what is the latest pan that will take a 58' bug shell? .. I will put belts in, but what other modes have to be made, what do I have to look out for.. I want this to take a 1600+ ... (depends on funds)

It will fit on a late 75 and 76 pan.

It wont fit on a strut front end pan. Although you could get one of these and weld a new bulk head onto it then it will fit.

Dave what are the pros and cons with this conversion? Is it worth the effort? or is any balljoint pan the go? I am thinking IRS and had heard that a 68 auto pan with clutch tube is the go? Or is later better , 76 would have R&P wouldnt it? Does this present any probs?
Thanks in advance Dave
MitcheLL

You can put an early body on late non-Mcpherson strut front end pan without too much problems. See tech talk - frequently asked questions section just below this section - up the top should be my post on how to modify the rear body mount on an early body to fit the late pans (which have a higher body mount position).

hope this helps.
alan

I should be swapping my 63 onto a 68 semi-auto pan in the near future.

It's preferable to put it on a pre 72 IRS pan because you wont need to check exhaust emissions then (the VIN is with the pan if u didnt already know).

If its a semi-auto you'll need to weld in a clutch tube which is easy, while your down there you might as well put in a new fuel line (or two for EFI). When the pan's off its so much easier to do mods, like a berg mount, etc. It more or less just bolts on.

You could mount it on a superbug pan with some work you'll need to fabricate some struct towers. however it would be hell cool to have a 58 with struts

[Edited on 9-3-2004 by Che Castro]

the best pan would be the 76, they went back to the worn n gear steering

R & P were only on the 75 for some reason probally cost

The ideal set up is IRS rear and Torsion bar front end.

Jon as far as worring about DIN numbers etc the RTA wouldnt know what day it is... You can tell them what ever you like.
Its up to you on the information you provide the blue slip place for your redgo certs

Dont think i would like to fabricate strut towers to fit up to an early beetle... but anything is possible

The easiest pan to obtain would be the pre 72 semi auto bug as there were heaps of these made in comparision to 75 and 76 models.

Having the factory R&P would be cool.

I'd probably like to have a strut front end if i could, no bumpsteer none of the problems that you have with the old torsion beam.

I know its really unlikely that the RTA or cops would check your VIN, but I'd be more worried about insurance, if you had an oval on a later pan it could get u into shit.

Interesting,so what do you do each year when you get a pink slip and the grease monkey checks your pan number and its not the same,i hafta know.

yeah well you could say that the old one was damaged or rusted away... make sure you either keep it for prosperity or destroy it complete especially the number so it dosent get registration again.

And you had this one fitted to your car. .... You dont know what year it is ???

Of course the Pink slip place will make you then get a Blue slip .... and you need proof of purchase from whom ever you got the pan off.

I just did this with my # 2 sons Type 3. It was a 73 Auto and i fitted a 72 Pan under it... Easier to convert it to manual. I went to the RTA and had to have proof of ownership of the new pan all the numbers now line up.

Thanks Dave thought it was probly somethin like that,my illegal days are long gone now im on the straight and narrow.:thumb