On my 1956 beetle, I am trying to get the gearbox back into the chassis but my problem is trying to get the axle tubes into the swing arm slots, the swing arms appear to be needed to be jacked up, but with just a floorpan its got no weight in it, any tips would be appreciated
Cheers

How far are they out?

I remember doing this in my '63, and all it needed was a little inwards pressure on the spring plates and the axles went straight in...

R

each spring plate needs to be jacked up about 10mm, all my manuals say the axle tubes should slot straight in with minimal hassle, been a major pain in the arse this rear suspension

Have the spring plates been removed? If so, are they sitting on the bottom stop, or are they beyond that point (perhaps sitting on the torsion bar cover bolt)?

This is strange...

R

the spring plates are on, they are sitting on the bottom stop,

maybe if I tapped in with a mallet and block of wood would be all it needs but my nice powdercoated axle tubes are scratced up

the spring plates are on, they are sitting on the bottom stop,

maybe if I tapped in with a mallet and block of wood would be all it needs but my nice powdercoated axle tubes are scratced up

get a big G clamp and wind them up into position

........yeah or a rachet strap up thru the shock tower, then down under a trolley jack............the strap will hold the chassis down as the jack loads up the springplate

all sorted just needed to jack up each spring plate and it slotted straight in just need to step back some times and have a good look before starting to worry about it.
Thanks all.

Where i work on my car he has an old kombi jack that works in reverse to push the spring plates up. Its magic! works a treat!