lower,slammed, dropped

[raygreenwood]

The 461 and the 411 wagon are one and the same. The car already has a bit of a forward rake once it is set even. Its rear heavy. It has very similar characteristics to a 911 in high speed braking and cornering...no kidding!. Once its tuned out, its a joy to drive. If you lower just the front...you will kill yourself. Its already 200 lb heavier in the rear. If lowering...lower it all the way around,so it runs flat...or else the rear will come unglued so fast you will think you are at an amusement park! Also the rear of the wagon came without a sway bar. The holes and brackets are already in the frame...but you will need to find a 2 door or 4 door to get the sway bar. Use the stock one....or leave it off. If you try grafting something from another car...firstly , getting the fit will be damned hard. Second, getting the correct progressive ratio is nearly impossible without custom making it. If its too stiff...you can easily roll this car. been there.

All of that being said...here is my recommendation. You should buy the car. Put the suspension together in modified stock form...ie: KYB/audi struts...which you can always lower later...all new bushings and joints....which you will need either way. Get used to how to work on this...and where to get parts...and decide how to lower it ...while you are enjoying superior handling for a while...because that will be gone once you lower it.
Also...this is going to take you a while unless you have lots of time. What I mean by that...is that there is "0" manufactured for this car anywhere. Engine parts are not to bad...but factory stock cylinders are scare (lots of options though). Seats?.."0"...rubber for windows and body gaskets?...1 location that I know of...and a couple methods I'm working on. Carpet?...custom. Glass?...junkyard only...and only 411/412. Suspension?...a few interchange parts...the rest..."0". 4 speed tranny?...a few bearings...the rest "o". There are no body parts available outside of junkyards. The cluch master and slave cylinders are like gold...and rarely available. The brake master cylinder..is about the same. I can find you one...but its about $200.

I think you should buy this car...they are fabulous. Word to the wise...this is not your average aircooled, simple beater that you can put new tires and rims on...slam to the ground...and motor away for years to come (no insults intended). It is absolutely nothing like...and has nothing in common with a bug...or any of the other air cooled vehicles ever built...save for engine configuration...and it provided the engine later ..for the 914. This was a very complex car for an air cooled vehicle. They run like a top...are very dependable and tough. But at their age....certain sub-assemblies must be done correctly and completely. On the suspension...trust me...ALL of it must be replaced at once. If you piece-meal it....you will replace all of the parts multiple times. The leverage of the suspension design destroys all of the weakest parts. I'll help all I can, just come into this with your eyes open. Ray

[kenfyoozed387]

ok heres an idea. what about lowered spindles? i know they arent made but check out www.blindchickenracing.com . they have a technique to cut and reweld to make lifted spindles. do you think this could be done to lower? i know it would take finding another set possibly from a wrecked car.

so let the rebukes flow. lol

neil

[raygreenwood]

I would never trust a welded spindle on any street car. The original is not a casting. I'm pretty sure its a forging that has been machined. A little too little weld penetration and the spindle shears off...at highway speed? Yes dropped spindles would be ideal...especially if they could maintain the correct castor of the steering knuckle on this car. This is a much more complex steering knuckle than a super beetle. Ray