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July 2023 Daily Blogs
July 17th | Rockford, Illinois | 2204 Stage 1 RAISED PRObuilt Beam on a 1969 Baja
    Got a call from Mr. Grimm who wanted to lift his 1969 Baja up front and noticed that we had a RAISED PRObuilt Beam available for his model. He was still running the factory 4x130mm bolt pattern on some custom wheels and he already had a bolt on disc brake kit for it. The PRO's suggested a part number 2204 Stage 1 RAISED PRObuilt Beam with adjustable shocks and OEM PRObuilt Steering Box System. It was built in stock width and actually raises the vehicle 3.5" or 89mm and every PRObuilt Beam has adjusters in it to get the vehicle to the ride height that he envisioned. One thing to remember with Ball Joint VW's, the ball joints only have so much articulation in the joints. All the way up, they are locked out. All the way down, they are locked out. Giving some room to allow the suspension to adjust to the road is recommended. Also, the adjustable shocks allow for the driver to tune in the ride quality of the vehicle, something that was never an option before. "I’ve been driving the car lately and everything’s smooth as silk!" - Mr Grimm stated in an email. The PRO's only have one goal in our quest to rid the industry of subpar products. WoW our clients with our education, quality of product and quality of ride. Mr. Grimm, welcome to the #AirkewldArmy.2204 Stage 1 RAISED PRObuilt Beam - https://www.airkewld.com/Stage-1-PRObuilt-Raised-PRObuilt-Beam-p/2204.htm
July 14th | Montreal Quebec Canada | 3 Piece PRObuilt Smoothies are headed to the French Quarter
   Having an 8 year relationship with a company gives you a bit of confidence knowing that you are doing something right. That is what Airkewld has with Jaysen over at CAR Leasing in Montreal. Currently, Jaysen and his team are working on a 1963 Double cab Type 2 that they just got done doing air ride on and now, they needed the Ultimate Wheel package for it but he had a unique request. White metallic powder on the centers and boy was that the right choice! These wheels are bad a$$! The PRO's went with a 17x6.5" up front with a 1.5" lip and a 17x7 with a 2.5" lip in the rear. To get something similar, you are looking at $3800 for the exact set up, powder coating and polishing included with free shipping in the lower 48 states and competitive shipping rates worldwide. Who's ready to get a set going for their Classic Volkswagen? Build your set here - https://www.airkewld.com/3-Piece-PRObuilt-Smoothi...
July 13th | Alaska | Yes, the #AirkewldArmy is even in Alaska!
In a matter of weeks, the PRO's received orders from the Hansmeyer brothers, both in Alaska, which is not a common thing, but doing business in AK has happened in the last 21 years.
J has a 1962 Beetle on which we did a Stage 1 PRObuilt Beam and GEN 1 BAD Series Brakes.
P has a 1968 Squareback, the vehicle we are featuring here today; we did a Stage 1 PRObuilt Beam along with GEN 2 BAD Series Brakes front and rear.
P has a 1967 Beetle. We did a Stage 1 PRObuilt Beam, PRObuilt Freeway Flyer Transaxle, and GEN 2 BAD Series Brakes, front and rear on.
The loyalty that this family has for the PRO's is unrivaled. Soon, I will make it to Alaska to break bread and drink some whiskey with my friends, the #AirkewldArmy.
P's 1968 Squareback is super clean. So clean that we are featuring it on our blog. P is running Fuchs, front, and rear that come in different offsets, so the fit was critical with this one. 15x4.5's upfront and 15x6s in the rear. The Stage 1 PRObuilt Beam was equipped with Sport Shocks and dropped spindles along with GEN 2 BAD Series Brakes in Porsche pattern, Wilwood 2 piston Red calipers up front, and the Rear Disc Brake Kit featured match painted brake calipers for the best functionality.
Stage 1 PRObuilt Beam - https://www.airkewld.com/Stage-1-PRObuilt-Adjustable-Beam-Complete-2206-p/2206.htm $2880
GEN 2 BAD Series Front Brakes - https://www.airkewld.com/Classic-VW-Front-Disc-Brake-Kit-4153G2-p/4153g2.htm $1457.90
GEN 2 BAD Series Rear Brakes - https://www.airkewld.com/Gen-1-Classic-VW-Type-3-Rear-Disc-Conversion-p/4750.htm $1673.92
Shipping was even FREE to Alaska to an R&L Terminal out there. So my fellow Alaskan #AirkewldArmy, we got you!
July 12th | Airkewld HQ | The Kindigit Design's Performance Package
The PRO's got a call from Dan in Utah who had just got done watching an episode of Bitchin' Rides featuring the little sister, built by Dave King and his team at Kindigit Design.
He wanted to emulate it the overall stance on his 1956 Beetle with some slight changes, which everyone over at the HQ loves! Dan is going to install a 190hp engine in it so the PRO's needed to thing PERFORMANCE with this one.
Up front, the PRO's went with a Stage 1 PRObuilt Beam that has been narrowed 4 inches and also has drop spindles. We went with adjustable shocks front and rear and an OEM PRObuilt Steering System that will last for years!
GEN 2 BAD Series Brakes were installed on the beam in a Wide 5 pattern along with 4 piston Wilwood calipers in grey. This thing will handle, stop and can be tuned to his liking. I love it.
We opted for the PRObuilt Performance Transaxles with short axle to give the VW a deeper dish in the rear on his 17" Two-Piece Smoothies. More on those later. We went with a 4.11 ring and pinion and the overdrive 4th out of a super beetle to keep his monster motor from over revving at high speeds.
Mated to the trans, we installed a GEN 2 BAD Series Disc Brakes in the rear with an ebrake caliper, we opted for no color due to not being able to see them through the wheels. But should he decide to not install the caps, them GEN 2 matching center caps are going to look epic!
Back to the 2 Piece Smoothies, we went with RAL3020 (red) on the hoops and went with the machined center....drool. The PRO's wrapped them in Kumho's, 205-40's up front and 215-45's in the rear.
Everything Dan needed to do this install was purchased to allow him to have an adult Lego set from the PRO's at Airkewld. If you want to do something similar to your 1949-1965 Beetle, here are some links and costs.
17" Smoothies - https://www.airkewld.com/5-Lug-Smoothie-17-Inch-Wheel-9001-p/9001.htm - $3953.72 as pictured
Stage 1 PRObuilt Beam with Adjustable shocks and install kit - $3454.35 as pictured
GEN 2 BAD Series Front Disc Brake Kit - $1699 as pictured
Installing Brakes onto the PRObuilt Beam - $75.00
GEN 2 BAD Series Rear Disc Brake Kit - $1640.42
PRObuilt Performance Transaxle - Short Axle - $3354.00
Installing Brakes on the transaxle - $185.00
Matching rear Adjustable Shocks - $558.90
$14,500 shipped in the lower 48 states if it is picked up from a local R&L Terminal near you or $15,000 to your residence in the lower 48 states. We have great rates worldwide as well.
July 7th | Airkewld HQ | The GAS Monkey Garage Package ELEVATED
The PRO's got contacted by Performance Auto Color in Fenton, Missouri to outfit his 1960 Beetle with the PRObuilt goods.
We now have financing so you get the dream drive train for your favorite Volkswagen today! Details within the checkout process.
July 5th | Debate | Do the products you use affect the value of your Classic VW?
Meet Mr. Fields, the owner of this amazing 1955 Ragtop Volkswagen Beetle.
https://airkewld.co/MrFields
I ran across this post of his incredible ride for sale and thought, at the price he is asking, the car is an epic deal. He’s asking $65k.
To reproduce this exact car today, it’s six figures at a minimum. Can this car be built for less? Of course. Can the amount of feet you step away from the car change the overall appreciated value? Yep, in the wrong way.
What do you think? Does the quality of parts you use affect the appreciated value of the Classic VW?
Tuesday July 4th | 🗺️ Huntington Beach, California 📍| Mr. William’s Sexy Sexty-Seven
Got a call from a company in HB that had Tyler’s 67 in hand and wanted a set of #PRObuilt Three Piece Smoothies. He already had a Porsche pattern disc brakes and a short axle transaxle installed.
We came up with a plan to install both a 4” Ultimate Beam and both front and rear air ride kits at the same time of the wheels. They decided to use their own air management. (Not recommended)
Up front, we went with a 17x6.5 wheel with a 205/40-17 tire and the rear we went with 17x8.5 with a 215/45-17 tire. 1.5” lip up front and 4” in the rear. Centers were coated in RAL3001.
4” Ultimate Beam ttps://www.airkewld.com/Ultimate-Adjustable-Front-Beam-2100-p/2100.htm - $815
In my opinion, it’s perfect. What do you think?
Monday July 3rd | Airkewld HQ | Swing Axle Air Ride Installation on a 1958 Ragtop Beetle
A Miller-matic 185 was used to get the job done, we have used this specific welder since 1997-8, an absolute beast. On a wire speed of 30, gas at 29 and heat on a number 3, I got to tacking everything in place, then fully welding it out ready for clean up.
Sunday July 2nd | Airkewld HQ | 1958 Classic VW Beetle Chassis Air Ride Mock Up
Working on a 1958 Ragtop Beetle Chassis from an amazing friend, DJTonyG. The PRO’s are installing a Complete PRObuilt Air Ride Kit - 1050 on it which comes with a Stage 2 PRObuilt Beam that is narrowed 4” and has our PRObuilt steering system on it. They installed a set of GEN 2 BAD Series Brakes in Wide 5 to get some rollers on the repanned chassis.
A PRObuilt Performance Transaxle with short axles was used in the back, also with GEN 2 disc brakes and solid mounts. Sometime in this chassis life, someone updated the nose cone mount, which caught me off guard. Takes a totally different nose cone and trans mount. But we got it figured out.
The Classic VW rear swing axle rear air ride kit is be utilized as we bolted the shorter shocks on with our stainless shocks bolts. They used stainless hardware to affix the trans to the spring plates for the exact fit we were after.
Tomorrow, we start welding.
Saturday July 1st, 2023 | Airkewld HQ | Setting up PRObuilt Spindles on PRObuilt Beams with the right tools
Weekend Warrior I am, I went into the shop this weekend, and you could hear a pin drop, a weird site for sure, as the TEAM has grown tremendously over the last year.
Part of my Zen is enjoying the assembling Classic Volkswagen Suspension, which is weird. Having the right tools to figure out math problems accurately makes me feel amazing. Today, I assembled two Stage 1 PRObuilt Link Pin beams, 4" narrowed with Adjustable RideTech shocks and PRObuilt Drum Drop Spindles.
The upper and lower arms are not parallel, which is by design. Not from me, but VW. Measuring that offset between the edges takes a couple of straight edges and an mm gauge or the Matra VW 270A or our NEW tool, the Matra VW 270A RX, with the reusable Link Pin Chart with a grease pen.
5.5mm on the left and 7mm on the right, ideally spec'd out.
Because the PRObuilt Link Pin arms are QC'd (Quality Controlled), and the Carriers are QC'd, along with using quality German king pins and link pins, this assembly went together effortlessly. We will get into our quality control inspection later, but preparation is crucial in getting the outcome you want.
Stage 1 PRObuilt Beam - https://www.airkewld.com/Stage-1-PRObuilt-Adjusta... - $3054+
PRObuilt Drum Drop Spindles - https://www.airkewld.com/Classic-VW-PRO-Built-Dru... - $672+
Reusable Link Pin Chart - https://www.airkewld.com/Link-Pin-Chart-p/2441f.h... - $22.95
PRObuilt Link Pin Arm Set - https://www.airkewld.com/PRO-Built-Arm-Set-1949-6... - $395+
Matra VW 270A RX Tool - https://www.airkewld.com/Matra-VW-270-A-RX-Versio... - $38+
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