Building a "Country Buggy"

[Hippie]

I have access to a '66 Beetle chassis and want to know how I would put type 2 reduction gear boxes and also a bus front beam on it.
Do I need bus type 2 axles, tranny, spring plates...or can I put the gear boxes on the Beetle axles and spring plates?

In short, what all parts would I have to round up if I go this route?

I don't mind welding, but I might end up just putting adjustable coil over shocks and a little bigger tires on the Beetle chassis if I have to round up a whole gear box and axle assembly, etc.
Thanks,
Rob

[USMCord1]

Keep the Front beam that is on it. Don't try to use the bus one.
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[subybaja]

Search the Offroad section for 'reduction box'. It can be done, but it's a lot of work. Forget the bus beam. That was done briefly 30 years ago, and everyone quit as soon as aftermarket Bug parts came along.
Find a used fiberglass buggy body, slap it on, and have fun. Repair/upgrade as necessary.
Also, read the 'Information' sticky at the top of this forum.

[hotratz]

Theres a couple ways to put RGBs on a bug. The easy way is to purchase the adaptor that Bugzilla fabs up and sells Bugzilla Adaptor and notch your spring plates so they drop into the right position to bolt up to the adaptor.


Or you can take the harder route if you want the spring plates to mount around the axle tubes like they do now. You'll have to press the axle tubes out and cut the nose off the inside half of the gearbox then fab up your own adaptors.

Here's a system that vintagemxO built that bolts around the axle tubes



And heres some pics of the the process I'm presently working on to fit RGBs on mine which will also bolt around the axle tubes. I'm going to build mine to be adjustable from upright to 45 deg. to laydown position.

Had to build a jig to press the axle tubes out


Build another tool to bolt the RGB housing to so I could get a square cut on the nose.



I have a set of unused Bugzilla adaptors. If you want 'em send me a PM
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[Hippie]

Excellent info!
Thanks to all!
I did the search thing for an hour and couldn't find exactly what I was looking for.
I would make an offer on your (hotratz's) adapters but it's likely to be a couple years before we get this thing all figured out and save up the money to do it right. If you happen to still have them in a year or two......?

Still researching and deciding the suspension options right now.
Rob