Porsche 944 non-turbo wheels and brakes install.

I have a 79 VW Bus and I want to install early Porsche 944 non-turbo wheels, and brakes. I have heard so many different ways it can (should) be done that I am now confused. I'd like to know the most efficient (cheapest) way to do the install? I still have to buy wheels, and tires, and that's going to cost at least $1,000US by itself. The last of my Porsche brake parts have arrived! Now I have the following parts in hand:

Front Porsche hubs
Front Porsche spindles
Front Porsche rotors
Front Porsche calipers (with speedo. cable hole)
Front Porsche brake shoes
Rear Porsche beam (complete)
Rear Porsche calipers
Rear Porsche rotors
Rear Porsche brake shoes

What other parts do I need? I heard that some company(s) can alter my parts. Is there a company (preferred in the US) I can send my parts to and they set it up to fit my 79 Bus? Is this just a straight bolt on now that I have all my parts? Do I have everything I need now? Please explain step-by-step what I need to do next. I still don't know all the VW terms, and acronyms so please explain in detail what I need, and what I need to do next. Personally, I will be preparing some cosmetic things on this thread to the parts I already have. I will be painting and sealing he calipers, and other brake parts so stay tuned to see my first paint job ever! Also, I will be posting more info., options, and directions here so check back for more updates. I would like to have a clear, "How-To" post, so others may follow in my footsteps with clarity, or the ability to modify to there liking what I will have already done. I hope to have a finished product by May - June 2013. We have a huge, aircooled, car-show, (Bugout) here on the East Coast at the end of May but I'm pretty sure I won't make it due to a Family reunion, and a Baby on the way so, end of June is more likely than May, but May would be nice! Here are pics of the parts I have now, enjoy!

 

For my fronts I used prototype bay drum spindles , you can buy or make a kit that includes a caliper mounting bracket and the spacers needed to space the wheel bearings on the early vw spindle ... You can't use the Porsche spindles . I think you may also get the caliper mounting kit for late bay spindles but not sure on this , Google is your friend.

 

Good info. 1281! I tried Google, but got confused. Seems like there are a few different ways you can make them work?

Any other good info? I know your out there???

 

Look what I found!!! Going to give them a call tomorrow and maybe place an order...

http://vdubengineering.com/

 

http://vdubengineering.com/products/brake-parent/type2/944na-kit-for-63-67-bus/

I made a similar thing .... hence why i used prototype bay spindles , the caliper mount uses the drum brake holes

send Paul Weeding a pm he`s more clued up than me ... i think he used late spindles and fabbed his own bracket !

all this said i don`t think they are that much better than stock bay brakes ..

 

I've talked to Paul and he is a tremendously, good source for my project. If I can use my late bay spindles, it will also work out, and a little less modifications. I figure, $180 for the late bay, spindle kit, $700 for wheels, $300 for tires (195/45/17, and 205/45/17) and $335 for vdubengineering drop spindles (I have a set of Porsche spindles to send in with my bus ones). Transporterhause adjustable spring plates for $400, and I'm good!

Still unsure of how to mount the rear 944 na calipers, and rotors???

 

Still unsure of how to mount the rear 944 na calipers, and rotors???

Pauls your man again

a few ways to do it . fit the whole porsche arms or fab your own backplate etc .
Not having tons of money to spend on my bus i made it .
here is a link to readers rides (my bus ) i have a few other pics at home but the way i did it suited me as it cost me next to nothing .Its all fitted and finished now .http://www.thelatebay.com/index.php?threads/rhd-dec-72-westfalia-continential.587/
There are a few kits on the market even some in the US but all too pricey for me ( wife would kill me )

 

Contact Lime79 on here or: www.lime79.com

We fitted Porsche Boxster callipers and hubs to his bus. He dealt with a company in the states at:
www.vdubengineering.com

All the details can be found on Limes website.

 

Ah, 1281... I am no where near that level of fabricating. That is some amazing work you have done! I can remove the motor, change a spark plug or two, I welded up my adjusters in my beam (first time) and that's about it. I wish I had half your skills. I'll be giving vdubengineering a call tomorrow afternoon. I looked on there site, and I see the kit for the front, I don't see any kit for the rear. I'm sure they have something, or can at least point me in the right direction.

 

That lime79 is amazing!

 

There's a thing. And when you've done the rears, you can rest secure in the knowledge that the compensator "switches" them off under heavy braking anyway. I'm not a brake expert and probably wrong, but personally I wouldn't be too quick to assume that brakes made for a lightweight car would be any better than brakes made for a heavy van.

 

you may be right zed but if no one did anything different then we`d all be driving around in identical vans . Personally i think its great and i wish there were more technical threads and engineering stuff on here rather than the more sillier threads . Sure if things don`t work first time then find a way around or fix

 

I agree it's interesting and I enjoyed following your build - your skills are beyong mine. However I wonder whether people may expect too much - it's not a cheap thing to do, even if it is satisfying.

 

I have always waisted money on cars... My bus is no different. I like to modify, very often not for function, but for looks and the challenge. I like to dare to be different. I also like to have only disk brakes on all my cars. My VW cabriolet was swapped with disk brakes in the rear. It had drums originally. I like to be different, if for no other reason.

 

Ah see I fitted mine for the gen fuch and didn't wat to run adapters . I have to make it as I can't justify the money plus engineering is my day job so I can do the odd bit . It does get frustrating that it takes me so long though .

 

So, this weekend (wife willing) I'll start prepping my calipers, and rotors for paint. I'll also contact VDubEngineering tomorrow and report here what is said. However, if your looking for prices I will not be able to post that information. You will have to contact him yourself for that. If I understand correctly, I can send in my Bus, and Porsche spindles and VDubEngineering can modify them to drop 4 inches in height, fit Porsche brakes and wheels, and install directly onto my Bus. As far as the rears are concerned I have no clue what's involved with them. I have heard that the rears are easier to do/modify to fit Porsche brakes and wheels. Before I do all this I want to make sure I have purchased my wheels, tires, brakelines, and whatever is necessary for a master cylinder. I'm about $200 away from ordering my wheels at least. Im looking at Fuch Reps. in 17x7 sizes. I'm hoping the company I order from has 17x5.5, or 17x6 for the front. Saturday is looking like fun!

 

mate the fronts are a walk in the park compared to the rears , to do my fronts cost me £60 for earlybay spindles ,£120 for new discs used calipers , £38 pads , £40 custom lenght stainless braided brake hoses, £12 new bearings , i fabbed the caliper bracket and bearing spacers . £270
Rears cost ...pads £40 ,used discs and calipers £100 , brake lines £20 , new wheel bearings £43 , £15 caliper bolts and i made the rest ......£!75 if you dont cout the wheel bearings
Any pics or help pic wise on the fronts let me know .

 

We've covered this... book kerb weights place a 944 and a bay within 75kg of each other (with the 944 being heavier)

I'll take you out in the fish when she's back on the road, see what you think of the brakes then

 

Likewise with me lovely servoed drum brakes.
I'd forgotten about the relative weights - quite surpring to build such a heavy sports car?

 

Big water cooled engine in them... plus front engine, and propshaft driven gearbox in the rear!!

Also being a porsche, I bet there is a ton of sound deadening in it!!