Lifting a Super Beetle

Roddy · Post by **Roddy** » Mon Nov 11, 2002 1:11 pm

This there anyway to lift a Super Beetle? I have found lift kits for a standard beetle but haven't found anything for a Super. Does anyone know of any kits out there? Does anyone know the steps involved or where I can find instructions on how to di it.
Thanks,
Roddy

Post by **Marc** » Mon Nov 11, 2002 1:45 pm

Are you after a body lift for cosmetic purposes, or is it the suspension you want to jack up? Anything can be hoisted, but MacPherson strut is not considered off-roadworthy by most. If you're going to take a Super into the boonies, by all means fit a skidplate to protect the control arms' inboard anchor point area - it's easily mangled beyond economical repair by boulder/log contact that a Standard Beetle would shrug off.

GDRBO · Post by **GDRBO** » Mon Nov 11, 2002 2:18 pm

A bug body lift will fit a super. Then you will have to figure out how to get the struts mounted somewhere near correctly.

Roddy · Post by **Roddy** » Mon Nov 11, 2002 3:28 pm

Well I'm wanting to jack up the suspension so that it is off-road worthy, but it will still mainly be for in town driving. So I guess you could say it is about half for cosmetic purposes. It will be used off road but mainly for justgetting to a destination and not so much driving it anywhere and over anything. What are some of the ways to raise the suspension on a SB are there certain kits on the market?

Post by **Marc** » Mon Nov 11, 2002 3:47 pm

Is yours the `71 through early `73 setup or the late `73-up?
Pictures at: http://www.superbeetlesonly.com/frameset.html
under "Is Yours Super?"

Roddy · Post by **Roddy** » Mon Nov 11, 2002 4:33 pm

its a 1972

Roddy · Post by **Roddy** » Mon Nov 11, 2002 6:07 pm

I am mainly doing it for the looks. I want the SB to sit up high and have the big off road tires on it. I want it to look like it is jacked up. Anybody know of a way to achieve that look.
Thanks

Crash · Post by **Crash** » Mon Nov 11, 2002 11:44 pm

Jack Stands

Bob Ingman · Post by **Bob Ingman** » Tue Nov 12, 2002 12:33 am

Crash you do`nt know Jack Stands. Good luck. Bob Ingman

Mattt · Post by **Mattt** » Tue Nov 12, 2002 1:41 am

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Crash:
<B>
Jack Stands</B><HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

LOL!!!!!!

Eriksport · Post by **Eriksport** » Tue Nov 12, 2002 5:10 am

Back in the day, I was trying to convert my 75 Super into a full bodied/Baja use bug. For the struts, I bought new KYB gasadjusts. I had a machine shop make me 3" extensions that replaced where the nut went on the top of the strut assembly. Been a while, I cant really remember how I was doing it, but I was ending up with 3" of lift up front, yet retaining stock springs and travel. Not the best setup, but it would have duned just fine. Wouldnt have jumped very well though. The rear of all Supers are identical to Standards. All in all, I sold my 75 Super barely running, brake pedal frozen, slightly rusted, new floor pan on pass. side, for $500, then bought an already baja'd 74 Standard for $300. Since July, I have about 1200 into it, and its already RallyCross raced, and spent a weekend in the sand dunes. By far more fun than the Super would have been.

Erik

mrbaja · Post by **mrbaja** » Wed Nov 13, 2002 11:45 pm

If it was me, I'd cut off the SB front end and just weld in a link pin style head frame available at most VW suppliers. A lot cheaper less work in the short and long run, not to mention you get the best of the rear IRS and link front end. That way your not having to screw around with body lifts and you can get your lift with just cranking the suspension (i.e...doing it right). You'll get the looks you desire and most importent a solid, easy to maintain, inexpensive, functional suspension.

Aloha, Theo

------------------
http://offroadvw.net/MrBaja/

SuperBaja · Post by **SuperBaja** » Mon Nov 18, 2002 7:52 pm

Roddy,
I'm planning on doing this, just haven't gotten to that project yet. What Erik said is similar to what i had planned i think. I e-mailed Jon at Topline and, like everyone else, advised against it. But he gave me the idea of making a 2 inch spacer to go between the top of the strut and the body of the car. According to him that wouldn't cause any serious problems as long as I wasn't trying to jump the car or anything extreme. Since that is what i planned it doesnt seem to be a problem.
If you want a fiberglass kit for the car Mark V has them for Supers.

------------------
John
'71 (soon to be raised) Super and '68 (used to be Cal Look) Baja

mrbaja · Post by **mrbaja** » Mon Nov 18, 2002 9:06 pm

John and Roddy (and of course everyone else),
Here's a wacky Super beetle idea I've played with from time to time. Take the front struts off some fwd VW, get a syncro trans (we all have a pile of them in our garage right?-:P), run a drive shaft up from the tranny into a differential from some IRS car (Audi, Mercedes, Subaru, Syncro ect.) and make a 4WD Super beetle!

mrbaja · Post by **mrbaja** » Wed Nov 20, 2002 2:06 pm

I posted in another section but thought it was relivent here too....
Here's a site of a guy Bob I know who's making a baja out of a Cabrio Super in AZ. http://www.angelfire.com/extreme3/tbob/Baja/Baja.html. If it the link doesn't work try this one and press th baja link http://www.angelfire.com/extreme3/tbob/index.html
Hope it helps!
Aloha, Theo

[This message has been edited by mrbaja (edited 11-20-2002).]