Swing axle to IRS conversion

[catbox]

Your link is exactly what I plan on doing to my car.
Thank you very much for sharing it.
Peter
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"...these cars were preferred by the racers because the strut front suspension results in far superior handling than the regular torsion bar front end..." - Keith Seume.

[Yabbadubbadoo]

If you have the resources and patience I'd recommend salvaging some original pivot boxes from an IRS sub frame. It's not easy but they have a kink in them that does not exist on the aftermarket boxes. That means they sit square on the torsion housing instead of coming in at an angle. Also means less notching into the frame horns. Overall I'd say they fit a bit nicer and apart from the initial few hours to cut and carefully grind them off the old beam without losing any metal I'd say they look a little easier to fit.
You can check out a similar thread I did on the experience if you want to see the difference between original aftermarket pivot boxes. As I said its a small difference but one you might want to consider.

This is the thread.
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=554991

[catbox]

[Clatter]

The OP's method using arms leaves a bit too much room for error, IMHO.
They are slotted to allow adjustment.

The brackets you buy for a beetle need a bit of fettling to get to work with a type 3.

I'll rent you my jigs for $40, plus deposit and shipping...
They are here:

http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=4...p;start=20
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Bus Motor Build

I have excellent news for the world...
There is no such thing as patina.
It does not exist!

[catbox]

This is just the information I came in here today to seek out.

I will be planting a 2332 into my IRS square.
I have contacted a source for the swingaxle sub frame.

This should be fun.
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"...these cars were preferred by the racers because the strut front suspension results in far superior handling than the regular torsion bar front end..." - Keith Seume.

[GjMan]

John at Aircooled rents jigs.

[stevehenderson]

Herd someone sells a jig?

[gimpy60]

Max, the op didn't do a very good job of fitting the brackets. I used t-1 brackets, made jigs, fitted very carefully (on & off many, many times) so the weld joint fit as factory. The problem with welding on the rear motor hangers is that there is some extra bracing inside the body to support said hangers. There is a lot more work involved than meets the eye for it to be proper. I flopped my control arms, dropped the car about 4", now in the process of "mini-tubbing" to clear the tires. Looks good tho. .............
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How the hell ya spost ta fix it, ya don't even know how it works boy

[vlad01]

[vlad01]

this modification coupled with kafer bars is ultimately the strongest setup you can get on a type 3. either stock setups by them selves are piss weak.

[Brent]

[Max Welton]

Not to put the flyswatter to Tinker-Bell, but those horns look seriously weekened by the cut out sections.

Max
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1967 Type-3 Fastback
Under the Knife https://shoptalkforums.com/viewtopic.php?f=24&t=151582
Home Stretch https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=767836

[9mmPKR]

Does everything mount/fit properly with this IRS Swap?

Please update this post.. BTT please.

[ozinbc]

Good to see - will be doing the same but have heard you need to pound the frame horns a little for the drive shafts to clear? have you fitted the gearbox/drive shafts as a trial?

regards, Steve
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the invisible and the non existent look very much alike

[Bobnotch]

[jimmybo1313]

What IRS components did you have to purchase? Do the IRS spring plates bolt right up to the swing axle sub-frame? Are the torsion bars interchangable on the swing axle and IRS? (Can you use either one or is there a difference and what would it be?) How did you aline the rear wheels? Thanks

[GjMan]

All you purists, relax. You can always return the car to its original configuration by removing that awful, bastardized IRS subframe and installing a SA subframe. No harm done. And when you do it this way, you don't have to alter the car body by welding in the IRS rear engine mounts.

I once did this conversion, but I did not cut metal out of the frame horns to make the IRS brackets clear. Rather, I kept heating the horn metal with a torch and carefully pounding it in with a large-face hammer until I had enough room. No holes to weld up afterward.

[bobskulll]

I'm in the process of doing this too. I got the irs tranny mount in straight, but now I have to pull my subframe and do the tricky part of getting everything aligned before I weld the arms in place. Looks good! What are your plans for the mount?
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ddb member #9

[moose130]

I did the same conversion on a T1 using T3 parts.

Only difference is I made a jig to hold the brackets in the right spot.

Probably do the same again when i get my '65 rhd Notch (Porsche suspension and brakes on that one!)

[73notch]