Bus rear torsion is cut out, what are my options?

[vw356]

I have a 1963 double door panel bus that somebody cut the entire rear torsion and suspension out of. So now I am thinking I would like to replace it with IRS.
But I do not know if I should use:
A- Beetle IRS complete torsion assembly.
B- '68-'71 Bus complete assembly.
C- '72-'79 Bus complete assembly.

Plan is to build a lowered daily driver that can be driven anywhere reliably, and only haul light loads. I do want 4 wheel disc brakes, either 944, CSP or CoolRydes. I do preffer porsche bolt pattern.
Not going to be slammed. Probably only lowered 3-4". My '63 single cab has just removed gear boxes, then dropped spindles and it drives great.
I would consider air bags though. I like seeing buses parked on the ground! I just have never tried this before.

I plan to convert to walk through so I can add a little leg room moving the seat back some. I know I will have to add belly pans.
Back end of this bus is very rough, but I have bought all new metal for the outsides and a donor clip from a walk through bus to repair the area above the motor. And I have bought clips for frame parts from different years of buses just in case too.

Wheels will be 17x7. Tires will be 205/40 fronts and 225/45 rears.

I am open to ideas on transaxle to use. I have bus 3 rib and beetle irs to use and plan on getting one rebuilt just for this build. Or I know where I can get a 914 5 speed and I already have bug@5speed conversion kit.

I have 7 different welding machines all from Miller. I weld for a living. I'm just not a bus expert yet. I spent most of my vw obsession with 1950's and '60's bugs. I do have several buses for parts.
Sorry I wrote so much. I just am hoping to be clear on exactly what I'd like to build before the comments start.
Thank Y'all in advance!

_________________
Current projects:
1950's Volkswagens!
51,52,54's,55,56's,57,58's,'60's And then a bunch of '60's, but the '50's are my favorites..

[pyrOman]

[vw356]

Thank You PyrOman.
I am parting one out now. 3 rib or beetle IRS transaxle?
I looked and found your pictures of these. I am guessing that you used beetle transaxles from seeing how you modified the bus spring plates?

And did you have to narrow the torsion tubes? I see that you narrowed the trailing arms using heim joints.

I like how you did this! Thank You!
_________________
Current projects:
1950's Volkswagens!
51,52,54's,55,56's,57,58's,'60's And then a bunch of '60's, but the '50's are my favorites..

[pyrOman]

To be sure, got yourself quite the serious project! Fabrication and McGyvering will have to happen!

I preferred to go with type 2 suspension for better components like brakes and such instead of type 1.

For some reason my pictures are no showing in my IRS thread, so this link should take you to them.

https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/album_search.php...t_dir=DESC
_________________
Some people are so busy being clever they don't have time enough to be wise.

[vw356]

Thank You! I went through your profile pictures to see everything. Then I clicked on the link to find the forums showing the pictures, but they came up blank.
I will be using these as references.
Thank You!

I have a nice AutoTwirler rotisserie and everything needed. I have made cars using parts from 2-5 car clips before, so this isn't going to be a problem. I've just never did what you have done yet. I want to drive this bus though! Has to happen.
_________________
Current projects:
1950's Volkswagens!
51,52,54's,55,56's,57,58's,'60's And then a bunch of '60's, but the '50's are my favorites..

[karl h]

be careful of the position and width of the torsion bar.
i think late bay is wider. the springplates are definitely longer on the newer setups (with 5x112 pattern). your wheel will not be centered in the rear arch. it works, but it looks odd
i have a stock torsion/early bay setup in my panel (see my thread) and it works ok
_________________
61 panel: http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=465022
68 ghia vert
arctic alice (63 ragtop on irs): http://cal-look.no/lounge/index.php/topic,27456.0.html
86 Caravelle
04 new beetle vert

[pondoras box]

My opinion would be use what you have and go with the bay rear and 3 rib. But since you have the welding skills go air ride and modify the crap out of this one to lay it out on the ground. It’s already been cut up for parts so who cares it’s not like you’re cutting up a pristine bus.
_________________
Looking for anything from Hal Casey Motors out of Hamburg New York, from license plate surrounds to matchbooks.

1961 23 Window (Bobo)
1965 11 Window (Zelda). https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=563183
1965 13 Window (Lucas)
1957 Oval ragtop
1960 hardtop
1964 hardtop
1965 hardtop
1988 Cabriolet VR6 conversion
Plus a lot of other rusty junk

[Malokin Martin]

It seems like a ton of time and expense for a fried egg panel van with massive rust issues in some challenging places. Correctly fixing the drip rail alone is a substantial undertaking. That’s even before all the fab work for the running gear.

There’s 7-10k in just panel cost alone… and a drivable comparable example is worth.. 7-10k… it would be possible for someone to straight-up buy one and save a year (or more) of their lives in the shop AND be financially more ahead.

I admire the dedication but perhaps a better starting point would be something to consider.

[vw356]

Thank You all for your input. Very Much!

Karl H- Wow! What a thread! I read all of it. This bus is cut about 8" ahead of where the torsion tube used to be. So, I can use whatever this thread comes up with. I do intend to machine the bay spring plates like pyrOman did if I go with a bay torsion. Narrowing the torsion is a possibility. May have to cut the torsion bar ends and take some out of the tubing. My guess is 1.5-2" total is probably safe to do. Also guessing the best way to cut torsion bars would be in a lathe and have oil sprayed while being cut?

Pandoras Box- I was told there are far more options in rebuilding a beetle IRS transaxle, but I do not know this for sure. And I also figure VW used the 3 ribs because they are better. I do not intend to carry heavy weight in the bus. Probably only used for taking vw parts to The UPS Store and trips to pick up shop supplies.I have never used or installed air ride, but I'm very interested. And I am willing to tub this, but only 2" max because my '63 single cab is stock seat and only lowered with dropped spindles and I have to lean forward to see stop lights.

Majoring Martin- I live in Alabama. Only 3 VW shops left in the entire state, zero junkyards left and most VW guys sold the good cars and projects years ago when prices went up. I have recently heard that the North West still has a lot of cars available and at lower prices than what we see on line. Finding a more solid bus down here would be very hard to do.
I have nearly 100% of the new metal and donor metal bought already. This roof is very solid. I only found 2 pin holes and I felt around inside and squeezed the inner structure and it is very solid, no holes or weak areas.
I plan on making this a walk through so I can move the seat back 2-3", and I bought leather BMW seats to use that are very nice. Custom Bus is what I am thinking.
(Side note.. I was born in Whidby Island and lived in Spokane area for several years as a teenager.Family lives on the South Hill still.)

Thank Y'all!
_________________
Current projects:
1950's Volkswagens!
51,52,54's,55,56's,57,58's,'60's And then a bunch of '60's, but the '50's are my favorites..

[pyrOman]

[vw356]

Thank You pyrOman. I did not know what year these are, and I assumed they were bay. Now I know. Thank You.
I'm thinking I should go 1" behind the factory frame connections in the middle and use the bay complete rear frame to the torsion. Then mid torsion tube back use early bus donor framing? I have these bought and on site just in case.
I will be finishing a custom 1979 convertible(see my latest gallery pictures) and a '64 ghia convertible projects first, then plan on going into this bus. The current projects are customer cars. The '79 got the bottom 8" or so replaced completely. The '64 ghia is getting the back half reskinned and all inner rust repairs done while the rear skin is off.
_________________
Current projects:
1950's Volkswagens!
51,52,54's,55,56's,57,58's,'60's And then a bunch of '60's, but the '50's are my favorites..

[pyrOman]

You'll have to re-position the upper shock mount too!
_________________
Some people are so busy being clever they don't have time enough to be wise.

[brettsvw]

Pic of my 59 bus with 68 bay rear swing-arms

Early bay swing-arms are different than later bay swing-arms.

_________________
.







My 59 kombi build.
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=635003&highlight=

My buggy build.
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=558601&highlight=

http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=289807