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Mon Oct 06, 2008 5:30 am

Hi,

Concerning split buses AND pre-'68 bugs...what's involved in a Porsche conversion?

I know there are many posts on the forum, but I'm hoping to compile a general list here.

Is a 924 the same setup?

Are all years compatible?

Which parts need to be salvaged from the Porsches?

Thanks, Nic

Mon Oct 06, 2008 6:20 am

Its real tuff on the early stuff. Things just don't interchange.

On the ball joint/IRS stuff, its a simple bolt on.

And no, the 924's are not all the same. The 924S's are.

But even in the 944, they are different. The brake calipers, pads and rotors on my 83, are not the same as the ones on my 87.

Mon Oct 06, 2008 6:33 am

Hey drscope,

OK, so let's get a bit more detailed...

My Euro '67 bug (balljoint) is now sporting a double-springplate IRS rear-end, so I should be able to take the master cylinder, rotors, and calipers from a 944, and bolt them straight-on, without clearance or fitment issues? :o :D

If I wanted to fit this 944 system to my currently-stock '67 crewcab on the other hand, what would be needed, in terms of other parts, and/or fabrication?

The donors are a '85 944, and a '84 924.

Anything else worth offering on, from these rides?

Thanks, N.

Mon Oct 06, 2008 8:06 am

try here www.germanlook.com

where it says "Tech articles", click where it says "more tech". it explains how to do many porsche to volkswagen conversions, as well as 944 brakes on linkpin and balljoint cars.

Mon Oct 06, 2008 10:44 am

Merlin, I'm sorry to say i don't have first hand experiance with this, so I can't give you direct answers.

Just make sure the 924 is a 5 lug wheel and not the 4 lug.

I believe on your ball joint, IRS car that it is a simple bolt on with a few modifications to maybe hold the caliper. But again I don't know for sure.

Tue Oct 07, 2008 12:33 am

Brilliant! Thanks guys. :)

Tue Oct 07, 2008 12:17 pm

On the rear:

On an IRS type 1 the early steel 944 rear trailing arms are a direct fit - just swap the pivot bushing with the one from the beetle. You can then use the disc brakes, etc.

-Make sure to buy 944 arms with stub axles. The 944 stub axle will accept the stock type 1 cv
-You will need to do some rigging to get the parking brake to work.
-The 944 disc rear end will add track (width) to the rear end 1/4-1/2 inch per side.

Unless you want to impress people with a Porsche logo caliper, it isn't really worth the effort for the rear. The rears are a non vented disc and the early rear 944 calipers are simple steel dual piston units. It would be a bunch easier to buy a rear disc conversion from CIP or CBPerformance in a 5x130 pattern. However, if you want to go with some fancier calipers and bigger rotors, than the 944 swap is the place to start.

Wed Oct 08, 2008 2:01 am

70 140 wrote: On the rear:

On an IRS type 1 the early steel 944 rear trailing arms are a direct fit - just swap the pivot bushing with the one from the beetle. You can then use the disc brakes, etc.

-Make sure to buy 944 arms with stub axles. The 944 stub axle will accept the stock type 1 cv
-You will need to do some rigging to get the parking brake to work.
-The 944 disc rear end will add track (width) to the rear end 1/4-1/2 inch per side.

Unless you want to impress people with a Porsche logo caliper, it isn't really worth the effort for the rear. The rears are a non vented disc and the early rear 944 calipers are simple steel dual piston units. It would be a bunch easier to buy a rear disc conversion from CIP or CBPerformance in a 5x130 pattern. However, if you want to go with some fancier calipers and bigger rotors, than the 944 swap is the place to start.

Thanks for the info.

I already have a big problem with my wheels clearing the rear fenders, and am considering a trailing arm surgery to correct it.

Part of the problem is my EMPI 8s, but I can't afford to import wheels - we have none here.

I might look into this 944 swop...

I already have discs on all corners...stock '67 up front, and Rabbit 2 at the back.

So the front ('67) is bolt-on, and the rear is more-or-less the same...fantastic. What "rigging" is required for the handbrake?

Thanks, Nic