Front End Info

@Stan Galat posted:

That’s a great plan, Michael.

I'm allowed a small allotment of good ideas. I'm glad I burned one on that.

@JMM (Michael) posted:

I'm allowed a small allotment of good ideas. I'm glad I burned one on that.

But bad ideas are limitless in their possibility.

I bought myself 2 tee-shirts for Christmas. One says, "In my defense, I was left unsupervised". The second one has a picture of an opossum baring its fangs and says, "Don't be part of the problem. Be the whole problem".

My wife doesn't appreciate either one.

@Stan Galat posted:

But bad ideas are limitless in their possibility.

I bought myself 2 tee-shirts for Christmas. One says, "In my defense, I was left unsupervised". The second one has a picture of an opossum baring its fangs and says, "Don't be part of the problem. Be the whole problem".

My wife doesn't appreciate either one.

Stan — you must share where you procured those shirts!  I gotta get one!

@Wulfrik (John) posted:

Stan — you must share where you procured those shirts!  I gotta get one!

$6 Shirts dot com

There you go!

Ok, so more than likely I’ll remove my front beam, clean up and correct the adjusters. Maybe if Uncle Sam is nice to me, I’ll just splurge for a new beam instead.

If I change to those CIP1 front discs, I should be able to run the 5.5” Fuchs, without having to change much more.

So, how do I get a 5.5” wheel on the rear IRS?

I really would like to go with a shorter lower profile tire, front and back.

Thanks again for the info guys!

@62veedub posted:

So, how do I get a 5.5” wheel on the rear IRS?

I really would like to go with a shorter lower profile tire, front and back.

Thanks again for the info guys!

The absolute best way is to install 1" narrowed rear trailing arms. This way, it all fits without having to put narrower wheels and/or tires on the back. From a performance standpoint, you REALLY don't want narrower tires on the back(than on the front) of a rear-weight-biased rear-wheel-drive car.

Hmmm, ok. This is something I haven’t run across in the years I was into VW’s! Sounds interesting! Is this a custom job?

Ish.

Ron Lumis Racing sells them. There are others that do it for less, but Ron is a solid dude and he’s a legit business rather than a nights/weekends guy.

You’ll also need some special half-shafts. Ron can tell you where to find them.

Get out your billfold.

Haha, isn’t that how it always works!

Thanks for the reference.

I think you use type3 automatic trans half-shafts.

@DannyP posted:

I think you use type3 automatic trans half-shafts.

Either left or right hand side (one is shorter than the other). I can’t remember off the top of my head which one.

@Stan Galat posted:

Either left or right hand side (one is shorter than the other). I can’t remember off the top of my head which one.

IMHO, that is not the way to go.  I've done this, what you need are SwayaWay/LatestRage/Empi/ 15 5/8" IRS axles. These are a free floating style axles and have plenty of spline to shorten to your needed length.  Easy lathe work.

Agreed. I’ve got SAW half-shafts on my car right now. When I do it, I’m sending my axles out to Rick.

@Stan Galat posted:

$6 Shirts dot com

There you go!

Thank you, Sir!

John, I feel a kinship here. I’m guessing you’ll be rocking both of those shirts before long.

As you know, there’s a broad delta between wanting to do the thing and doing the thing. You seem like a guy who will do the thing.

Stan, I’m sorry, but can you tell me who Rick is?

for those saw axles, do you install, and measure, then have them cut to length?

@62veedub posted:

Stan, I’m sorry, but can you tell me who Rick is?

for those saw axles, do you install, and measure, then have them cut to length?

I posted some info in this thread a while back.  

https://www.speedsterowners.co...3#677290384559186363

@Stan Galat posted:

John, I feel a kinship here. I’m guessing you’ll be rocking both of those shirts before long.

As you know, there’s a broad delta between wanting to do the thing and doing the thing. You seem like a guy who will do the thing.

Stan, your reply interrupted me in the middle of ordering these shirts! 😝  These messages are right up my alley, particularly since I’ve now turned 60 and have had the epiphany that I really don’t have to worry about what people think of me.  And yes, like you, I’m a doer.  

@Wulfrik (John) posted:

Stan, your reply interrupted me in the middle of ordering these shirts! 😝  These messages are right up my alley, particularly since I’ve now turned 60 and have had the epiphany that I really don’t have to worry about what people think of me.  And yes, like you, I’m a doer.  

I turned 60 a month ago, and I understand 100%.

Speaking of coincidences, here's the shirt I'm rocking today.

@Michael Pickett posted:

Speaking of coincidences, here's the shirt I'm rocking today.

Nice!👍👍👍

@Stan Galat posted:

I turned 60 a month ago, and I understand 100%.

Both shirts ordered.  Here’s hoping I can rock ‘em like @Michael Pickett.  😉

@62veedub posted:

Stan, I’m sorry, but can you tell me who Rick is?

for those saw axles, do you install, and measure, then have them cut to length?

@LI-Rick is who he is talking about. Rick has a basement full of fabrication tools.

A friend gave me the "Unsupervised" shirt a couple years ago.

So, apparently -- I'm a bit late to the party. I don't mind one bit.

There are quite a few of us on here who were left unsupervised.....  

Many still are!  🙄

@Stan Galat posted:

Either left or right hand side (one is shorter than the other). I can’t remember off the top of my head which one.

I believe the left side is the short one, Stan.

Here is how one determines the proper axle length.

@Stan Galat posted:

I turned 60 a month ago, and I understand 100%.

@Wulfrik (John) posted:

Both shirts ordered.  Here’s hoping I can rock ‘em like @Michael Pickett.  😉

After 60 it goes fast…. .  

@LI-Rick posted:

Here is how one determines the proper axle length.

How to Measure IRS Axle Length: 1.) First adjust your rear wheel alignment toe in. If your tires are toed out like a duck your trailing arms will be closer to your transmission resulting in a shorter axle. 2.) Lift the trailing arm so that if you did have an axle it would be parallel to the floor at zero degrees. This is your shortest point. 3.) Measure from the center of the drive flange on your transmission to the center of the stub axle on your trailing arm. DONOT measure where your CV joint mounting surface is. You need to measure the bottom of each cup because this is where your axle will plunge into. If you purchase too long of an axle, when your trailing arm moves upward to zero degrees it will shove the axle into the transmission. This will mushroom the ends of your axles and eventually crush the ring gear inside your transmission. 4.) After you have measured this distance, you subtract 1/4 inch total length. For instance if you measure from the center of the drive flange to the center of the stub axle and you get 20 1/2 inches you would buy a 20 1/4 axle. 5.) Measure both sides of the car. It is VERY common to have unequal length axles.

thanks for posting this…

For your information I have had a situation where the axle was too long and it hammered the ring and pinion and the ring and pinion failed so moral of the story don’t do that !!!!!   it was a very dangerous situation!!!  This comment is so important. I gave myself a like you know you can do that on the site

You may find that if you get the CIP fake Fuchs with the 5" backset that they will fit the rear.  I have the OEM 2L 4 bolt 914 Fuchs that leaves a pinky to outer rear wheel well on the driver's left side (more space on the passenger's right side).  I did sand some on edge and inner side. Tires are 185/65 x 15.  OEM size 165/80 x 15 would give more space.  As costly as the 2L Fuchs are getting - I probably will go with the 5" backspace faux Fuchs on my '71 IRS VW pan based CMC.  If they don't fit I'll go with the narrowed trailing arms and add rear discs at same time.

So, sounds like you are making progress on the car. That's great! When do you expect to have it on the road?

@WOLFGANG posted:

You may find that if you get the CIP fake Fuchs with the 5" backset that they will fit the rear.  I have the OEM 2L 4 bolt 914 Fuchs that leaves a pinky to outer rear wheel well on the driver's left side (more space on the passenger's right side).  I did sand some on edge and inner side. Tires are 185/65 x 15.  OEM size 165/80 x 15 would give more space.  As costly as the 2L Fuchs are getting - I probably will go with the 5" backspace faux Fuchs on my '71 IRS VW pan based CMC.  If they don't fit I'll go with the narrowed trailing arms and add rear discs at same time.

When exactly will you be going with those ?     ... I think we are all going to have a campout to help you finish it...

Seriously, we could have a two day gathering at your barn in Baker and get it running!

Sleep on cots in the barn, grill, sing campfire songs and get the car on the road.

Somebody design a grill badge for all attendees.

It would be just like.....well I don't know what.

Greg has been turning down solid offers of help for as long as I’ve been here (23 years now).

I’m doubtful he’ll accept it now.  

The offer was a bit self serving. Greg and I live about 20 miles apart and as far as I know, There aren't any other owners within 100 miles of us.

It would be nice to have another running car close.

Greg is a busy retired guy.

@Panhandle Bob posted:

Somebody could use AI design a grill badge for all attendees.

That's hilarious!

That badge is perfect. Ever detail is right.

@edsnova posted:

That badge is perfect. Ever detail is right.

Abbsewluttelie!!