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Northof49 Samba Member
Joined: July 22, 2013 Posts: 1759 Location: Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
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Posted: Wed Aug 14, 2013 7:21 am Post subject: 74 vin but swing axle? |
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My beetle pan has a 1973/74 VIN #, but has a swing axle with z bar. There are no signs of the chassis or torsion tube having been modified, cut, sectioned, etc. Any idea of what the story is on this? Also, it has a ball joint front beam. I bought this beetle, used, in the early 80's. _________________ 1958 Karmann Ghia owner |
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Q-Dog Samba Member
Joined: April 05, 2010 Posts: 8700 Location: Sunset, Louisiana
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ashman40 Samba Member
Joined: February 16, 2007 Posts: 15987 Location: North Florida, USA
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Posted: Wed Aug 14, 2013 7:54 am Post subject: |
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Yup. The US-market Beetles switched to IRS (CV joint) rear axles in 1969, but outside the US swing-axle transmissions were common all the way to the last Beetle in 2003.
My '75 has a (US '68-style) swing-axle. _________________ AshMan40
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'67 Beetle #1 {project car that never made it to the road }
'75 Beetle 1200LS (RHD Japan model) {junked due to frame rot}
'67 Beetle #2 {2019 project car - Wish me luck!} |
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Northof49 Samba Member
Joined: July 22, 2013 Posts: 1759 Location: Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
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Posted: Wed Aug 14, 2013 8:11 am Post subject: |
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Very interesting. I wonder if someone from Canada who has a similar beetle configuration can confirm the extended use of swing axle beetles here. I couldn't figure out how, or why, someone would have swapped to a swing axle. The surface of the frame is quite pristine at the rear, and I would be able to see if any splicing and welding was done to retrofit swing axle rear frame horns, or cut off old irs trailing arm mounts. _________________ 1958 Karmann Ghia owner |
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Hyperspace Samba Member
Joined: January 03, 2013 Posts: 1166 Location: South Africa
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Bob Loblaw Samba Member
Joined: August 17, 2008 Posts: 865 Location: Vancouver Island, Canada
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Posted: Wed Aug 14, 2013 8:57 am Post subject: |
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Northof49 wrote: |
Very interesting. I wonder if someone from Canada who has a similar beetle configuration can confirm the extended use of swing axle beetles here. I couldn't figure out how, or why, someone would have swapped to a swing axle. The surface of the frame is quite pristine at the rear, and I would be able to see if any splicing and welding was done to retrofit swing axle rear frame horns, or cut off old irs trailing arm mounts. |
I don't have a similar car, but after more than 25 years of slinging parts, I can verify that Canadian models did have swing axles all through the model run. Not all of 'em, but it's not uncommon. _________________ sent from a phone using poor grammar and spelling |
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Northof49 Samba Member
Joined: July 22, 2013 Posts: 1759 Location: Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
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Posted: Wed Aug 14, 2013 9:27 am Post subject: |
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Thanks. This is a great forum. So much experience here. _________________ 1958 Karmann Ghia owner |
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19super73 Hardcore Stock Nazi
Joined: October 18, 2007 Posts: 4351 Location: Cité Soleil
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Northof49 Samba Member
Joined: July 22, 2013 Posts: 1759 Location: Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
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Posted: Wed Aug 14, 2013 11:41 am Post subject: |
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The vin is:
113287xxxx _________________ 1958 Karmann Ghia owner |
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Cerot Samba Member
Joined: September 04, 2008 Posts: 284 Location: Canada!
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Posted: Wed Aug 14, 2013 11:52 am Post subject: |
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Plenty of post 68 Swing Axles up here in Canada, I just yanked one out of a 73 at the wrecker. The 73 was bought as a staff car for putting around the mill here in town, they had a fleet of them that were some kind of ultra cheap base model all with swing axle and no trim. |
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Hyperspace Samba Member
Joined: January 03, 2013 Posts: 1166 Location: South Africa
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slalombuggy Samba Member
Joined: July 17, 2010 Posts: 9147 Location: Canada
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Posted: Wed Aug 14, 2013 2:37 pm Post subject: |
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Northof49 wrote: |
Very interesting. I wonder if someone from Canada who has a similar beetle configuration can confirm the extended use of swing axle beetles here. I couldn't figure out how, or why, someone would have swapped to a swing axle. The surface of the frame is quite pristine at the rear, and I would be able to see if any splicing and welding was done to retrofit swing axle rear frame horns, or cut off old irs trailing arm mounts. |
I've owned a couple of 73 parts cars with swing axles and worked on a few others. They were considered "Standard" models which never got imported in the USA
brad |
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Joel Samba Member
Joined: September 04, 2006 Posts: 11099 Location: NSW Australia
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Posted: Wed Aug 14, 2013 4:59 pm Post subject: |
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It was only North America that got standards in IRS probably because of the stink Nader kicked up.
Europe, Mexico, Brazil, Asia, South Africa etc all got stuck with swing axle (excluding autos obviously)
They stayed swing axle here in Oz too except for the last year of production in 76 only cos they had a surplus of Super Beetle trans and engines. |
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Northof49 Samba Member
Joined: July 22, 2013 Posts: 1759 Location: Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
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Posted: Wed Aug 21, 2013 8:43 am Post subject: |
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This really makes ordering parts for the rear brakes and drive confusing. What year should I use for rear brake parts? 1968? I need e brake cables. _________________ 1958 Karmann Ghia owner |
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jhicken Samba Member
Joined: October 24, 2003 Posts: 9466 Location: Fallbrook, CA
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Posted: Wed Aug 21, 2013 9:03 am Post subject: |
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19super73 wrote: |
You sure it isn't a Euro spec car? |
Considering the OP is from Canada, I think it's safe to say that chances are, it's a Canadian car.
-jeffrey _________________ Der Kleiner Kampfwagens |
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