Getting ready to convert to short axles on my 67 and have a few questions

[Matt Tobias]

Hello!  Getting ready to tuck my wheels under my fenders by switching to short axles.  Does anyone of any good online tutorials to follow? 
Are there any kits you can buy for setting up the endplay on the axle that include gaskets? 
Which bearing/oil seal retainer will I need for the end bearing inside the drum? 
Thanks!!
Matt

[deano]

Just a couple of pointers. First, the axle tubes are the same, just the shock/end castings are different. Since '67s use long axles with short splines, your new shorter axles will also have "short" splines. So, the drum snouts are the same.

[56BLITZ]

Which bearing/oil seal retainer will I need for the end bearing inside the drum?  

You should be fine with '67 bearing retainers and matching spacers. Do not use pre '63 bearing retainers . . . they don't have the "weep holes" in them.
when you have the "short" tubes, you can compare the depth where the bearing sits in the end casting with that of your '67 axle tubes to make sure that they are the same.
There was a change in '68 end castings/bearing retainers/spacers, so be sure to check! Look here for photos . . . http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=583865&highlight=axle

PS . . . I'm talking about U.S. cars . . . do not know if Euro stuff is the same!

[Lids]

Search on here. There was a hot vws article about this which was scanned and uploaded

[Neil Davies]

I'm going to be doing something similar over Christmas if I get chance. Got a '72 swingaxle box with long axles and Porsche pattern drums, and a '66 short axle box. I want to put the short axles on the later box with the Porsche pattern drums to fit 7" Cookie Cutters under stock rear wings. I think some machining will be needed...

[56BLITZ]

I think some machining will be needed...

To the hub on the drum.

As an aside . . . on my '68 Ghia . . . when I used the short axles to fit my 15X6 Porsche alloys, I need spacers ( 10mm . . . IIRC ) in order to keep the tires from rubbing on the body mount.

[Matt Tobias]

Thanks for all the info everybody!  I will look for that article. 

[nlvtinman]

As Neil alerts to, you do have to machine the bolt surface on the drums. I had to do such when I installed type 3 brakes on the short axle trans in my '67 sedan.

[Dougy Dee]

As Neil alerts to, you do have to machine the bolt surface on the drums. I had to do such when I installed type 3 brakes on the short axle trans in my '67 sedan.

You machine 5/8" or .625 from the snout of the drum.

[Rick Meredith]

As Neil alerts to, you do have to machine the bolt surface on the drums. I had to do such when I installed type 3 brakes on the short axle trans in my '67 sedan.

Just to be clear. It's the surface where the axle nut contacts the drum that needs to be machined.

I went through this when I converted my '67 to 4-lug.
Still gotta do the short axle conversion.

[Zach Gomulka]

We used short axles with 7" cookie cutters and 215/65's on Asshull's 67. No clearance issues. Only difference was CB disc brakes.

[neil68]

I saw the tire photo in your build thread and yes, '66 short axles should solve your problem.  I run 6" CMS wheels with M&H DOT street-strip tires in the 215/65 size and the short axles help the rubber to just barely clear the fenders (wings) with 3.5" backspacing.

[Matt Tobias]

Thanks Neil!

[Jimbo01]

All good info on "How To". To help you see what it will look like when you are done, here is a picture of my recently completed 67. It has short axles with Flat Four Enkei 5 spokes. Brakes are CB disc which push out the wheels 1/8 inch.

Jimbo

[RichardinNZ]

Jimbo
It seems to me that you should be posting some more pictures of your car....looking good.
Richard