IRS Conversion Kits

Bob Ingman · Post by **Bob Ingman** » Sat Jun 15, 2002 1:57 pm

For those looking to convert reduction boxes to IRS transaxles check this out. Looks very good, http://www.creative-engineering.com
Then click on IRS kits at left of page. Good luck. Bob Ingman

[This message has been edited by Bob Ingman (edited 06-15-2002).]

Bob Ingman · Post by **Bob Ingman** » Sat Jun 15, 2002 2:30 pm

Do`nt know why this link is`nt working for me.
Go to Air-cooled Internet Yellow Pages
( http://www.geocities.com/bilberckman/fweem.html )
stay on page one and scroll down (alphabetically) to Craative Engineering and click on it then click on IRS kits. Good luck. Bob Ingman

Single Cab · Post by **Single Cab** » Sat Jun 15, 2002 3:30 pm

I like that kit because you retain stock height. Today was half off at the local pick and pull which has a '69 bus. I was very tempted to go and get the diagonal arms and bearing housings to use with Palmer's kit but decided to wait until I know if my 944 disk swap is going to work on the reduction boxes. Swapping them to the bay bearing housings is no trivial matter

Thomas

DaveB · Post by **DaveB** » Sat Jun 15, 2002 5:12 pm

Have that in my 66 now. Had some problems with it. But Dave has been great with the tech support. My uderstanding is; that in order for me to run stock hieght I'd have to buy the special Tansaxle out out put shaft from Bus Boys in order to use Type2/4 CV's. Has it is now with a Bug tranny; bug CV's inboard and Type2's out.

Oh hthe problem I had/have is one of the Arms is close to the bracket at the exit point of the "Leg/Support". Went through this with emails to Dave and measured everyway you can think of. It appears that I'll just live with the closeness has everthing seems to be lining up has far as hubs and all. I've laid a Square across the hubs and measure at a point inward on the Torsion housing, so toe should be on. Distance from hub to a point forward is the same side to side.

Jus hope I have the shims right in the Drop Spindles

Dave

DallasHead · Post by **DallasHead** » Sat Jun 15, 2002 7:01 pm

Can someone explain to this newbie the concept behind IRS and benefits of converting?

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"Goin' Where the Wind Don't Blow so Strange"

bob mrazik · Post by **bob mrazik** » Sat Jun 15, 2002 9:27 pm

basically the only reason to do this is to get rid of the reduction boxes and to improve highway speeds.
the reduction boxes were put on so that the busses could haul. they were intended as commercial vehicles (german trucks made by vw).
i think that they were made to haul 2000 lbs. by adding the reduction boxes, this gave the little engine the gearing it needed to do so.
the down side of all of this is that top speed was sacraficed for this. 60 mph is kinda tops for splitty busses.
by converting, one can now cruise at 65, 70, or 75 without over revving the engine. that is the crucial difference. you give up some hauling capacity with this setup, but a stronger engine and tranny can make up for this.
old school frowns upon this BTW. but hey, sell your redux boxes to an old schooler for spares for his and recoup some of the cost for converting.
this is what i'm planning on doing to my 67 westy.

bob

Pillow · Post by **Pillow** » Mon Jun 17, 2002 7:20 am

DallasHead, this does not apply for you since you are a baywindow guy and already have IRS and no RGBs.

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Adrian Pillow
'66 VW Westfalia - "Biscuit"
'67 VW Deluxe Westfakia - "Dino"
'79 Porsche 911 SC - "Cochese"

Pillow · Post by **Pillow** » Tue Jun 18, 2002 10:48 am

Dave P seems to have put together a nice kit here. Granted I need a Porsche lug pattern on the rear... Any ideas how to get Porsche wheels on the rear of a bay (w/o adaptors).

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Adrian Pillow
'66 VW Westfalia - "Biscuit"
'67 VW Deluxe Westfakia - "Dino"
'79 Porsche 911 SC - "Cochese"

Single Cab · Post by **Single Cab** » Tue Jun 18, 2002 11:29 pm

I believe that Michael Ghia was planning a 944 rear disk brake swap on his bay. Might ask him about where that is at as it would transfer to your split if using Palmer's kit.

Thomas

[This message has been edited by Single Cab (edited 06-19-2002).]

type2guy · Post by **type2guy** » Wed Jun 19, 2002 7:32 am

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Pillow:
<B>Any ideas how to get Porsche wheels on the rear of a bay (w/o adaptors).
</B><HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

Hey Adrian. From the bus-boys website re: IRS II kit:

"If you're thinking about running the Porsche 5 lug (130mm) pattern, get the same parts from a 71-79 Bus and have the hubs and drums re-drilled for this. We will have these hubs and drums available later this year on an exchange basis. "

So it seems the small-5 pattern on the bay bus drum can be redrilled for the porsche pattern. Wouldn't be the discs you want, but would be the correct pattern.

Pillow · Post by **Pillow** » Wed Jun 19, 2002 7:42 am

Thanks for the feedback guys!

I did not know Mike G was working on a bay project! I will shoot him an e-mail.

Rex, I have seen that post before on Bus Boys, but never heard anyone with a finished product... Maybe I have to call them up and harass them? I would love to use the bay rear end if at all possible because it is beefy (I could care less about discs in the rear if I have big drums - i.e. not Beetle ones).

Thanks,

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Adrian Pillow
'66 VW Westfalia - "Biscuit"
'67 VW Deluxe Westfakia - "Dino"
'79 Porsche 911 SC - "Cochese"

type2guy · Post by **type2guy** » Wed Jun 19, 2002 10:35 am

Beefy is right. I don't know that there would be any problems with the beetle rear end, but you definatly wouldn't have to worry with the bay IRS. Better safe than sorry!

As far as the drums, how about taking one to a machine shop and see how it goes. Wouldn't think it'd be that big of a deal to do, but agian, don't know for sure.

Pillow · Post by **Pillow** » Wed Jun 19, 2002 11:21 pm

Update from a conversation with Bus Boys.

The Porsche pattern drum/hub is not currently being made by Bus Boys. They will and can adpat the hubs properly and is a strong unit. The drum is another story, the drilling of stock German drums does not provide a strong hole pattern. The only solution is to get blank Brazilian bay drums and drill what you want. Bus Boys is wary of the Brazilian drum quality.

... The problem is sourcing blank bay drums... Anyone have a clue where to get them?

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Adrian Pillow
'66 VW Westfalia - "Biscuit"
'67 VW Deluxe Westfakia - "Dino"
'79 Porsche 911 SC - "Cochese"

Pillow · Post by **Pillow** » Fri Jun 21, 2002 7:36 am

Yesterday, I put in the new dual circuit MC (a 71-79 baywindow unit). The kit I used was from Wolfgang International (PN: 2611011) and does not look like much for $40, but installs like a champ! Very clean and neat installation.

The toughest part of the install is getting the union nuts lined up and threaded into the MC holes. The brake lines themselves were pretty easy to bend and get generally lined up to the new MC holes (just like Wolfgang claimed!). The trick to getting the union nuts into the MC is leave it loose and move the MC to get the nut perfectly lined up, they are very finicky to thread in. Once the union nuts are in snug then tighten up the two MC mounting bolts and then tighten the union nuts and you are all done! In my case I disconnected the clutch cable to get better access in there, but if you are nimble with your hands this might be unnecessary... Granted I am happy that I disconnected the clutch cable because the bolt was almost worn in half from years of use.

Factoid: The union nut is a 10mm x 1.00 thread nut... If you strip the union nut I have not been able to find a 10mm x 1.00 die anywhere. So be careful.

I was happy that I did not need to "T" off the lines like I originally thought I would after reading Eric&Barbs write up. Granted I could see this being an advantage and still necessary if you need extra line or something like that.

As a warning someone earlier posted that the German 71-79 Bay MC will not work with the Wolfgang conversion kit. What I used was Brazilian, so I cannot verify that either way.

Another warning is that the Bay disc/drum MC should not be used with a split drum/drum setup. Apparently the pressure check valve is not in the disc/drum Bay MC like the single circuit or '67 unit. I wonder if the drum/drum 68-70 bay MC could be used easily as a drum/drum split bus alternative though? My opinion is that the '67 only MC is totally worth the $150 or so it costs for the dual circuit in a drum/drum application.

You now may be wondering what the heck I am doing then? I am putting on the Old Speed early 944 disc front brake kit... Hopefully if the Porsche shop will hurry up and get the dang bearings in the hubs I can get it done to have a report for everyone on Monday.

While we are talking brakes, does anyone know where to find a blank (no bolt holes) rear drum for a 71-79 Bay?

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Adrian Pillow
'66 VW Westfalia - "Biscuit"
'67 VW Deluxe Westfakia - "Dino"
'79 Porsche 911 SC - "Cochese"

Single Cab · Post by **Single Cab** » Fri Jun 21, 2002 4:14 pm

I was the one who opted for a German 71-79 Bay MC for my conversion and it didn't fit the Wolfgang adapter. I sent the adapter and my MC to them for fitting. They know the difference now and should be able to get it right for either one. Apparently everyone buys the Brazilian MC when converting rather than the better quality German unit???

Thomas