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jpjohns
Samba Member
Joined: May 03, 2014
Posts: 882
Location: Harrisonburg, VA
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 Posted: Sun Nov 16, 2014 9:29 am Post subject: |
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| -Zodiac- wrote: |
Yepp, only two places it could go.
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Awesome pic, thanks.
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-Jared
"Scrapyards are for quitters" - Beetlenut (a Samba member) |
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-Zodiac-
Samba Member
Joined: September 22, 2014
Posts: 782
Location: Pensacola/milton, florida
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| Posted: Sun Nov 16, 2014 10:33 am Post subject: |
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No problem good sirs  glad I could be of help!
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1973 karmann ghia - current, not the last VW.
1947 Chevy stylemaster - gone, but not forgotten.
1995 Ford F-150 - gone, hatred for it lives. |
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nize
Samba Member
Joined: June 21, 2004
Posts: 537
Location: Sweden - Cheesy town
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| Posted: Thu May 18, 2017 4:38 am Post subject: Re: IRS vs Swing Axle |
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What about track width differences between swing axle and IRS?
Can I swap to IRS on my 1957 lowlight and expect the same track width as before?
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----------(VW)----------
1954 Kombi
1957 lowlight ghia coupe
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MrKawfey
Samba Member
Joined: March 31, 2020
Posts: 21
Location: 12309
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| Posted: Tue Mar 31, 2020 6:17 am Post subject: Re: IRS vs Swing Axle |
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Going to revive a thread for my first post.
Most of the answers in this thread have been based on performance, but I am also curious about the differences in terms of aftermarket or strength upgrades.
Is the IRS stronger? Can it handle more torque?
Does the IRS have better aftermarket support?
Thanks |
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TopBud
Samba Member
Joined: February 28, 2004
Posts: 1197
Location: Flagstaff AZ
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| Posted: Sat Aug 09, 2025 5:16 pm Post subject: Re: IRS vs Swing Axle |
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I have a 66 Ghia convertible, the body in super rough shape. The transmission pops out of 1 &4th. I am about to either swap the transmission to an IRS or keep it stock. My plan is to make it sort of a Baja Ghia. Bigger tires for forest service roads. Some have suggested a thing front beam to achieve that look. I am a vanagon and bus person , so not too knowledgeable on the ghias and beetles, besides engine. Any advice? Can I get an off road look with the swing axle? Do I need the thing front beam? No hardcore off roading just forest service roads. Thanks
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86 bostig syncro tin top
66 convertible Karmann Ghia |
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Bobs67vwagen
Samba Member
Joined: March 27, 2005
Posts: 590
Location: Eastern north carolina
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| Posted: Sun Aug 10, 2025 6:21 am Post subject: Re: IRS vs Swing Axle |
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| If you keep the swing axle you will need to raise the rear to fit large tires which as you probably know will then create the rear wheel lower tuck in. You would need to do something to compensate for this as on logging roads you would probably encounter ruts and rises on turns which might increase rear wheel tuck and set up a dangerous condition. I always remember growing up on Long Island where there were large numbers of acvws used as commuters in the 60s through the 80s. When I drove by tow yards and gas stations back then there were sometimes a 50s through 60s acvw that had rolled with damage all around. I was told his was usually caused by rear wheel tuck in on curves. If affordable my vote would be to go irs. I have driven boh types many miles with no problem being both lucky and careful I guess. Good luck-Bob |
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rcooled
Samba Member
Joined: September 20, 2008
Posts: 2784
Location: Santa Cruz, CA
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| Posted: Tue Aug 12, 2025 5:30 pm Post subject: Re: IRS vs Swing Axle |
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| TopBud wrote: |
| Any advice? Can I get an off road look with the swing axle? Do I need the thing front beam? |
There's much more involved besides just changing the transaxle to go from a swingaxle rear suspension to IRS. If you really wanna go that route, starting out with an IRS pan would be the way to do it.
As already mentioned, raising the rear ride height of a swingaxle car will alter the rear wheel camber...and not in a good way. On the other hand, you can jack up the rear of an IRS car a bit without inducing too much of that undesirable positive camber that results from raising a swingaxle.
There are adjustable balljoint axle beams available that will allow you to either raise or lower the front ride height. Narrowed versions are also available should you want to run wider wheels/tires without carving out the front fenders too much.
Consider that Ghia convertibles had extra stiffening in the rockers to compensate for the lack of a solid roof. If the car's body is rusty, the rockers may not stand up to even some moderate off-roading. Plan on welding in some reinforcement to keep the body from flexing too much when in the rough stuff.
More info can be found here > VW Off-Road Forum
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'63 Ragtop (current)
'65 Ghia coupe (totaled)
'67 Ghia convertible (current)
'69.5 Ghia convertible and
'62, '63, '65, '69 Bugs (all long gone) |
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TopBud
Samba Member
Joined: February 28, 2004
Posts: 1197
Location: Flagstaff AZ
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| Posted: Wed Aug 13, 2025 7:52 pm Post subject: Re: IRS vs Swing Axle |
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Thanks for all the advice, I’m not too sure what I’ll do. I’ll keep you all posted and keep researching!
Thanks
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86 bostig syncro tin top
66 convertible Karmann Ghia |
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empi3
Samba Member
Joined: October 03, 2015
Posts: 380
Location: SW Wyoming
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| Posted: Thu Aug 14, 2025 8:21 am Post subject: Re: IRS vs Swing Axle |
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Here's some good reading.....Swingaxle to IRS.
https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/search.php?searc..._chars=200
Steven
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The fact someone posts a thousand messages a month does not mean the messages contain anything worth reading.
Bob Hoover
1970 Beetle
1956 Ragtop Beetle
1968 Ghia |
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