This is an answer to an Email question I received about the suspension modifications I have done to my Notch. This will be edited, updated, and expanded to cover my Bug also, so stop back by sometime.
> Tom, you mention narrowed trailing arms.  In the photo at 
> http://home.att.net/~drsowatt/images/notchrearsuspdetaillg.jpg , I can't 
see 
> the difference.  Are these off a 924 / 944 Porsche?  Maybe the angle 
doesn't 
> show the modification, or else it was done REALLY well.  Details? 

    Yes, It has been narrowed Very Well, or it wouldn't be on my car. If you 
compare the pix to a stock arm you will see the change. There was an article 
in HVW (june 94?) that detailed the work. The bearing. carrier is removed from 
the trailing arm and moved in 26mm (just the length difference of a left 
side T3 auto axle compared to a manual trans axle), then some very clean 
gusset and fabricate type work finishes it off. The T1, T3, 924 and early steel 
944 trailing arms are almost identical and are all interchangeable. The 
Porsche arms having the provisions for a factory  anti-roll bar that can be 
easily adapted to a T1 or T3. Yes, I will have one eventually on my Notch. 
The trailing arms are available from California Imports up in B.C. Canada. 
 

    If you use Ghia rotors that are drilled for 5x130 Porsche its a bolt on 
to your disc brake front. You will be limited to 6" wheels. Lots of 
places sell these. 

    On the back you can have your hub and drum drilled for the Porsche 
pattern. Again you will be stuck with the 6" width, unless you change the 
rear axles to short bug,  pre '67. This will allow 7s in the back. I will be 
putting 16x7s on the back of my IRS T3 someday (it has narrowed trailing 
arms that take it to about the short axle length). Or you can get disc 
brakes that have the Porsche pattern. I'll have a how to on my web site 
someday showing the minor fabricate work that needs to be done to put CB's disc 
brakes w/ E-brake on a 3. 

    I have a set of American Eagle reproduction Fuchs. They are a little heavier 
than a real one but are of good quality. They are at least 10-12 years old 
and I got them at a swap meet. Two vendors had a pair each and they were a 
total of 3 different colors. But the price was right. Just shop around, I've 
picked up a lot of real Fuchs for good prices at swap meets, usually singles 
or pairs. 
 

   The above exchange was written before I got the pan, body and fenders all back together and looking like a car. I have since been able to finalize what I will be running on my Notch. The above mentioned pix is now at THIS location. With the current state of everything I have been able to install 16"x 7" Fuchs on the rear of my IRS Notch with a 205/60 tire. The fenders clear the tires marvelously, the only close spot is the shock tower and bump stop, both of which I have trimmed (pix to follow). 

  Some might be wondering if more rubber will fit under the fender. Yes, but not much!!!! A 215/60 or 50 could probably be put in there on 7" rims. What I have to use right now with the drums and 205s is a .375" spacer between the drum and the wheel. These fuchs have a 4 3/4" back spacing, standard for all Fuchs up to around 1989. This wouldn't be needed with the disc brake conversion I plan on using due to the thickness of the rotor hat. 

I am currently getting ready to install Sway Away adjustable spring plates and will add  what modifications, if any, to get all this to fit and clear. This is just about identical to what I did on my IRS Bug several years ago. The trailing arms are available from California Imports.