Ok I'm probably biting off more than I can chew as well I'm not overly mechanically minded (but I do learn) and this will be my first ever project and first time doing anything really exciting to a car! This is my 3rd beetle and my first project as all the others were my daily driver. I'm going to strip and sand back and repaint the car hopefully find a whale tale and drop an EJ20/22/25 in her.

Sooooo here are where all the stupid questions start!

From reading through here a bit I understand I can do what I want I just need to find said engine! I also understand that I have to get an engine conversion plate from either Volks conversions or subarugears. And here's the first question. Which should I get and why?

I also know I need to upgrade the breaks and I can get them from either place too. I know this is going to get costly but hey it's not my 3rd beetle for nothing...

From looking at both sites I may also need an AWD to 2wd converter and some conversion with how they attach to the axels is this correct?

Thanks in advanced!

Hi

What sort of Beetle is it? Without doubt if its IRS go Subaru gears by the time you add the cost of adaptors and strengthening your gearbox the Subaru gears path is the way to go.

Steve

It's a 68 beetle. Standard gearbox. Pretty sure it's got swing arms

Ok with a swing axle your limited to an adaptor plate and VW gearbox, not ideal but if you stick to a twin cam motor and not be too power hungry it will work OK

So im guessing a EJ25 is out of the question then? Is there a difference between the subarugears stuff and the volksconversions gear? From a complete and utter mechanic illiterate the volksconversion stuff seems easier to work out what I need. Ie plate and brakes

The Subarugears conversion can only be used with an IRS car, EJ25 would be OK its up to you how long the gearbox lasts but you can only use the twin cam version of the EJ25 otherwise if you use the quad cam version you will need to do some ugly body mods because you cant move the transmission forward on a swing axle car

Just spoke with Todd from subarugears was a good chat and helped me with identifying that my car is indeed a swingaxel as I suspected so unless I wanted to convert it to IRS it's a no go on the subarugears stuff. Thanks for your help Todd and I'm going to see what I can buy from you guys in the future for this conversion

You can convert to an IRS as you do the job. You just need to get someone to do that for you at the same time.

Yogie

From what I could tell from speaking to John Sherman I need a doner rear end to convert it to an IRS rear end. Is this correct? Otherwise I'd be happy to go with the EJ22 and go from there

There are conversion kits you can buy and weld in to the pan and then you just add the trailing arms/brakes etc. Someone else can probably confirm if the body mount needs adjusting after the change as I am not sure. The kit is this type of thing http://www.ebay.com/itm/Empi-3164-Vw-IRS-Trailing-Arm-Conversion-Brackets-Baj... and you will need a jig to locate it properly on the pan as well. If you put your location up, someone should be able to let you know where a jig can be found near you.

If you can find a wreck, you will have all the other stuff so will just need the kit but you can buy it all separately, just post some wanted ads. Also google vw swing axle to irs conversion and lots of info will come up.

Yogie

Is there's huge difference from changing to IRS over staying with seingaxel? Is it a huge deal breaker? Just trying to get opinions because I have no idea really...

And to be honest at the moment everything I'm reading is definitely over my head. Cutting welding and everything else. This is my first project car so I might start with the simplified version first and the graduate to changing a swingaxel to IRS

Although looking at this page with pictures doesn't make it look so scary...
https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=148638 

Has anyone used something like this to do the IRS conversion?
https://creative-engineering.com/product/irs-kit/ 

You can start with the sherman kit and an EJ 20 or 22...Vw gearboxs will take a lot if you are smooth on the clutch...I run a 3.8 holden with a VW box no problem so far...where are you located? Rob

I'm in Blacktown NSW. I'm trying to get my head around things and slowly doing so as this is my first project car and first time really having to research and figure out wtf I need and want out of my car. It's confusing but I'm getting there.

Like for instance getting the jig to install the IRS is just required to align the plate properly on the axel then you basically throw it away (well I'd probably horde it forever and never use it again) for this job. I've figured out to do the IRS conversion I need the jig (for proper alignment), brackets that JP Sherman sells (can get elsewhere too), said brackets welded to axel (is this statement correct?), complete trailing arms (from new bracket to wheel) inc stub axels (into the gear box (and trailing arms?))

I have to ask myself if I want to lose the rear bumper or not and upgrade to the EJ25. Is it worth it?

Ps this is a steeeeeep learning curve for me. It's just a matter of me understanding things and then once I do make a decision from there.

have you read Joels thread?

Which one is Joels thread?

Sorry yeah I've read Joel's thread very good read but the pictures don't come up and being not so mechanically minded pictures help...
https://forums.aussieveedubbers.com/viewtopic.php?tid=77027 

Joel had the photos hosted photo bucket so thats a problem, maybe if Joel has time he could go through and reload the photos

The priority with a conversion like this is your watercooling...you can install radiator and pipes without taking the car off the road...installing a different engine is not as time consuming

The car USB in total project mode and hasn't been registered in years it's also just going to be a weekend driver so there's no issue there with it being on or off the road.