new to forum and to trike i got a transmission/rear end related question for vw trike

[xcalibre]

hi all im new to this forum i got lucky finding it i have been searching for a place where other people have and have built trikes i am in the process of trying to get a vw powered trike on the road it has a 1600 duel port with manual trans and swing axle suspension i am in a wheel chair so anything req me to have to use a clutch to shift is out the door so i picked up a fully automatic vw trans out of a vw bus but from what i have been reading this req a irs rear end now what i'm trying to figure out is can i just replace my axles with irs axles? or do i have to lob off my entire rear end and replace it with a irs rear?and if i do either of these things does it matter what type of vw it comes out of or will i have to use a vw bus only? i took on this trike so that i could enjoy it and build it with my dad but it has started to become a real steep learning curved project so any sugestions/help would be very much appreciated

[Nana]

Hello xcalibre, and a big welcome to TrikeTalk! Oh what fun.....a new trike project to follow along with . We have several guys on here who have built their own. I'm quite sure you'll get some great input. Be sure to post some pictures when you get a chance.

[Lonerbtw]

If this site can`t answer your q`s then try BTW btw-trikers.org Thay have alot of vw builders on there. Hope this helps.
Loner

[katfish16]

Welcome to the forum, post ur questions and see what kind of responce you get.. Redneck Ray is one of the VW builders on here and a nice guy--can't say too much about him he gets a big head :yes:
also where r u located????
Good luck with ur project and post some pictures we love pictures

[Gorilla]

welcome aboard xcalibre. I am trying to remember but I think they r different. didn't work on any busses. redneckray jump in here

[xcalibre]

ty everyone for the welcomes i'm located in southern california i will try and post some pics soon

[alienhunter]

cool like pic:yes:

[xcalibre]

ok i posted some pics of my trike over in the new members section any sugestions are more than welcome

[katfish16]

Thanks for posting the pictures..keep us updated we like seeing how things are going...
Enjoy the project....

[pd5190]

What part of So Calif you in? There are a couple of people who do VW work if you are close.

[redneckray]

Where in cali you at? Also what do you want to know and kind of help you need?

[xcalibre]

i'm located in fontana i got about a million questions :P but right now the most pressing question is about installing a automatic transmission onto my trike the automatic i bought is off a vw bus and the rear suspension stuff on the trike is swing axle style i'm told that a vw bus automatic requires irs style but does this mean i can use irs stuff off any vw or does it have to be a bus? also can i get away with just buying irs axles and bolt them to my existing hubs? or do i need to hack the swing axle off and start from scratch with a whole irs back end?or is there even a way to modify the swing axles to bolt into the auto tranny? i attached 2 pics here showing the recieving part for the axle on the auto trans and one showing why i thing i have swing axle suspension on trike now

[Sandman]

Hope this helps. In 1969 a fellow named John Muir wrote a book called HOW TO KEEP YOUR VOLKSWAGEN ALIVE. The art work alone is worth the cost of the book, even if you never own a volkswagen. The book is available @ any magor bookseller, also many V.W. aftermarket parts suppliers. I think there are some clearance problems that require a transition adapter for bug engine to bus trans. and vice versa. Offroad racers sometimes do this, check out Hot VW magizine.

[trikes4ever]

I've not done this, but how about a hand operated clutch? I have used hydraulic master and slave for a standard (swing axle) VW transaxle, but the master was foot operated. Don't see why you could not use a handelbar mounted master (like a HD front brake cylinder) and operate the VW clutch slave with it.

Here's the slave cylinder I'm talking about. You'd just have to make sure the volume of whatever hand brake master you used is matched to the volume of the slave cylinder.

[Buggie Pilot]

I have not done this .... but

To change your swing type to an IRS you will need to weld on trailing arm pivot clips and get a set of IRS Trailing arms, spring plates, and possabily torsion bars.

Now to install the bus tranny you will need an mounting adaptor kit ... I believe it consists of a new front mount by the shift nose and a new back mount by the bellhousing. then you will also need axles with a bus cv-joint on one end and a bug cv on the other.

Now I'm not sure what is required for the bus full auto, but if it is like an autostic you will need the pump,fluid tank, vaccum tank,vaccum solenoid, Clutch Servo and assorted hoses.

Best resource for purchasing parts for your project is The Samba Classifides

The best places for tech info are The Samba Forum , Shop Talk Forums , VW Automatic Register

Good luck with your project
Pete G

[3WHELAR]

Did any one in the Statea ever see the semi auto box where yoy grab the stick and it detects the pressure of your hand on the stick and automatically engages the clutch for you, they are around but we tend to use the full autoit's a lot less messy.

[Buggie Pilot]

Did any one in the Statea ever see the semi auto box where yoy grab the stick and it detects the pressure of your hand on the stick and automatically engages the clutch for you, they are around but we tend to use the full autoit's a lot less messy.

Yes that would be the autostick . I am building a Vw trike with one right now and my girlfriend has had one in her trike ..... we have had no problems with it at all.

[rrunner]

Get on the BTW website and contact trikerbob59. He has built full auto vw trans trikes in the past. I don't know if this email is still valid bob4u55@yahoo.com he also has a website:
Bob's Trike Project
Hope this helps, and he's out of Sacramento.

[sgtstumpy]

John Edwards is near Banning ca and has built many vw trikes and may even have parts I have one with a full auto tranny. It handles great and I love it. I have called him several times for help and he is very helpful. Good Luck I am a Left leg amputee So I understand the whole shifting thing. If you need help or just want to talk send me an email and I will send you my number.

Stumpy

PS I have a good friend in OC who might be able to help

John Edwards Corsair Trikes

[trikerbob59]

Hi Xcalibre, I have never built using the Bus tranny, but I believe I can give you a little information concerning what you are trying to do.

First off, I do think you'd be ahead of the game to pick up an IRS rear end to start with. Since the trans is IRS you'll at least have suspension there that you won't have to try to build as well as axles. However the bug IRS axles have smaller CVC joints, its my understanding that a Bus CVC joint can be put on one end of the Bug axle so you can use the Bug axles. Don't know if you might have to modify the length though, but I assume you might have to. I do know you'll have to remove the Transmission horns that the standard 4 speed trans bolts to because the auto trans is larger and won't bolt up. You must build a hanging system to hang the trans in the torsion bar assembly. Let me just say, for someone with very little or no experience doing this, you are really biting off a big mouth full here. You should look for a type 3 full auto assembly to work with. I know they are getting very hard to find, but if you look hard enough, you can find one, even if you have to buy a complete car to get it, you'll be way ahead of the game. You will also need the shifter and cable as the VW trans requires the proper shifter since the indents are in the shifter, not in the trans. So finding a complete car, will get you all the parts you'll need to build with. Much Much easier than what you are attempting to do.

If I can be of any help, let me know.