I have a 1300 swing axle bug and I want to put a 1600 gear box ( which is from an IRS bug ) and engine in it.
The main reason being that I want the better gear ratio for bigger tires, and the extra power would be nice too.
Can this be done ?
Any help would be great, Thanks
Midlife crisis ·
Why change the gearbox the 1300 is a great box for larger tyres.
I have a 1300 beetle swingaxle with 1600 engine as a BAJA and am running 31x10 mud tyres and the gearing is great.
Highway running 4th gear comes in at about 75 - 80 k and pulls real well up hills .
It is also very good around town.
in my humble opinion I would leave the 1300 gearbox and put the 1600 engine which will give you a bit more power and this would be a lot easier that converting a IRS box to fit a swingaxle.
Marcnn[ Edited on 28-9-05 by Midlife crisis ]
Anthiron ·
the 1600 box will have higher ratios therefore higher gearing.......the 1300 box would be better for big arse tyres
it can be done. u will have to modify the shock towers for clearance though with the new gearbox.
Anthiron ·
or dont u want it IRS? just swing axle with the new gearbox?
Indi ·
Thanks mark, That doesnt sound to bad at all.
Do you know what RPM it sits on at around 75 - 80 klm ?
Cheers, Jon.
Indi ·
IRS would be best, but I dont want to have to chop and change stuff to much. if I can help it.
Indi ·
Swing axle and the new gear box is fine too
Midlife crisis ·
I don't have a tacho yet but at 80 k's you put your foot down and it pulls away.
And this is with an engine we made out of 4 old engines sitting in the back yard
I hope to get a tacho soon if I can find a good secound hand one. so will let you know then
Marc
Midlife crisis ·
there would be a bit of work to put IRS in a swingaxle beetle
Marc
Indi ·
Do you think that the 1600 will fit straight on to the 1300 box ?
Midlife crisis ·
Yes it does the only thing to look at is the flywheel
the flywheel and clutch in my beetle were the small type so I changed it to the 1600 flywheel and clutch. Every thing fit in no trouble we ran it as a beetle for 6 weeks before we BAJA it.
Marc
Indi ·
I have been told by a few people that IRS is a better way to go, but by looking at the 2 side by side they arent that different..
Can anyone shed a little on that for me,
🤪
Midlife crisis ·
Well with IRS when you jack up the car for a BAJA the wheels stay straight up and down.
With a swingaxle the wheel will move in at the bottom the more you raise the car.
I have lifted my BAJA about 3 inches and it is not to bad.
the other thing is that there are less moving parts in a swingaxle so less to go wrong .
Apart from that I have driven both types and they drive much ther same.
Marc
Anthiron ·
double jointed IRS pivots not only at the gearbox but at the wheel/hub end of the axles. thus giving you much better handling. and eliminating wheel tuck that happens with swingers.
Indi ·
So Mark
If I have a 1600 and matching irs Box, & a 1300 with swinger box. Can I, using bits of each make a running 1600 with 1300 swing box ?
Midlife crisis ·
I would use the 1600 and the 1300 box just bolt the 1600 in and away you go.