Mythbuster: continuing project thread of my 1303 '75

[Wally]

Originally Posted by Humble

This is the kind of cage I had in mind! Awesome craftsmanship! I really want one of these cages now.

I can't tell from the pictures but how long are the welds on the A-pillar?

Thanks man! welds are not long enough probably, but I stopped at about 2 to 3 inches. That was also the length of which they were really close to the body, so that coincided

[verbeekb]

Hey Walter,

Somewhere I saw you mounted polybronze bushing on your spring plates. Someone mentioned the lack of the knobs that are on the VW bushings, you replied that you were going to give it a try. I feel the same way, yet, I have new Porsche springplates with the stock vulcanized-on rubber bushings, everyone replaces them with the VW parts, but since mine are new I'd just like to use them the way they are and not bother with them.. have you had problems without the knobs?

[Wally]

Originally Posted by verbeekb

Hey Walter,

Somewhere I saw you mounted polybronze bushing on your spring plates. Someone mentioned the lack of the knobs that are on the VW bushings, you replied that you were going to give it a try. I feel the same way, yet, I have new Porsche springplates with the stock vulcanized-on rubber bushings, everyone replaces them with the VW parts, but since mine are new I'd just like to use them the way they are and not bother with them.. have you had problems without the knobs?

Hi Brian,

I haven't driven the car yet, but there is a significant difference with what your asking/suggesting and what I am/will be running:

The original bugs inner torsion housing has not only the holes for the knobs of the bushings, but the whole outer diameter of this torsion housing where the bushing resides, is concave in shape!
The 944 inner torsion housing is plain, so a circular bushing fits perfectly.
Now, we want a plain, straight (rubber) bushing to fit the concave housing... Thats the reason it doesn't exactly fit. The knobs are just 4 parts where the bushing doesn't mate flush, but thats minor imo.

However, the 944 bushing does mate the VW torsing housing at one point exactly and thats the most inner part of the concave part of the housing.
So, the bushing sits at just half a cm snug and not the full 5 cm or about 2 inches (width of bushing approx.).
Now, with the hard poly-urethane outer rim of the poly-bronze bushing I use, this may just work (or not). I also filled up the rest of the space with a sort of hardening glue. With an already soft original rubber bushing, this is much more of a concern I would think.
The whole idea that you are using porsche parts for suspension upgrades, but are keeping the rubber bushings and now let one of the bushings carry on only its outer rim in the housing, is counterproductive regarding thinking about suspension upgrades imho.

So, in conclusion, I think a black urethane VW IRS inner bushing would be a good upgrade from the stock rubber. The red urethane usually squeecks too much for my taste and the black may not squeeck or less. I have bought (very cheap, Topline) a set already if the inner polybronze doesn't work, but the set is too nice not to try it out at least

Hope it made sense; difficult to describe from here...

[evilC]

Originally Posted by Wally

Hi Brian,

.............. I think a black urethane VW IRS inner bushing would be a good upgrade from the stock rubber. The red urethane usually squeecks too much for my taste and the black may not squeeck or less. ..............

The squeaking of the urethane bushes is down to the formulation. The common bushes from Bugpack etc are formulated for hot Californian use in that the amount of the self lubricating silicone fluid that leeches from the urethane is noticeably less in cold climates. If the squeak is a problem then the use of 'local' urethane bush suppliers ought to solve the problem.

Clive

[Jim]

Well done Wally!!!

[TSAF]

Nicely done Wally

[typ4boy]

Hey man here is your front top mounts, just waiting for the bottom struts to come back from the platers and the hole lot can be shipped mate

[Wally]

Awesome Lee!

I have a track day on the 5th of March, so with any luck, I could try them out on the track after welding and aligning.

Looking forward to using those

TIA,
Walter

[evilC]

Wally, the fit of the cage is awesome! As good as any I have seen anywhere including the factory race cars. I assume that the cage legs sit on reinforcing plates as it isn't quite clear in the photos. Also is there a cross brace at bottom dash level and if so is that point braced back to the A pillar?

Unfortunately I must go along with Owdivr especially regarding the B pillar locations although the amount of flex that you will see in the brackets with such a tight fitting cage will lessen any fretting that could occur.

I still can't get over how tight your front cage is to the A pillar - it's brilliant. Just don't break a windscreen!

Clive

[Wally]

Originally Posted by evilC

Wally, the fit of the cage is awesome! As good as any I have seen anywhere including the factory race cars. I assume that the cage legs sit on reinforcing plates as it isn't quite clear in the photos. Also is there a cross brace at bottom dash level and if so is that point braced back to the A pillar?

Tnx, yeah, the front pillars sit on reinforced boxes. Those boxes are welded to the channels and the pillar is bolted to the boxes.
No, there isn't a brace under the dash with these bolt-in version. If you order the weld-in cage, there is is iirc and also braces to the top strut mounts. The weld-in involves leaving your car at Heigo, so that may be a little problamatic for most here
I did consider making the under dash bar myself, but that would involve some redirecting of certain drains to make that possible in a nice way. The harness bar I will weld in afterwards however.

I still can't get over how tight your front cage is to the A pillar - it's brilliant. Just don't break a windscreen!

Ah, yes, the windscreen was really my concern when welding the A-pillars up top there...fortunately, the laminated and green tinted windscreen survived

Tnx,
Wally

[michael86]

Your car is definitly ready for elevens this year.:-)

Tiki

[Wally]

Originally Posted by michael86

Your car is definitly ready for elevens this year.:-)

Tiki

Thanks Michael!

Now the question is: Is yours??

[michael86]

Originally Posted by Wally

Thanks Michael!

Now the question is: Is yours??

I have good hopes

Michael

[Wally]

As some of you mentioned, there isn't a 'harness bar' with this set-up, nor can it be ordered, so made my own. Also adapted some of the interior parts and placed them back:

[Wally]

And to show what the extra bars are for: