VS Workshop Maual

There is the sparse VS owners manual and the wiring diagrams that were posted here.

The $30 Bentley manual is a far better manual than the Haynes one. One covers swing axle and another for later IRS.

As for specific Speedster questions there's plenty of knowledge here , just ask ~

Thanks guys as usual quick and informative - I appreciate it

That blue Bentley manual is a HUGE win to have on hand. Can’t tell you how many times I used it when building my Speedster.

Verbieten posted:

 

...would it be a good alternate to get a Haynes manual for the respective year VW Bug...

The year isn't too critical, either. It's not like VS starts with a whole bug from a specific year.

Basically, they use the pan and very little else from the original car, then add a lot of after market parts and source engine and transaxle independently, too.

So, a generic VW help book like this is as good a reference as any:

Most, if not all, VS Speedsters built have been “Swing Arm” models.  If you don’t know what you have, look at the rear suspension.  Swing arm drive axles are enclosed in metal tubes from the transaxle to the wheel hubs.  All you see are the tube and they don’t spin.  VW produced those until the end of 1968.

So-Called “IRS” models started in 1969 -1979 and have rear drive axles that are exposed (you can see them spin) with 2 CV joints per side.

Once you know what you have (prob’ly option 1) you can choose the right shop manual (before 1969, or 1969 - 1974.   After 1974 had a different front suspension that is incompatible with a Speedster body).

After that, if you run into any trouble we can probably answer any question you might have.  There may be an “excessive verbiage” penalty involved (esoecially from me) but you will get a viable answer, eventually.  

Thing is, VS produced mainly swing axle cars - unless you specifically ordered IRS. Most people ordering a VS (like me) didn't realize IRS was even an option.

My VS is built on a '69 pan (and titled as a '69). It left the VW factory with IRS. But VS removed the IRS bits from the pan and converted it back to swing axles.

Hard to believe, but that's how they rolled.

Yeah, I am still incredulous that they (and Beck) still build swing-arm rears, but what’chagonnado?

I built/rebuilt my first VW engine which powered my 59 Porsche coupe using John Muir's book.

Kathy didn't like that for several weeks it was perched front/center on our rental's kitchen table.

And yes, sadly I fit his descriptor of the typical reader...

So what is the reason VS used swing axles?  Anyone know?

The blue 66-69 Bentley is all you ever need. Covers swing and IRS.

Jack Crosby posted:

So what is the reason VS used swing axles?  Anyone know?

 

They even convert IRS pans to swing axle - a step backwards --- all for rear wheel clearance.

WOLFGANG posted:

Jack Crosby posted:

So what is the reason VS used swing axles?  Anyone know?

 

They even convert IRS pans to swing axle - a step backwards --- all for rear wheel clearance.

^This. It is mainly for the rear wheel clearance.

I posted this on another thread, but my Coupe build is on a 74' pan is was original an IRS... but we converted it to a swing axle...

Dune buggy guys say the swing axle is stronger for off road too.

I'm not sure why all the fuss over swing axle vs IRS. I have a swing axles and a camber compensator on my VS and I drive the shyte out of it. I don't drive conservatively by any stretch of the imagination in the foothills. I do need to upgrade my tires because the ones on the car now have harder rubber than I like.

Robert, all your screeching around the Sierra foothills has case-hardened your tires.

That's why the little lady from Pasadena had to quit hot-rodding around, her tires turned to steel and she went...wait for it...on the skids...

*LongFella posted:

WOLFGANG posted:

Jack Crosby posted:

So what is the reason VS used swing axles?  Anyone know?

 

They even convert IRS pans to swing axle - a step backwards --- all for rear wheel clearance.

^This. It is mainly for the rear wheel clearance.

I posted this on another thread, but my Coupe build is on a 74' pan is was original an IRS... but we converted it to a swing axle...

Build it irs, narrow the trailing arms 1", widen a pair of 5 1/2 or 6" wheels 1" to the inside, put 205's under the fenders and you'll wonder why any one would bother with a swing axle car. Just sayin'...

"Build it irs, narrow the trailing arms 1", widen a pair of 5 1/2 or 6" wheels 1" to the inside, put 205's under the fenders and you'll wonder why any one would bother with a swing axle car. Just sayin'..."

True that.