Whats the best swing axle gearbox for a worked engine?

so u hav the option of any swing axle box for a bug with a big engine, probably around the 120hp mark.
what would giv the best all around performance for a daily driven car. wont be thrashed.

u could use a twin sideplate IRS box and convert it to swing axles

1st you must supply the rolling radius of your tyre/wheel package!!and the tyres themselves (a little bit of spin at the tyre reduces the risk of breakage ive always found)
dont think you can go past albins gears n superdiff though
love the last bit "wont be thrashed"😁 should add "well not that often"

Anthiron wrote:u could use a twin sideplate IRS box and convert it to swing axles

No benefit in doing this............................just use a 1500 swingaxle box.


The best gearbox?.................a modified and rebuilt one:thumb

is the twin sideplate box no different to a 1500 box? i would have thought the final drive would be higher. not disputing you i was just under the impression they were different.

A mechanic told me a 1500 'is the best' box. I'm presuming its due to the final drive ratio being taller so you get some chance of staying with the crowd on the freeways. IMO, in that sense, since you got 120 horses to play with, go with anything with the 3.88 final drive ratio..

yep u need a 3.88 diff ratio in a 1500 box

ive got one in my Orange smoothieee works fine but its has to b built up form parts

they dont come that way

i had a 74 1300 beetle with the standard swing axle box and with a 1600 twin port in it, it drove identical to my mates 1500 with a 1600 t/p
yet someone tried to tell me once that the late 1300t/p gearboxes had the same 3.88 as Lbugs
i dunno if it was but it definatley wasnt the old 1200 4.375
probably 4.125 same as 1500s

Joel

74 1300 box of Gears comes with a 4.375:1 Ring and pinion. Great around town , fast accelleration.
3.88 gives u crap fuel economy

Cheers

I use a '74 1300 swing axle box, changed the standard 4.375 ring and pinion and put in a 3.88 from an "L" bug, with the top gear from the 1300 box and the 3.88 ring and pinion it gives a nice tall gear ratio for cruising, and great fuel economy.

johny rotten wrote:3.88 gives u crap fuel economy

Cheers

Not when you're cruising...

The late 1300 trans as David mentioned, is the strongest, except it has the 4.375 diff ratio. It also has a .93 4th gear in most cases too. But it has the nine tooth "super bug" firt gear.
The 1500 beetle box has a taller 4.125 diff and .89 4th, but has a crappy bronze shift fork and small pinion bearing.
I like to fit the course tooth type 2 third and fourth gears ( thirds are 1.26 or some times 1.22 & fourths are:1800 is .89 and late 1600 is .82)
Also those late 1300 trannys (and most 3.875 equipt IRS trannys) have soft reverse Idlers.
If you want to do the leg-work, you can find all the best stock and aftermarket parts and ratios, and then spend another grand having it properly assembled with nice new bearings and synchros.

i jsut want to know wat stock vw box would be best and strongest, probably go the 1500. thanks for all the info guys