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My baja kombi build....Almost finished a new rear bumper bar.

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nils Fahrvergnugen

971 posts · joined Jan 2008 ·

#891871
Man, . . . . . . . . . . every time i see a baja bus I think of how much I miss mine (and then remember how much trouble I had with johnny law man 🙁 ) Back them I knew what you needed to get those things legal in NSW, but that was a long time ago and with the amount of changes to the rulings ect won't know where to start anymore.

If you're interested in that stuff, I think "custom bugs and busses" used to do legal baja busses, are they still around?

jealous as, had the best times of my life in a baja bus
Quit calling rust patina

vwsteve karmann crazy

2,087 posts · joined Jul 2006 ·

#891907
do i detect another baja bus idea nills😂
1 1963 356b porsche coupe
2 1960 karmann ghia cab
1 1965 karmann ghia cab
1 1966 karmann cab
1 1961 split ute
1 1967 split p/van
1 1952 standard bug
1 1963 ragtop
1 1960 ragtop
2 1954 ovals
1 1956 oval baja project
1 1957 oval flying flea

baghall Ben Hal Outlaw Bushranger

1,021 posts · joined Jan 2010 ·

#892193
nils wrote:Man, . . . . . . . . . . every time i see a baja bus I think of how much I miss mine (and then remember how much trouble I had with johnny law man 🙁 ) Back them I knew what you needed to get those things legal in NSW, but that was a long time ago and with the amount of changes to the rulings ect won't know where to start anymore.

If you're interested in that stuff, I think "custom bugs and busses" used to do legal baja busses, are they still around?

jealous as, had the best times of my life in a baja bus
Yeah CBB is still around. They are based in Penrith. Recently got a custom box done by them. As far as legal buses I haven't seen a baja bus in the shop but know Mike used to have one himself, he does do a lot of modification work though.
68 Baja - It's a growing pain!
58 Baja ute - and the pain spreads!
85 T3 Kombi - still growing
89 T3 Kombi - parts car

nils Fahrvergnugen

971 posts · joined Jan 2008 ·

#892265
vwsteve wrote:do i detect another baja bus idea nills😂
Nah, I got enough project to last me another 5 years at least.
Speaking of, shouldn't you be working on one of yours?
Quit calling rust patina

crazyfiggi Wolfsburg Wizard

657 posts · joined Jun 2003 ·

#893989
PHAT BUG wrote:That look fantastic!

Do you have any pics of the front end set up??
What did you do to raise the rear? Just raised it a spline?
Ill get some pics of the front end up soon, it has plates that bolt to the beam and relocate it 100mm down from the body.
The rear is just raised one spline.

crazyfiggi Wolfsburg Wizard

657 posts · joined Jun 2003 ·

#893992
nils wrote:Man, . . . . . . . . . . every time i see a baja bus I think of how much I miss mine (and then remember how much trouble I had with johnny law man 🙁 ) Back them I knew what you needed to get those things legal in NSW, but that was a long time ago and with the amount of changes to the rulings ect won't know where to start anymore.

If you're interested in that stuff, I think "custom bugs and busses" used to do legal baja busses, are they still around?

jealous as, had the best times of my life in a baja bus
I would love to try and get this bus legal and engineered.
I might look into it soon. I was thinking of boxing the front frame rails to drop the beam to replace the plates i have in it at the moment, but after seeing the trouble my mate is having with his tubbed hq im not game to. Anything with a modified chassis is almost imposable to get legal!
Would like to hear more about what it took to keep yours legal.

crazyfiggi Wolfsburg Wizard

657 posts · joined Jun 2003 ·

#893998
Havent had much time to work on my van lately, been flat out at work.
I fitted some longer rear shocks which are originally for a GQ patrol. They are the perfect length with about 2 inches travel more than i need at the moment, which will be good in the future if i decide to go 930 cvs for more travel.
Talking about cv joints, i dont think mine are to happy with the angle they now have to work at. When i took the van for a drive yesterday there was quite a loud clicking noise coming from the rear.
If i need to replace one i may as well up grade. I would love to go porsche 930 but just cant afford to buy everything need for the conversion, axles, output flanges etc.
So after some research on the blind chicken racing site im looking at getting some type4 ones. We didnt get type 4s or the 181 over here, but i read they are the same as porsche 924/944? If so i might be able to find them through a porsche parts place.
Alex.

Smiley Veteran Volks Folk

2,125 posts · joined Oct 2008 ·

#894049
When you set up your new CVs make sure that you 'time' them on the axle correctly. Let me know if you need more info.



Smiley 🙂
If you said I was a Volkswagen man, you'd be right.

crazyfiggi Wolfsburg Wizard

657 posts · joined Jun 2003 ·

#894084
Smiley wrote:When you set up your new CVs make sure that you 'time' them on the axle correctly. Let me know if you need more info.



Smiley 🙂
Yep, I need more info 😎
I haven't herd of timing them before?
Thanks,
Alex.

nils Fahrvergnugen

971 posts · joined Jan 2008 ·

#894097
crazyfiggi wrote:
nils wrote:Man, . . . . . . . . . . every time i see a baja bus I think of how much I miss mine (and then remember how much trouble I had with johnny law man 🙁 ) Back them I knew what you needed to get those things legal in NSW, but that was a long time ago and with the amount of changes to the rulings ect won't know where to start anymore.

If you're interested in that stuff, I think "custom bugs and busses" used to do legal baja busses, are they still around?

jealous as, had the best times of my life in a baja bus
I would love to try and get this bus legal and engineered.
I might look into it soon. I was thinking of boxing the front frame rails to drop the beam to replace the plates i have in it at the moment, but after seeing the trouble my mate is having with his tubbed hq im not game to. Anything with a modified chassis is almost imposable to get legal!
Would like to hear more about what it took to keep yours legal.
That was the problem, in queensland it never was. The only really reason i sold it was i could no longer afford the fines i was getting. and the work involved in lowering for the pits every few months, then raising it back up when I got home.
Thats why I insisted on the ammount of blue plate work that is done on the baja, because at the end of the day it still cheaper than the fines
Quit calling rust patina

nils Fahrvergnugen

971 posts · joined Jan 2008 ·

#894099
crazyfiggi wrote:So after some research on the blind chicken racing site im looking at getting some type4 ones. We didnt get type 4s or the 181 over here, but i read they are the same as porsche 924/944? If so i might be able to find them through a porsche parts place.
Alex.
Depending on how you feel about buying overseas, Try appletree auto in the states. They will sell you T4 lobro "kits" (boots, cvs, bolts, clips, grease) for about $50. with shipping and the strong aussie dollar you should have then in your hand for under a hundred clams.
A point of note, if you polish and clock these the stock boots will no longer be up to the task, the axle will actually chew them up from the inside out. Running a universal toyota boot has worked well for me, (sorry no part numbers for these)
Quit calling rust patina

ClockworkMonkey Seriously Crusin Dubber

199 posts · joined Oct 2009 ·

#894103
That looks awesome!!

crazyfiggi Wolfsburg Wizard

657 posts · joined Jun 2003 ·

#894208
Thanks for all that info! Just sent a email off to appletree to see what price they can do on the postage.
What do you mean by polish and clock? Ive replaced cv joints before but never in a offroad application, so this is all a bit new to me 😊
I found this site with some good info on "race prepping" a cv joint. http://www.race-dezert.com/forum/showthread.php/45208-Race-prep-a-CV-joint...
Would something like this be needed for my new cvs?
Alex.

crazyfiggi Wolfsburg Wizard

657 posts · joined Jun 2003 ·

#894220
http://www.dune-buggy.com/techtips/cv_joint_polishing.htm
Another good site i found about race prepping.
Im almost thinking of trying this with my stock cvs first and seeing if it makes a difference. If im thinking of buying new ones i really have nothing to lose playing with the old ones first 😎

Smiley Veteran Volks Folk

2,125 posts · joined Oct 2008 ·

#894237
crazyfiggi wrote:Yep, I need more info 😎
I haven't herd of timing them before?
Thanks,
Alex.
Timing or clocking, means the same thing.

It is where you line the CVs up in orientation to each other on the axle.
You say that you have worked with CVs before, then you know that when you put them together you line up a narrow point with a wide section when fitting the star to the outer race. If you don't do this the CV will be very tight.
When you time a CV you do exactly the same thing over the length of the axle. Line up a narrow section with a wide section. This can give you slightly more travel when the CVs are on the limit and prevent binding.
Here are some pictures to show you what I mean.
You need to imagine that the little red line that leads out onto the axle goes to the other picture and meets the other little red line.







Sanding and polishing CVs is also a very good idea. I recently bought a brand new CV, and even when assembled correctly it was very tight and didn't move freely. I disassembled it and hand sanded it with progressively finer grades of sandpaper. Made a world of difference and allowed it to move freely.

And here is the handy thread that Nils was talking about with the Toyota Hilus front IFS boots.
http://forums.aussieveedubbers.com/viewtopic.php?tid=85212

Enjoy!




Smiley 🙂
If you said I was a Volkswagen man, you'd be right.

matberry Moderator Go hard or go home

8,114 posts · joined Mar 2006 ·

#894249
Good pics Smiley
Matt Berry Motorsports...air cooled advice, repairs and mods Ph 0408 704 662
OFF-ROAD,CIRCUIT,DRAG,STREET,ENDURANCE

crazyfiggi Wolfsburg Wizard

657 posts · joined Jun 2003 ·

#894279
That makes sense now looking at the pictures, thanks for that!
Im pulling them out this weekend and having a look, i havent done anything with the cvs in this van so i have no idea what condition they are in.
I like the idea of the toyota boots, ill have to get a set.
Alex.

crazyfiggi Wolfsburg Wizard

657 posts · joined Jun 2003 ·

#895983
Well i pulled the cvs out to find one was on the wrong way around! Im guessing thats what was causing the clicking noise. They were rather worn so i thought i would have a go at prepping them like in those links i posted. They looked really good after doing that so i "timed" them on the drive shaft, as per smileys pics, re packed them and fitted them up. All seems fine with them now with no bad noises! I also refitted the torsion caps using a big g clamp to pull them down to where they should be before getting the bolts back in.
Im really happy with how the vans coming together😎
What size tube does everyone use for their bar work on busses, bugs or buggies? I scored a heap of offcut 48mm and 42mm od pipe from work that im thinking will make good (and cheap) barwork.
A rear bar will be first on the list as i think ill put a swing out spare tyre rack on it because its about the only place i can think to fit tyres on this bus. What do other use? Its hard having two tyre sizes!
Im thinking ill build a twin tyre rack and carry two spares in 225/75/15 like the front tyres, that way i dont have to lug around a big tyre like the 32s it has on the rear, and if i damage a rear tyre beyond repair while traveling i could fit the pair of 225/75/15s on the rear. The van would sit a bit nose high but i would be good enough to get me out of trouble!
Also having all that weight over the back of the van might help it ride a bit nicer. At the moment the rear is rather light and it rides choppy with the spring plates sitting on the lower stops most of the time!
Alex.

OZ Towdster Keen to finish some projects

1,921 posts · joined Dec 2003 ·

#895986
Alex , as with any offroad vw you want all the weight you can get over the rear as picking up a rear wheel without a diff locker means your not going anywhere .
Now that sounds easy , but evan with the extra weight of the flat six subie in my bus it iwas still front heavy when i last had it on Fraser 3 years ago . I have hopefully solved some of that in the last few days in that i have built a nice solid class 4 towbar and refitted the rear bumper but it still a bus and lets face it they were not built with anyseries offroading in mind .
On a good note our baja bus will hopefully be at Valla this year and you are more than welcome to come by and check it out , as i'mm sure the flat six , a/c , and plenty of other custom items on the bus will answer the question of why it's taken me so long

Andrew
Don't let body work get in the way of real suspension travel

Smiley Veteran Volks Folk

2,125 posts · joined Oct 2008 ·

#895995
OZ Towdster wrote:On a good note our baja bus will hopefully be at Valla this year and you are more than welcome to come by and check it out , as i'mm sure the flat six , a/c , and plenty of other custom items on the bus will answer the question of why it's taken me so long

Andrew
It better be!!! You should hurry up and get it done!! I heard that it was going to paint this week.



Smiley 🙂
If you said I was a Volkswagen man, you'd be right.

guru Officially Full-On Dubber

236 posts · joined Apr 2005 ·

#903278
Alex,

Thats the shit man!!

I never had any trouble with cv's, and the torsion caps went on square, with new bushes.
My spring plates didnt rest on the stops at one spline though.
The best thing about this setup is you can change it back to original height in an afternoon.

Good work bloke.

crazyfiggi Wolfsburg Wizard

657 posts · joined Jun 2003 ·

#904216
Thanks Simon, really happy with how its turned out.
Talking about the bolt in plates for the front lift, i had the front wheels off the ground the other day after hitting a dirt mound a wee bit too quick, nothing bent or moved so im happy with thier strength 😎
Hopefully ill have some time soon to build a front bumper and bash plate, rear bumper and tire carrier and a few other little things.


tar76 Custom Title Time!

1,622 posts · joined Dec 2009 ·

#904219
Man that's a beast, luv those rear wheels.
"Obey your Dreams"!


62 Std beetle.
65 11 wnd Split "The Cross".
6? coming very soon!!!!

volk hogan Commited Dubber

65 posts · joined Jul 2011 ·

#906928
looks cool😬
😬😬😬😬😬😬😬😬😬😬😬😬😬😬😬😬😬😬😬

crazyfiggi Wolfsburg Wizard

657 posts · joined Jun 2003 ·

#907054
Well, the van is now off the road with a dead gearbox.
Im bidding on another box on ebay, so hopefully ill win that and get it going again!

I took it out yesterday to a power line trail i know not far from my place. I was told about it buy one of the guys at work who takes his mates patrol in there. Its a hard track that runs up hill to a dead end at a power line tower, about 3km into the bush. The bloke from work thought there was no way i would get the kombi up there.
Well i did make it, which i was really suprised about. Having all that ground clearance really helped. Ive been told you need a lifted 4x4 to get up there, so im proud of the old bus making it!

All was going well and i was on my way back down when i came to a creek crossing that i had no problem with going up, but trying to get back through i just kept wheel spinning. I hit it was a fair bit of speed and herd a loud crack resulting in no drive. I had lost first gear and the box was making really bad noises with the clutch out in neutral. Long story short i was determined to get out and get home so i reversed as far back as i could and hit it flat out in second. It just made it through, but i smashed the front bumper into the rock creek bank and bent the s#*t out of it haha.
I was able to drive home in second gear doing about 20kph the whole way with a gearbox so loud that people within 100 meters of it would turn and stare!
After i fit another box im building a new front bumper with a nice big bash plate running down and bolting into the front beam.

crazyfiggi Wolfsburg Wizard

657 posts · joined Jun 2003 ·

#923346
Well, i havent updated this thread in ages, mostly because i havent really been working on the van all that much. My wife and i are expecting our first child in a few weeks and getting everything ready for that has really taken up alot of my free time!

The few things i have done include new front wheels and tyres and a new rear bumper with a twin tyre carrier. Its not finished yet, i have just a few things to tidy up on it then its ready to be painted.

Alex.

Smiley Veteran Volks Folk

2,125 posts · joined Oct 2008 ·

#923351
DUDE!!!!

That thing is looking absolutely wicked!!
I am loving the dual spare carriers on the back. That's also going to help you offroad cause you have more weight hanging out over the back giving you traction.

Also, congrats on the little one, things are probably going to get very busy for you soon 😀
But make sure you post up any more pictures of your car that you can when you have time.


Smiley 🙂
If you said I was a Volkswagen man, you'd be right.

baghall Ben Hal Outlaw Bushranger

1,021 posts · joined Jan 2010 ·

#923687
The bus looks wicked, very impressed!
68 Baja - It's a growing pain!
58 Baja ute - and the pain spreads!
85 T3 Kombi - still growing
89 T3 Kombi - parts car

farkeww Learner Dubber

1 post · joined Mar 2013 ·

#947597
👍