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TheApocalyptican Samba Member
Joined: August 19, 2022 Posts: 5 Location: Way Upstate NY
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Posted: Fri Aug 19, 2022 6:42 am Post subject: Will a Ghia rear subframe fit? |
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New to the VW scene and thesamba. It's actually my girls 68 Bug. It's currently a manual trans, but we have already picked up the whole autostick setup that she wants. Car has a swing axle right now. Found someone in town that has a 73 Ghia rear irs subframe that looks based on pictures to be correct, but since the Ghia is wider, I'm worried the subframe would be as well. |
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raydog Samba Member
Joined: February 09, 2006 Posts: 1163 Location: Cape Cod
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Posted: Fri Aug 19, 2022 7:09 am Post subject: Re: Will a Ghia rear subframe fit? |
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How complete is this "subframe?" Are you talking about the I beam with suspension and drivetrain? The Ghia floorpans are wider, so short answer is "no" it will not be a direct fit, unless you replace the pans. Even then, you will still have a lot of work ahead of you, as far as converting the body over to accept the additional wiring reservoir, and all of the other associated parts. How ambitious are you? _________________ Come on, It's not rocket science. KISS |
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Q-Dog Samba Member
Joined: April 05, 2010 Posts: 8700 Location: Sunset, Louisiana
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Posted: Fri Aug 19, 2022 8:02 am Post subject: Re: Will a Ghia rear subframe fit? |
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Offroaders do IRS conversions all the time. Just need add the brackets for the torsion arms. There are jigs available to rent to do the conversion. no need to chop up the chassis (and keep it square/level) and a lot less welding to just add the brackets. _________________ Brian
'69 Dune Buggy
'69 Beetle Convertible
'70 Beetle |
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TheApocalyptican Samba Member
Joined: August 19, 2022 Posts: 5 Location: Way Upstate NY
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Posted: Fri Aug 19, 2022 11:40 am Post subject: Re: Will a Ghia rear subframe fit? |
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So it sounds like no which is what I thought. The subframe is the whole rear suspension setup minus the drivetrain. But you confirmed what I thought that it will be wider. My whole reason would be to just unbolt what is there and replace vs the brackets and the jig. I may end up going that way unless I stumble across a bug irs rear. I'm expecting a fair amount of work to convert to the autostick, so anywhere I could save some work could be helpful, but the brackets and jig might actually be the least work. Thanks guys! |
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TDCTDI Samba Advocatus Diaboli
Joined: August 31, 2013 Posts: 12861 Location: North Carolina
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Posted: Fri Aug 19, 2022 12:10 pm Post subject: Re: Will a Ghia rear subframe fit? |
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There isn’t a rear “subframe” on a Ghia or beetle. The rear torsion housing is the same, but it’s not a bolt on unit without replacing the whole pan (or chassis)
The entire pan is removable from both cars, & the pan halves (the floor boards) are wider on a Ghia & these can be cut off & replaced with ones for a beetle.
If you have a “rear subframe”, it’s probably from a TypeIII Fastback/Squareback/Notchback or even an extremely rare TypeIII Ghia. These are NOT a bolt in application for a beetle. _________________ Everybody born before 1975 has a story, good, bad, or indifferent, about a VW.
GOFUNDYOURSELF, quit asking everyone to do it for you!
An air cooled VW will make you a hoarder.
Do something, anything, to your project every day, and you will eventually complete it. |
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Q-Dog Samba Member
Joined: April 05, 2010 Posts: 8700 Location: Sunset, Louisiana
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Posted: Sat Aug 20, 2022 7:43 am Post subject: Re: Will a Ghia rear subframe fit? |
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TheApocalyptican wrote: |
So it sounds like no which is what I thought. The subframe is the whole rear suspension setup minus the drivetrain. But you confirmed what I thought that it will be wider. My whole reason would be to just unbolt what is there and replace vs the brackets and the jig. I may end up going that way unless I stumble across a bug irs rear. I'm expecting a fair amount of work to convert to the autostick, so anywhere I could save some work could be helpful, but the brackets and jig might actually be the least work. Thanks guys! |
This is a 1970 Beetle chassis. There is no subframe. If you want to use the Ghia back half you have to cut off your existing chassis and weld on the new Ghia back half. You get to decide where to cut but understand the VIN is on the back half of the tunnel. Or you can just add the brackets to what you have.
These are trailing arm brackets.
_________________ Brian
'69 Dune Buggy
'69 Beetle Convertible
'70 Beetle |
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didget69 Samba Member
Joined: July 22, 2004 Posts: 4927 Location: Raleigh, North Carolina
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Posted: Sun Aug 21, 2022 6:55 am Post subject: Re: Will a Ghia rear subframe fit? |
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TheApocalyptican wrote: |
New to the VW scene and thesamba. It's actually my girls 68 Bug. It's currently a manual trans, but we have already picked up the whole autostick setup that she wants. Car has a swing axle right now. Found someone in town that has a 73 Ghia rear irs subframe that looks based on pictures to be correct, but since the Ghia is wider, I'm worried the subframe would be as well. |
... you don't want an Autostick. You'll need more parts than you realize to swap out from a manual trans. And many Autostick specific parts are thin on the ground.
bnc _________________ I never found the need to impress people with any mechanic certifications, trophies or track wins... unless it was for Mom to post on the refrigerator door. |
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