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74 irs gearbox into 66 beetle
brujo - April 21st, 2013 at 06:10 PM

Hi,
I'm doing up a 66 vw beetle and want to convert it to 12volt electrics.I have a spare 74 superbug body and gearbox and wondered if the 74 irs gearbox would slot into the 66.The motor on the 66 is a 1200.
Trev

mactaylor - April 21st, 2013 at 06:18 PM

no is the easy answer, yes means a IRS conversion or changing the IRS box to swing axle and that should be left to the pro's.

brujo - April 21st, 2013 at 06:37 PM

thanks-that means the superbug bits are unusable and i can sell it,

Craig Torrens - April 21st, 2013 at 07:26 PM

I will buy the 74 gearbox if you want to sell it:tu:

psimitar - April 21st, 2013 at 09:40 PM

if its a dual sideplate IRS box then its fairly easy to swap the diff from a swing into the irs box.

IMO you should change the 66 to irs as better handling and nicer ride quality. Did it to mine and not that hard to do :)

Anthiron - April 21st, 2013 at 09:44 PM

I would be interested in the cv's, axle shafts, stub axles, spring plates, torsion bars, torsion bar end caps and trailing arms from the l bug If you decide to sell.

brujo - April 26th, 2013 at 03:40 PM

does the irs box fit straight up to the 66 chassis? I may have a 1600 motor to run as well-and it would help my 12volt conversion.

ian.mezz - April 26th, 2013 at 06:47 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by brujo
does the irs box fit straight up to the 66 chassis? I may have a 1600 motor to run as well-and it would help my 12volt conversion.


box will not fit, but you can get the 1600 motor to fit.

psimitar - April 27th, 2013 at 04:50 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by ian.mezz
Quote:
Originally posted by brujo
does the irs box fit straight up to the 66 chassis? I may have a 1600 motor to run as well-and it would help my 12volt conversion.


box will not fit, but you can get the 1600 motor to fit.


well technically the box will fit to the farmehorns with correct front mount fitted but you just won't have anyway to attach the driveshafts.

If you know how to weld then the IRS conversion is pretty straight forward. Up to you tho dude

Aussie Dubbin - April 27th, 2013 at 06:18 PM

Get a price for someone to weld in pivot boxes and caress the frame horns. Then it's a straight swap. Buying usable parts down the track will be a pain in the arse. Biggest cost will be in removal and refit of engine/gearbox. If you can do that, you might gain a much nicer ride. Engine won't be that hard to mate either.

brujo - April 28th, 2013 at 03:03 PM

the original plan was to convert the 66 to 12volt. seeing as this is my first bug would it be easier to secure a 67 12volt gearbox? Are 12volt -67-gearboxes swing axles?
BTW i've had three offers on bits from the superbug and i'm going to wait about a month to see what i'll do with it.
cheers

Anthiron - April 28th, 2013 at 03:53 PM

You dont actually need a 12v box.

Is it that you would like to run a 200mm flywheel that you are changing or is it just to have a 12v electrical system?

If it is just so that you have a 12v electrical system you will need to change the Generator/Alternoator and regulator, Add a resistor to the windscreen wiper circut and replace bulbs with 12v items. Of course you have to swap out the battery too obviously.

The 6V Flywheel/Clutch/Starter works quite well on 12v (Just fit these to the 1600 engine)

I ran a 6V starter for 8 years on a 12v 1600 and for street use I never had a single issue with it! I only replaced it when I went to a bigger flywheel and clutch.



If you want to run the 200mm 12V flywheel as well then you can still run a 6V gearbox, you just need to clearance the inner of the Bellhousing in a couple of places, Fit the conversion bushing to adapt the 12v starter and then fit the flywheel and clutch to your engine.

This is the setup I currently have and it works rather well.