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Can Splittie Rear Spring Plates be modified to IRS

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OZ Towdster Keen to finish some projects

1,921 posts · joined Dec 2003 ·

#645240
Hi all we at CVD are about to perform a IRS conversion on another AVD members splittie and one of the parts needed for this conversion is a pair of 68 Early wide 5 bay Kombi spring plates.
With these spring plates becomming harder to find by the minute does anybody know whether it is possible to just modify a set of splittie plates by cutting them back and redrilling them or are they a different width too.
Don't let body work get in the way of real suspension travel

dangerous 23 Windows of Awesome

5,901 posts · joined Jan 2005 ·

#645243
I cant see why not, unless their width is not enough to match the trailing arm you plan to use.
Are you using beetle or bus trailing arms?

I modified Swingaxle spring plates on my bug for IRS so I could use shorter tortions.
They may be tough material, but with the modern world of lasers, plasma, and tungsten burrs, anything is possible.
westi wrote:That's mad Alan.

OZ Towdster Keen to finish some projects

1,921 posts · joined Dec 2003 ·

#645245
Thats what i'mm thinking Dave but it would be nice to know if it's been done before successfully on a splittie
Don't let body work get in the way of real suspension travel

Brad Wolfsburg Elder

3,764 posts · joined Aug 2002 ·

#645249
Now I could give you a long winded answer here but am in a rush so will get to the point ... YES is the answer to your question they can be used.

Are you using an Indian Kit ? If so I would double check with Kimm to make sure they will fit his kit as I know he modifies the trailing arm but I am pretty sure he doesn't modify the hub assembly. You could also ask him for a template as i am sure he will have a spare sitting around.

Most people avoid it as they don't know how to modify spring plates and since I know that you guys do then it will not be a problem.
Brad
Why copy when you can own an original ?
Meyers Manx Australia

Brad Wolfsburg Elder

3,764 posts · joined Aug 2002 ·

#645255
Also make sure you get the alignment right if you cut the plates. Not an issue if you copy the 68/69 but remember that the 68/69 are different to the 70 an on and they way in which the bolt to the hub assembly is also different meaning you can not just modify the split plates to be the same as the IRS bolt pattern and length..

I should be able to get an IRS split down there for you to look at and measure if need be. It used 68 Plates on an Indian kit. It fact I may still have a 68 spring plate you can have a look at.

It is all about alignment and if Al is going to use a bolt on kit and vary height at some stage then DO NOT WELD THE PIVOT BRACKETS. In a perfect world he will know what ride height and wheels he wants now so you can do the conversion do the 4 wheel alignment, check it through full travel and then weld it out.
Brad
Why copy when you can own an original ?
Meyers Manx Australia

t2 stop taking life so serious

1,102 posts · joined Mar 2004 ·

#645261
the 68/69 plates are the same as late bay plates just around 25mm shorter and the spline is different, my point is you can use the late bay plate as a template just make it shorter by 25mm , also its a good idea to cut the bolt slots alittle longer to be alittle more forgiving ..
so yes you can cut them down as buggy brad said
gravity wont get you high

mactaylor Custom Title Time!

1,005 posts · joined Aug 2007 ·

#645655
good steel in the spring plates makes great knives made a rather serious skining knife out of one what ever you do dont get the plate to hot when cutting preferably cut with a plasma or laser to reduce the likleyhood of cracks forming down the track
EVERLAST CONCRETE TANKS
1800 552 123

Brad Wolfsburg Elder

3,764 posts · joined Aug 2002 ·

#645675
t2 wrote:the 68/69 plates are the same as late bay plates just around 25mm shorter and the spline is different,
So the spline is different, don't they bolt onto the rear hub assembly in a different place as well ?
Brad
Why copy when you can own an original ?
Meyers Manx Australia

vw54 Administrator Always Waiting 4 Friday

16,723 posts · joined Aug 2002 ·

#645680
does anybody know whether it is possible to just modify a set of splittie plates by cutting them back and redrilling them or are they a different width too.
Andrew some of the guys down here have cut, drilled n modified the splitty plates to convert to IRS the steel is good all through the plates top quality stuff they work well
I read it on FACEBOOK so it must be true


http://forums.aussieveedubbers.com/viewtopic.php?tid=91278&page=1#pid848630


http://forums.aussieveedubbers.com/viewtopic.php?tid=63561&page=1#pid624099


http://forums.aussieveedubbers.com/viewtopic.php?tid=4832&page=1#pid452603


http://forums.aussieveedubbers.com/viewtopic.php?tid=60650&page=1#pid574409

t2 stop taking life so serious

1,102 posts · joined Mar 2004 ·

#645740
Buggy Brad wrote:
t2 wrote:the 68/69 plates are the same as late bay plates just around 25mm shorter and the spline is different,
So the spline is different, don't they bolt onto the rear hub assembly in a different place as well ?
yep the 68 plates are shorter than the late bay plates by around 25mm , this means the bolt holes are 25mm closer to the spline ,you could use the bolt holes of a late bay plate as a template just need to make sure you put them in the right spot on the split plate, this is why it would benefit from cutting slightly longer slots in the split plates so they are more forgiving .
would be best to get a 68/69 plate to be %100 sure, but the other way will work fine as well
gravity wont get you high

Dasdubber DAS Resto Haus

5,746 posts · joined Aug 2002 ·

#645744
Andrew (and others), you mentioned Kimm (Indian) is 3 months out of having a kit ready to go....I spoke to Steve Muller who has a kit ready in stock which includes spring plates, arms, pivot boxes etc etc.

I think cost wise - it may turn out to be just as cheap for me to buy the kit as it is to modify the splitty spring plates and have to fab up the other stuff. I'll give you a buzz tomorrow.....if I do end up with Steve M's kit it may speed things up a bit and save some fab time for the boys.

Cheers
Al
www.dasrestoparts.com.au

Brad Wolfsburg Elder

3,764 posts · joined Aug 2002 ·

#645841
t2 wrote:
Buggy Brad wrote:
t2 wrote:the 68/69 plates are the same as late bay plates just around 25mm shorter and the spline is different,
So the spline is different, don't they bolt onto the rear hub assembly in a different place as well ?
yep the 68 plates are shorter than the late bay plates by around 25mm , this means the bolt holes are 25mm closer to the spline ,you could use the bolt holes of a late bay plate as a template just need to make sure you put them in the right spot on the split plate, this is why it would benefit from cutting slightly longer slots in the split plates so they are more forgiving .
would be best to get a 68/69 plate to be %100 sure, but the other way will work fine as well
mm ok I am gunna have to pull out my little buggy book when I get home and have a look at the measuremnets I took. For some reason I thought the 68 hubs where slightly different and the spring plates bolted on different as a result. With what you are saying the diagonal arms will be different as well.

Interesting the splines are different between split and bay... VW really did start to mix it up there,,

Thanks for the info, never stop learning.
Brad
Why copy when you can own an original ?
Meyers Manx Australia

Kombi_Rescue Wolfsburg Wizard

440 posts · joined Feb 2005 ·

#645860
guys have been using water cut split spring plates for the last 9 years....all my kits re use the split spring plate which have longer slots and are also notched for the super low jobs.....this allows a facotory style adjustment for rear wheel toe in....your modified trailing arm must match with the spring plate for wheel center along with pivot box lenght will determine the arc of travell,,,easy .....once welded in you have a secure factory tested location giving many years of trouble free motoring cheers steve