Nicks Baja Build. - New engine!

Anthiron · 2011-09-19T12:25:54+00:00

The time has come to spend some time on my baja and build the car that I have wanted it to be since i bought it about 8 years ago. The origional plan was the repair the current body to a solid but not pretty state, throw some new paint on and keep on driving. Since removing the Baja kit tonight and doing some digging with a screw driver it has become apparent that it will be too big of a task to be worthwhile. There is a lot of rust in this body! New plan is to find a donor body and do whatever minor rust repairs are on that, switch my gear over and paint. My floorpan is solid luckily, Engine is great and gearbox was built a couple of years ago. Front end needs new link pin bushings but is already cut and turned so all in all the pan will get a nice freshen up with some gloss black, new bump stop rubbers, front end will get rebuilt. Already has new KYB gas shocks all round. I have invested in a little Mig welder and will be making some changes to the roof rack and bar work. Roofrack will house 2 7" Spotties, a shovel and the spare wheel. I will be shortening the rear cage as it is designed for a 4 into 1 exhaust and leaves a hideous departure angle. I will also be adding tabs for lights as i will not be running VW lights but round mounted lights much like you see on most American style Bajas. My experience with old VW tail lights and indicators has not been pleasant. My Saas seats will be recovered in black and red vinyl to match the Leather seats in my 944. I will also be painting the car in Guards red or as close as I can get. The Fenders and rear scoop will be black, as will the bar work. Wheels will stay Powdercoated white. The car when I bought it - Uploaded with ImageShack.us Looked kinda neat in these photos........untill you see the interior.... Uploaded with ImageShack.us [IMG]https://img31.imageshack.us/img31/1383/origionalinterior2.jpg[/IMG] Uploaded with ImageShack.us Uploaded with ImageShack.us This was the car a few years ago when i lived in Caloundra Uploaded with ImageShack.us Since then i fitted Wide guards and fitted a cut and turned beam and Custom Vee Dub had a gearbox buil;t for me and fitted Long axles. I put on some wide stockies on the rear with some Federal Mud Terrains and some Standard stockies on the front with All terrains. Also fitted some Saas Bucket seats and removed the horrible interior and made up some Checkerplate door cards. The car looked like this [IMG]https://img708.imageshack.us/img708/1293/currentvillage.jpg[/IMG] Uploaded with ImageShack.us Here it is parked in my garage Uploaded with ImageShack.us Uploaded with ImageShack.us And now after an hour or so removing most of the baja kit. Uploaded with ImageShack.us Rust Ville Uploaded with ImageShack.us Uploaded with ImageShack.us [IMG]https://img855.imageshack.us/img855/7476/222mv.jpg[/IMG] Uploaded with ImageShack.us [IMG]https://img854.imageshack.us/img854/9571/223wn.jpg[/IMG] Uploaded with ImageShack.us [IMG]https://img339.imageshack.us/img339/3718/224i.jpg[/IMG] Uploaded with ImageShack.us Turns out that drivers side front quarter was about 50% Bondo I will be chipping away at this for a while im sure. I would like to see it back on the road in 6 months......But I guess everyone says that ha ha Nicko

ancientbugger Custom Title Time!

1,986 posts · joined Mar 2004 · 12 Apr 2013, 12:49 pm

#951055

Iwas going to suggest Shane for the pivot boxes as he enjoys doing those😀 BTW where did you get the mirrors?

Anthiron The Baja Rejuvenation Begins

4,936 posts · joined Oct 2003 · 12 Apr 2013, 1:55 pm

#951065

Mirrors were a one off stainless steel item. Paul from the manx club made them for his Baja and then decided to part it out. I was lucky enough to snatch them up.

If mick wanted some similar, you could buy a set of bar mounted mirrors from one of the offroad stores in the usa and then weld on a front brace and flat bracket mounts instead of the bar mounts. wouldnt be too hard.

62/60 model bug eye baja bug, (Full Build in Progress)
1974 Chevrolet Luv
1970 MK2 Ford Cortina GT
1979 Yamaha RX125 Two Stroke tracker project.
2004 Harley Davidson Sportster XL Custom

Bone Officially Full-On Dubber

299 posts · joined Aug 2009 · 13 Apr 2013, 8:10 am

#951165

PM sent

Anthiron The Baja Rejuvenation Begins

4,936 posts · joined Oct 2003 · 17 Apr 2013, 6:23 pm

#951844

Got home from work last night. Stopped off at Dad's place in the dark and grabbed the thrust washers and grease caps off a spare K+L beam I have down there (Knew that would be handy for something!)

They were in need of some attention before use!

Also my rear bar from Chirco was waiting for me. I asked them to cut the bar to make it easier to ship........I can't help but think they could have cut it somewhere more appropriate than mid way through the lower bends! 👎

[IMG]https://img706.imageshack.us/img706/6845/072tlk.jpg[/IMG]

Repair panels and heat exchanger tin arrived from Classic.

[IMG]https://img189.imageshack.us/img189/9208/074rq.jpg[/IMG]

Slept in to at least 6.30am this morning which was a welcome change. After catching up with some friends I deceided to at least get something done today so I grabbed some Wheel bearing grease from repco and after cleaning half of Biloela off this thing>>>>

[IMG]https://img850.imageshack.us/img850/2363/078utj.jpg[/IMG]

I Set about cleaning up the thrust washers and bearing caps, Gave the caps a nice coat of Black paint, and packed the bearings with grease.

[IMG]https://img203.imageshack.us/img203/9662/075p.jpg[/IMG]

And its a roller again! 😁

62/60 model bug eye baja bug, (Full Build in Progress)
1974 Chevrolet Luv
1970 MK2 Ford Cortina GT
1979 Yamaha RX125 Two Stroke tracker project.
2004 Harley Davidson Sportster XL Custom

nils Fahrvergnugen

971 posts · joined Jan 2008 · 17 Apr 2013, 7:13 pm

#951854

X2 on the cage cutting, makes it hard to do a good internal sleave.

Crumple zones perhaps?

Quit calling rust patina

matberry Moderator Go hard or go home

8,114 posts · joined Mar 2006 · 17 Apr 2013, 8:12 pm

#951863

Keep up the good work mate. Glad to hear of the future increased VW power

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

Anthiron The Baja Rejuvenation Begins

4,936 posts · joined Oct 2003 · 21 Apr 2013, 4:57 pm

#952372

Picked up the new engine, wheels and early kombi rear brakes from Nils on the weekend.

Got the engine home and after much swearing and the persuasion of a small hammer I managed to get the exhaust off and into its seperate pieces ready to be re coated. (Can Stainless steel be ceramic coated?)

[IMG]https://img15.imageshack.us/img15/8734/054ef.jpg[/IMG]

I now have the engine down to a Long block (No picture atm) and I will be giving everything a good clean up. The fan shroud will need a little bit of work but the cylinder tin is good. I will also need to swap the clutch for the early style pressure plate from my old engine.

Some bling for the re-assembly.

Going to put these wheels aside and maybe run them on the front. I have some 15 inch Pecos to run on the rear with 31's if I go this way.

[IMG]https://img849.imageshack.us/img849/998/053vp.jpg[/IMG]

62/60 model bug eye baja bug, (Full Build in Progress)
1974 Chevrolet Luv
1970 MK2 Ford Cortina GT
1979 Yamaha RX125 Two Stroke tracker project.
2004 Harley Davidson Sportster XL Custom

Craig Torrens 6 times Australian, 7 times State Hillclimb Class Champion

8,040 posts · joined Jan 2003 · 21 Apr 2013, 10:43 pm

#952465

Yes, stainless can be coated. 👍

Anthiron The Baja Rejuvenation Begins

4,936 posts · joined Oct 2003 · 22 Apr 2013, 7:30 am

#952480

Craig Torrens wrote:Yes, stainless can be coated. 👍

Excellent, cheers Craig!

62/60 model bug eye baja bug, (Full Build in Progress)
1974 Chevrolet Luv
1970 MK2 Ford Cortina GT
1979 Yamaha RX125 Two Stroke tracker project.
2004 Harley Davidson Sportster XL Custom

peter87 Officially Full-On Dubber

259 posts · joined Mar 2012 · 10 May 2013, 9:07 pm

#955131

looks awesome, how did you prep your wheels for paint?

1916baja Custom Title Time!

1,990 posts · joined Sep 2007 · 11 May 2013, 8:27 am

#955178

Score! That gear of nils' was a bargain! It's shaping up to be a ripper Baja...👍

nils Fahrvergnugen

971 posts · joined Jan 2008 · 11 May 2013, 7:42 pm

#955256

might have missed it somewhere along the line, but what colour do you have in store for the baja?

Quit calling rust patina

Mr Muppet Commited Dubber

74 posts · joined Nov 2010 · 12 May 2013, 8:33 am

#955300

Great build mate, love that your keeping it all VW.

DubCrazy Custom Title Time!

1,295 posts · joined Jul 2003 · 13 May 2013, 9:29 pm

#955557

i spy a Skyteam in the background, replic of the most awesome honda cb

i love my cafe racers and although its only a 125 these skyteams are great.. if u want a bit more wollop then u can get a kit from the uk that has new pipe,jets and blanks to remove te enviro pipe work on the right hand side... it doubles the bhp, fitted a couple of kits to mates bikes and u really notice the difference... from memory they about $450 landed here (central qld)

steff.....

Life with out a v-dub is no life at all!!!!!

Anthiron The Baja Rejuvenation Begins

4,936 posts · joined Oct 2003 · 14 May 2013, 9:02 am

#955608

Hi Steff.

I did the pipe myself, fitted a chrome reverse megaphone.
Made a blanking plate for the Egr stuff, that's all gone.
Changed the carby to a mikuni and jetted that.
Removed air box and battery mount assembly and fitted a baby pod filter
Tiny lithium battery is hidden under the tail piece.
Smoked indicators
Wider black drag way bars
Bar end mirrors
Billet tail light mounted on the seat cowl and rear fender removed. ( still have to make up a rear guard)
Geared up front sprocket by 1 tooth.

It's happy on the highway at 105km/h now.

Keeping an eye out for a good early cb 125 to put the tank and seat etc on.

Nicko

62/60 model bug eye baja bug, (Full Build in Progress)
1974 Chevrolet Luv
1970 MK2 Ford Cortina GT
1979 Yamaha RX125 Two Stroke tracker project.
2004 Harley Davidson Sportster XL Custom

Anthiron The Baja Rejuvenation Begins

4,936 posts · joined Oct 2003 · 14 May 2013, 9:03 am

#955609

nils wrote:might have missed it somewhere along the line, but what colour do you have in store for the baja?

Going to keep similar colours.

Guards red for the body and black fenders.

62/60 model bug eye baja bug, (Full Build in Progress)
1974 Chevrolet Luv
1970 MK2 Ford Cortina GT
1979 Yamaha RX125 Two Stroke tracker project.
2004 Harley Davidson Sportster XL Custom

Anthiron The Baja Rejuvenation Begins

4,936 posts · joined Oct 2003 · 15 May 2013, 3:44 pm

#955762

peter87 wrote:looks awesome, how did you prep your wheels for paint?

I had them blasted and powdercoated. Costs between 25-60 per wheel depending on where you take them.

62/60 model bug eye baja bug, (Full Build in Progress)
1974 Chevrolet Luv
1970 MK2 Ford Cortina GT
1979 Yamaha RX125 Two Stroke tracker project.
2004 Harley Davidson Sportster XL Custom