shock installation

[65bug]

Hey guys,
      Got my new front end on and am getting ready to fit the gas shocks on my front end. Question:
      The shocks have the grommets at each end with a steel guide in the center.
      There' also a long metal guide on the backside of the arm where the shock attatches on the bottom.
      Which one do I remove so the shock will fit on? And how?

Thanks

[Bruce Tweddle]

Take the one off the lower control arm.  That sleeve is part of the old shock.

[65bug]

Thanks Bruce. I know, stupid question. Just wanted to be sure!
      Man, those shocks had to be on there since 1965! LOL!
        The cars running now with the new front end on! First put around the block............................nice and easy! Nothing lose, but when I turn the wheel a quarter turn my horn goes off..............LOL.........??
         Gonna post some pics now!
   

[65bug]

I thought I needed a 3/4 inch sway bar. It handle pretty good with no sway bar having the dropped spindles on and the new 145's!

[65bug]

Here's a pic of my new Varga rotors and calipers mounted. I got overhauled carriers and 2.5 inch drop spindles too! New cb front end narrowed 2 inches. Also added a bus master cyl. for higher pressure to the new calipers.
   

[65bug]

Here's a few more pics of the car!

[65bug]

Thanks again Bruce, I know you appreciate the hard technical questions!LOL

[65bug]

Hey guys,
       I got those old shock eyes off today. Not too bad at all! Used a chisel to pry the back side a bit and then clamped some vice grips on them! They where rusted on, but came off fairly easy!
       Got the new KYB gas shocks on. What a difference, really smoothed out the front end.
       Also found the break in the horn wire. Got that fixed too. Tomorrrow I will do the toe in on the front end. I "Think" I am close. Car stops great and very straight.
       I thought I could set the beam adjusters in the middle, but the car sits wayyyyyy to low. I have to move them all the way up to the top.
       I thought i was going to be able to raise the car to counter the dropped spindles if I wanted. I guess not.
       Thanks
     

[Bruce Tweddle]

  Also added a bus master cyl. for higher pressure to the new calipers.

That's not correct.  The bigger diameter Bus MC gives you more volume, but less pressure.  IOW, you have to push harder on the pedal to stop.
If you have stock drums on the rear, all you need is the late Bug dual cct MC.  VW built millions of cars that way.

[65bug]

SON-OF-A-BEEEEEEEEEEEEAAAAATCH!!!!!!!   %@@#^^#@#$&^%&&#@#!!!!..............GRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR.
     Bruce, the outside  diameter was the same as my stock master cylinder. However, he told me the piston was larger inside??? Sound any better??? Thanks!
     SHEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEOT!!!!!!

[65bug]

The guy at Bill and Steve's in Downey sold it to me. Told me it would work great for what I was doing. Adding disk brakes to a 65 bug!

[65bug]

I got the "Toe In" done on my front end today! What a difference. Car tracks nice and straight and the wheel sits in the middle nicely when driving down the road!!! Fells much better. I was Toe's in about a inch too far!