Bus into bus trans swap...searched, found little

Jadewombat · Post by **Jadewombat** » Thu Oct 30, 2008 7:38 pm

OK, so I have a '66 bus, tired of the redux. boxes and low gear ratio. I haven't seen anyone actually do a Bay bus trans into split bus swap, either in a build or otherwise. Lots of baja bug swaps, but I need a couple of more specifics.

I want to do a 002 (3 rib, or whatever you like) bay window bus trans swap into my split-bus.

So far I have:
-002 Bus box
-Bay bus trailing arms and rear drums
-Bay bus torsion bars

I'm thinking of using:
-Bay window trailing arms, spring plates, and rear drums
-Bus into bug solid mount http://www2.cip1.com/ProductDetails.asp ... C10%2D4331
-The stock torsion bars already on the bus, I've heard the spline pattern between split and bay buses is the same, correct?
-Bus boys frame bolt-on frame horns from their IRS II conversion kit($162), or if bug trailing arm ones will work I'll use those, do you know?
-Gene Berg 600A adapter
-Bus CVs

My questions are,
1. Will this swap into my bus move the motor up, down, or back?
2. Do you know of something other than the solid mount kit, like with urethane mounts?
3. Will the stock bus axles work, lengthwise?
4. Is this feasable or will something not work here?

This is all I can think of for now, I'll might have a couple of more questions.

Pillow · Post by **Pillow** » Wed Nov 12, 2008 3:53 pm

It has been done before... But I have no clue on how that person did it. Maybe that will give some hope, but is of little help.

Jadewombat · Post by **Jadewombat** » Thu Nov 13, 2008 7:16 am

Pillow wrote:It has been done before... But I have no clue on how that person did it. Maybe that will give some hope, but is of little help.

I've found one guy on thesamba who's done it to a single cab so far. I will need the BusBoys II kit as the arms have to be narrowed, a Gene Berg nose cone adapter 600A, and GB rubber mount GB641E. I also will need 17" axles from what I'm told.

Also of note, I'm going to be using Mercedes rims off a CLK. The bolt pattern is the same as a late bus(of which I've already swapped the front over on my bus to disks) but the hole size is different. Bus uses 14mm, Merc uses 12mm. Pop the studs out of the hubs and go down to the auto parts store and find one with a 12.5mm thread but the same base spline as the bus studs which is 14.77mm. Redrilling the rims to open the holes is NOT an option, they wanted $500 to machine the holes and put inserts(this is the right way to do this mind you).

Here's a photo of what I swapped over today, I found out if you just say you need Honda Accord studs and lugs you'll get what you need. With the Merc. rims you will need acorn cup style ones to center the rim, the same as stock nuts.

A few photos:
Popping the studs out of the front hub

The top is a stock Mercedes 12mm lug, middle is a Honda Accord 12.5mm stud with a 14.77mm base and lug nut, bottom is a stock bus 14mm stud.

The CLK rim mounted, I popped the center cap off, didn't need too for space I just didn't like it. A plan to go with some spike center caps a friend will machine for me.

Pillow · Post by **Pillow** » Sun Nov 16, 2008 7:11 pm

Looks GREAT! I like the rims.

Try and find 63Single on the samba. I think he runs a Bay tranny..? Do not quote me on that. His setup is super custom and totally badass.

Pillow · Post by **Pillow** » Sun Nov 16, 2008 7:13 pm

Also do you have a picture of the Beetle with the Flats on it? Just curious as not many people run those wheels... Except me on my bus... And some of the watercooled crowd on the east coast.

Jadewombat · Post by **Jadewombat** » Mon Nov 17, 2008 9:01 am

Pillow wrote:Also do you have a picture of the Beetle with the Flats on it? Just curious as not many people run those wheels... Except me on my bus... And some of the watercooled crowd on the east coast.

A picture of my super beetle with the 928S rims, slots, whatever you want to call them. These are mounted to 924T brakes which are essentially 944 brakes, no hokey adapters here. The car stops so well it'll put your heart up in your throat. No engine now though, awaiting a 911 motor I'm trying to get fired up, that's why the rear ends sticking up.

Not sure if I'm going to stick with these rims, Porsche twists would be sweet or a set of mini-lites.

Pillow · Post by **Pillow** » Mon Nov 17, 2008 6:03 pm

Thanks for the picture! I think they look good. If you want some bling polish them up

... Twists are getting played out.

Jadewombat · Post by **Jadewombat** » Tue Nov 25, 2008 7:02 pm

And so it continues, I have most of what I need now. After the bus dying in traffic yesterday it's time to coat the inside of the gas tank as it's rusting out...and I'm ditching the carb for injection.

I pulled the motor today and am going to strip the engine compartment to paint it. The blue tank is for the airbags, I'll have to redesign the brackets now as well for the bags after the conversion.

Jadewombat · Post by **Jadewombat** » Thu Nov 27, 2008 11:50 am

Have the rest of the junk cleared out of the engine compartment, minus the wiring of course, and getting ready to paint the area. Getting the rear apron straight will be the hardest part.

Jadewombat · Post by **Jadewombat** » Sun Nov 30, 2008 2:23 pm

Got the rest of the running gear out in one swoop. Bye, bye swing axle. Next is to pop the spring plates off and start painting with everything bare.

Jadewombat · Post by **Jadewombat** » Mon Dec 01, 2008 7:25 pm

Well, not too sure how much interest there is in my topic as no one else has chimed in, but anyhoo I'll keep updating here.

Came into my first snag last night. Got the spring plates off and tried to fit the IRS plates to the torsion bars, no go. The splines on the bars were too small. No big I thought, I grabbed the torsion bars from the donor mid-70s bus so I'd just use those. Those didn't work either, the inside splines on the IRS bars were too big for my bus. Several people told me the spline pattern was the same for all buses, not so.

I won't get into details, quick rundown though. You're doing this type of swap you need '68-70 spring plates to make this work. I requested BusBoys reword their catalog to SPELL this out as it isn't (they even list used spring plates as all being the same 68-79 in their catalog, even though they aren't). I've already located a used set of early IRS plates.

Today I got more stuff cleared out and undercoated all the hard to reach areas.

WestyPop · Post by **WestyPop** » Mon Dec 01, 2008 11:55 pm

Hey, Jadewombat, you've already, either verbally or pictorially, answered a bunch of questions I've had. Thanks. Keep it going!

Please note that, while few have elected to 'chime-in', that over 320 others have cruised on by to view the process/project. That says "useful" at least.

'Every picture tells a story, don't it.' Thanks.

J.R.
68 Westy
(+ others)

Mark the canuck · Post by **Mark the canuck** » Tue Dec 02, 2008 1:13 pm

WestyPop wrote:Hey, Jadewombat, you've already, either verbally or pictorially, answered a bunch of questions I've had. Thanks. Keep it going!

Please note that, while few have elected to 'chime-in', that over 320 others have cruised on by to view the process/project. That says "useful" at least.

'Every picture tells a story, don't it.' Thanks.

J.R.
68 Westy
(+ others)

Yes "others" are watching

Pillow · Post by **Pillow** » Tue Dec 02, 2008 7:57 pm

Ditto, big brother is watching

This will be a really informative build!

DubKru · Post by **DubKru** » Tue Dec 02, 2008 8:48 pm

I met this guy!!

I also put Porsche brakes on my bus. hubs, discs, and calipers.

Sweet ass stuff man. We need to meet at the shed when you get this done! (MS, BBQ, it rules)

I agree with you on the samba. I was saying the same today on Turbobricks (Volvo, my winter project)

But, MORE PICS!!

Oh, hey, I got a Mercedes spare at my house if you want it. It came out on something high end. Like '03 s500 or something along those lines.