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bugba69 Samba Member
Joined: May 07, 2022 Posts: 2
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Posted: Sat May 07, 2022 9:29 am Post subject: IRS tranny on 66 Beetle |
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I've got a '66 beetle I'm thinking of switching out the swing axle tranny and replacing it with an IRS tranny. Is this a bad idea? Are there some IRS trannys that aren't compatible with the '66 frame?
For example, would something like this work on mine even though the description says it fits '69-'70?
https://socalautoparts.com/product/transmission-bu...GmEALw_wcB |
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dirtkeeper Samba Member
Joined: February 19, 2008 Posts: 3200 Location: Left of everywhere
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Posted: Sat May 07, 2022 9:37 am Post subject: Re: IRS tranny on 66 Beetle |
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No irs trans will be compatible with the 66’ unless you do considerable additional work. There are a number of things that will need to be changed or modified the biggest is that you will need trailing arms and their pivots welded in. Will need different spring plates and wheel hubs and probably all the rest of the rear end parts from a irs vehicle. |
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vwracerdave Samba Member
Joined: November 11, 2004 Posts: 15280 Location: Deep in the 405
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vwinnovator Samba Member
Joined: July 11, 2005 Posts: 1555 Location: Still doing it in the back of your VW
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Posted: Sun May 08, 2022 8:38 am Post subject: Re: IRS tranny on 66 Beetle |
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I have several IRS rear torsion housing /with control arms and spring plates, etc.. just for this purpose.
It's much easier to make a cut off at the tunnel and then weld in an IRS torsion, than to put in the pivots, and gather all the other components.
If your not confidant in doing the conversion, bring it to me. |
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esde Samba Member
Joined: October 20, 2007 Posts: 5927 Location: central rust belt
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Posted: Sun May 08, 2022 9:29 am Post subject: Re: IRS tranny on 66 Beetle |
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vwinnovator wrote: |
It's much easier to make a cut off at the tunnel and then weld in an IRS torsion, than to put in the pivots, and gather all the other components. |
Easier? I would rather weld in pivots than have to splice or reroute the 4 cable guide tubes and the fuel line. If you're doing the job you should be doing the bushings too, so it's not really extra work to take it apart, IMO _________________ modok wrote:
Bent cranks are silent but gather no moss. I mean, ah, something like that. |
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FarmerBill Samba Member
Joined: July 25, 2017 Posts: 762 Location: New England
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Dan the workingstiff Samba Member
Joined: July 03, 2006 Posts: 824 Location: Downriver, MI
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Posted: Sun May 08, 2022 9:38 am Post subject: Re: IRS tranny on 66 Beetle |
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I made a jig and installed pivots. _________________ '69 Beetle
'66 FG buggy
My other air-cooled's
'76 IH 1200
'75 IH 1200 |
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vwracerdave Samba Member
Joined: November 11, 2004 Posts: 15280 Location: Deep in the 405
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Posted: Sun May 08, 2022 12:04 pm Post subject: Re: IRS tranny on 66 Beetle |
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You can rent the jig to weld on the pivot from aircooled.net
http://vwparts.aircooled.net/IRS-Diagonal-Arm-Pivo...g-rent.htm _________________ 2017 Street Comp Champion - Thunder Valley Raceway Park - Noble, OK
2010 Sportsman ET Champion - Mid-America Dragway - Arkansas City, KS
1997 Sportsman ET Champion - Thunder Valley Raceway Park - Noble ,OK
Featured in Dec. 2001 HOT VW's Magazine page 63
Watch my racing video's http://www.youtube.com/user/okvwracer/videos |
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RCP Phx Samba Member
Joined: November 20, 2021 Posts: 496 Location: Phoenix,AZ
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Posted: Sun May 08, 2022 12:30 pm Post subject: Re: IRS tranny on 66 Beetle |
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vwinnovator wrote: |
I have several IRS rear torsion housing /with control arms and spring plates, etc.. just for this purpose.
It's much easier to make a cut off at the tunnel and then weld in an IRS torsion, than to put in the pivots, and gather all the other components.
If your not confidant in doing the conversion, bring it to me. |
You are nuts! I've done several conversions with the "weld-in" brackets and it is way easier, stronger, and "safer" than a total pan cut would be! |
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Dusty1 Samba Member
Joined: April 16, 2004 Posts: 1365
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Posted: Sun May 08, 2022 3:38 pm Post subject: Re: IRS tranny on 66 Beetle |
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This is what makes internet forums fun. OP asks exactly one question total often never to be heard from again.
I'd ask why do you want to swap your swingaxle? Is it broken? Someone tell you you have to have a "freeway fliyer?"
bugba69 wrote: |
I've got a '66 beetle I'm thinking of switching out the swing axle tranny and replacing it with an IRS tranny. Is this a bad idea? Are there some IRS trannys that aren't compatible with the '66 frame? |
Exactly zero IRS transmissions are compatible with '66. Takes some welding and extra parts at a minimum.
We routinely do the conversion because we have far more IRS transaxles than we do old swings. We like IRS in the back and link pin in the front 'cuz that's what survives off- road.
Whether it's good or bad is subjective. If you pay $1300 for a rebuilt transaxle, if you have to pay someone to weld in the trailing arm brackets, if you need to buy the trailing arms, the axles, the torsion bars and the spring plates and then pay to have all that installed... yeah, it may be a bad idea. |
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vwinnovator Samba Member
Joined: July 11, 2005 Posts: 1555 Location: Still doing it in the back of your VW
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Posted: Sun May 08, 2022 4:15 pm Post subject: Re: IRS tranny on 66 Beetle |
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RCP Phx wrote: |
vwinnovator wrote: |
I have several IRS rear torsion housing /with control arms and spring plates, etc.. just for this purpose.
It's much easier to make a cut off at the tunnel and then weld in an IRS torsion, than to put in the pivots, and gather all the other components.
If your not confidant in doing the conversion, bring it to me. |
You are nuts! I've done several conversions with the "weld-in" brackets and it is way easier, stronger, and "safer" than a total pan cut would be! |
does this mean no one should shorten chassis for dune buggies or kit cars either
or do torsion raises for drag cars....
safer, stronger... guess that depends on the quality of who does the work... |
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vwinnovator Samba Member
Joined: July 11, 2005 Posts: 1555 Location: Still doing it in the back of your VW
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Posted: Sun May 08, 2022 4:22 pm Post subject: Re: IRS tranny on 66 Beetle |
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esde wrote: |
vwinnovator wrote: |
It's much easier to make a cut off at the tunnel and then weld in an IRS torsion, than to put in the pivots, and gather all the other components. |
Easier? I would rather weld in pivots than have to splice or reroute the 4 cable guide tubes and the fuel line. If you're doing the job you should be doing the bushings too, so it's not really extra work to take it apart, IMO |
I find it easier...
and without having to buy or rent jigs, without having to R/I control arms and spring plates multiple times to set up jigs...(the jigs which are close, but have room for error)
If you start with the back 1/2 of a complete IRS chassis, It's pretty straight forward. |
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RickS Samba Member
Joined: May 05, 2005 Posts: 420 Location: Speonk, NY
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Posted: Mon May 09, 2022 4:30 am Post subject: Re: IRS tranny on 66 Beetle |
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vwinnovator wrote: |
esde wrote: |
vwinnovator wrote: |
It's much easier to make a cut off at the tunnel and then weld in an IRS torsion, than to put in the pivots, and gather all the other components. |
Easier? I would rather weld in pivots than have to splice or reroute the 4 cable guide tubes and the fuel line. If you're doing the job you should be doing the bushings too, so it's not really extra work to take it apart, IMO |
I find it easier...
and without having to buy or rent jigs, without having to R/I control arms and spring plates multiple times to set up jigs...(the jigs which are close, but have room for error)
If you start with the back 1/2 of a complete IRS chassis, It's pretty straight forward. |
Do you do this with the body on? Do you use a frame table? How do you jig it to keep it square? |
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Glenn Mr. 010
Joined: December 25, 2001 Posts: 76760 Location: Sneaking up behind you
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Posted: Mon May 09, 2022 5:39 am Post subject: Re: IRS tranny on 66 Beetle |
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bugba69 wrote: |
I've got a '66 beetle I'm thinking of switching out the swing axle tranny and replacing it with an IRS tranny. Is this a bad idea? Are there some IRS trannys that aren't compatible with the '66 frame?
For example, would something like this work on mine even though the description says it fits '69-'70?
https://socalautoparts.com/product/transmission-bu...GmEALw_wcB |
The simple answer is... NO, it's will not just bolt in.
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Looks like this topic has morphed into "how to convert a swingaxle pan to a IRS pan. _________________ Glenn
74 Beetle Specs | 74 Beetle Restoration | 2180cc Engine
"You may not get what you pay for, but you always pay for what you get"
Member #1009
#BlueSquare |
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RCP Phx Samba Member
Joined: November 20, 2021 Posts: 496 Location: Phoenix,AZ
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Posted: Mon May 09, 2022 6:21 am Post subject: Re: IRS tranny on 66 Beetle |
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You could convert the irs trans to swing-axle!
Last edited by RCP Phx on Mon May 09, 2022 8:05 am; edited 1 time in total |
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vwinnovator Samba Member
Joined: July 11, 2005 Posts: 1555 Location: Still doing it in the back of your VW
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Posted: Mon May 09, 2022 7:56 am Post subject: Re: IRS tranny on 66 Beetle |
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RickS wrote: |
vwinnovator wrote: |
esde wrote: |
vwinnovator wrote: |
It's much easier to make a cut off at the tunnel and then weld in an IRS torsion, than to put in the pivots, and gather all the other components. |
Easier? I would rather weld in pivots than have to splice or reroute the 4 cable guide tubes and the fuel line. If you're doing the job you should be doing the bushings too, so it's not really extra work to take it apart, IMO |
I find it easier...
and without having to buy or rent jigs, without having to R/I control arms and spring plates multiple times to set up jigs...(the jigs which are close, but have room for error)
If you start with the back 1/2 of a complete IRS chassis, It's pretty straight forward. |
Do you do this with the body on? Do you use a frame table? How do you jig it to keep it square? |
I have..but it's quicker with the body out of the way..
Lots of measuring.. |
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Lingwendil Samba Member
Joined: February 25, 2009 Posts: 3987 Location: Antioch, California, a block from the hood
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RCP Phx Samba Member
Joined: November 20, 2021 Posts: 496 Location: Phoenix,AZ
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Posted: Mon May 09, 2022 5:04 pm Post subject: Re: IRS tranny on 66 Beetle |
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The ring gear doesn't matter as the super diff is drilled for both patterns, but yes you are correct on the -72 double side cover cases. |
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bugba69 Samba Member
Joined: May 07, 2022 Posts: 2
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Posted: Tue May 10, 2022 11:05 am Post subject: Re: IRS tranny on 66 Beetle |
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The reason I was looking to change it to an IRS tranny was because I was thinking of lowering the back and I didn't want to create camber issues. I thought the IRS tranny would help prevent the camber issues. Since it sounds like it's not worth doing all the modification needs to convert it, how do I use a swing axle and lower the back without creating camber issues? |
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Dan Ruddock Samba Member
Joined: October 25, 2012 Posts: 3574 Location: Sarasota, in my adopted state of Florida
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Posted: Tue May 10, 2022 11:09 am Post subject: Re: IRS tranny on 66 Beetle |
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Raise the transaxle, again large a amount of work. |
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