Race Bus / Fast Bus / Sleeper Bus **Info & Idea Thread ---> TheSamba.com :: View topic - Race Bus / Fast Bus / Sleeper Bus **Info & Idea Thread

Red9Design wishbone suspension w/rack and pinion for type 2 Bus

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1254797724.jpg

If I had a completely restored 58 splitty I would leave it restored. Just my opinion. A bay window on the other hand...

Of course the newer the better as to Porsche motor or trans.

Just a note. A 78-79 SC motor & 915 is going to be the easiest conversion. It dose not need a computer and the 915 dose not require a hydraulic slave cylinder conversion and should be able to use your cable clutch. It is also a shorter transmission.

A 74-75 transmission is lighter but more significantly has a lower ring and pinion for better acceleration. However, if you are running small diameter wheels like Fuchs 6's with 205/50's you will want a 77 or later trans for better rpm on cruse.

If you still have the gear reduction on each side of the rear bus drive train, you do not want an earlier 915 transmission and want the 77 or later trans that is geared higher.

If you are going to carbs, you can easily do this on any SC motor. On a 3.2 you will need to come up with a way to fire the ignition.

A Carrera 3.2 from 84 through 86 has the 915 transmission. Later has the bigger stronger, easer to shift G50 trans.

A 3.2 is a great running motor and gets better gas mileage.

Since the engine bay is in a low preassure zone its common to have cooling issues so plan for some large scoops.
Or even better use a "wet" engine.

But prior to start cutting the bus, check out what value it have in Germany or UK.

I would sell and bye a mint pre -73

I'm putting in a '67 912 901 transmission in my '73 VW Panel Van as soon as I get some time. No 911 yet, though...

I would suggest putting in an STI WRX engine. Water-cooled, plenty of power, turbocharged. Plus, it's still a flat-4!

search "john walker" and my bus pops right up. may be good for an idea or two.

Subscribed.

I want a Hot rod bus and have day dreamed about this project for a long time.

I almost bought one and man I thought my wife was going to make me sleep in it.

gratuitous picture, I believe from Wagons West



http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1254937119.jpg

bear in mind that a splittie has a shorter distance between rear axle centerline and the back of the bus than a 68-79 bus. way easier to do it to the later ones. as for the splitties, the distance between the rear torsion bar center and the rear axle center is the same as a SWB 911/912. on my 62 doublecab, i used the complete rear suspension fron a '73 911, torsion bar tube and all. that required the bus tube to be cut out completely and the 911 tube to be positioned about 3" ahead of where the bus tube was in order to get the rear wheels centered in the wheel opening. that got the back of the engine real close to the engine lid. so much so that i piecut the angled in license plate section and rewelded it out enough to clear the fan housing. then i had louvres punched in it for more air flow.
the last splittie project i started, but unfortunately burned out on, i did basically the same thing, but used a 68 912 short wheelbase complete rear setup with torsion tube and all, and used the same tube position as the original bus tube, being that the SWB rear arms are 2.5" shorter than the 69 and up arms. the engine was in the same position, but the torsion tube install was easier.

hey john

im in the collecting stage to do a 6 conversion on my 68 westy! tin top. im thinking about running a built 091 tranny instead of the 915 i have. i figure i dont really need a 5th gear. i have a couple of 911 parts cars a 76 911 and a 69 911 complete suspension and brakes. how did you use the 911 front brakes? did you do modified spindles? i was looking at using the swing arms from the 911 and doing custom spring plates. any ways any help would be great as far as how you did yours. i looked at the pics on the above link and like welding in the whole torsion tube. also what was the wheel combo you are running.

cheers ed

I have a '86 3.2 & 915 box in my '68 crewcab. You want the 5 speed, and you will use 5th gear. Here is a link to my disk brake conversion page which retains the 5x112 bolt pattern. VW type 2 front & rear disc brake conversion page.
Since then I've modified a pair of 912 front hubs that will work with the existing Wilwood calipers, or stock vw bus calipers. Since I'm using the 912 hub I can switch to bigger rotors and bigger calipers down the road.http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1262629540.jpg

bus and 911 front wheel bearings are the same, but the bus are spaced 11mm wider apart. i made an 11mm spacer ring for the 911 hub to space out the outer bearing race. i can't remember the exact details, but there was enough room to do that. then i made a caliper bracket that bolted on in place of the backing plate. just have to get the thing centered over the rotor. i ran 7 and 8x16 fuchs.

nice bus love the DC i have a 69 SC as a shop truck.

the reason for keeping the bus tranny is i am planning on doing the conversion with a 2.7 i have around and then going to a 3.0 -3.2 in the future. but i was not wanting to cut up the heater tube as heat is important around here. i havent looked into it to hard but seems as if the heater tube wil be in the way of the 915 swap. but i have all the parts to go either direction. do you have any pics of the tranny to shifter install from under the bus.

cheers ed

thanks john

this is the route i want to take as i have lots of 911 stuff around. most of the guys on the samba weld 944 spindles to vw ones to do the conversion i was hopping to stay away from this route. and the info you just supplied is good news. did you run a narrowed beam?

thanks ed

Rather than go through all that, wouldn't a 160+/- HP Type IV work, like from Jake Raby, for a lot less work and $$?

Home

no not in a type one bus.
plus jake rabys motors are not cheap and i have all the 911 stuff. and plus i still want the disc brakes and i like the flat six and dont so much like the type 4.

cheers ed

i put a webered 2.7 in a 77 bus many years ago. took one weekend to get it in and driving. used the bus trans, early 911 flywheel and clutch, and the bus t/o bearing. worked for me because i know how to be somewhat gentle to the gearbox, but the guy i sold it to let a buddy use it and he blew the diff carrier out.

on the front hubs and the spacer. if i remember right, the outer bearing race is 11mm tall, so i stacked two races to get the correct spacing. the outer race sits kind of deep in it's bore and there was just a bit of it unsupported, doing that, so i kind of remember machining a sleeve that was a tight press fit into and against the outer bore and then machining it to bore size, and trimming it down so it was the same height as the top of the race. basically extending the bore a bit. i don't think i narrowed the beam, but i did the "adjust-a-beam" thing on it. the one with the curved, toothed plates.

911 engines work much better in a bay window bus and IMO the bus trans has the perfect gearing ,why mess with a 911 trans. For a split bus the best would be a 356/912 engine due to length stock gearing would probably be fine too .
remember the stock vw signs off at 4000 the 911 turns ON at 4000 or so depending on model.I put a 71t motor in my 70 bay and it was sweet felt like a stock setup unless I was at a stoplight next to a 5.0 mustang.002 trans was fine for many hard launches as well the rear mount was the only challenge and used the stock pillow mounts. the oil tank fit in battery tray on left the only hack was the oil tank and my battery tray was rusted a bit anyway. Steve

btw my heater worked! grafted some flapper vaves from a 914 or late bus I think on top of the 911 heat exchangers .fits like stock! Steve

thanks john

i did a little measurement and you are correct with the 11mm spacer i was thinking of maybe installing a spacer behind both bearings one 5mm and one 6mm. but i will cross that bridge soon enough. im pretty easy on trannys as well if i want to do hard runs ill get in the race car or the 930. im just looking for smooth power and the sound of a porsche when im on my way to camp:D

thanks steve my battery tray is rusty as well and will need only minor trimming to fit the oil tank. i was over at the samba and this is not very excepted by several over there, but im here to tell ya i have owned 100HP type ones and there not what i call exciting. and as for the type 4 well i think others can have them.

steve i know they will fit but i was mocking up the 915 and the shifter linkage looks like it would want to travel threw the heater tube as the 915 shift rod is about 4-6 inches lower.

ed