New project. ACVW content

I think vdubengineering might make something for 944 brakes on a 55-63 bus spindle but I am not certain. I am also looking into running 944 brakes on my car if I can't find a set of cable brakes. I think I might go with the four piston brakes from the 944 turbo.

ratghia wrote: I think vdubengineering might make something for 944 brakes on a 55-63 bus spindle but I am not certain. I am also looking into running 944 brakes on my car if I can't find a set of cable brakes. I think I might go with the four piston brakes from the 944 turbo.

I probably wouldnt even bother on this bus but a friend is doing an LS1 swap on a 944 and is upgrading all the brakes so he's offered me all the brake parts and Fuchs wheels at a very budget friendly price so its kinda hard to say no.

Then again cheap brakes mean nothing if they have expensive adapters.

I'll check vdubengineering. The other places all list 64 and up. Still trying to find info on the rear brake swap but it looks like that may require switching to IRS.

JThw8 - didn't mean to be negative. The wheelbase just gives me the heebie-jeebies.

ratghia - yes, the car in my avatar is a '63, last year for the cloth sunroof, and my very first car, first engine rebuild, etc. The photo was taken the day I got the car.

bludroptop wrote: ratghia - yes, the car in my avatar is a '63, last year for the cloth sunroof, and my very first car, first engine rebuild, etc. The photo was taken the day I got the car.

I used to have a 1960 ragtop but I switched in the rag itself with one from a 1963 because I always liked the 1963 only folding handle.

bludroptop wrote: The wheelbase just gives me the heebie-jeebies.

You and me both ;) It will see a substantial amount of lowering, and a cage.

That thing looks like a deathtrap. I love it!

2002maniac wrote: That thing looks like a deathtrap. I love it!

Which would probably explain why I've never seen anything quite like that. Is it really as tall as it is long/wide? I guess I can see how it would be done, and on a VW bus, it'd have to be one of the easiest (possibly only) vehicles to just section the whole middle out of, but still. I think I'd be afraid to drive it. :D

You might need wheelie bars on both ends

You're a braver man than I am wanting to fix a basketcase like that! I've shortened a VW pan before and it would be a really, really easy job to botch. I almost bought a shortened Bus chassis (pickup bed) when I was in high school, as the price was right up my alley, but I'm glad I got gun shy on that deal.

I agree with the comments about it looking weird with the wheels so far inboard. The rears should be easy enough to shift back by shifting the powertrain as much as possible and using longer torsion arms and axles. The front will be a bit more tricky depending on your expectations for passenger foot room, but other than that I suppose it would be fairly straight forward.

Good luck. You're going to need it.

Bryce

Just a few pics to show that when its on proper wheels and lowered it's not quite as scary....I didnt say not scary, just not quite as scary. These are all shortened the same amount, its a pretty standard cut at the rear structural member behind the cargo doors.

SillyImportRacer wrote: You might need wheelie bars on both ends

And out riggers on the sides too

Just so y'all dont think I've let this Wartburg business keep me from the important things.

The body is all stripped now, I hope to shoot a quick primer coat on it just for protection while the real work begins.

Next step the roof shell is coming off, it needs to be straightened out in the worst way. Still not 100% decided on making it roofless or not so I have decided instead to try and do a 3" roof chop on the whole thing and if it fails dismally then I can just cut the whole roof off. All things considered though it would be a pretty easy roof chop.

I'm gonna keep pressing forward, Wartburg comes home in October so Im trying to get as far ahead on this as I can until then.

I saw my first short bus about 20 years ago. It was an orange panel-side and had graphics painted on the side for a sub shop. I have loved these things ever since.