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identifying swing axle gearboxes? and some questions.

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Anthiron The Baja Rejuvenation Begins

4,936 posts · joined Oct 2003 ·

#515853
i need to replace a bent axle on my baja.

now my gearbox is quite whiny and 2nd's syncro is getting worse and it pops out of 4th sometimes.

so im thinking rip the thing out and put a replacment in drum to drum yeah?

so what box do i have? its a swinger....i assume 1500.

do the 1300 and 1200 boxes slot straight in? different mounts?

would i be better off looking for a 1300 box for lower ratios for the baja?

how big is the job? dropping the engine isnt a problem done that a few times. thats about 5 minutes but the actual box replacement?

ive got 2 spare parts cars so i can steal one of the boxes from them but im unsure of condition as neither has a running engine in. am i right in thinking i wouldnt be able to check them without putting it in and trying it?

how much does a known good swinger box go for drum to drum if i bought one?

Nick
62/60 model bug eye baja bug, (Full Build in Progress)
1974 Chevrolet Luv
1970 MK2 Ford Cortina GT
1979 Yamaha RX125 Two Stroke tracker project.
2004 Harley Davidson Sportster XL Custom

tassupervee That really hurts doesnt it!

1,171 posts · joined Sep 2003 ·

#516124
1200 swinger will bolt straight on but the axles and tubes are longer on a 1300 box. Something like 30mm or so overall.

A 1500 box should have a 4.1 diff but isnt the 1500 box a single side plate IRS box? Anybody??

The 1200 swinger will have a 4.3 diff and a .89 4th gear which is nice and low.
AFAIK, the 1300 internals are the same as the 1200. The 1300 brakes are different as well. Again, anybody?
L8tr
E

L8tr
E
Im not a complete idiot, quite a few parts are missing....

bajachris88 The international telephone dialing code for Antarctica is 6

6,661 posts · joined Apr 2005 ·

#516145
Hmm... this is very interesting.

I know the 1500 manual tranny box (From the 1500 series beetle, beginning what was it... either late 67' or 68... up to 71' i think), were swinger, ONLY the 1500 semi auto beetles in the series were IRS.

1300s are good to have if being swinger. Cause like what Nick pointed out, the lower gears. midlifecrisis (AKA marc and kathy) have a 1600 baja with the 1300 box, and they say it goes great! 1500s are said to be tough though, but gear wise, 1300... can't go wrong 😀
(ô_!_/ô) (ô_!_/ô)
69' baja: kombi box, thing spindles, irs, disc front, type 3 rear drums, 2 inch lift kit, 31x10 rears. 👍
New engine in process: 94mm p&bs, 74mm C/w chomol Crank, 35.5x39 SP heads, turbo. Wierd combo, hopeful torque monsta!

bajachris88 The international telephone dialing code for Antarctica is 6

6,661 posts · joined Apr 2005 ·

#516146
Anthiron wrote:how much does a known good swinger box go for drum to drum if i bought one?

Nick
IF u were to buy just the gearbox with axels... well, from prices of drums alone, not only urs but also others, ur looking at $25 - $35 for the drum assemblies, and probably another $100 - $150 for a good box....

But... It might prove cheaper to buy a swinger pan rolling (minus motor) which u can chase up for $100, and sell of the front beam for $40 or something, (as a cash back redemption) and works out hell cheaper.
(ô_!_/ô) (ô_!_/ô)
69' baja: kombi box, thing spindles, irs, disc front, type 3 rear drums, 2 inch lift kit, 31x10 rears. 👍
New engine in process: 94mm p&bs, 74mm C/w chomol Crank, 35.5x39 SP heads, turbo. Wierd combo, hopeful torque monsta!

Anthiron The Baja Rejuvenation Begins

4,936 posts · joined Oct 2003 ·

#516290
i have short axles at the moment.

do the different drums bolt on to the different axles + tubes?

so could i put my brakes onto a different box?

i would like to use one of the boxes i have but im just worried ill put the thing in and then find out its even worse.
62/60 model bug eye baja bug, (Full Build in Progress)
1974 Chevrolet Luv
1970 MK2 Ford Cortina GT
1979 Yamaha RX125 Two Stroke tracker project.
2004 Harley Davidson Sportster XL Custom

tassupervee That really hurts doesnt it!

1,171 posts · joined Sep 2003 ·

#516396
You can just changes the axles and tubes from one box to the other if you like.
Sort or long, they are interchangeable.

That way, if you got a 1300 box with long axles, you can simply pull them along witth their brakes and tubes and swap them.

I believe that the difference in length is outside the trailing arms so the wider rear end will slot in.

L8tr
E
Im not a complete idiot, quite a few parts are missing....

Anthiron The Baja Rejuvenation Begins

4,936 posts · joined Oct 2003 ·

#516556
thanks for your help taz.

now im thinking of waiting till i get my tax back and doing an IRS converson and be done with it.....
62/60 model bug eye baja bug, (Full Build in Progress)
1974 Chevrolet Luv
1970 MK2 Ford Cortina GT
1979 Yamaha RX125 Two Stroke tracker project.
2004 Harley Davidson Sportster XL Custom

tassupervee That really hurts doesnt it!

1,171 posts · joined Sep 2003 ·

#516992
Heheheheh easy as M8.
I hope I have my facts straight tho!!
L8tr
E
Im not a complete idiot, quite a few parts are missing....

Baja Wes V6 Baja Pioneer

3,119 posts · joined Aug 2002 ·

#517299
yes, short and long are interchangable.

Just be careful with the bearing retainers, don't get them mixed up. I have found at least 3 different depth bearing retainers. They all look the same, and generally bolt on, but vary in the depth of the recess for the bearing.

If you fit retainers that have deeper recesses than you need, the bearing will move from side to side along with the whole wheel and axle. It makes a weird clunk.
Wes - www.offroadvw.net - 200HP Quad Cam V6 in a VW Baja - with climate control... 🙂
www.taylorcycles.com.au - My DH MTB racing brothers shop.