I want to change one of my splittys to a straight axel conversion. I keep reading everything about it as much as possible but still have some questions.

I see that you need a swing axle gearbox from a 1500 beetle or type 3.

I have found a 68 beetle rear end, but the problem is that I'm told that it has the small 4 stud pattern. I wan't to keep the wide 5 so I'd have to find a set of brakes and hubs etc to get the pattern back.

I need to know if they're interchangable with the type 3 or should I forget the one I found and just hunt down a type 3 rear????

Is one box stronger than the other?

Any help appreciated.

Do you realise that you will have to change all the trailing arms and suspension as well. theres a bit of cutting and welding involved

It is a bit of a mixed bag in terms of the parts you can use.

The 1500 is a better box than the swingaxle type 3 but the type3 would be fine.

If you want to keep the wide 5 stud pattern you can use pre 63 bus rear brakes and shoes but you have to get a bit machined off the snout of the drum in order to get the nut on..

Early type 3 rear brakes with the wide 5 pattern are the best choice because they're a bit bigger...they will go on as well....

All this stuff will bolt up to what will basically be a beetle axle tube with short end casting (with 1500 swingaxle box or type3 swingaxle box on the other end)

RobK

If you get pmgbus's adaptor plates there is no cutting or welding, just bolt in a beetle box and off you go.

Cheers
Dave

What do pmgbus's adaptor plates adapt??? Are they a replacement of (or addition to) the spring plate?

Also, I thought the only modification to the parts already on the bus were to the spring plates. ie. cutting beetle shape into end and taking some off the top edge so I don't bottom out on the bumpstops. Am I wrong about this?

Yep - cut the beetle pattern into the springplates and notch for the bumpstop.
lengthen axletubes, use short end castings and long axles......that's about it!

Pmgbus's adaptor plates bolt to the stock bus springplate and then to a 'stock' beetle tranny. It an interesting idea (dunno how it would go through the engineering/registration process in Victoria - as opposed to fitting to an already registered bus). Think you might need spacers to clear the wheel rim from the springplate, assume there's no reason you still couldn't stick pre 63 bus or type 3 brakes onto it (wouldn't go with beetle brakes myself)...

RobK

[Edited on 10-3-2004 by splitbusaustralia]

You do need spacers and fit beetle rims,

Cheers
Dave

I have straight axled my split! I used a 1500 box with early type 3 brakes. lenghtened the axle tubes(from memory 27mm but don't quote me!) and changed the off-set on my rear rims by 10mm( or you could add spacers). Reshaped my spring plates to accept the axle tube. Also don't forget to keep your splitty nose cone and selector shaft as you need to put it on the 1500 box. Then hay presto your low!

seams like there are a few 57's around.

Cheers
Dave