Engin + gear box swap, from a 73 into a 65

Can any body tell me if a 1600 or 1800 engine from a 73 bug will fit straight onto a 65 gear box.

I am building a buggy, and want to use the older gear box, as I have been told it is better for off road . Is this true ?:bounce

Yes, a 1600 should fit straight onto a 65 gearbox. Should just bolt straight up. I have heard that some people need to clearance the belhousing for 200mm clutches, but I reckon the best thing is to just give it a go. Once the engine is in, turn it over by hand and and make sure everything turns freely before using the starter.

BTW, where are you?
What sort of buggy are you building?

oh and 65 gearboxes are not super strong. A better bet would be a late model 1300 box.

nn[ Edited on 7-9-2005 by pete wood ]

mmmm a 65 should be a stock 6V so it will not take a later 1600 motor with 12V flywheel without clearancing and spigot mods for the starter motor. Not hard but needs to be done if it is not already 12V. Once done you can also run the later 200mm clutch and presure plate which will work better with the larger tyres.

Early 6V swing axle gearbox's or short axles as they are sometimes called have better ratios for offroad work and will suit the bigger tyres. A 1600 engine with 6V box will work fine in a buggy and if you are nice to reverse it should be fine strength wise.

your 65 has a 1200 gearbox, just like mine, the 200mm flywheels dont even begin to fit in these bellhousings.
You will also need a 12V starter and 6-12V conversion bush for the starter motor shaft.
Or you can use a auto-stick starter which is self supporting and does not run in a bush.
If you can get the nuts on the engine studs/bolts good enough, some people just start it up and start gradually tightening up the bolts and mill out the bellhousing with the flywheel.

Thank you to all for your help..

The "buggy" that I am building is a Combat...

From X cars. < www.xcars.com.au > I am attempting to build one my self as well as having one built provisionally.

As I am involved in selling them I want to know the In's and outs of building them also.

The Combat