AirSpeed VW Community Forums

General Forums => Air Speed Lounge => Topic started by: Jeremy on September 21, 2005, 08:10:34 PM

Title: S/a Conversion To Irs
Post by: Jeremy on September 21, 2005, 08:10:34 PM

I've decided to convert my '59 to IRS for handling purposes and because I got a smokin' deal on a built up SSC trans with all the goodies. I thought about the balljoint/IRS pan option but decided the pan is to solid to throw away and this way the #'s match and I don't have to modify the seat rails. This is not a race car but do intend to try Mission out when the beetles done. Now has anyone local done this coversion. I did find a web site that explained it and it looks pretty straight forward. I'm a ticketed steel fabricator so reading a tape/welding/cutting isn't a problem. If someone has done this and has a jig already set up that would be great or any info on what sort of problems I might encounter. Does airspeed carry the weld in brackets? Long winded post. Cheers

Jeremy

Title: S/a Conversion To Irs
Post by: notchback on September 22, 2005, 08:29:11 AM

Jeremy, call the guys at airspeed, im sure they stock the brackets and they are really easy to install] you will just have to find the appropriate springplates, trailing arms and all the hardware used

Title: S/a Conversion To Irs
Post by: James Buchan on September 22, 2005, 08:42:50 AM

I had the install on my old 60 beetle done by Duane in Langley, maybe give him a shout.

Title: S/a Conversion To Irs
Post by: Jeremy on September 22, 2005, 09:07:30 AM

Quote

I had the install on my old 60 beetle done by Duane in Langley, maybe give him a shout.

Thanks guys. James do you have Duane's # or E-mail address?

Title: S/a Conversion To Irs
Post by: James Buchan on September 22, 2005, 10:17:20 AM

Quote

Duane's German Autohaus
19640 Landmark Way 105, Langley, BC V3A7Z5
(604) 533-4502

Title: S/a Conversion To Irs
Post by: Bruce on September 23, 2005, 12:31:59 AM

The conversion isn't as simple as you might think.  

Do you intend to lower the rear?  If so, you will have to deal with the fact that the IRS trailing arms will hit the shock towers.  You will have to notch either the shock tower, the TA, or both.  Then you will have to fab something for the snubber to bump into.

I also suggest you look into the orientation of the upper shock mount compared to an original IRS shock mount.  Will an IRS shock work?

Title: S/a Conversion To Irs
Post by: Lanny on September 23, 2005, 06:58:13 AM

After Robs 54 conversion had some miles on it,the shock tower broke from being ground. I'll speak for Bruce; Do you intend on running small tires on the front? If so, the IRS conversion is not worth it. The weak link won't be the rear suspension.

Title: S/a Conversion To Irs
Post by: nivag on September 23, 2005, 07:09:57 AM

Hey Larry, I guess the baby has changed your sleeping pattern a bit huh? (posting at 5:58am?)

Title: S/a Conversion To Irs
Post by: Jeremy on September 23, 2005, 11:58:10 AM

Shit this is becoming complicated. Maybe I should just go back to the IRS pan idea. Now I don't know what to do. Thanks for the info. I was about to go to airspeed today and buy the brkts but I think I'll hold off and rethink this idea. It might be best just to stick with the swingaxle trans. My SSC trans can't be converted to S/A can it Bruce? Will all the goodies out of my SSC trans fit in my '68 S/A  I've got in there now? What to do, what to do.

Jeremy

Title: S/a Conversion To Irs
Post by: Jeremy on September 23, 2005, 01:13:16 PM

Quote

Hey Larry, I guess the baby has changed your sleeping pattern a bit huh? (posting at 5:58am?)

Who's Larry? :huh:  

Title: S/a Conversion To Irs
Post by: notchback on September 23, 2005, 01:26:30 PM

that would be lanny, some of us have some nicknames

Title: S/a Conversion To Irs
Post by: Geoff on September 23, 2005, 02:54:51 PM

yeah like Notchback also go's by the name \"Neal Zeneatser\" AKA \"Blake Suregripp\" with two P's