken off the showroom floor, then modified in a way that still says stock, but drives like a new car. A little lower, a little better handling, a little more power under the hood, a little more (OK so maybe a lot more) stopping power*, and some subtlety upgraded wheels and tires. This is by no means a complete list, but it's a start! : )
Suspension
- I will be using rear torsion bars from a '86 944 Turbo.
- I will be using adjustable shocks all around. (have to research, Bilstien or Koni)
- The rear will also utilize '86 944 Turbo aluminum trailing arms (the narrow ones)
- I'm planning on lowering the rear one notch.
- Up front I will have CB dropped spindles (2.5')
- Adjustable beam with the adjusters welded in at natural so I can fine tune up or down.
- The front beam will be narrowed 3"s to accommodate the wider wheels and brake setup.
- I want to have good bushings either eurothane or something similar that won't squeak!
- Rear sway bar will be an 18mm bar from a 944 Turbo.
- Front sway bar: TBD (It will have to work with the narrowed beam, etc...
- I will have '86 944 Turbo brakes all around (Black 4-pots)
- I will have the front hubs machined to work with the CB spindles and late offset wheels.
- I will include a rear brake bias device so that I can fine tune the brake distribution.
- The E-Brake will be adapted to use the 944 setup.
- I will be installing a stock EJ22 (2.2L) '96 Subaru Legacy motor.
- I will be using a KEP adapter plate w/ a stage 1 clutch setup.
- I will make my own wiring harness out of the Subaru harness.
- I will use an after market fuel delivery system with new tubing running from the gas tank.
- I will use the stock gas tank, but add a swirl tank, and bungs for send / return lines.
- I will be using a stock Beetle transmission at first, then later on, upgrading it to use better gear ratios and stronger 3rd and 4th gear.
- I will use a front mounted all aluminum performance radiator.
- I will scoop air from under the car, plus provide a means for a little direct airflow to the radiator. (I'm thinking welding in a vent taken from the fresh air vent of a donor hood)
- I will use aluminum tubing running under the car protected by some sort of channel built into the floor board.
- I will be using a tubing beader to make sure all connections between tube and hose will be secure.
- I will be utilizing a heating system under the back seat that will pump air to the front via the stock heater channels.
- I will be using 16" 944 "Phone Dials" in their stock finish. (They are 53mm offset)
- I will be using aggressive tires, something like a Kumho MX, Falkin Azienth, or similar.
Labels: vision
posted by - Pete @ 12:45 PM
4 Comments
4 Comments:
Cool plan. A note on the Porsche Phone Dial Wheels. They don't all have 53mm offsets, so you need to research them well before you buy. Also, there are 7x16, 8x16, and even some Phone Dials which are 15's. Phone Dials came on 944's (87+ had 53mm offsets), 928's, and even 911's. FYI!
Thank you so much for the info! I did finally find a set of phone dials. And you were spot on. I got 4 7x16 with the 53mm offset (They were off an '86)
Thanks!
-Pete
What can you tell me about the trailing arms? I am interested in putting wider wheels under a stock rear end T3. I understand the torsion housing will need to be shortened. How much more narrow are the trailing arms? EV
EV,
The "narrow" aluminum trailing arms are actually still wider then the stock VW units.
Good post on difference between the narrow and wide aluminum arms
I have mocked up the trailing arms with my 53mm offset 7" wide rims, and they are sticking out wider then the stock set up. I don't have the measurements on me, but it looks like I will have to get some wider fenders. I'm not sure about the changes needed to put these arms into a T3, but for me, I didn't have to shorten the torsion housing. Hope this helps!
-Pete
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