1954 Beetle: Can you fit a later style gbox and handbrake setup?

Craig Torrens 6 times Australian, 7 times State Hillclimb Class Champion

8,040 posts · joined Jan 2003 · 27 Oct 2012, 12:45 pm

#928614

Hi, I have a ratty standard 54 beetle that I think I will turn into a sleeper.

The question is, what do people do with the handbrake setup when you run a later gbox and later style drum brakes ? What needs to be changed/ modified to make it all work, and can you then change back to the standard setup later ?

Cheers
CT

empi Compulsive Aussie Vee Dubber

4,131 posts · joined Aug 2002 · 27 Oct 2012, 2:47 pm

#928628

Change the gearbox nose cone to a type 2 one and it should fit up good, alternately change the gearbox mount (nose cone one) to a later model.

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Bizarre Moderator The artist formerly known as blue74l

12,789 posts · joined Aug 2002 · 27 Oct 2012, 3:58 pm

#928653

OK - dumb question

What does the hand brake have to do with the gear box??

Futue te ipsum!!!

Craig Torrens 6 times Australian, 7 times State Hillclimb Class Champion

8,040 posts · joined Jan 2003 · 27 Oct 2012, 4:13 pm

#928655

Ok, sorry I should explain myself. The gearbox fitment re mounts etc isn't the problem. The problem is that on a 54 beetle the handbrake cables are completely different. They enter the rear drum at the top and from the rear (instead of at the bottom and from the front like all other beetles) and the adjustment is made at the front of the car between the front torsion bars, not at the handrake.

So what cable combination do I use for fitting the later drum brakes..........or is it possible to just route the existing cable in from the front on the later backing plates?

matberry Moderator Go hard or go home

8,114 posts · joined Mar 2006 · 27 Oct 2012, 4:31 pm

#928658

Craig Torrens wrote:or is it possible to just route the existing cable in from the front on the later backing plates?

Been a while, but I think that works, or making custom cables is not impossible.

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ian.mezz I never said, I could write or spell

3,913 posts · joined Sep 2004 · 27 Oct 2012, 4:36 pm

#928660

we have a IRS trans change to a swing, different nose cone. 54 hand brake still.
newer rear brakes & cables may fit just have to give it a try.

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h fractals - an ever changing lifestyle

7,671 posts · joined Feb 2005 · 27 Oct 2012, 5:21 pm

#928665

I have a type 3 1500 box, 1200 axels with type 3 drums in my beetle
Later nose mount fitted up
same og handbrake set up
George croucher fitted up many moons ago n he widend the wishbone for clearance from memory
goes like a dream on the highway 😵

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grumble Son of Jim - Creator of Good

2,672 posts · joined Jun 2008 · 27 Oct 2012, 6:53 pm

#928682

I fitted a 66 1300 box in my 55 and from memory redrilled the front mount to lower it and swapped the back plates side to side and brought the cables in from the rear.This was a lot of years ago probably back in 67,the system worked with a single port 1500,that was a mean little bug in the old Mini Cooper days.