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Revised April 26, 2010
Over 3 years in research and development has brought about our new IRS II Conversion. Now run your 56-67 Bus or Pickup at either a lowered or stock height configuration with heavier duty components obtained and modified from the 68-79 Type 2. The basic bolt-on kit comes with our specially made Control Arm Bracket Clamps, modified 68-79 Type 2 Control Arms with Urethane Bushings, CV Axles, Hardware, Nosecone Gasket and complete instructions necessary for this conversion. Depending on the basic conversion kit purchased, you can set up for stock running height or lower it a full 5 inches. To fully appreciate the benefits of a lowered conversion, our adjustable beam is strongly recommended so that your ride is fully level.
An IRS Transmission from a 69-79 Bug or Super Beetle is required for this conversion. To properly mount this transmission in your Bus, your old Late 59-67 Bus nosecone and nosecone shiftrod (the hockey stick) only needs to be swapped to the IRS transmission. If you have a 56-Early 59 Bus, our Transaxle Front Adaptor Mount will also be needed as the front mounting system used on these years will not work with the Late 59-67 Bus nosecone required. If you need them, the adaptor, nosecone and hockey stick are shown in our parts list on this flyer.
Unlike other conversions that can be done by the do-it-yourselfer, we supply CV Axles specially made for this conversion. These are called floating axles, which means the splines are extra long and allows the axle to "float" within the CV joint. We have found that this design is much easier on the CV joints, as it does not allow the joint to "bind", which can be a real bummer when heading down the highway, taking a sharp corner or going over speed bumps.
Although not supplied with this kit (available optionally) and depending on the height configuration you are planning to run, Type 2 or Type 4 CV Joints are required. If running in a lowered configuration, such as 2 to 4 inches below stock height, Type 2 CV Joints are the recommended choice. These have a maximum working angle of 18 degrees before the joint will "bind" or "pop out" under load. When running at stock height or about 1 inch below, Type 4 CV Joints will be required. Type 4 CV joints have a maximum working angle of 22 degrees. A little more expensive, but worth it in the long run. Type 1 Transaxles are equipped with inner CV flanges which are too small for these two joints. To correct this problem, we recommend the installation of Modified CV Flanges on the Transaxle. These inner CV flanges are similar to what is used on the Type 181 "Thing" and will work with the IRS Control Arms used in this kit, however OE flanges stick out about 6mm farther than the modified flanges we offer and that may cause the axleshaft not to "float" as well as it should. Please see our parts list in this section for these modified flanges.
This kit is designed to utilize the IRS Control Arms from a 68-79 Type 2 which we modify and supply in this kit. These are then bolted to 68-79 Rear Bearing Housings from the same year period of Type 2's. We do not supply these in the kit, as you will have to obtain these either from Bus Boys or your local VW Recycler. However, keep these points in mind: If you wish to continue running the large 5 lug (205mm) pattern, obtain the complete bearing housing, axle stub, drum, backing plates, shoes and related hardware from a 69-70 Bus or Pickup. 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. Special Note: This configuration will only accept 6" wide Porsche Alloys within the stock fender well.
This new system, if running at stock height, allows the use of stock spring plates from a 68-71 Type 2 with no modifications whatsoever. Again, you can obtain good used plates from Bus Boys. However, if you wish to vary the ride height within 2 inches of stock height, we have Adjustable Spring Plates available to "fine tune" that ride. In addition, we are now producing brand new spring plates that are 35% to 40% stronger than stock VW to use in a multitude of configurations for your Bus.
In the development of this system and in surveying our customers, we found that many would like to run 7 to 8 inch wide Porsche Rims, creating what we call the "Fat Boy" look for their Buses. With the IRS II Conversion, it can be done if using the Rear Bearing Housings, Axle Stub, Hub, Drum and Brake Components from an 80-91 Vanagon. The Vanagon Housing doesn't stick out as far as the 68-79 Bus Housing and allows the running of 15", 16" or 17" Porsche Alloys up to 8 inches wide on your 56-67 Bus or Pickup. (In other words the wheel mounting face is 1.3 inches inboard from the normal stock wheel face.) You must run a 68-71 Bus Spring Plate (Non Adjustable or Adjustable) when using this configuration and no larger than a 60 series tire.
Some reworking of the hydraulic steel lines and brake hoses is necessary for the completion of this conversion. We have developed a kit that contains all of the necessary lines, hoses and hardware to obtain a professional installation of a reworked brake system. See our parts list for this kit.
One of the nice things this conversion has to offer is the simplicity of lowering the rear of your Bus or Pickup. For a 3 to 4 inch drop, simply purchase and install our Boomerang Kit (Call us for more details). If using our Adjustable Spring Plates, you can even drop it further another inch or so to really slam it down. In any case, our Notched Spring Plates (Adjustable or Non Adjustable) are required when running in the lowered configuration. See our parts list for the proper plates.
A pleasant surprise when designing this system was that you can use your stock shocks in the stock height configuration. "Short shocks" are required if running in the lowered configuration. Because the lower shock mount has changed position and has moved further to the rear, special upper shock mounts are required for installation in either configuration and are supplied with the kit. Using our instructions, you weld these on your frame about 2 to 3 inches rearward of the stock upper mount. Stock shock bolts are still used.
210-51201 IRS II Axle Conversion Kit $780.75
(Note: For use with 69-79 Bus Rear Bearing Housings)
210-51211 IRS II Axle Conversion Kit - Coming Soon - CALL!
(Note: For use with 80-91 Vanagon Rear Bearing Housings)
210-51260 Hydraulic Line Kit - IRS II Conversion $30.20
210-511-205BP New Spring Plates - Non Adjustable $184.00 pair
211-511-205BPU Used Spring Plates - Non Adjustable $90.00 pair
210-59117AP New Spring Plates - Adjustable $293.20 pair
(Note: For use with 69-79 Bus Rear Bearing Housings)
210-30001 Front Trans Adaptor Mount (Required for 56-Early 59 Buses) $35.95
211-301-205H New Front Nosecone Late 59-67 $66.80
(Note: This nosecone requires 211-301-265A Front Mount or if using on a 56-Early 59 Bus
use 210-30001 Adaptor Mount)
113-301-263 Rear Trans Mount Left/Right 4.45 each
211-301-265 Front Trans Mount Late 59-62 $9.95
211-301-265A Front Trans Mount 63-67 $5.80
113-501-331D CV Joint - Inner/Outer - Type 4 $106.00
(Note: For Stock Height Configuration Only - 22 Deg Angle Maximum)
211-501-331B CV Joint - Inner/Outer - Type 2 $101.00 each
(Note: For Lowered Configuration Only - 18 Deg Angle Maximum)
251-598-201 CV Boot Kit w/Clamp/Grease/Hardware $18.25 kit
(Note: For CV Joints Above - Genuine German)
210-51250 CV Joint and Boot Kit $450.00 kit
(Note: For Models Running At Stock Height and complete with 4 CV Joints (Type 4) and
Boot Kits)
113-501-229C Bolt for CV Joint - 6 per joint req. $0.50 each
113-517-283AU Inner CV Flange, Used $50.00 each
113-517-283AZ Inner CV Flange for Type 4 Joint, New $90.85 Pair
211-501-221A Rear Axle Nut $7.55 each
N 12548.1 Cotter Pin for Axle Nut $0.25 each
211-501-287 Inner Rear Wheel Bearing (FAG/SKF) $20.00 each
211-501-283 Outer Rear Wheel Bearing (FAG/SKF) $90.00 each
(Note: When using 69-70 Rear Bearing Housings)
211-501-283D Outer Wheel Bearing (KMM/Brazil) $81.00 each
(Note: When using 71-79 Bus or Vanagon Rear Bearing Housings)
211-501-317 Rear Wheel Seal - Inner or Outer $3.75 each
211-501-615G Rear Drum - Large 5 Lug (69-70) $90.00 each
211-609-615 Rear Drum - Small 5 Lug $95.00 each
(Note: Models using 71-79 Backing Plates - This has the standard VW 112mm lug pattern.)
251-609-615 Rear Drum - Small 5 Lug $67.90 each
(Note: Using 80-91 Vanagon Backing Plates - This has the standard VW 112mm lug
pattern.)
211-501-619U Rear Hub - For Small 5 Lug (71-91) $35.00 each
(Note: Used, but inspected, cleaned and painted and this has the standard VW 112mm lug
pattern.)
211-501-265U Rear Axle Stub (Long), Used For Large 5 Lug (69-70) $40.00 each
211-501-265CU Rear Axle Stub (Short), Used For Small 5 Lug (71-91) $45.00 each
-- Rear Brake Shoes - From $25.00 set on up.
Note: Please specify the year when ordering - sold in sets of 4 shoes
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