Swing axle to irs

Bad bug · #1 September 12th 2005, 08:57

This is not a suspension question, but i need to know if anyone has done a conversion from swing axle to irs chassis, has it worked out and what's the procedure to do this.

ellobo · #2 September 19th 2005, 14:22

Here's a link to some pictures I shot while converting my dune buggy.

http://www.netspot4u.com/~manxclub/albums/album91/

I fabricated these clip holding fixtures using an IRS pan as a template...

Hope it helps....

Bad bug · #3 September 20th 2005, 08:48

I have noticed when adding the conversion clips to the chasis they are angled inwards to the frame horns. Also was it necessary for you to grind away material from the clips before welding them to the frame.

ellobo · #4 September 20th 2005, 11:38

Apparently, I was sold clips that were supposed to fit a smaller diameter torsion housing... Just make sure you get the right ones. Because the extra grinding is a pain in the a$$...

Here's a another link that may be helpful...
http://www.blindchickenracing.com/How_to/IRSconversion/IRSconversion.htm

See the cut line in the pic...

Bad bug · #5 September 20th 2005, 18:59

Thank's alot this helped.

Bad bug · #6 September 21st 2005, 09:14

Does doing a conversion like this strengthen or weaken the chasis and where did you buy yours.

ellobo · #7 September 22nd 2005, 15:57

No, It doesn't stiffen up the chassis. I would recommend the stiffening brace from eyeballengineering.
http://www.eyeball-engineering.net/F...stiffners.html

Or, you could fabricate your own. Here's one I did from 1 1/4 " square tubing...

The clips I got were from Vee Dub Parts Unlimited in Huntington Beach, Ca.
https://www.vwparts.net/Merchant2/me...y_Code=CHASSIS

Good Luck.

Bad bug · #8 September 23rd 2005, 08:38

Does the area where the clip sits see any loading on the chasis.

ellobo · #9 September 23rd 2005, 12:00

It shouldn't affect "loading". The clip is welded onto the torsion tube and fills the cut away in the frame horns.

But, When this breaks. The entire chassis will twist. That's the reason for the additional gussett and square tubing.

Bad bug · #10 September 23rd 2005, 17:36

Do you have any documented proof of any chasis twisting after this conversion. I intend to put a 2.0l t4 in my bug then maybe a 2.8l in the future .

ellobo · #11 September 23rd 2005, 18:49

Nope, nothing documented.....Just plenty of rewelding after good weekend of thrashing. So, go ahead and toss in a 2.0l t4 or a 2.8l or for that matter a V8....

Just do something like this first.....

Bad bug · #12 September 26th 2005, 08:57

I was thinking of running a kafer cup brace. I bought keith seume's book on vw beetle performance and it was stating that the kafer cup racers convert their swing axle cars to irs for racing. It wasn't sugested that their would be a problem.

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