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Mon May 02, 2005 12:31 pm

I acquired a three rib Bus Box and it looks way more beefier than the Type 1 box. What do I have to do to use this Bus Box in the 73 IRS Baja project?? Thanks The Inspector

Tue May 03, 2005 10:06 am

Hey I have done the whole conversion with the 3 rib, and it is not pretty if you do not have the right parts. If you want to do this you are going to need the bus to bug axles and the appropriate cvs. IF you are really serious, list your bugs specs and i will tell you what you need.

Tue May 03, 2005 12:30 pm

He is right, I just got done with this conversion and there is alot more to it than just a mount kit....

Axles
C.V.
Stub axles
Cutting the floor
setting up the clutch & tube
Getting the linkage right

other than that its not to hard. I have some pics and specs as well if your going to do it.....

Tue May 03, 2005 2:14 pm

I have a 3 rib sitting in my garage waiting to be thrown in. What type of clutch kit would I need? Who did you buy parts from for your conversion? Does a stock 3 rib do good off-road or would it need modification? I'll only be doing light off-roading in it. If you could send pics of your conversion that would be great. Thanks......Gary

Tue May 03, 2005 2:17 pm

One more question, What type of C.V.s did you use? I plan to use the stock trailing arms, beefed up a little. Would the stock arms accept bus C.V.s? Thanks.....

Tue May 03, 2005 2:22 pm

yes, if you used the proper stub axles

Tue May 03, 2005 10:52 pm

for low buck
use bug axle and bus cv on inside and bug stub and bug cv on out side,
To use the stock bug axle cut/lathe turn the collar off the inside end of the axle, then start looking for a thing,porsche 924/944 stub axle and change to bus or type 4 cv on both sides.

if you ever shater or hopelessly trash an axle in the middle of nowhere you can use a bug axle inplace of a swayway to get home with the collars on but... I know it works for about 600 miles if you don't beat on it (my sons misadventure)

for an easy clutch fix use the dlave cylinder from a vanagon and bracket you just need a hydraulic clutch pedal. you an use the stock but the boudon tube is hit or miss

Wed May 04, 2005 11:16 am

zerosanity03 wrote: I have a 3 rib sitting in my garage waiting to be thrown in. What type of clutch kit would I need? Who did you buy parts from for your conversion? Does a stock 3 rib do good off-road or would it need modification? I'll only be doing light off-roading in it. If you could send pics of your conversion that would be great. Thanks......Gary

As far as clutches go on this conversion, I stuck with a stock finger type pressure plate and a daiken disk and it goes fine. Although when i am hauling ass and going from 2nd to 3rd and 3rd to 4th there is some slippage, and that is why i have ordered a kennedy pressure plate and dsic from moore parts source, but i have yet to install it. My setup consists of an Hi-Po 1835 with dual kadrons and a 3-rib, running 31.5 inch tires on the back. All i can say is there is no reason for first gear unless you want to climb a tree or articulate. So my tranny is geared very low, but it is still a stock freshly rebuilt, i believe 73 bus transmision. The Bus tranny does work very good off road, but it is not as fast (top speed) as one would expect. If i could offer one piece of advice to anyone, buy the kit from mckenzies ($130) that angles the bus tranny into the tunnel giving you the stock shifting rod and giving you more ground clearance because of its angle. That was my biggest mistake, I got the cheap mounts from moore to do the conversion and you have to end up cutting up your bug, and the shift rod to make the linkage right (mine is still not right since i had to cut and modify the shift rod). As far as cvs go You can use the type 1 axel with type 2 cvs on one side and bug cvs on the other. Although personally I picked up the bug pack ones for 25 bucks that are made for the stock supension and arms with the bus tranny

Wed May 04, 2005 11:19 am

Also if anyone is interested here was the thread i started a ways back on this same thing, its pretty detailed. I will get pics maybe this weekend
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=88852&highlight=
If you are thinking of doing this conversion Please read this thread!

Wed May 04, 2005 1:00 pm

So with the expensive mount kit, I won't have to chop up the tunnel in my car right? Does the shift linkage have to be extended with this kit? Does any one sell the axles with bus cv's at one end and bug at the other so i can use the stock arms? Do the bug and bus axles have to be cut and "sliced" together or is it possible for the bus cv's to fit on the bug axles? Thanks for all the information

Wed May 04, 2005 5:28 pm

zerosanity03 wrote: So with the expensive mount kit, I won't have to chop up the tunnel in my car right? Does the shift linkage have to be extended with this kit? Does any one sell the axles with bus cv's at one end and bug at the other so i can use the stock arms? Do the bug and bus axles have to be cut and "sliced" together or is it possible for the bus cv's to fit on the bug axles? Thanks for all the information
Hey Zero,
From what i believe with the expensive mount kit allows it so you do not have to chop up the tunnel, back seat, and linkage. You do not have to exte3nd the shift linkage. As for the axels you can pick up the set you need from a parts supplier i think my set was made by bugpack. If you ask a salesman they will know what you want. And yes you can get the axel sets either for stock applications or aftermarket trailing arms. And yes the bus cvs fit on the bug axel with no cutting or splicing, what you are refering to is people cutting of the very end of each side of the axel to shorten it. I did not do it this way, but it can be done.

Wed May 04, 2005 11:17 pm

Hey thanks alot. That pretty much clarifies things for me. You guys have a lot of great information and I appreciate it!! Thanks.....Gary

Thu May 05, 2005 12:01 am

sory if I misspoke or mistyped:
the bus CV will work on a stock bug axle.
the spines are the same,the bug is slightly shorter by 1/4 inch so you cannot put the retaining clip on the end of the axle this is only a problem at full droop and with notched spring plates as the axle can pull out of the CV.

that is part of the reason swayway axles are longer than stock.
you can use the stock bug IRS axle with a 002 or 091 trany if you do not notch you spring plates you will be ok 99% of the time, you will have a problem if you go airborne and land sideways as the motor will shift and pull an axle. or go around a corner and drop the inside wheel axle in a hole then the sway arm deflects on the bushing and the engine goes the other way and the axle pulls out.

now for the other side (outside), the stub and CV and trany are prallel and the collars will push on the cv shoulders and break the cage as it is pushed onto the stub axle

for 2x3 arms the stock bus axle will work (sorry having a senior moment) 18 1nd 1/4 inch the swayway is 19 and 1/4 as there are no collars and longer it won't pull out and on compression nocollar to break the CV cage

hope this helps

Thu May 05, 2005 12:14 am

oh ya
the best thing about the granny gear (low first) in a 3 rib is the look
on the 4X4 drivers face when your hook up a tow strap and pull him out...
since you redline at 10-12 MPH you can move anything I have even towed a 30 ft church school bus out of trafffic the cops could not believe it.
its not the power but the torque.

the Mckinzee or Kartec is the way to go... you get what you pay for.
there are no bargans when you account for ther frustration and time.
bad parts cost too much even if they are free.