Yeah and don't forget mudflaps that extend to at least axle height on the rear.
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
Thanks guys 👍
I'm overdue for some update photos, it will come in time.
I've got a rwc booked in at 9.30am tomorrow, and will register as a 'beetle' for the time being (if i am going to make it for Warrick).
When the 'approval for modification' finally comes back after the first misunderstanding they had i will take it back to Main Roads for a final inspection.
I got a wheel alignment booked in at 2pm that arvy, optimistic of course of it all rego-ing easy, but none the less it needs it.
Out of curiousity, has anyone got tips in registering it as a beetle instead of a baja?
the rwc will be no worries... but the guys at Main Roads, do I just act cool?
The engine number is not the original engine number, will that mean they will come out and have a look?
Its a type 3 motor (set up with original bug upright fan though). I will have to pull the shroud off to show them the engine number (sigh), i got photos instead if they aren't anal.
regards,
Chris.
(ô_!_/ô) (ô_!_/ô)
69' baja: kombi box, thing spindles, irs, disc front, type 3 rear drums, 2 inch lift kit, 31x10 rears. 👍
New engine in process: 94mm p&bs, 74mm C/w chomol Crank, 35.5x39 SP heads, turbo. Wierd combo, hopeful torque monsta!
Hmmm... after a drive too, i notice its very gutless.
Its running pretty rich,
and i spose its got next to now low end power due to the 009 and silly frowned upon cannon exhausts.
Perhaps the lack of aligned wheels are also acting as 'brakes' resisting forward motion.
Maybe i just need to get used to a car of this vintage. Its just very different, but fun.
regardless of all that sound deadener though, the bloody thing is still noisy as heck! At the moment, that isn't a problem 🙂. No CD player or radio to overcome the noise, but i do have a CB hooked up. Throw over some jokes to the truckies to keep me occupied while driving perhaps?
(ô_!_/ô) (ô_!_/ô)
69' baja: kombi box, thing spindles, irs, disc front, type 3 rear drums, 2 inch lift kit, 31x10 rears. 👍
New engine in process: 94mm p&bs, 74mm C/w chomol Crank, 35.5x39 SP heads, turbo. Wierd combo, hopeful torque monsta!
Chances are that they won't know what they're looking at anyway!
Try and get a ditzy blonde to process your rego 😂
Custom doesn't come in a Box
AND ITS REGISTERED! phew!
passed rwc with no concerns at all, apart from certifier wanting me to get a battery cover to prevent fire incase battery terminals arc and light up the seat grass.
To all that said i'd never get it on the road, I bid you a warm F*^K YOU and thankyou for the motivation 🙂. To the many that supported, and to all of aussie-vee-dubbers, i give you all the greatest thanks. The contacts, wisdom, parts and advice throughout the entire build were 99% from this website since day dot six years back when i was just a boy in year 12.
She has already attracted much attention, is slow but fun. The engine is tired, maybe low comp but goes good enough without a fuss. Exterior respray and new donk will come one day (i will post up in years to come).
For the moment, i'm not affraid to put my boot down and stir up some stone chips on the dirt. 😂 Wheel alignment peeps rekon the right rear needs to go up a few teeth on the torsion bar , another one on the 'to do's'.
But given this red letter day, it can be confirmed, WARRICK HERE I COME! (won't be seeing me on the quarter mile though 🙂... will delay the other competitors by a couple weeks)
(ô_!_/ô) (ô_!_/ô)
69' baja: kombi box, thing spindles, irs, disc front, type 3 rear drums, 2 inch lift kit, 31x10 rears. 👍
New engine in process: 94mm p&bs, 74mm C/w chomol Crank, 35.5x39 SP heads, turbo. Wierd combo, hopeful torque monsta!
lessons learnt:
- It can take more than half a decade to rebuilt a car. Its realistic for those who don't have the cash nor time to go ballistic or to be able to pay someone else to do it.
- EMPI truly is crap lol. The ideology of buying 'german made' is not a purist craze, it is VERY TRUE!
- Department of Transport is dopey and slow. Baja body kits do not require blue plate, nor mod plate, nor engineering plate. Just got on their website, print a 'request for modification' document, and state in rediculous detail (with pictures) what you want to do and how it is legal. (bajawes did a great write up with all the beaurocrisy and codes for the laws excepting vw's from fibreglass testing).
- If you haven't done welding and have rust, get stuck in! go buy welder and have a play, do a bit of reading on the web. It will make you a diy king. you make a mistake, grind it out, and start again 🙂 (excluding if you put too much heat into a panel and cause distortion)
- you can get this registered as just a beetle without classifying it as a modified vehicle. This is what i have done till dopey queensland transport reply to my 'request to modify' papers.
- having a back yard resto that is expected to go slow will actually cause the car to go backwards in progress during respray. the weather elements are suprisingly detrimental compared to a dry garage.
- Safety really is paramount!! and soooo easily overlooked. It took me a few yrs and situations to learn that. Wear eye protection, having jacks and wheel stops where required that are stable, always think of the worst thing that could happen to you while you are working with machinery or under the car. Chances are, you will eventually have an unlucky day, and then you'll regret it. My spattered finger cost me 7 stitches, my eye that got metal in it (lucky to not loose it) required a trip to the hospital and an insulin needle to scratch the metal out.
(more to come)...
(ô_!_/ô) (ô_!_/ô)
69' baja: kombi box, thing spindles, irs, disc front, type 3 rear drums, 2 inch lift kit, 31x10 rears. 👍
New engine in process: 94mm p&bs, 74mm C/w chomol Crank, 35.5x39 SP heads, turbo. Wierd combo, hopeful torque monsta!
Woohoo!! That must feel so good after all this time, and all that hard work!
Custom doesn't come in a Box
Cool, the Manx Club is going to Fraser Island on 15th October 🙂 will we see you there?
65 Meyers Manx
68 Country Buggy (KO 367)
68 Country Buggy (KO 669)
68 Country Buggy (KO 789)
68 Country Buggy (KO 815)
68 Baja Bug
76 Baja Kombi Twincab
11CAB wrote:Cool, the Manx Club is going to Fraser Island on 15th October 🙂 will we see you there?
He'll be there! Even if I have to skull drag it with little Alyce!!
That reminds me, back to work!!
Smiley
🙂
PS. Good to see that everything worked out for you in the end Chris. You have a sweet looking Baja with lots of good bits fitted. Some more TLC and a respray and it'll look a million dollars too
👍If you said I was a Volkswagen man, you'd be right.
good stuff Chris ,and theres a lot out there that wouldnt believe it,but the proof is in them photos mate,well done 👍👍
meetings 1st sunday of the month
check wbsite for location
All Welcome
http://www.flatfour.org/
and on Facebook
https://www.facebook.com/FlatFour11CAB wrote:Cool, the Manx Club is going to Fraser Island on 15th October 🙂 will we see you there?
One more thing. Won't he have to paint it blue to be allowed to come to this?
😂😂😂
Smiley
🙂If you said I was a Volkswagen man, you'd be right.
Congratulations Chris.
Now that looks like fun. :-)
From your ole' mate Jeff
Congratulations Chris, it has been a long time but you got it done!
Good work!
westi wrote:That's mad Alan.
Great news Chris.
Are you going to paint it? or leave it as is?
Need some bigger tyres to fill those front guards and hide the little BJ shock towers.........or raise the shock towers :P
I really like your rear cage setup. Do you have any photos of it complete and off the car? did it come with the car or did you make it/buy it?
You say your engine is a bit gutless........Did you reset the valve clearances? My engine lost power over a period of time without me noticing untill one day I just couldnt tune it out and realised i had an airleak in the intake manifold. The carby had pulled a stud and was sucking in air at the rear. With a new Carby from USA Ebay the Power is back and it starts with half a turn of the starter motor again. What is your engine set up? I have no problems with the 009.
Ps: Don't know if you might be interested but there is a recaro style (Knock off brand) race seat with harness holes etc in a 2nd hand shop in Maroochydore here that needs recovering (Has a hole in the foam and cover in the back of the seat) they have $35 on it. Would make a good drivers seat for you.
I Start mine in a week when the Porsche is back from getting the belts changed......Can't wait.
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
Smiley wrote:11CAB wrote:Cool, the Manx Club is going to Fraser Island on 15th October 🙂 will we see you there?
One more thing. Won't he have to paint it blue to be allowed to come to this?
😂😂😂
Smiley
🙂
You might be right, the 4 Bajas booked in already are all blue
65 Meyers Manx
68 Country Buggy (KO 367)
68 Country Buggy (KO 669)
68 Country Buggy (KO 789)
68 Country Buggy (KO 815)
68 Baja Bug
76 Baja Kombi Twincab
Well! we will see about Fraser... still sussing out how reliable this car is
🙂, everything ignition and charging wise is fresh, carb rebuilt, clutch fresh. all rest 'seems ok'. we will see.
🙂
Thanks all for the kind words, its nice to now be part of the crowd, no more bystanding! whoop! no longer a wanna-be haha. Been too long.
Yea Nick i will paint it. the plan is two tone, red and white. i got a phew fibreglass cracks to repair first, then the rest will follow later. No rush now though. haha, bigger tyres on the front would be sweet, would have ot raise the rear accordingly though otherwise i will have some interesting rake lol. I think the vw thing raised spindles with the lift kit together has resulting in that shock tower visibility. Looks piddly. haha. Makes working under the fuel tank alot easier though
👍 but one day i'll put some decent tyres on the front i rekon.
I built the cage
👍, cept the rear bar came from cip1.com (US) but i extended it to be full width. I used 2 steel bars as support posts bolted onto the rear bar (studs were welded on) and then used ricer mesh and a couple metal screws and washers to hold the mesh in place. I then rolled the mesh down, cut hte excess from the bottom and welded two more studs to either side of the rear bar to hold the very ends of the mesh in. The other little pulley mesh cage was off the shelf, i had to give it a few cuts with tin snips to clear the oil filter assembly and extended alternator bolt. (yup, i got a silly oil filter down low, but no stress, will put a beer cooler over the filter to keep it safe from rocks/debree.
👍 🙂)
THanks for the seat referral. for the moment will run with the half backs as dad made the new seat covers, i'm sure after the first trip and a sore back i will want to upgrade, but at hte moment the oldskool nostalgia and the way the car inside looks so spacious with half backs has me over the moon
🙂. I can easily put my arm over the girlfriend as we cruise. Think we are gonna name this car little 'frog', dunno yet. Number plate says RVT (Like... rivvet! which is like a russian frogs 'ribbet') and it just hops along happily lol. Frogs suppose to be goodluck too? (asian superstitions lol) Even the headlights look like frog eyes lol.
had fun last nite.
🙂 picked up some coffees from mccafe and on the way driving out, all heads turned to the car, kids with iphones we recording and everyone was smiling lol. 5 minutes later at the local fuel servo (BP Stapylton) i walk in to pay and they are talking about it without knowing i was the guy who owned it, and as i go back to the car there's this dude from some vw shop in a blue wrx t3 checking it out. geebuz! Its the only local bug eyed around locally though, maybe thats why everyones tripped? lol.
(ô_!_/ô) (ô_!_/ô)
69' baja: kombi box, thing spindles, irs, disc front, type 3 rear drums, 2 inch lift kit, 31x10 rears. 👍
New engine in process: 94mm p&bs, 74mm C/w chomol Crank, 35.5x39 SP heads, turbo. Wierd combo, hopeful torque monsta!
So glad to hear it's on the road Chris. It's such a buz to drive a baja and fortunate you love attention cause they do get a lot of it. Well done and the interior is looking good.
68 Baja - It's a growing pain!
58 Baja ute - and the pain spreads!
85 T3 Kombi - still growing
89 T3 Kombi - parts car
hey chris which welder did you go with?
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
Thanks Baghall, took her for another drive tonight, i think the gutlessness may also be due to a vacuum leak, as i recall selleys gasket goop isn't fuel stabilised and dissolves, which means the tight arse fix on the inlet manifold to carb boots has probably come undone. will take a peak tomorrow. 🙂
In regards to welders Nick, I got 2 over the entire build.
First was a SIP Weldmate gasless 100 amp MIG welder primarily for replacing the drivers side A pillar that was rusted out. Second was a SIP weldmate 140 amp arc/stick welder for the jobs requiring a bit more penetration (initially was for welding up the front beam after cutting for new torsion leaf preset.) The migs my favorite though 👍 find it alot easier with no slag. i zapped up the rear bar extensions with the MIG. Think it was about $550 brand new from Mitre10. Auto adjusting welding mask made life really easy too.
(ô_!_/ô) (ô_!_/ô)
69' baja: kombi box, thing spindles, irs, disc front, type 3 rear drums, 2 inch lift kit, 31x10 rears. 👍
New engine in process: 94mm p&bs, 74mm C/w chomol Crank, 35.5x39 SP heads, turbo. Wierd combo, hopeful torque monsta!
I like Frog. It's a nice name for a Baja.
Cause it'll be crawling through forests and swimming through water!!!!
Smiley 🙂
If you said I was a Volkswagen man, you'd be right.
thanks for the info chris. 1 more question andd ill leave u alone. what was the minimum setting on your mig?
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
hay Chris congrats
have u got the battery covered well so the seat does not weld itself to the terminals and set the machine completely on fire!!
cheers m8
want any vw bits old but like me, Made in Germany!!!
Hey its all kool Nick. I dunno what the min is, as it has only 2 settings (as opposed to fully adjustable). its got High (100amp) or low... lol.
Lows pretty gentle, and instead of using more amp for a little more penetration with it, i just hold it in place a little longer. Its a very basic MIG, did the job and fitted the uni bum budget 👍 lol.
Hi Bushed, thanks mate yea i got nuffin on it at the moment lol. The 2 inch lift kit lifts the rear seat 2 inches up above the battery, so will buy me some time for the moment, but i REALLY gotta get on top of that. even if its a bucket or bit of insulated foam or sumfin.
Daniel, you will be proud! Yesterday as a 'run of the mill' activity my mate and I and his bro in his hilux went to whats called the 'pine-o' in logan village. everyone goes there for these crazy 4wd tracks and water crossings through pine forests, its council property and they do dish fines for tresspassing lol, but you got to be unlucky to get busted. AMAZING!!! the kombi 3 rib box was outstanding. All i had to do was just feather teh brake up hills and down hills, no need for clutch riding or accelerating, the frog just crawled all over it! and the angle of approach is rediculous! i have never experienced this lol. the deep water crossings didn't allow me to go any further, until i do a bit more water proofing lol. Had as much ground clearance as the lux too 😂 the under carriage didn't even get kissed by the ruts. OH how i'm in love now 👍
just gotta get the water proofing sorted 😂 And a set of new pistons, rings and barrels. Oil didn't take long to go black, think i got rediculously excessive blow by me thinks. Got a bit more power now though after replacing the cracked intake boots on the tp manifold. Got this funny noise coming from the front too when i turn full lock left or right, like its metal on metal rubbing. I hit the brakes while still at full lock and it stops :S. Might pull front down for an inspection.
(ô_!_/ô) (ô_!_/ô)
69' baja: kombi box, thing spindles, irs, disc front, type 3 rear drums, 2 inch lift kit, 31x10 rears. 👍
New engine in process: 94mm p&bs, 74mm C/w chomol Crank, 35.5x39 SP heads, turbo. Wierd combo, hopeful torque monsta!
bajachris88 wrote:Hi Bushed, thanks mate yea i got nuffin on it at the moment lol. The 2 inch lift kit lifts the rear seat 2 inches up above the battery, so will buy me some time for the moment, but i REALLY gotta get on top of that. even if its a bucket or bit of insulated foam or sumfin.
OMFG, are you serious, Insulation Foam!
👎 Took six years for it to get to what its at now, you want to see it turn into a burnt shell too?
Bloody hell, get yourself a thick piece of rubber mat from Clark Rubber of somewhere to lay over the top of it as a buffer. I wouldnt be farting around with it either, do it
❗1963 Single Cab Ute: "El Concreto"
1962 Baja Beetle: "Peanut"
1968 Porsche 912 SWB: "Pip"
1972 Kombi Snail: "The Snail"
2012 Skoda Octavia Scout: "Scout"
2016 Scirocco R: "Rocco"
good on you chris!
let the good times roll.. enjoy! 👍
fractal geometry; the inner most limits of mind altering abuse
Fantasy
http://seventhchronicle.com
Z = Z2 + C1/r = 1/0 = infinity
Barrels
www.barrelman.com.au
VW Workshop - aircooledgarage.com.au
allcooled.com.au
Thanks guys 👍
Lol, you got me worried now Ash! Bugs in the garage, i will go and put a spare abs plastic lid over the battery, until i get a proper battery box. Thanks for the heads up, must be pretty serious by the sounds 😂 (Feel like i shouldn't be relaxed about it now), i'll get straight onto it. 👍
good times are rollin for sure 😀
(ô_!_/ô) (ô_!_/ô)
69' baja: kombi box, thing spindles, irs, disc front, type 3 rear drums, 2 inch lift kit, 31x10 rears. 👍
New engine in process: 94mm p&bs, 74mm C/w chomol Crank, 35.5x39 SP heads, turbo. Wierd combo, hopeful torque monsta!
You clearly havent seen how quickly Beetle Seats become engulfed in flames due to the slightest spark igniting the horse hair fibres and padding in the seats. Yeah, freakin' serious❗
1963 Single Cab Ute: "El Concreto"
1962 Baja Beetle: "Peanut"
1968 Porsche 912 SWB: "Pip"
1972 Kombi Snail: "The Snail"
2012 Skoda Octavia Scout: "Scout"
2016 Scirocco R: "Rocco"
yes Chris all it needs is a passenger that bounces a bit to hard on the back seat above the battery,all my beetles have had a sheet of rubber matting secured under the battery strap covering the terminals👍
meetings 1st sunday of the month
check wbsite for location
All Welcome
http://www.flatfour.org/
and on Facebook
https://www.facebook.com/FlatFourI just got an offcut peice from Clark rubber. It was only a couple of bucks. Trimmed it to size.
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
the abs plastic thingo didn't work, so got some left over mass loaded vinyl rubber matting, about 4 mm thick held in by the battery clamp. All good 🙂
Did tappet adjustments again today, quite a few were tight. One tappet had a cracked and split contact face, will put up pics later. i had a spare. I can only assume fatigue wear i guess. Only half a round surface was in contact with the valve. I found the bits of metal in nice solid pieces at teh bottom of the head top end. so no debree flying around. Points set, timing advanced just a little (sub 32 degrees none the less). Dam 009 gives me 12 degrees at idle as opposed to 7.5 to 10, but car seems to not mind. Will give a good test drive on the highway tonight. hopefully she runs alot better.
Carb retuned, still need to work on the auto choke, got oil leaks from all over the place despite new seals (cheap seal kit or i fitted wrong...). I fixed the rocker cover gaskets, poor fitting bits to blame there as they are bolt on and the bolts that came with it were too long and therefore not squishing the rocker cover gasket enough to seal. oil cooler is pissing out, but not alarming enough, just checking oil every couple of days.
Brake calipers at the front giving grief. Left caliper has a habit of not letting go enough, will try lubing the spring and rods for the calipers to slide back easier. In turn, it howls particularly at full left lock. front wheel bearings are firm enough (not too firm), just caliper is holding in brake pads to disk. it is not due to residual pressure, as we pushed the cylinders (in the caliper) out fairly easily. None the less, better working too well then not enough 🙂
will report more soon.
(ô_!_/ô) (ô_!_/ô)
69' baja: kombi box, thing spindles, irs, disc front, type 3 rear drums, 2 inch lift kit, 31x10 rears. 👍
New engine in process: 94mm p&bs, 74mm C/w chomol Crank, 35.5x39 SP heads, turbo. Wierd combo, hopeful torque monsta!
