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Early/Late Swaps
Vanders - July 31st, 2011 at 09:48 PM

I've a late model 72 Type 3 square. The panels and floorpan are great, but the shell is shite. I've been looking at an early (not sure what year) shell and swapping all the late panels and parts to the early shell. Is this possible? Will I run into probs with the bonnet, front guards etc.

Thanks in advance.


L469 - August 1st, 2011 at 12:33 PM

earlies front ends are shorter you need the inner guards to fit
them not really worth the effort would look like frankensteins monster:starhit:


dragsters for life - September 6th, 2011 at 03:15 PM

theres a white 72 square with no motor at volksrecycle, i m building a 72 at the moment and went and looked at this for parts

n
minimal rust and its straight and solid, its cheap too

buy that and use the body


type3disease - September 7th, 2011 at 12:53 AM

or buy the early one you've seen and build that up... :blush:


Vanders - October 2nd, 2011 at 03:39 PM

Does an early body bolt straight onto a late floorpan?


empi - October 2nd, 2011 at 06:00 PM

Diffrent engine mount at the rear...


Sunset Garage - October 3rd, 2011 at 06:13 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by Vanders
Does an early body bolt straight onto a late floorpan?


The only early body which will bolt straight on to a late pan & running gear, without any cutting out brackets and welding late ones in to support the motor, is an Aug 68 to Aug 69, which were fully imported and already have the double jointed axle setup which is commonly referred to as "IRS"

But finding this 'one year only' Type 3 with the early body & late floorpan is pretty difficult, and finding just the body would be close to impossible. The next best thing is to get rid of the rear mount from an early body, cut out some late "crossbar" mounts from a late body, do some measuring, and graft them in. You could do this with the engine removed, before or after you swap the floorpan over.

I don't think many Aussies go to that length (a handful do) but it's a common Type 3 upgrade in Europe.