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Re: Converting Swingaxle to IRS, was type3-d Digest V98 #225


-----Original Message-----
From: Dana Hall <dhall@inco.net>
To: type3@vwtype3.org <type3@vwtype3.org>
Date: Thursday, 20 August 1998 4:24
Subject: Re: type3-d Digest V98 #225


>>
>> >      Hi!  i have a 1967 VW Fastback, and i wonder if anybody out
>> >      there have ever try to fit a IRS transmision on it' i would
>> >      like to install it' my self,  is there a kit or somting like
>> >      it'?
>>
>> It might be possible to install a late rear subframe as well as the
>> rear engine hanger brackets.  Then I think the IRS would go right in.
>>
>It is possible to install the late rear subframe but the engine hangers
>is another story. I have converted my 65 Notch to IRS and the biggest
>problem I  ran into was the rear engine mounts.   <snip>

I, too have a '65 notch that I converted to IRS and front disks, about 8
years ago.
I bought two brackets from a VW parts supplier, that the trailing arms bolt
onto. These brackets are welded onto the swingaxle frame. The brackets look
very similar to what is already on the IRS rear subframe.

I had a complete donor '73 squareback, so I used brakes, transmission,
swingarms, brake lines, bolts, axles, . So I kept the swingarm rear frame,
which I believe is more rigid than the later 3 point engine/trans mounting
anyway, and did not need the engine mounting rear crossmember.

My memory is failing me, but I am sure I used the nosecone of the swingarm
trans, and put it onto the IRS trans.

I used the squareback torsion springs, with the late style dual
springplate's, and torsion covers. There was some compatability problem
between the swingarm torsion spring and the later spring plate.

This took me several days, mostly, several days of thinking rather than
doing! I do not know exactly how to position the brackets onto the frame,
but I kept clamping, then measuring, and measuring over the full suspension
travel. I had the complete donor IRS, with which to compare, and made it as
close to that as I could get. I wanted the tried and tested VW suspension
geometry.

So, of course, I believe that if you want to go to the trouble of converting
to IRS, using the swingarm frame as a base makes the neatest looking, and
most rigid rear end. Also, the best thing would be to buy a complete IRS
rear as a donor for parts, because you will use most of them! Include an IRS
trans and axles/cv's.

The engine sits about 15mm further back in the engine bay now, but I suspect
this may be in the later style engine case or fan housing that I put in at
the same time, rather than in the IRS trans or suspension. It made things a
little more difficult installing the engine.

My '72 squareback, which has had a variety of big engines in it over the
years, suffers chronic cracking around the engine mounts on the body. I have
seen other T3's with this. Mine really only started cracking after it was
slammed from behind (and repaired) by a careless individual. But I have seen
other T3's with big motors do the same that have not been pranged.

I would be curious to hear from people who have experienced the same.

I did put 4 lengths of threaded rod through the engine mount bolt holes
 the ones between the mount and the car body) and then through the floor in
the luggage compartment, reinforcing it with steel plate, but it kept
cracking!

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