Long or short axles

[sturgeongeneral]

Could anyone please educate me on the difference between long and short axles for a swingaxle trans? How long is each and if I change from long to short will it enable me to run larger tires on the rear? (like 12s or 14s without sticking out too far? Thank for the input!
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In honor of bowtie56jw:Another victim of the nasty "C" Praying for ya Jeff!

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[lostinbaja]

If you look at the ends (cast iron) of the axle tubes you can tell the difference between the long and shot axle tubes. There is only a 1 1/4" difference.
My buggy has 7.5" wide wheels with short axles.

And the tires stick out. There is no chance of tucking in a set of 10" wide wheels and tires.
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[SCOOPER]

What models use the longer axles, I'd like to have a set for a project I'm working on. I'd also like to know the length of both of them so IDing them would be possable, maybe I have the longer ones, don't know...1 1/4" would be about right for my application.

Coop
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[madmike]

Longer axels came on 67&68 bugs & type 3,Madmike
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[joescoolcustoms]

The 67 long axle used a shorter spline where the brake drum rides than the 68. The brake spline length on the 67 is the same on the 66 down. Both the 67 and 68 have the same wheel base though.

The 1 1/4 inch differance is measured between the outside backing plate mounting flange and the inside of the spring plate mounting flange. My short axles measure 4.875 inches on that demension.

Now if you really want to do some fabricating and make it look unique, Sway A Way offers 3 inch and 5 inch shorter axles, (overall length). These will suck up the wheel into the body, but either you will need to shorten the torsion housing the same amount so it will bring the spring plates in the like amount and shorten the axle tubes also. Or delete the torsion housing and go ladder bars with coil-over shocks on the rear.

I have a bugstuff tube chassis for my drag car and it has the torsion housing built in. I purchased Ron Lumas Racing ladder bars and QA1 coil overs and SAW 3 inch shorter axles. The torsion housing is going to leave the chassis and the ladder bars will be located 3 inches inboard on each side to effectively narrow the rear 6 inches over all. This now will fit under a stock bug rear fender, but have 8 inch slicks and handle the 220 hp better than a swing.
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[sturgeongeneral]

Currently I have 8s that are about even with the outer edge of the fenderwell. Maybe I can find a 12 with a heavy offset????
_________________
Street legal fiberglass rocket ship
2005 Lotus Elise supercharged
1974 Chevy Corvette
My fiberglass car collection!

In honor of bowtie56jw:Another victim of the nasty "C" Praying for ya Jeff!

My exwife said if I towed home one more bug she would leave me. You know, every once in a while I miss her