Hi all I am new to V'dubs and I have been lucky enough to acquire a sand rail. The parts that have come with the rail are 3 gearboxes with 1 being swingarm and the other 2 are irs and 1 of the irs is a kombi irs. The question I have is what is the best one to use and what are the others worth to sell after I have fitted the best one or is the kombi worth the most and better to sell that one to pay for other gear. the current gearbox in the rail is the swingarm one but I have no issues with making brackets etc to fit the other. It also came with a 4A toyota engine so I will need to adapt that or get a beetle or Kombi engine or are the VW engines the same.
Cheers Jason

Hi Jason and welcome aboard. I can not answer all your questions due to my limited knowledge, only been into VW for 2 years and am a Beetle man. But I would be thinking the IRS gearboxes are the way to go for a buggy, but not saying you cant use the swing axle. I'm sure others will help with this.

As to the Kombi gearbox, there are 1600, 1800 and 2L gearboxes. That being 4 rib, 5 rib and a 6 rib around the gearbox housing. The 2L has 6 Ribs and is the strongest and worth the most (as per factory). Kombi, Beetles, Notch back engines etc will all bolt to the gearbox. You would need an adapter for the Toyota engine = needs water cooling = more money. With that said, there are difference in VW engines and they all have there place in the original body types but can be swaped around pending what you want and how you modify.

Well I hope this helps for starters, Kevin

It is a 6 rib kombi box and what sort of money are they worth. The one that is in the rail is the swingarm one. Does anyone here have an adaptor plate for the toyota 4A engines so I can copy it, even if it is traced onto a piece of paper for me would be fantastic.

Keep the 6rib/091/2L box, sell the rest, that said if you put it up for sale id expect it to go quickly, they are on ebay very occasionally for $3-500ish as unknown condition

bug irs boxes $50-200

Swinger- i like corners so no idea, probably around the same as an irs bug box

Ok thanks for that just wanting to know which way to go. With adaptor plates being 400 plus it will be cheaper to go vw unless I can get one to copy and do I need a special flywheel

once you have the kombi box sorted, they have a removable bellhousing, rjes in the UK sells bellhousing kits to bolt a subaru EJ series engine up as if it was in a subaru still, it may be worth looking into if you arent sold on the toyota lump

failing that (yes it is pretty pricey compared to the other option) check out volksconversions, more than likely he could have something made up to suit.

as far as $$ goes, id expect finding a GOOD 2L engine would be more than the $$ of an adapter for the engine you already have

there is nothing CHEAP about fixing up a buggy or any car if you want to be able to use it with out it breaking down all the time.
You would be better off buying one that you can just drive and all the work has been done.
good luck.

http://www.carsales.com.au/all-cars/private/details.aspx?R=6645031&__Qpb=...

Fixing cars is what I do as a hobby and it is also my passion. I build all my own engines and do all my own mechanics because unfortunately I am yet to find a mechanic that I would trust to charge for what is actually done and not make up stories to line their own pockets and simply clean the original parts up. (Yes I have been burned once or twice by separate mechanics in different towns) and fortunately for me it keeps my costs down to parts only. Forums like this and joining clubs is the very best way to learn different cars and meet new people. So yes you can build cars cheaply and not have them break down so long as you do your homework and be willing to get dirty.Also bartering is invaluable by swapping bits or swapping labor for bits and info.

Hey mate, i sent you 2xPM's but i dunno if you got them, I have a 1500 single port engine here in need of a good service and tune. Only asking 100 bucks for it if you are interested. It's complete with exhaust, minus distributor. The one that was on it was shot so i had to borrow one to get it going. Let me know.

Cheers
Mick.
0439002870