The Cal-look Lounge

Hi guys,

I have a 70 deluxe bug I am having a bit of fun with. I’ve collected lads of parts to build up my sons 69 Cobalt blue bug but that needs a lot of welding and time/money. So the parts are going to go on the 70 for now.

The 70 came along at a good price and is very solid being parked up since 84.

I want to run my JGE burners with Avon 205/70’s on the back. This is where I need some advice.

I feel the long axles and Porsche pattern drums will mean the wheels stick out too much and not sit right. I believe caps don’t fit on the wheels without a thin space either?

Another option is short axles, with a spacer to push the wheel out away from the spring plate.

The final option being IRS, but don’t want to do the conversion if again the wheels sit too far out. Then I am in to narrowing the arms etc.

What do you guys run/recommend. Richie’s white 67 is IRS and has burners, stock arms?

Any help appreciated.

Lee  :)

Start bolting it together and have look

Yep, I could do that  ;D
You know how it is when parts are in 3 different garages though...

...

Yes.  I usually work out what I want to do, get all the bits together and then start mocking it up, it’s the only way to check properly

Think you are right Dave. I will get the motor back in next weekend as its taking up room. Then I can put a porsche pattern drum on the long swing axle box and see what it looks like.

The main purpose of the post was to explore thoughts on IRS. Never had an IRS bug and thought it would be the push I needed to do the conversion if it helped with the wheel/tyre set up I have. Obviously mocking up IRS is a bit more involved....

Lee

I have had my car swing axle and IRS.  I have been 120mph+ many times swing axle and had zero problems.  As for IRS in my opinion it didn’t seem that different, it was a lot of work/ money and to be honest I wish I never bothered doing it.  The  only benefit I saw was being able to remove the gearbox without setting up the rear end again.

You'll have no problem with long axle or irs, if you go short axle it'll look silly imo and the inner edge of tires would probably rub on spring plate.

Mine on standard irs with 205/70s

(https://i.imgur.com/sy0FtbC.jpg)


Edit are your jges porsche pattern or 4 lug? Porsche pattern have same offset as genuine, 4 lug stick out an extra 20mm I think.

Hi Baz,
Thank you

Yep porsche pattern. As Dave suggested I am going to mock it up and see what happens.
Lee

That's the best way to see for sure.

Another shot of mine, I lowered it another 20mm since and it tucked tires in further.

(http://i.imgur.com/Ikj2zjf.jpg)

That does look good. Guess the interesting but will be if long swing axle is the same width as IRS.
My 70 is elm green also.  :o

Look forward to seeing my cars twin  ;D swing axle and irs are pretty much identical track widths.

It's fair to say your paint has survived much better than one  ;D

Yours a UK car? Og paint? It's a great colour especially in summer with the sun high in the sky.

Yep UK car. Off the road since 1984. It’s had a decent repair on the drivers heater channel but that’s about it. Only down side is someone has painted the roof so this will need paint.

Lee

Sounds like another good find. Paint the roof primer white and it'll be a perfect twin for mine  :D

Yep, seem to find them easily lately! Finding space for them all is the challenge :)

Happy New Year

Look forward to seeing it. Same to you and family

I have Empi burners on my 60 with short axles and rear disc brakes. I needed a 1/4" spacer to get them away from the spring plate. I run 215/65s on them, as well as M&H 6.0x26 slicks. Spacers are needed with both sets. They definitely don't have any clearance issues on the outside.

Thanks Chip. Short axles will give you the ability to space the wheel to suit where you want them to sit.
Lee

This is in interesting post, myself and Adele also have a 1970 UK RHD Elm Green beetle! It’s had an exterior repaint a long time ago but still looks good.

(https://www.thesamba.com/vw/gallery/pix/2027870.jpg)

Nice.

Yours looks superb on the burners Baz, we have been contemplating wheels for ours for ages.

Thanks Steve, I love them too :)

Mine needs a new carpet and floor mats, any chance you could show us your interior whenever you get a chance?

That's lovely. Mines not so shiny however. I am swaying towards a full repaint to do the car justice but did originally buy it to use daily so new fresh paint seems silly for a daily...

Hope you and Adele are well.
Lee

Very nice Steve, a good late model is a great car to own. They've just got a nice feel to them.

A couple of friends had Elm Green 70's when I first got into VWs back in 1995. My mate Jay from school had one, all original paint, eventually had a light resto by the next owner. Ben Bosworth from Half A Brain had one too, started out stock, then had MWS 8-spokes, and ended up on Fuchs just before the prices went daft. Again, original paint, until someone keyed it one night. It got dechromed when it was repainted, which looked great. I'm pretty sure Bobby Willcox either has it now, or knows where it is.