swing axle

[Joey]

Find the part number on the tubes - part numbers ending with an odd number is for the left side and part numbers ending with an even number is for the right side.
_________________
Joey

‘60 Kombi - '74 Bus - '79 Panel - '65 Beetle

[theblake]

[viiking]

Even though it is a buggy, it should still have the serial number on the chassis near the gearbox selector mechanism.

The first three numbers will give you the year number and may help narrow down your problem.
_________________
1968 1500 RHD Lotus White Beetle since birth. In the hospital for major surgery
1966 Lancia Flavia Pininfarina Coupe - in the waiting room
Discharged: 1983 Vanagon, 1974 1800 Microbus,1968 Low Light,1968 Type 3

[flabuggy]

It might be a 67, It's a old dune buggy. The swing axle is original. It came without a title but for some reason I thought it was a 68

[viiking]

Yes sometimes just sleeping one night clarifies all of the issues and the next morning you think "how can I be so stupid". Well it does for me anyway.

Only thing is can you elaborate more on exactly what car you have. Is is a 67 and earlier with a '68 swing axle in it or something else. I just don't know how you have that transmission in your car.

In addition my understanding is that the true '68 swing axle was a "long" axle and was different than the previous models. Shouldn't make a difference if you are using your original axles.

But this is an interesting problem. I'm sure the solution is simple and someone will chime in.
_________________
1968 1500 RHD Lotus White Beetle since birth. In the hospital for major surgery
1966 Lancia Flavia Pininfarina Coupe - in the waiting room
Discharged: 1983 Vanagon, 1974 1800 Microbus,1968 Low Light,1968 Type 3

[flabuggy]

It's the same axle and tubes that came off the car. I'm feeling kind of lost here too. I feel like I had a stroke and nothing makes sense. Thanks for all the reply's everyone. Maybe tomorrow it will make sense

[viiking]

I would say yes. Only way.

Only thing I can say is that you have the wrong part????
_________________
1968 1500 RHD Lotus White Beetle since birth. In the hospital for major surgery
1966 Lancia Flavia Pininfarina Coupe - in the waiting room
Discharged: 1983 Vanagon, 1974 1800 Microbus,1968 Low Light,1968 Type 3

[flabuggy]

The 3 bolt holes on the plate are as you described. I have swapped side to side several times and with all 3 bolts in the tube to the plate the shock mount still ends up back of the tube instead of in front. There is only one way they can bolt on, correct?

[viiking]

If you blow up the section below it might help with the orientation. Not sure if your axle tubes are like mine. Hard to tell.

_________________
1968 1500 RHD Lotus White Beetle since birth. In the hospital for major surgery
1966 Lancia Flavia Pininfarina Coupe - in the waiting room
Discharged: 1983 Vanagon, 1974 1800 Microbus,1968 Low Light,1968 Type 3

[viiking]

I have a Euro '68 with swing axle but it should be identical. I always thought US '68's came with IRS?

I went and checked the orientation of the bolts on my axle.

When looking at it (LHS) towards the brake drum from the transmission the bolt aligns as approx 11, 3, 7 o'clock.

The right one should therefore be 1,5 and 9 o'clock.

The rear facing bolts line up (11,7 and 1,5) whilst the single bolt faces forward (3,9).

Any other orientation you have a problem elsewhere or they are the wrong axle tubes.

Edited to be 5 o'clock from 4.
_________________
1968 1500 RHD Lotus White Beetle since birth. In the hospital for major surgery
1966 Lancia Flavia Pininfarina Coupe - in the waiting room
Discharged: 1983 Vanagon, 1974 1800 Microbus,1968 Low Light,1968 Type 3

[flabuggy]

Maybe this where I'm getting lost. Looking at this I have 3 holes in my plate and 3 in my axle tube. How is there more than one way to bolt them up?

[Paul Windisch]

They will index in more than one position.
_________________
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[flabuggy]

Just to be sure, the swing axle plate has 3 holes, one forward and 2 back top and bottom. Isn't there only one way they will bolt up? I've swapped them side to side several times and when bolted up the shock mount is still on the wrong side. Here is the correct photo showing both axle tubes together. These are the axle tubes off the old transmission on the newer, Used transmission.

[Paul Windisch]

[flabuggy]

I have swapped them from side to side and the shock mount still ends up in the wrong place{behind the axle. The brake mounting tabs are welded on. I can't see how I can rotate the bolt holes, there are only 3, and there is only one way all 3 will line up. Here is a picture of both tubes side by side on the left side.

[viiking]

Really dumb dumb question.

When you say you did a transmission swap did you use any existing parts or parts from the new transmission?

Is it possible you have two "right" hand or two "left" hand parts which you accidentally mixed up?

Edit: The two should be mirror images of each other not identical.
_________________
1968 1500 RHD Lotus White Beetle since birth. In the hospital for major surgery
1966 Lancia Flavia Pininfarina Coupe - in the waiting room
Discharged: 1983 Vanagon, 1974 1800 Microbus,1968 Low Light,1968 Type 3

[mukluk]

The key to figuring this out is the brake line brackets should be facing straight forward toward the front of the car. As noted, the axle tubes are currently on the wrong sides of the trans.

How they should be oriented:

_________________
1960 Ragtop w/Semaphores "Inga"

[viiking]

[Paul Windisch]

[viiking]

It shouldn't be difficult. The axle tube should rotate to the correct orientation.

Remove the bolts on the brake backing plate, then rotate the axle tube to the correct orientation then redo. There should be 4 different variations possible.
_________________
1968 1500 RHD Lotus White Beetle since birth. In the hospital for major surgery
1966 Lancia Flavia Pininfarina Coupe - in the waiting room
Discharged: 1983 Vanagon, 1974 1800 Microbus,1968 Low Light,1968 Type 3