GET ur spray guns out boyz and gal's, this w/e in SEQ its fine weather! (then monday, showers... but elsewise, FINE!)
Guess whose finally ready and equipt to start paint preppin' back the baja body! :P
My mate and i are starting 6am tomorrow morning, can't wait to get rid of 40yrs of ugliness and start fresh.
has been hard up here lately with teh rain, the humidy, family, uni, money, motivation, all the good stuff it back now, gonna fly through it 😀
Will have to get some pics... also got the front and bar work half mounted, its hanging off the bug in place by a few bolts, thing looks like sumfin off mad max!
Thanx to some equipment and an experienced great friend of mine i hired to be a MC of the whole paint process, i'm hoping for a 2 tone finish :P white undercoat all ova, and i'm still tossing on the top colour... something roddy.... My mates confident with a basic metallic, either midnight blue or a reddy/orangey colour.
I know shes not finished yet, but still though, i got so many people to thank for this cause of their help during the process. Particulary Jace and Marc, i know i shouldn't try listing them cause i will forget some, but those 2 needed a big mention. they been more of a help over time (cause its been a while now) to me then they realise.
will keep ya posted!
I can see after i become broke from this car, i'm gonna become further broke with all the cartons i will have to buy lol.
bajachris88 ·
you guys haven't even seen the fat wheels i got on her yet :P, or my arc welded front beam supports!
pod ·
its good to see its all getting closer to the end of your build, and yes get them pics up with progress shots,and soon it will be cruising Baja style👍👍
Matt Ryan ·
Chris,
You might end up driving to Valla this time instead of comming down on the train.
Regards,
Matt.
bajachris88 ·
Oh man i hope so. if not the bug, it will be the celica. but this car seems on its way. spray putty/primer is going tomorrow.
spent a good day sanding getting dirty. can't wait till shes schmick, i can fantisise it now.
Anywho, heres some piccies i promised.
Before sanding (this morning)
Mid way progress, we still got interior and wheel wheels, nose and bottom sills.:
Final result of a days work... mind you, the day started at 11am... till dusk:
I have neva been this dusty before... but was good to finally get some progress after a VERY long time:
Special thanx to Dredlock Bennie, he was my tutor for today, i learnt alot, seemed alot less tedious than i was expecting after getting stuck in, its not to bad actually :P might do the toyota after this one :P. But these are skills i will now be able to use in so many different situations in teh future.
stay tuned, spraying tomorrow if the weatherperson is right.
pod ·
Chris,its good to see she is coming along nicely,keep up the good work👍
Paul
MickH ·
If you're going to put that much effort into it,take the glass out as well and do it right!!!! Rubbers are cheap!! 'But time we saw some progress👍
bajachris88 ·
Thanx poddie, shes comin round... just gotta keep up that motivation! 😀
And don't u worry Mick, i had a very pleasant surprise visit from Jace and Jess, they give me a good run down on window removal and they came out with no worries. (thanx Jace and Jess! 😀 & thanks Mick. )
Lucky we did too! was some rust hidden under a few, and it would have made a nasty debut on my 'to come' new paint after a couple of months or so...
h ·
good to see ya ride comin along hey..
bajachris88 ·
Cheers buddy. 👍 Its been more than a while 😀
I have to say though, if anyone is very bord this weekend, feel free to come around if u like and bring your orbital or palm sanders, we got alot of sand paper, and any other gear you might like to use. And in return i will cook up a bbq for lunch and share a case of drinks 😀
Fingers crossed its good weather though. The weather man was no good today, had some isolated showers this morning that came outta nowhere. was far from being 'fine' lol.
pod ·
ive got to pull the windows out in my baja as well ,hoping not to have more rust in there? but just soldier on as there is light at the end of the tunnel,and cruisin in your dub is that light👍👍
Sandy ·
Good on ya Chris. Seeing yours like that brings back memories of when mine was at that stage. Keep at it, it'll be worth it.
11CAB ·
Yep, the old Datsun sure dates that pic Neil......😂
Joel ·
thats a GE sikma not a datto 😂
bajachris88 ·
Thanx guys, I really do appreciate the motivation.
I have fantisised for so long about cruisin in the little thing... especially the cannons blearing....
no one will miss me 😏
but i got still a bit to go, so i betta get off my arse at this computer and start playing with some blade putty :P
bajachris88 ·
photo updates from today's work.
Jace and Jess called in again today for a pleasant visit and we got a few steps ahead. all this recent rain has caused an issue of humidity on the bare metal, so i took upon Jace's good advice to cover it up for the time being. so we sanded the surface rust and away Jace went, showing me the whole hand technique.
Luv it when these guys come around. Now Jace gave me death threats for putting photos of his face on here, but just for my insurance Jace,i had to inquire again, and this floats my boat :P haha. Just scream at me if u want me to remove it. 🙂
Jess and Jace, thanx for your help guys, muchly appreciated and good fun. Was a good tutorial 😀
bajachris88 ·
It certainly makes a difference guys, huge difference. when its coming together, u can see the result of the work and hrs coming together. It makes it alot more easier to visualise the final result, espcially on a primer fume high 😵 (Poor lil' maddy got it hard though)
I'd luv to handle the gun next round... lol, but a good biff over it with jess would probably leave me on the grass with a few compound fractures, but we will see what will come of it haha. We all know how dangerous women are 😉😀 Ur on jess!
But yea guys, i just wish i could show ya how greatful i am.
Will have to name the baja after yas. :P
Hard part is Jace n' Jess is a bit of a mouth full...
how about J.J. da baja? 👍
Volkswagenboy ·
Nice one man, good to see you're getting there!
-Staggers.
squizy ·
Good one Chris. Just make sure you put a mask on with all that shit flying around.
Midlife crisis ·
Looking good Chris, Won't be long now and it will be on the road.
Marc
bajachris88 ·
Thanx man, it shouldn't be long... i hope.
i got 7 days of uni easter holidays coming up, and i will be working on this lil' baja full time. Should be able to boost progress up a massive notch.
Still unsure of colours though... but i have had some mad fantasy's... of the baja of course... 😉
Thanks to Jace yesterday, he got me on the spray gun to do a layer of etch primer... i got a bit of practicing to do till i'm reasonable... lucky it was only primer, cause at the moment, its run's galore :P Anywho... will keep ya posted
pod ·
the only way to learn is to get stuck into it👍you want to come and do mine😉
bajachris88 ·
If u were local man, i would luv to ay. :P
More fun working on other peeps cars. Dunno y. Tell ya what through, progress seems to motivate more progress, i have been thinking about it so much, talked through my plans to my old man, and he was impressed for where its going and what i had planned. Still got a marathon to go, but the lil' bugger is certainly on its way. 😀
Thanx for the pics jess (This was just Jace's revenge for me showing his face 😉, Jace was a mad instructer, it was very funky and new to me. ) lol. but ah well... i beated u to the spray gun!
Don't take it personally though, it would be a privelege for you to spray my dub. 🙂
bajachris88 ·
ay peeps,
latest update. Car went from gray to gray with pinky spots and then to blue, and now to yellow...
primers, primer fillers, spray putty, man heaps of layers.
All with due regards my dear buddy, Jace. Friggen champion mate! Oh, and dear Jesse of course, for the lovely coke and the pleasure of seeing Jasmine this morning for some motivation. soooo sexy...
anyways, i'm still on an acrylic high... its lovely. here it is: (photos that is, not me and my high). I'm definitely investing in a respirator.
Da Dub Wizard...
... in all his glory. 🙂
This little fella puts the bug in my baja:
bajachris88 ·
Cheers to a hard days work, an acrylic high, and the loss of 20 yrs or so of my life expectancy. 🙂
llluuurrrrvvvvley!
bugeyedbabe ·
go chris.
the amount of work in the pics is fantastic... looks like its really coming along. thats great!
And isnt it great having friends like jess n jace to help out when you need it. great work guys
cheers
beb
pod ·
its getting closer😵💫 keep up the good work ,and as beb says isnt it good to have friends to help you out,well done Jace & Jess😀
bajachris88 ·
Thanx guys
Yea you have no idea how much i appreciate the efforts of my good friends. Am so lucky to find people like them. I would bow at their feet at an instant 🙂
Yea, the progress has been amazing, i'm surprised. BIG learning curve, and will certainly be using the knowledge i have gained for the future projects to come. I am still a runny king, but will hopefully eventually loose that habit haha. All in due time. Jace has been doing the spraying lately, the pro knows what hes doing. 👍😏
btw Jess and Jace, thanx for the embarrassment!!! U know, its not good to be vengeful 😉 , i didn't put that many photos of jace up that u did of me lol. Who am i kiddin, in an attention seeker. Bring it on
Volkswagenboy ·
Chris, you're nuts.
Good work though, keep on goin! Pity it's raining today.
-Staggers.
bajachris88 ·
copy that, weather sux. had to work today anyways and promised my elder bro a driving lesson (scary stuff man!)
Thanks though Brenton.
OZ Towdster ·
Starting to look the goods Chris.
I still have that sharpbuilt tranny mounting kit sitting here somewhere waiting for you plus i just happen to also have a spare 1600 kombi box for sale too if your interested and i'll even through in my converted drive shafts and cv's for the right price.
Andrew
bajachris88 ·
PM sent👍
OZ Towdster ·
PM sent back
Just noticed in the photo's that you have long torsion bars so my old 32" tyres won't fit + just remembered you would also have rubbing issues on the inner guards so sorry but you'll be better if you can sorce some 31's
bajachris88 ·
no worries Andrew. 👍
Look forward to seeing ya tomorrow.
NCH-003 ·
Come on Chris you must have some updated pics for us by now....
Tis looking good so far..
bajachris88 ·
Thanks buddy
Will see after this w/e...
U can tell uni has been putting the pressure on unfortunately...
Might be some kombi gearbox mounting this w/e, i just need a stock manual transmission front mount. If i remember right they aren't worth much, but on a uni student wage, will leave it for now. Unless anyone wants to trade one for something...
I got various 5 stud and 4 stud wheels i don't want :P
I bought a couple more sheets of wet and dry yesterday too, i got a little too passionate about my blade putty, and sanding with 1200 grit is the biggest kick in the bum for doing so.
maybe i should also finalise colour and contours this w/e... will see. Plenty to do.
bugluv ·
Your car is looking great, and lovely that your friends are helping you out. Keep up the good work.
bajachris88 ·
Appologies for the delay in progress folks, give me a few more weeks... and u will start seeing em again. Holidays are almost here.
bajachris88 ·
sounds like a plan jace :P Would be an honor and a pleasure to have you ova. Jess can come too if she likes :P
I miss you both!
sinecure ·
Do the tyres hold air? After dumping (no-one wanted them - and after three months of waiting!), the 4 stud rims and tyres I got from Jess and Jace (ta VERY much indeed for them!), 6 weks later I need another set while I'm changing the tyre widths (195/50's all round to 225/50's rear and 205/50's front)
I'll take yours at $40 the 4- set if the tyres hold air.
Thanks mate!
Mick.
kroozzn63 ·
go hard chris.
man its almost there well done
bajachris88 ·
Thanks mate :P 👍
Haha, its almost come to a point where i have to say ur wakin up the dead when bringin up this thread man lol.
But it was bout time! 7 more days till holidays buddy,
And things are going to be rolling seriously. For teh moment, i got 2 exams next week... then i got 4 weeks straight to work full time.
The only limiting factor will be money, but i got some things sorted anywho.
But since the last photos, this has been kicked up a notch. What was going to be a quick respray, well, due to the nature of manual converting and what not, it has become an 'off the pan' restoration.
The body is sitting on horse stools, and the pan is lying horizontally, waiting for me to grind it open, fit the clutch tube, chop and turn the front beam, fabricate some rebound stops for the ball joint front end, replace a few rubbers, seals and then paint.
I have already made some consultations to my mechanic whose going to provide the compliance plating, and some directions have been changed as a result. Specifically seat mounting and barwork.
Will have to keep ya posted.
You got yourself a project yet buddy? u2u me some details, cause i am bringing the body kit for ya down to valla if your still keen, and i will have some good spares that are of no need to me that i will happily throw your way for free.
68AutoBug ·
Just remember Chris
that you have a rare German Made Beetle there...
and keep that - made in western Germany plate from inside the spare wheel well -
looking good...
still a way to go...
I'd hate to be doing it again.... lol
LEE
bajachris88 ·
Yea you got that right Lee, whats the body is back on the pan, i atleast want 5 good yrs outta the bugger lol.
That plate is in my toolbox, :P the wheel well, with the way the bug eyed kit is and how much nose had to be chopped compared to a wide eyed kit, it all had to come out.
so i will have to place it somewhere onthe car, maybe under the hood behind the dash, somewhere safe.
You taking ur beast to valla this yr Lee?
bajachris88 ·
geebuz its been long since i updated this.... i think i owe yas some new photos...
will hav to take some one day. maybe this evening
Body is much the same however 🙁 now that uni is back on track unfortunately
BUT, its been chassis work i been up to.
As some of you will know, a clutch tube has been welded in, along with 8mm and 10mm stainless steel fuel lines, the chassis has been welded back up, and half of it has been painted in some good ol' hammer tone. I just got to paint up the underside with hammertone and sound deadener, and the rear forks/suspension, which is looking difficult to clean with a wire brush on an angle grinder with all the bits everywhere i don't want to pull off. will see if i can find some crazy industrial degreasure. (Just alot of dirt, mud, grease from 40 yrs of age there.
Also , as some of you will know, my front beam was bent, and i was informed it was beyond repair. I have sourced a new one which i am obtaining from valla. I got prices to get it cut and turned, however, if i cut it, and tack it in the right place, my friend who works for a sheet metal mill down the road will structurally weld it for me for free. Alot of the services for a simple cut and turn were seriously overpriced to get done by a specialty mob.
Last weekend i obtained a 2 inch body lift kit, it was painted in teh same hammer tone paint yesterday, sitting snugly on the floor pan.
VERY slow progress.
Gibbo ·
Slow and steady wins the race mate, I wish i had more time for my dubs at the moment, keep going! 🙂
bajachris88 ·
Thanks Gibbo.
its slowly going... neva backwards. 👍
bajachris88 ·
SPOT THE WELDS!
This is the side that was cut and welded in 2 places, holes where about 15x10x10cm (3 sides of a rectangle). Barely notice unless you really are looking for it. and any little clues left on the tunnel are going to be covered with a new carpet kit thats sitting in my bed room.
that hammertone is magic stuff. (thanks jace for the intro to it).
Dilbert ·
having a browse through these project pics is inspiring me to get stuck into my little project. very impressed.
bajachris88 ·
yea but i'm impatient.... 🙁
This projects been rolling for 2 and a half yrs!
cram ·
Looking good chris
What are the details for the hammertone paint?
bajachris88 ·
The stuff is magic.
Its called HAMMERCOAT By HICHEM. Can obtain via autobarn.
It gives a hammered metal finish, i'm using the 'charcoal' colour but it comes in a few different colours. You pick it up from autobarn. Cost me $23.99 a ltr. It doesn't require any primer, can be sprayed on or brushed on, and if brushed on, the chemicals inside it make it go funky to have the hammer tone finish, and therefore you cannot see any brush strokes. the stuff is magic.
Saves ya wasting any thinners or time mucking with spray guns if you just use a brush, and no-one will know you did it either way.
Anyways, Its an industrial enamel with a decorative, anti-corrosive, durable finish with excellent adhesion (apparently, and so far it seems good). works on metal, timber etc and best of all, due to the hammertone pattern it makes, it hides the imperfections on rough, damaged or scratched surfaces :P
Just make sure u have a hard, non-greasy surface to apply it to (IE: get rid of dirt/flakes, and use wax/grease remover or even just turps/metho to prep it.)
notice the texture: (this isn't my colour though)
bajachris88 ·
Oh and the one i'm using doesn't end up looking matty either, its got a slight gloss. Saves ya clear coat and primer.
You could paint the whole car with it!
Mick058 ·
Looking good 😎
parra ·
nice work mate. its starting to look the part! i understand how hard it is to keep up the motivation for these projects... between uni, work, the missus and no money, it is so so hard. kudos for the effort so far! looking forward to seeing it around -parra
foxy_fuchsia ·
Wow, hey Chris! i posted in your other thread and didn't realise a new one had started. The baja is looking very hot! I'm loving the pics, it's come such along way and you guys have done such a good job. What I wrote in the other thread is I can't wait till it's done, we can get a group of us and roadtrip it to a beach somewhere with some smirnoffs & a tent 😏
bajachris88 ·
Thanks Parra, ur one of the few on avd that understand 👍
And Joh, that is a beautiful idea! i needz to finish my baja asap/now! lol it has come a long way, but i couldn't have done it without the help of alot of people here, particularly jace, who regardless of what i say always has a noble, modest come back. Can't wait till ur shipment comes in though Joh, the new car smell... the shiny paint...
😂
foxy_fuchsia ·
oooh i know, and new beetles have the BEST new car smell mmmmmmmm hehe
Being in Jess's on the weekend made me remember how good they smell, drive etc etc =)
bajamat ·
nice work dude it looks like coming alone sweet i no how you fell i just finished my 1959 baja build so keep up ya posts 🙂
bajachris88 ·
HEY MAN! Was urs the one at valla!!!
DUDE! that ride was hot! My mate and i were checking it out for ideas. Lovely machine buddy.
pod ·
parra wrote:i understand how hard it is to keep up the motivation for these projects... between work, the missus, and no money, it is so so hard. kudos for the effort so far! looking forward to seeing it around -parra
i`ll second this catch cry,but building a baja is fun👍
parra ·
so is driving one! lol 👍
pod ·
well Chris whats happening with this ,we want piccies of it in its new colour❓❓
pod ·
c`mon wheres our update😵💫😀😀
bajachris88 ·
hahaha. its a little overdue hey?
i got a straight vw body out the back, which is finally starting to show a gloss... I have neva seen a gloss on the car till now. Its a monza red. When its all together, i might consider scollops or 2 tone etc as i got white acrylic left (just mask and spray when its all together), but at least its covered, not goin to get rusty and the progress won't go backwards.
And the chassis? well i had to 'refurbish' it again, clean up and paint it all ova as the elder bro used it as a work bend for his sanding and painting and as a 'storage' solution for all his rubbish. Sigh....
will get some pics Poddy. I got no choice but to make it a roller again by good friday so it frees up the garage, that wil be 5 cars and one trailer now in our drive way. And we live on a small rental property in suburbia... Its gonna look like a car yard!
The beams also been cut and rotated by 6 mm too... so should have some height hopefully.
pod ·
5 cars Lol i have 6 here and the trailer spread around the yard and in the driveway🤪
bajachris88 ·
haha. bloody hell. so u have to go through the morning car shuffles too so people can get out lol?
hows ur daughters baja these days? was looking like u were on an awesome roll the last time i checked.
pod ·
My baja ,the daughter has the beetle ,but yer doing body work still👍
bajachris88 ·
Hi, heres an update. As some of yas know its been painted. I haven't had the time yet to even wash it, let alone polish or wax it. And only half of it has had some cutting compound put on. The rest is just a 1500 grit finish.
It wasn't easy. Had many issues with erradic surface temperature, followed by cheap tools, let along the make shift bush mechanics tools, the dirt, the sun, the bugs. I tried to spray as late arvo as possible to have a low surface temperature to prevent a dusty finish, but on a 30 degree day, its hard along with the afternoon winds, followed by the quick cooling of the evening that lead to different paint drying times and different surface response/behaviour of the paint. Let along the humidity too.
But its a back yard job, was lucky to see what i was doing in the late arvo as night was falling over.
This is my 2nd spray job now. the first was in a ventilated booth with the brightest of lighting. Boy i could have done with the booth again, but u just gotta make do i guess. None the less its got no reason to rust for the moment, the 'prone' places on the outside like gutters and the bottom of the window sills have had a generous coating of both undercoat and topcoat within reasonable limits.
Heres the piccies. I'm only giving a few teasers, not the whole car yet, its just a shell at the moment, when its back on the pan by good friday then i will get some shots. Should hopefully have a good stance with the 2'' body lift kit and cut and turned beam (was turned 6mm). Found out my wheels support modern car hub caps too, cause of the 'ford falcon' outter pattern. So i can have the chrome surrounding trims followed by some fake aluminum polished spokes for that sexy look, at $29 a set from autobarn, i wouldn't be worried about scratchin em lol.
enjoy.
will keep ya posted. gimme another month hopefully some more updates.
JEN056 ·
Nice work.
But i hope you don't wreck it by putting stickers on this one
pod ·
JEN056 wrote:Nice work.
But i hope you don't wreck it by putting stickers on this one
hahaha 😂🤪
bajachris88 ·
JEN056 wrote:Nice work.
But i hope you don't wreck it by putting stickers on this one
lol thanks 😂 I got a spare can of white acrylic if after i put it together i wanna go 2 tone or do some simple scollops :P.
Wadda ya rekon 😀? Nuffin tacky (i hope), I'm just a MEGA attention seeker.
squizy ·
Nice one Chris. Good on you for getting stuck in. So you've got a narrow light front cone? I like them much more. Can you easily rego that in Qld then?
pod ·
squizy wrote:Nice one Chris. Good on you for getting stuck in. So you've got a narrow light front cone? I like them much more. Can you easily rego that in Qld then?
Squizy i think Chris`s one has the lights set far enough apart as to be legal width 👍 ,not like mine😠
bajachris88 ·
Hi guys, thanks for the comments, helps with the motivation.
Yea i got the bug eyed look going and its grown on me. The kit i got is strange. As Paul was saying, the lights themselves in the nose cone are more spaced out and the fenders are specifically shaped to take the 'bulge' of the lights being moulded further away from the centre.
From memory, the legal closest distance was like 80ish sumfin cm from the centre of the lights... and This setup passed the legal limit by like only 5mm. Was stoked.
If it was otherwise though, i wouldn't worry. Would be a matter of bolting up a couple of headlight appropriate spot lights to the front bullbar and wire up accordingly, making sure you have some form of low beam and hi beam. Thats just all dependant on the bulb anyways. Like what i think it was anthiron had set up. Kinda like a hotrod look.
pod ·
yer thats what i have ,spotlight buckets with H4 lights in them👍
bajachris88 ·
nice move Paul! at least in day light compared to normal headlights you can even put covers on em and protect em when bush bashin in day.
kroozzn63 ·
man its coming together. looking good keep the pics coming
bajachris88 ·
kroozzn63 wrote:man its coming together. looking good keep the pics coming
Thanks man! hows things, havne't heard from you in a while.
Hopefully sussin out the rest of the front beam tomorrow, amongst the mid semester uni stresses....
Then hopefully it will be just the assembly stage which will be interesting.
i'm curious to see how i go putting these torsion leaves back in.
bajachris88 ·
hmmm... holidays comin up next week.
prepare for some updates, like the last 3 yrs of holidays, i have had plans, not all fell through. but i got pressure from the folks, the garage MUST BE CLEAR! which means chassis rolling out hte back yard again, COMPLETE and ready.
cut and turned beam, straightened and all ready to go. fixing up some clutch tube errors, fitting my type 3 brake assemblies, new wheel bearings, rebuilding front brakes and adjusting preload on rear, fit manual shifter tube and kombi gearbox adapter, then she ready to roll out. Been parts collecting the last 6 months, keen as kittens to smash into it (the workload that is).
Shouldn't take long, i been planning this for a while now. Body ain't finished, got changes of plans, well 'mods' to initial plans...
stay tuned for soon updates... 👍
NCH-003 ·
Come on Chris what's the progress report!!!!!!!
bajachris88 ·
haha, there has been!
I will have to get some more photos... simply the focus has been on chassis, suspension, brakes, and now merging soon onto engine and gearbox.
The chassis is fully rolling again. all 4 brakes rebuild, 8 new bearings fitted, new brake lines, new slave cylinders, reconditioned master cylinder, new urthane bushes, front beam all assembled with the new preload/raise, adjusted rear torsion bars...
However, the last few days i have been getting stuck into fixing the mistakes i did with the clutch tube. Its been a lesson about measure twice, cut once, and not being a cowboy about it. (Was hard at the time, i didn't have a manual pedal assembly or a gearbox back then, and was going off photos and guesstimates. obviously they weren't any good...)
I had to cut the chassis tunnel open again, in the same 2 spots, cut out the existing clutch tube (that was a mess), cut out the metal cover that the tunnel access cover sits on and replace the tube with a newie as the tube was not clearing the nose cone of the kombi gearbox. 5 more mm to the passenger side and i would have been alright. A new stainless steel, thick walled tube has been installed now, with the exact correct ID (i bought my first bowden tube as a reference 🙂), properly fitted front and back and centre. have just been rewelding the tunnel back up. I was on a roll with the MIG till the wire ran out, now stuck with the arc.... and its no where near as fun...
so far the biggest hurdle has been the folks, its either too noisy, too smelly, too smokey, too messy and they worry about me starting fires haha. I simply told em i will wait till they aren't home so i can start a fire and not have to listen to their winging. 👍😏 I got a little heated... this is my "Chris time" outlet, and i felt violated haha.
pics soon!
bajachris88 ·
4 x brand new KYB GR-2 gas shocks are coming too! Just bought em.
Was $83 US :P how good is that!
Contimplating painting the gearbox... is it worth the effort?
Once the welding on the tunnel is tidied, i will give the whole pan a scrub and repaint with my trusty brush friendly hammercoat. Then time to put the gearbox back home when i fit the selector O-ring and main input shaft. The new parts are just sitting there waiting :P
bajachris88 ·
Bout time for an update... just a little overdue.
These are some blurry teasers from the web cam till i get batteries for the camera. The goal is to have this car regoed and driving by 9am on the 28th of december to aboard the barge that is already booked to head to straddie for new years.
Paint and panel can wait but mechanically shes a good sort and is my priority to achieving the rwc and hence the rego.
So far its got thing arms and spindles, cut and turned beam, 2 inch body lift sitting on 31x10.5 on the rears and 215/65's on the front. Speed way rims on the back with steelies on the front (till front speedways are finished being painted).
:P
h ·
lookin good mr rface
pity ur title doesn't reflect atm
had enuff rain thanks someone turn off the tap ffs
bajachris88 ·
Cheers mate, just changed the title... that was the weather review from december 2009 :P Blowing the dust off this thread
Smiley ·
You may want tinware before you drive too far 😂😂😂
Smiley 😎
matberry ·
Looking good Chris, keep working........Straddie is caaaaaaallllllllllllllllllllliiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiinnnnnnngggggg
handycam ·
looking good mate
1916baja ·
geez mate, that things a monster! nice work!
bajachris88 ·
Some easter progress pics, sound deadening.
resonance damping layer:
sound barrier with decoupler:
So its heading to the 6th day of my uni mid semester break.. and again, i have given myself a deadline (best way for motivation). its my little bro's formal in August, 13th. Exterior doesn't have to be perfect, mechanicals and comfortable interior is the goal here.
so lets view some pics of progress 😀.
So, the biggest factor slowing me down was interior. For me to have the windows fitted, i had to have the roofliner on (so as to not have to take em out later).
In order to have roofliner on, i needed sound proofing and underlay's fitted.
So thanks to 1916 baja, i got some 12mm foam and a can of permatex upholstery spray adhesive (good toxic stuff) and went nuts 😀. from memory, i used 1200x1200 for the two sides of the rear, and 1300x600? i think... for window section.
pre underlay:
cutting sheet:
If its this toxic, its gotta be good.
slapped on, started from top of b pillar down, and applied as one bit square... then cutted it to shape.
rear section done.
the final trimmings with a craft knife. i could cut where the rear door cards go, but i don't see the reason why yet. It i need to i will 😀. another sound deadening layer lol.
I fitted light underlay on the roof too, for sound deadening.
The younger siblings wanted to help me out (bloody champions 😀). So i gave the 8 yr old the task of painting the engine bay firewall with a bit of help 😀.
Nic the 17 yr old wanted some work, and got him to make me a template in grease proof paper for my new beetle altezza tail lights. we aligned it, and i got him on the angle grinder for the first time 😀. Needs a bit of tidying but should be awesome.
All steering components are now fitted and tightened. New german master cylinder and now fresh paint. Yes hammertone is the only multi purpose brush on paint i have in my garage and can afford 😀.
For me to fit the roofliner without worrying about getting paint overspray on it from painting sills, i figured i ought to finish the sills first before doing the roofliner. Stark white inside, monza red outside.
While the paint was drying and between coats, i wire wheeled the 40 yrs of crap off the fuel tank to find a straight tank with only a little bit of surface rust. for my chassis fuel lines, i needed a larger feed and return line to be welded in. So out came the MIG and i got stuck in. I did a leak test and was confident in it being a good sealed weld, but slapped on some selleys gasket goop for insurance (so i can sleep easy) and went hammetone crazy.
I had been avoiding touching teh roofliner vinyl, but today i sucked it up and gave it a go, and installed the driver side b pillar vinyl. turned out ok. whoop whoop!
after dad saw that i was started to truck back into this dub, he got back into last yrs xmas pressie for me (recovering my original half back seats). Check out the great rump steak colour scheme, full rod old skool 😀 luv it! This is just a teaser pic, its still in production. Mum says the process was very cursively vocal lol.
Tomorrow the roofliner fiting should be at full swing. till then thanks for looking 😀. Other than what you seen, i have made fabrication adjustments to the rear bar design from cip1, as the mounting and removal involved undoing the massive rear cradle bolts every time (they are all good now, despite initial thread issues, all solved). And tranny oil has been done. No chunks of metal from the oil 😀.
68AutoBug ·
Good job Chris...
unreal looking rear wheels and tyres..
hammertone looks great..
I'll have to take My tank out now and hammertone it... lol
LEE
SebastienPeek ·
Looks like it is coming along very fast, looking great!
Really wanting to do what you just did in the interior in my own, rip everything out, sound deaden it and then redo the entirety in vinyl. Is a big possibility but a very big task.
Keep the pictures coming!
baghall ·
It's looking good Chris! Didn't realise you had been working on it so long. I was thinking 12 months for mine, which has become 2 years but now I think quite a few more years than that will be more realistic.
bajachris88 ·
Thanks guys! we worked it out, i have had this bug since 2006... its been a few yrs in the making. 🙂
Anywho! i did the roofliner today, fitted, with a few other extras and some tidying up to do tomorrow (or maybe another day, cause i'm running out of permatex adhesive).
heres some photos.
Its the best a novice could do. 🙁... i'm hoping once the windows, seat belts, sun visors, rear view mirror, handle straps etc are fitted, the wrinkles will be pulled in further and will visually detract from the roofliner of itself.
cam070 ·
What brand headliner is that you are using Chris?
bajachris88 ·
no idea. i bought it 3 yrs ago of ebay from the states.
was a one piece off-white kit. i couldn't find any problems with it, apart from detailed fitting instructions.
Smiley ·
Hooray!!
Great to see some progress! It better be done for Warwick!!
Come to think of it. Mine better be done for Warwick!😊😊
Smiley 😎
11CAB ·
Fraser Trip middle of October 🙂
Smiley ·
11CAB wrote:Fraser Trip middle of October 🙂
*like*
Smiley 😎
bajachris88 ·
I was busy again today.
Finally got those dam windows in! Certainly hurts the hands. Then started stripping doors, and wasted some time playing with some bling (cleaning the speedo, chrome surround and period accessory (non-factory) Ferris AM solidstate radio that came with the car. It still works too 😀
Still got a couple weeks holidays left... money has gone dry now, and i'm up to my last can of primer, and only topcoat white left, no thinners. Might have to pull the plug with the lack of finance (work only giving me 4 hrs a fortnight due to offseason at the pool store)... we'll see anyways...
windows fitted:
Will start stripping the boot area tomorrow. Still don't know what to paint it...
I have hammertone, but it'll be ugly for the boot. i want something thats hard wearing, rust proof, can be applied with a brush without brush strokes, thats easily obtainable. hmm.
White killrust would be awesome. but that stuff scratches WAY too easy... and it shows brush strokes like crazy. I could get an aerosol. Its very sensative to surface prep though.... hmmm.. i dunno.
bajachris88 ·
11CAB wrote:Fraser Trip middle of October 🙂
I like the sound of that VERY much! i have never been to Fraser. Thats if the sink hole hasn't engulfed it by then though 🙂... although thats at the mainland.
1916baja ·
looking great! Headliners can be a pain.... Normally you'd float it around the back window a bit more but hey once you get the rest of the interior in it will look great! A bit of heat from general use will help too. Love the tail lights! Remember if you need any interior help let me know.
Mick.
bajachris88 ·
Bit overdue for an update in this build diary 🙂. been busy in the garage.
headlights all fitted and operational, along with all other globes.
carpet kit fitting over all that sound barrier. This is a grey TMI kit, which fitted with the 2 inch lift perfectly. i did not glue this kit down as being a baja, i want all of it to be able to be removed for spring cleaning after the dirty trips to come 🙂. Some more velcro is required to tidy the edges and wrinkles.
Because of the lift kit, i had to cut some mdf to make the backing board under the rear seat, to hide the battery area. Pulled out some mdf, a jig saw, some carpet and fitted a couple 4 inch speakers and was laughing 🙂.
It was time to prep the front half back seats for dad's covers he made. I restretched the saggin springs, and didn't have to weld any as there were no breakages. Using some spare underlay, i padded up both seats, with an eva so slightly raised sides to make the seat bases just that tiny bit more 'buckety' for corner g-force support from the stock 1600 :P. I also painted the undersides a fresh gloss black prior to padding up.
Following this i couldn't wait. That night i had to fit the seat covers and trim. Turned out beautiful. I call it the 'steak' trim. Like a cartoon bit of meat, red centre, white on the outsides.
Do note that the rear seat was yet to have covers made, as dad has been preoccupied with building the new family house at cornubia. None the less, scored some comfy tartan to use as a throw over. Thought it suited the whole euro oldskool fashion. The following is the resulting interior:
I have taken this car for a few test drives prior to this. I'm currently uploading the video now on photobucket. will show it off :P
bajachris88 ·
Door cards and rear quarter cards coming very soon!
A factory reproduction black steering wheel is coming as well. that should soon arrive in another week or so from the states. Looking forward to getting rid of the ugly three spoke. The oldskool 'granduer' is something i wanted to maintain for the occupants including I the driver. Just seems to have this 'cool' factor i rekon. If i feel like something updated to drive then i just take the celica out for a spin.
bajachris88 ·
1916baja wrote:looking great! Headliners can be a pain.... Normally you'd float it around the back window a bit more but hey once you get the rest of the interior in it will look great! A bit of heat from general use will help too. Love the tail lights! Remember if you need any interior help let me know.
Mick.
Sorry for the delayed reply lol. Thanks Mick, much appreciated mate 🙂.
bajachris88 ·
Video Demonstations:
5lam ·
Wow, its certainly come a long way!! Good to see you're still going with it, Chris! 👍
h ·
Did u end up getting the engineer approval for t'port so you can rwc it etc
I think I read a while back u had some dramas?
get up the progress u will get there..
Valla is less than 12 months away 😀
Smiley ·
Woo hoo!!! Nothing like that first drive in the car that you built with your own two hands.
It sounds really tough man. And not too loud with the cannons, though I'm sure it's probably a lot louder in person.
Did your front end come down off the stops now that you have some weight on it?? You've got some wicked clearance that's for sure.
Where are the pictures of the rear guards with the late model lights in them? I'm really looking forward to seeing how they turn out.
And what else have you got left to do for roadworthy and rego?? It'd only be little things correct??
make sure you've got your interior mirror fitted (I forgot to bolt mine in during the thick of things, but the guy let it slide. Fitted it that afternoon.)
You might require mudflaps on the back wheels too. legally you're supposed to have them but i think it's a case of how mean the mechanic/cop wants to be. I've never had anyone say anything about mine.
All the lights that are fitted to the car are required to operate. So if you have spotties they have to be wired up and working otherwise just leave them off for now.
Adjust your brakes and make sure they're working smicko, same applies to the handbrake.
There isn't much else. All your suspension is new so you won't have any dramas there.
make sure once you've finished the car to go over all of the nuts and bolts on the entire thing and make sure that they're done up right. Especially your suspension, brakes and wheel nuts.
Aside from that enjoy the hell out of it!!
Can't wait to see it in October at Warwick, maybe even get out and do a little offroading ey??
Smiley 🙂
bajachris88 ·
Thanks guys 👍
Nah no engineering approval. Found out there is no need for engineering or blue plate, i just have to wait for the letter from Main Roads after i sent in an application for 'Request for Modification". On their records and on the reply letter, it should state the body kits that are approved for the vee dub, and what conditions i have to comply to (full length bumpers or sumfin etc, which i might have to make a few 'adjustments' too).
they got my application because they called 2 days later to ask if it was still lwb. Just waiting for the postman now, then i got to take the car to Main Roads for them to inspect such that the kit complies to their requirements on the letter.
Thanks smiley! It was fun! i have driven around a few times, with the intention of seeing if the speedo worked. every bloody time i forgot to look at the speedo!!! lol. I got the interior mirror fitted now lol. I cheated with the rear guards... They are being a pain in the arse to fit cleanly. For 'rush' purposes, i got my spare set of guards and quickly bolted stock tombstone taillights for the time being. The new beetle ones will be fitted permanently, but will be a little while. 🙂
I'm happy to annouce that the suspension did settle and went off the stops. the front dropped about 4 inches, and the rear as well, can't remember how much. so i got that travel either way now 👍, exciting! 😀
Only little things left for rwc, but i got my mate up the road doing the rwc for me. I have mudflaps, so will fit em. have 4wd flaring rubber as well to cover the tyres as they extend past the guards. Thats pretty much all thats left for rwc, apart from the wheel alignment. (seat belts fitted, headlights work, all indicators... oh wait.. brake light switch is being dicky... but i'll get to it.)
I got a book from a friend for my bday, it has 22 places between Childers to west of Grafton with 4wd locations to take the car 🙂. Certainly will be a few planned vw group trips :P.
bajachris88 ·
oh! and that book has places near warrick to go offroading 🙂. count me in!! 😀
h ·
👍
hellbugged ·
h wrote:Valla is less than 12 months away 😀
holey shit, that be true me matey!
good to see it's still coming along Chris
Anthiron ·
What year is it Chris?
is it post 72? If it is earlier than this then you have more leniency.
The major things on the DOT Papers are
- Full length Bumpers front and rear.
- Engine exhaust and moving parts covered adequately from prying hands with an engine cage
You may run into trouble with wide wheels and tyres. You could rock up with stockies but then they would probobly ask what the wide guards are for.
Remember your RWC is for the Rego. The DOT papers are just to approve the Baja kit Fitment, Strength and safety.
Car is coming along very nicely.
Mine will be getting similar treatment now as i have a second car to get me to work.
May I ask where you go your carpet kit from? and how much you paid?
Nicko
bajachris88 ·
Thanks gents 👍🙂 I'm dreaming of being lucky enough to bring this to warrick. it may come tru!
Yea Nick its a 69 model :P.
Ah ok, will get cracking on widening those bumpers, they certainly aren't the full width. Same goes for rear cage. Won't take too long.
I was going to roll in with stocks. If they asked i would tell em that i planned on going wider, but understand that there would be some mod requirements that i would later have to persue in the near future.
Then i would just get it registered, and take it home and refit the wide tyres 😂
Carpet kit was a 10 piece kit from Classic vee dub. Just a stock kit they had for the bug 👍 was just over $200. Think around $250 ish with postage. Good quality, only prob is it didn't come with the holes cut.
bajachris88 ·
maybe i should just rock up with the wide wheels and tyres?
Smiley ·
bajachris88 wrote:I'm dreaming of being lucky enough to bring this to warrick. it may come tru!
It better be there!!!
Even if I have to drag it!!!
Smiley 🙂
Bone ·
bajachris88 wrote:maybe i should just rock up with the wide wheels and tyres?
NO dont do that ! Stock tyres and stock steering wheel. Looks ridiculous but thats what you must do for the inspection.
matberry ·
^^^ x2
Anthiron ·
Yeah and don't forget mudflaps that extend to at least axle height on the rear.
bajachris88 ·
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.
bajachris88 ·
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?
5lam ·
Chances are that they won't know what they're looking at anyway!
Try and get a ditzy blonde to process your rego 😂
bajachris88 ·
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)
bajachris88 ·
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)...
5lam ·
Woohoo!! That must feel so good after all this time, and all that hard work!
11CAB ·
Cool, the Manx Club is going to Fraser Island on 15th October 🙂 will we see you there?
Smiley ·
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 👍
pod ·
good stuff Chris ,and theres a lot out there that wouldnt believe it,but the proof is in them photos mate,well done 👍👍
Smiley ·
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 🙂
beetleboyjeff ·
Congratulations Chris.
Now that looks like fun. :-)
dangerous ·
Congratulations Chris, it has been a long time but you got it done!
Good work!
Anthiron ·
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
11CAB ·
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
bajachris88 ·
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.
baghall ·
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.
Anthiron ·
hey chris which welder did you go with?
bajachris88 ·
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.
Smiley ·
I like Frog. It's a nice name for a Baja.
Cause it'll be crawling through forests and swimming through water!!!!
Smiley 🙂
Anthiron ·
thanks for the info chris. 1 more question andd ill leave u alone. what was the minimum setting on your mig?
bushed ·
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
bajachris88 ·
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.
MISS VDUB ·
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❗
h ·
good on you chris!
let the good times roll.. enjoy! 👍
bajachris88 ·
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 😀
MISS VDUB ·
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❗
pod ·
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👍
Anthiron ·
I just got an offcut peice from Clark rubber. It was only a couple of bucks. Trimmed it to size.
bajachris88 ·
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.
Smiley ·
bajachris88 wrote: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 😂
hahahahaha. good to hear you're out enjoying it. And using it for what it was built for!!
How is the ride and the suspension travel? If you drive one front wheel onto a mount does it flex out nicely?
and lol at the waterproofing. Once you do that the only problem you have is that car floating away (I can vouch for this ❗❗)
And +1 on covering that battery!!! Even an old rubber floor mat will do for the short term. And make sure you strap or down really well, things have a tendency to work loose when you're rattling around offroad.
Also, pics or it didn't happen!!!!
Smiley 🙂
gerggl ·
Great job ..... the really good thing by taking the car back to metal is knowing what you have got ....trust me ...I have taken 10 layers of paint and ten layers of bog off my Safari ......I keep thinking ..the journey ... the journey ... the journey ...keep it up !
bajachris88 ·
Camera batteries are on charge to see what you think about this broken tappet. At the moment, fuel economy is my issue at the moment. I took the bug from wolffdene to the spit, then to broadbeach and back up to wolfdene, was approx 102km's (from whereis.com.au). It cost me $30 in petrol. Anyways, it ended up being 20.3 litres / 100km's (11.59 mpg) REDICULOUS! surfed the web and found a pontiac GT v8 owner complaining about this kind of fuel economy.
For warwick (for me, 159ish km's) it would equate to about $44 of fuel one way. this is a rough figure, as it doesn't take into account street economy and highway economy.
I always remembered people saying these things ran on the smell of an oily rag lol. either that was for the 1100cc engine, or i got some serious tuning correction to sort out. What kind of fuel economy are you guys getting? I do notice that with the 3 rib gearbox i'm always looking for a 5th gear that just isn't there when screaming up and down the 100/110 kph highways. Could the loss of power from the cannon exhaust (making me have to put my foot down more perhaps??) be the issue? Carb turning could use a second opinion, i should drop it into southside vw. we'll see anyways.
Daniel i got some pics on another camera at a mates place of the spit trip yesterday 🙂. the thing went great through the soft sand! Asian tourists were waving, smiling like crazy and video recording lol. A camry full of indians just up the road from the asians stopped inteh middle of the road and all smiled and waved checking it out haha. All the little kids love it too 🙂. Still waitiing for the cops to suss it out yet haha.
Thanks Greg 👍. yea your right, its hard work but its the right way. I have always had this problem with bandaid fixes biting me back lol. I bet those safari's would turn heads like no tomorrow down the gold coast 🙂.
So when are we all going on a cruise? lol
TOPCAT69 ·
Well done on resto chris ,great read and hope to see you at warwick.cheers TC🙅
bajachris88 ·
Thanks mate 👍 will certainly see you there 🙂
Today i adapted a kombi 4-1 extractor setup for the baja. Although the J tubes run under the heads rather than at teh rocker covers, the street exhaust didn't extend below the rear barwork/cage anyways. I had to adapt a muffler and make it look back inside so it didn't extend outside the rear bar, nor interfer with my mesh cage. Again, pictures to come after batteries are found/charged SIGH! lol Welded up roughly, but strong. The difference is fantastic! i can hear myself think, power is there at foot, and i rekon the pickup is a million times better. cannons suck! lol.
I also retuned the accelerator pump. it was tuned to 'fully open' on the little wheel. I wounded it back a whole third, and no longer get black smoke with bleep of the throttle, nor hesitation while driving, so it seems fairly happy there. Still, with the fuel consumption i am a little worried, there has to be a leak. theres mess all over the engine bay, i rekon its oil, but could be fuel mixed in with oil. i don't know. will inspect fuel pump for leaks and see 🙂.
will report soon!
Chris.
bajachris88 ·
some spit pics 🙂
Baja took on the thick sand without a worry 🙂. Here is some photo evidence of the 'Spit' trip last weekend. We parked on the grass, somewhere nice and hard and cool whilst we were swimming in the broadwater. A little fresh, but the sun kept us warm. bring on summer.
Smiley ·
It needs bigger front tyres!
And bigger rear tyres!
And a roofrack with at least 9 spotlights across it!
And more lift!
And King shocks!
And 3x3 rear arms!
And a V8!
And a...hula girl?
Maybe I should get some sleep, VWs are driving me crazy!
Smiley 🤪
bajachris88 ·
Well the fun is all over now fellas. Didn't last long.
I could almost break down, no warwick weekend. 👎
At noon today, went to salisbury to drop into Leon's motors for some leaner, factory style main jets (compared to the crazy rich ones i had running that came with the carb) and some oil cooler seals for this bad oil leak i was having. Then went and visited Roger at southside vw for a stock emulsion tube for the 34 pict 3 to suit the leaner main. Then dropped into supercheap, got some fresh oil, an oil filter and a litre of Lucas Oil stabiliser (amazing stuff).
Got out this afternoon to get stuck in and drive her to work tomorrow, all ready for the Warwick trip. i fitted the new jet and emulsion tube then went to reseal the oil cooler after testing for leaks in the cooler unit itself. It was strange that it was leakings heaps, because the seals were near new. I refitted it and all excited. Picked up a can of degreaser to clean alll the oil mess left behind on the crank case below the cooler, and there it was, staring me in the face.
The crankcase has a friggen crack in it proporgating above cylinder number 3. F*^K! its toast. Explains why it was pissing oil out. Need a new donk now (short block anyways, long block would be nice. every ancillary on the cracked motor is new or been rebuilt.), money is scarce, will have to save up over the xmas holidays. The funs all over. 👎. Will put a pic up when i find some bloody non-flat AA's about this house.
vassy66T1 ·
Bum!
Sorry to hear that Chris.
Keep your chin up, there is always another day.
h ·
oh bugger
matberry ·
Major bummer dude. 👎
bushed ·
put a pic up of the crack .....maybe a rightangle washer patch set-up with some magic glue is appropriate and u hve temporary transport....till u hve the $$
yepp done it b4 on nr 3 cyl!
68AutoBug ·
Hi Chris
bad luck with Warwick and Your engine...
You can try to fix the crack so You can at least keep driving it.
Firstly the metal Must be perfectly clean...
along with inside the crack... for the metal filler to take hold..
either the two part cement that You nead with Your hands and then fill the crack and over lap as much as You can...
push into place with Your fingers...
the cement goes off fairly fast...
I have used it with success ... perfectly clean metal .. is the key....
cheers
Lee
Smiley ·
68AutoBug wrote:Hi Chris
bad luck with Warwick and Your engine...
You can try to fix the crack so You can at least keep driving it.
Firstly the metal Must be perfectly clean...
along with inside the crack... for the metal filler to take hold..
either the two part cement that You nead with Your hands and then fill the crack and over lap as much as You can...
push into place with Your fingers...
the cement goes off fairly fast...
I have used it with success ... perfectly clean metal .. is the key....
cheers
Lee
I agree with Lee. You can at least try to fix it in the short term so you can drive it until you organise another engine.
If you look at page 18, about half way down, of my build thread you can see the repair process I went through to fix my block when I ripped the chunk out of it.
You need to get the block super super clean, I'd use brake cleaner or another alcohol based cleaner, because it evaporates away afterward.
Because you haven't broken a piece out of the block you might not need to use a metal repair putty, just some form of sealer or silastic to seal the crack and stop it leaking. I'm not sure what product to use.
But when Wayne Penrose was building his Oval a while back and added a 5th head stud to the block he coated the areas he had welded in white sikaflex 252 to help stop any oil leaks that could develop. On page 16 about half way down, http://forums.aussieveedubbers.com/viewtopic.php?tid=36521&page=16
You had better not give up now Chris!!! Not after all the effort you've put into the car over these last few years!!
You car had better be at Warwick. It's just one small problem, hook in, get keen and fix it!! That's what I do.
You have one week till Warwick, pull that engine and fix it, and we'll all see you there!
Smiley 🙂
SebastienPeek ·
I agree with Smiley, you have come this far, don't give up now!
Do as much as you can to get it ready for Warwick, and then after, save for a new engine case and what not.
Just remember, don't give up!
bajachris88 ·
Thanks for the support guys, i really appreciate it.
I went to dan murphys and had a couple stiff drinks, felt a bit better. My concerns is whether that point in the case is a structural issue, and what the chances are of it becoming a problem when i'm 2 hrs away from home at warwick. (if the crack gets worse etc, i can't afford a 2 hr tow to get home).
If i did repair it, I would drill out the crack to remove the stress concentration and relieve the elastic zone of the tension (haha, did crack propagation mechanics this semester at uni, just my luck my life has forced me into applying the stupid theory).
I have good news, well it might be. My mate's brother whom i'm seeing this afternoon has a 1600tp donk in his shed. It was working, was removed, and has been sitting for a few yrs in dry storage. I might get lucky and get away without having to pay much, if at all. Will see if i can trade parts or something, i don't know what i got that might interest him but. we'll see. Or he might be happy for me to do a payment plan. Time will tell.
I can't throw away this project, but i might be delayed in using it.
What do you guys think of the longevity of just a patch job? Does anyone know if thats a serious structure point on the case? Would a whack of silicone suffice?
Thanks all for your condolences, folks rekon its character building, i rekon its BS lol.
bajachris88 ·
Heres some photos of the crack. Small enough to make a darn huge mess and drop the oil like its going out of fashion. Engine bay is all lubed because of it.
Will keep yas updated.
Chris.
matberry ·
IMO a patch job isn't a very long living option but the point is it's only an oil leak, keep it topped up and it will get you home. Good advice above, so go for it dude. The case is all structural, that's why it carcked, that and a few billion heat cycles with vibration and a probably a few overheats thrown in. But the right sealant to seap into the crack is wht you need. Iwas going to say, don't go using that theory stuff you learnt at uni, this is real world dude, think about it, keeping oil in is the priority and drilling holes won't help that BUT, if you can stop the crack from increasing, the repair will last far longer, so if the location allows, maybe you could use your theory, nd drill the end of the crack and tap a thread as a plug to seal the hole.......just an idea.
On a professional level, I always recommend replacing the case. As we all know, never a cheap option.
h ·
yep a few more stiff drinks n grab some saw dust, bananas, zip ties, gaffer tape, chewy (raspberry flavor works best cause of the colour) sikafex 255 and a handful of self raising flour will get the hole plugged 😉
n if not the old 2 raw eggs will sort it when you warm up the donk 🤪
bushed ·
or just dry sump it
drain the oil he he
i have 1500 case and most there cept J pipes and muffler
u can build a fresh'n althouh this ran
come an get it
bajachris88 ·
I saw my mates brother about his spare 1600tp donk...
Turns out that after many years of this dubs and motor sitting, after he saw my car and we hit the dirt, i have motivated him to get back into the project. So he wants to keep it lol. Good in one way i guess....
Hmm. Matt i spose its like how longs a piece of string, but if i were to patch fix it (without drilling) whats the chance of it lasting say 4 to 6 months? I guess i would have to baby it and not go offroad for the time being?
bushed you have u2u. 👍
Chris.
68AutoBug ·
there is a chance it would last a long time Chris
as there isn't any oil pressure there unless its an oil passage..
but it looks like You have a free engine...
cheers
LEE
matberry ·
Mate, no idea from the pic realy. Looks not so good. I posted before your pics were up, so hadn't seen it, but if its that line along the edge that turns down at the front, it's a wopper. Are you sure it's a crack and not casting flash? Every cracked case I've seen has been hairline damn near impossible to see type of crack. Untill you highlight it with dye or whatever.
bajachris88 ·
THanks Lee 👍
Theres still hope lol.
helbus ·
I would just drive it to Warwick. The best investment would be an RACQ premium membership. They will have to tow you home. Yeah? I had a friend have his car towed from Sydney to Melbourne, and he was even put up for a night in a hotel, and given a flight home.
OZ Towdster ·
Chris as mat has said if that is the crack along the corner it is huge . But if not then a repair is very possible and could last you a year plus , even offroading .
Just thinking , did it have this crack/ bad leak previose to your offroad adventure the other day and if not i'dd be guessing you may have dunked the motor in a waterhole while hot which may have caused the crack .
My advise at this point would be to give it a good degreasing in that area and then start it up to find the precise leak point and post more pics here if you want but with an arrow or so to show us the spot , then if it is possible to repair then lets look at the options .
I will home all day tomorrow if you want to bring it over here for an opinion .
And lastly , i am taking a car trailer to Warwick and come the end of the weekend i can hopefully drive my rat home so you would have the option of trailering your car home if nessasery .
Call me if ya wanna come over tomorrow for details
Andrew 0411556744
bajachris88 ·
woah! that could be good lol. I'll contimplate because thats another option too. I'm going to have to have a long think. still a week till Warwick, we'll see what happens.
i degreased teh crack and ran the motor, definitely oil seepage from that crack you saw Matt as per your description. Its big at the top, but goes fine inside and becomes that hairline, but long enough to make a mess.
bajachris88 ·
OH! yea to confirm crack is the one just above the tinwear, below the cooler to the right of the photo, away from the end of the case. at the corner just below the lip. i will highlight it when i get back home later. i think you guys have spotted it by your description anyways. :tu;
kombibob ·
I dropped a sump full of oil after spitting the welsh plug behind the flywheel because of a huge crack once.
So i drilled a small hole at the end of the crack, ground it out a bit and applied epoxy metal mend,
worked a treat and lasted years😉
bajachris88 ·
Thanks Andrew, very kind of ya 👍 I'm working tomozza, but will again think and ponder and get back to you.
I appreciate the offer.
This is one think i like about the vw community, mateship and helping each other. Don't get this in the ricer community.
1916baja ·
That sucks dude, I know the feeling all to well.... See my thread in the drag racing section. We built a new 1916 on a cracked case only 4 weeks out from warwick and I am racing it! Dave managed to repair it, as matt said it's all about the sealant getting in the crack, then a few good coats of devcon, cross your fingers and hope for the best.... Mine was in a oil gallery under pressure, it now doesn't leak a drop, even revving all the way up to 6k. The case will be replaced after warwick, but it can work as a temporary fix, I used it as a permanent fix on my baja, 3yrs of flogging and it still don't leak. Give it a go, what have you got to lose? Good luck mate.
Mick.
matberry ·
bajachris88 wrote:Don't get this in the ricer community.
Pfffft.....ricer community
h ·
^ 😂
bajachris88 ·
Thanks Bob & Mick,
The sinking feeling after first seeing it is pretty bad.
i found some metal putty in the garage for a patch job, but Bushed sounds like he might be able to get me back on the road to Warwick without without the ningling, tingling feeling of 'is the crack seeping again' as I drive out west lol.
Just so happens next week is uni mid semester break, time to get greasy! 👍
Slap on the ancillaries, tune up, oil flush and go! Smiles coming back already.
beetleboyjeff ·
GREAT to hear. :-)
Smiley ·
Why are you on here posting and not pulling the engine out of the car??!!😂 Sleep is for the weak!!!! GO GO GO!!!!
Smiley 🙂
matberry ·
Motor should be pulled down by now....... 🙂
h ·
yeah c'mon chris get to work young man
bajachris88 ·
haha. BIG update....
Well... i feel like an idiot now 😂, but its a good feeling. Matt was on the money, it was infact casting flash, and i think the oil seepage after cleanup came from the base of the dog house oil cooler. As you saw in the photos, rediculously convincing! particularly when it refilled with oil.
SO! its the day before i go to pick up the 1500 donk offered by Bushed from ippy way. i strip the 1600tp down to the short block, thinking i might fit the 1600 pistons and barrels while i'm at it before fitting the 1500 donk because i didn't know if it came with SP manifold and relavent carb and i didn't have such stuff spare in my inventory. I pull out the short block, take it into full light and start picking at the crack, only to find it was infact casing flash allll friggen long!
SO, it was a matter of 'reassembly'. Far slower than stripping.
I was impressed with the lack of big end bearing play, and the lack of wear in the barrels. No carbon remenants of blow by on the pistons were present, and they were a nice dark black on top with no moon style craters, so the previous owner hadn't been pinging it nasty around town. Ended up being MAHLE labelled set, and couldn't feel any step in the barrels from where the rings had polished the hone job and the untouched cylinder area.
Anyways, i was up till 4.30am this morning putting this donk back together with a fresh seal kit. Lack of visibility lead to a hellish cluts style finish. undoing the flywheel gland nut to reset end play (which ended up not taking any more shims anyway but was worth checking) i busted a case stud for mounting the engine on the gearbox. In the process of fitting the long block to the engine and getting a little impatient in poor visibility the block slipped a little on my barwork and rested on the barwork on the pushrod tubes, denting 4 of them, Don't worry the motor didnt fall. I couldn't be bothed removing my rear bar hence why i just picked up the long block and carried it over and dropped it into the engine bay through the top of the cage and sat it gently there till i got in teh cage to pick up and align with the bellhousing, saved stuffing around. However after much trouble and in my frustration with issues with fitting the donk i bumped my head, my miners' style head lamp casing got bumped, launching 3 AAA batteries in the engine bay, with one of the bastards landing just right enough to fall down the fuel pump bore into the friggen crackcase! f*^k! The AAA went right in the guts of it.
by then, i knew that it was shiz visibility, i was getting too impatient, i had to put tools down. I was either going to break more stuff or hurt myself.
This morning i visited good ol' Roger at Southside vw, picked up another crankcase stud, i tried to fit some spare push rod tubes from a 67' 1300 donk i had spare but they were too short so gently panelbeated the original pushrod tubes. the metal was intact and didn't crack so was good. I picked up a telescopic magnet thingo from supercheap and while being harassed by a pair of friendly Mormons in the front yard i fished out the AAA battery successfully from the dark bowels of the donk.
All fresh seals were fitted, and by this evening the gf cranked it over while i was playing in the engine bay and got it running. needs a tune though and i gotta seal up the exhaust J tubes and preheater pipes. Hopefully thats the end of the oil leak (new oil cooler seals fitted) and with the new jets hopefully some better fuel mileage. If there is any more oil leaks at the same spot, i think a fresh Type 3 oil cooler will be on the cards. I can't use a bug one, as it was originally a type 3 pancake to start with (converted to upright now) and i don't have the bore in the donk for the oil pressure sender, and need the type 3 oil cooler which does have the oil pressure bore.
Planning on waking up at 6 before hitting dad's construction site to finalise the tune and exhaust and hopefully give it a mild road test before another oil change soon because of all the debree most likely inside after being pulled apart and put back together in the front yard (i have an oil filter setup anyways to prevent any rubbish reaching the galleries).
Looks like Warwick is a goer! Dam i'm tired though, slept only from 4.30am to 7.30am, a litre flask of coffee has been a savour since 10pm last nite.
Anthiron ·
Learning curve dude. This is good news.
68AutoBug ·
Great News except about the poor AA battery...
should always use D sized batteries...
too big to fall in any little hole... 😂😂😂
pays to place a bit of rag in all holes Chris...
and a screw in all hoses... never know what can crawl into those either.. lol
cheers
LEE
matberry ·
👍👍
h ·
good for you chris figuring it out!
nice one
c u @ Warwick 🙂
bajachris88 ·
February 2012 Straddie Boy's Shinanigans!!!
Took frog for a spin with my mate Zane and 2 of my brothers to straddie. Zane is the new owner of Mustard and is a fellow vee dub enthusiast, however brought his Diesel Hilux Surf to hit the dunes.
We Lined up for the Big Red Cat ferry at Cleveland on Thurs for a week camp at Adder Rock.
We set up camp worrying about a wet week and considered pulling out. Thankfully the weatherman was very wrong. Some scuba diving was planned for Saturday, but those plans didn't reach fruition. We did it 12 months ago and loved the shark encounters with Manta Diving Lodge.
We drove through the brown lake tracks as a warm up which is piddlie and more a tech check and feel, although with the big wet in SEQ recently, some lovely wet crossings popped up. Usually when its dry its very tame. Some of the sand gets very soft but when the track is dry we have seen Diahatsu Charades fang through lol.
Brown lake was great for a swim and and a chill out sesh after a hot day. We had dinner at the pub. Following on the next day we did flinders beach to suss out some fishing gutters/holes.
Sunday was the big trip... well, it wasn't meant to be. We went to a place called the keyholes, which i had only been to once before via some inland 4wd tracks when i took my celica over. The original track I drove on back then was closed by the mines and the only existing track remaining is called the Fishermans track, which is far more rough.
Its not a bad run if there had not been much rain. But we had that recent big wet. Because of all the rain, i do not kid, it was heavily washed out and at the least 30 to 40 water crossings on the way along side the swamp. The crossings varied in depth from half foot deep and to about 3-4 foot. It was a slow drive as we walked through every crossing as they came to find the shallowest route and scope out any obstacles. Lucky we did, there were many old rusty steel pipes hidden under the brown water, corroded to a point were they are sharp and cut the feet well. We called em tyre slashes and had to safely manouvered around them. The track went for kilometres and was a slow but rewarding hike.
During our trip to the key holes, being such a hot day we welcomed the water in the cabin with glee 🙂. Certainly kept the feet cool.
Given that the water at some points reached a third of the way up the door the car kept pretty dry. The key holes are fresh water lakes which i vividly remember as being clear and clean and the only time i have ever swam outdoors and felt like i just walked out of the bath. Unfortunately although still nice, it wasn't as nice as that. i assume all the run off from the rain brought in a bit of silt, but was still noice on the hot day. it eased this stubborn headache.
Continuing along the track, we wanted to go home via main beach, however the track was heavily erroded, and after much grieving and not wanting to scope through the 40 water crossings again, we had no choice. Because of the 'suprises' at the end of the track and having to go back, it took forever to get back to civilisation and headache, hunger took hold. Water was running out to, but we made it back to dunwich and picked up gaderades and pizzas and we felt on top of the world.
Bit 4x4ers that came around later at the keyholes were presently suprised to see a dune buggy and hilux make it without snorkels etc (in their terms). A couple of them were big headed douches whom probably had their ego's shattered to see how simplicity with responsible driving (although honestly i'm a soft roader) can reap just as much success as a production offroader.
Main beach was our last 'to do' for our straddie journey, and we wanted to reach the very end of straddie to fish the Jumpin Pin. Its about 30 km of beach scape, although not remote, it was the closest to wilderness i had ever been. No one to see, no cars to see, or boats.... well on the way anyways. Just beautiful.
We found a 70 ltr ESKY branded esky washed up, it was tops!! scored a momento to remember the trip. Sat nicely on top of the baja.
My brother and I went worming on the way to the jumpin pin to score some fresh live bait. We learnt the hard way that Tweed Bait, although better than nothing, can not compare to fresh stuff.
its the jumpin pin ahead! yay!
From one end of straddie, to the other. Easy going drive, apart from the soft beach entries/exits.
Unfortunately the holiday was cut short due to a family emergency, but we succeeded in everything we came for, and had many new stories and experiences. It was back to dunwich for a coffee before hitting the barge back home.
I have washed the salt off today, Interior will be stripped and cleaned when i get back from Coffs for a funeral. Was a trip to remember 🙂, and one of many to come.
bajachris88 ·
More photos and videos to come from my mates ipod.
Smiley ·
Nice trip!!!!!!!!!!!
You're going to have to take me over there some time and show me around.
Smiley 🙂
bajachris88 ·
Absolutely Daniel! I'd love to.
Btw, my phone is out of action after it fell in a puddle, but I finish uni on the 18th of November :P and am keen on a trip!
h ·
my you have a large set of coconuts there young man 😂
bajachris88 ·
haha, runs in the family 🙂
bajachris88 ·
TAMBO SHINANIGANS!
A mate of mine owns a hilux and has been sussing out a time for us to go hit the dirt and trial a Mt. Tamborine fire trail that he had heard about. well, we gave it a roll this Saturday and had a blast. had to turn back after a while (couldn't reach the end of the track), a super steep hill had a lovely clay slippery surface that we weren't game to try. Lucky we didn't, on another forum an 80 series landrover got caught out in a predicament there.
All went well except one incline i had to go around. traction was my issue. the old diesel hilux smashed it first go but my tires just spun out in the wet clay. I'll come back to it later to defeat it no doubt. Although i have never driven a baja with a stock gearbox before, the kombi ratios on the hills made it effortless and allowed me to crawl/engine brake down the steep slopes with no need for clutch slipping or riding. Was fantastic.
Found a good mud pit to make a mess and do donuts while Paul's (my mate's) missus to be just shakes her head lol. Got soaked, covered in mud, all in all was a good midday trip for a few hrs.
Had a front tire puncture, which was repaired on the spot with the handy puncture repair kit. The shifter rod decided to let go of the gearbox to, but got home safely and in one piece. Frog had a blast.
Paul killed time fanging out his other toy while i was playing around with the front puncture.
Smiley ·
Sweet as dude!!
Looks like you had a ball!!
I'd love to come check it out sometime. Might have to bring muddies if it's that wet!
Smiley 🙂
MrsBahBah ·
Looks great Chris! 🙂
bajachris88 ·
As some of you may or may not be aware, i been trying to bring life back into this grandpa-series fibreglass of crack-a-holic doom!
You would have seen all the rediculous dremel marks from rotary filing out the billion cracks:
After filling all the dremel marks with fibreglass filler and spending centuries sanding it back down, we are finally starting to build up some undercoat. Alot of filling/smoothing to go, phew! Hopefully one day, some red. The resulting pattern is the primer filler sitting in dimples and thus not getting sanded when stroking flat up and down with the sanding block. I'm going out now to spray some putty down and then we'll see how it goes 😀
5lam ·
Woah! You could've just sanded back the gelcoat and re gelcoated it. If you need any help or advise hit me up. I spent 7 years building boats.
bajachris88 ·
BlackBug wrote:Woah! You could've just sanded back the gelcoat and re gelcoated it. If you need any help or advise hit me up. I spent 7 years building boats.
haha, ah well. Thanks mate i got a few other panels yet to do. This is by far the worst and i spose i'm too far through it already to sand back to gel coat now.
Has been such a drag though.
bajachris88 ·
I been long overdue for an update, but for a while now Frog has been an ugly duckling! So what does one have to do on uni break with Valla around the corner? Stop winging and fix it! So...
Heres some progress of making frog dignified for the big debut show.
About 3 weeks ago, i started out one morning with frog looking like so. (as you have seen before).
Getting better! Its far from a pro job, but certainly getting tidy.
I had to rely on ol' thomas the compressor, him and I go back to day dot (in this thread, you can see Jace spraying the bug roof when i was a 16 yr old or so). That was the same compressor. It barely works, but he didn't let me down after some stuffin around with the primary regulator.
That is all for now! Might not look like much, but bloody hell. so much effort. Sanding, fibreglassing, sanding, bogging, sanding, primer filler, primer, blade putty, sanding, primer, blade putty, sanding primer, finish sanding. on each bloody panel!
Smiley ·
AVD need a like button!!
Looking mate there buddy!
Can't wait to check it out at Valla!
Smiley 🙂
Mr Muppet ·
Love the bug eye kit. My first VW had that kit many many many many years ago.
We are leaving from Cornubia Thursday morning express to Valla if your keen?
Michael.
matberry ·
👍👍
bajachris88 ·
Thanks for the kind words guys. The front end is now done! Its a 20ft-er, don't go looking too close. Typical amateur job but at least it looks alot more tidy. I didn't like the bonnet pins i had, but needed something on the corners, so went a little different and got some leather bonnet straps. El'cheapo of ebay, probably only last 6 months lol.
Still waiting on that 6 inch racing strip in the mail to be on the passenger side. Might not come by the time valla arrives.
Mr. Muppet, I'm keen on an express journey from Cornubia on Thurs. Beware though, although i got a 1600tp, on hills it might slow you down as its tired but will cruise at 100kph on flats. But if thats no issue, i'd love to convoy! 😀
bajachris88 ·
So! My hands hurt, marks and paint all over my fingers along with cuts. Finally the rear is done. Each panel is the same colour! Wee!
Rust coverted exhaust and repainted. Repainted rear bar as well. Didn't have time to stuff around in fine detail with the rear guards and engine cover, only a quick sand, clean and spray. So cracks and crap is highly present but boy does it look much more tidy.
Just need to wash, polish, and touch up a few other places, and hopefully it lasts a little while. I'm quite happy and excited with it! 😀
Smiley ·
Dude!!!
It looks absolutely fantastic! You should be very proud of the job you have acheived.
Can't wait to catch up with you at Valla and check it all out in person!
Smiley 🙂
5lam ·
It looks like a different car! Well done bud!
bajachris88 ·
Finally! I've bloody had enough! its over, i give up (for a few months). Exterior is done, apart from the rear guard beading and some custom door cards to be fitted tomorrow my lovely interior designer gf has assembled 😀.
It took 4 coats of cut/polish/wax (kitten all in one rejuvenate goop) to get the roof to shine and more elbow grease then ever. Its never had a gloss like this. Goodbye ratty frog!
I have to do a service on it tomorrow too. Gotta keep those greasy fingers away from the exterior (eek!).
bajachris88 ·
Been a while, but finally hit dirt today with my brothers Jon & Matt and Jon's his wrangler.
Council have closed another track, the one leading up to Tamborine from Wongawallan 🙁. But we found a dirt bowl with hilly obstacles to play. Here's some photos.
Wrecked my first steering box today! After massaging the car out of a downhill rutt, I had full lock right available and straight, but no left. Tie rods were perfectly fine. I disassembled the steering box in the dust, and it appears the shaft with the roller on it had 'twisted', only allowing lock right and centre. So to baby it home, i had to do a bush wheel alignment, adjusting the tie rods so centre position was left. It basically moved teh steering range available to allow for left right and straight, and eliminated teh cost of a tow truck.
Chris.
OZ Towdster ·
Chris you probabley have lunched the lid on the steering box more than anything , you need to fit three washers between the pitman arm and the bottom of the steering box case , cased in grease which will all slide together nicely and stop the mainshaft of the steering box from being forced through the alloy top lid
bajachris88 ·
Thanks Andrew 👍 I'll do that now for sure. I didn't even think about the alloy lid.
Smiley ·
Cool looking pictures! Love that one with a wheel in the air!
I think it's time for rack and pinion. All the cool kids are doing it, hey Andrew! 😀
Smiley 🙂
bajachris88 ·
Xmas holidays started yesterday and it was time for brewing frog her xmas present for this year. (her.. he frog's one of those two, it changes monthly lol).
Finally assembled a 2054 cc short block. CB performance case, bored for 94mm, chromoly cw stroker 74mm crank, uprated forged rods, mild C25 cam, magna spark II dissy.
Been a shiz fight to put it nicely, but crankshaft engineering has been my saviour sorting main seal runout issues on crank/flywheel, as well as big end and mains clearances issues across the board, and misaligned rod caps. Alot of money and a slow progress, as is typical it seems. Even genuine vw main bearings had varying clearances (THATS RIGHT, GENUINE!!) Have spent in excess of half a grand to prep new parts for use. 🤪
Had a broken 8mm case stud after sealing the case halves together yesterday, triggered a major curse session, but parted, cleaned the cases, replaced stud, resealed and had a win 🙂.
Rest will be slow and steady progress, hopfully will reach long block status by late January. 2054cc SP torque monster in progress. Note the CT26 turbo is wider than the bloody case!
thanks for reading.
Chris.
vduboy ·
Awesome work mate. Bet you cant wait to fire up that motor.. Carbs or injected?
bajachris88 ·
vduboy wrote:Awesome work mate. Bet you cant wait to fire up that motor.. Carbs or injected?
Thanks mate 👍
Might be a little while before i turn it over. next stage will be longblock hopefully by end January. Pay cheque is the limiter at the moment, But its drip feeding.
Going to be carbed, dual 32 DIS solex's, they are turbo prepped in stock format, from the renault 5 GT's. Small throats, but one 32 DIS serves their 1400cc engine @ 110BHP, and i've seen singles on 180hp applications so dual should suffice. Will be running these carbs NA till turbo is ready. I have adapters laser cut, ready to bolt onto SP kadron manifolds.
vduboy ·
bajachris88 wrote:
vduboy wrote:Awesome work mate. Bet you cant wait to fire up that motor.. Carbs or injected?
Thanks mate 👍
Might be a little while before i turn it over. next stage will be longblock hopefully by end January. Pay cheque is the limiter at the moment, But its drip feeding.
Going to be carbed, dual 32 DIS solex's, they are turbo prepped in stock format, from the renault 5 GT's. Small throats, but one 32 DIS serves their 1400cc engine @ 110BHP, and i've seen singles on 180hp applications so dual should suffice. Will be running these carbs NA till turbo is ready. I have adapters laser cut, ready to bolt onto SP kadron manifolds.
I know what you mean about drip feeding, I'm thinking of flogging a kidney to get my project moving quicker..
Good stuff! I think they'll be a good match, from what i've read smaller carbs will supply more torque at the expense of hp up top.
bajachris88 ·
Finally got a new steering box and couplers today after over-working frog in Tamborine last year. Basically the whole range of steering changed to either straight, or full lock right (no left).
turns out its because the shaft that the pitman arm mounts on, had twisted. wow! must have done good with uprating the tie rods! This shaft got twisted on the crazy decline with wheels hanging in the air (as seen in photos earlier).
Twisted shaft:
How it should look like (2nd hand box):
Now to sort the steering shaft (presume stripped splines, then wheel alignment and we should be back on the road!)
bajachris88 ·
I also believe the yoke of the roller inside was twisted when i disassembled in the dirt prior to limping home.
matberry ·
Wow, thats some force to do that!!!
bajachris88 ·
matberry wrote:Wow, thats some force to do that!!!
I'm suprised it didn't bend a tie rod prior 🤪
bajachris88 ·
Long time and no diary entry.
I was meant to be married last Nov 2014 and thus the car respray began as frog was destined to be the wedding car. Frog was looking ratty and had an incurable oxidation on the roof. No polishing could fix it and it lost its colour. Soon after sanding and spray, still in a million bits the RAAF popped up and quickly I was off to initial training for 4 months. The wedding got delayed till March.
Now its back together, the gloss is impeccable! With acrylic paint, i used 4 coats of clear coat this time and slowly eased the % clear coat to colour in the mix. I stand by this technique as the gloss and depth was a million bucks compared to straight colour coat (Don't look too close, this was a back yard / in the dirt spray job still). The gloss is off-the-gun with a cut and polish, no sanding.
Ready for action! The 'wife to be' approves 😀
Still kickin with the ol' donk, but the 185 tyres as opposed to 215 made a big difference on the soft sand at the gold coast spit so I don't think the tiredness will cause an issue.
Will forward the wedding photos early April. Of frog of course 😉
bajachris88 ·
Megan (Fiance') and a great family friend have put Frog in pencil onto an A2 canvas as our guest sign register as opposed to a book for the wedding.
It turned out great! Albeit the pic below is the paper print out, the canvas is printing as we speak!
Smiley ·
Dude!!
This thing is looking amazing! I take my hat off to you! Can't wait until I see it in person again. Going to be at the Gold Coast VW Show?
And congrats on your impending marriage too. Honeymoon to Fraser in the bug? 👍
Smiley 🙂
Doug Sweetman ·
Top stuff ! I used to have a red bug eye Baja like that many moons ago and it's sorely missed......
bajachris88 ·
Smiley wrote:Dude!!
This thing is looking amazing! I take my hat off to you! Can't wait until I see it in person again. Going to be at the Gold Coast VW Show?
And congrats on your impending marriage too. Honeymoon to Fraser in the bug? 👍
Smiley 🙂
Thanks mate. Wish it was Fraser; going to Day Dream. Saving Fraser for when the new 2ltr turbo donk is plugged in :P.
Yea mate will be there at the dub show. 👍
bajachris88 ·
Doug Sweetman wrote:Top stuff ! I used to have a red bug eye Baja like that many moons ago and it's sorely missed...... [/quote
Thanks Doug. Any piccies!?!
Doug Sweetman ·
Not on this computer unfortunately.... Was a late 57 believe it or not.....
baghall ·
Paint look a lot better. Well done and congrats on the wedding!
STIDUB ·
maybe i should update mine too chris, congrats on the job/car/wife progress too, should swing by since you work out my way these days 👍
bajachris88 ·
STIDUB wrote:maybe i should update mine too chris, congrats on the job/car/wife progress too, should swing by since you work out my way these days 👍
Definitely! I got half day Friday's, u have Fri arvy's off? Excluding this fri, I gotta high tail north for Anzac day 👍
bajachris88 ·
Wedding photos are back! Frog made a great performance. Can still hear the cans draggin behind the car. Was the most fun. Lasted 2 minutes before the sound fadded to one can left over haha.
Fun... thats what its all about 😀
Chris.
h ·
congrats mr rainy face..
bringing a tear to my eye..
nice pics mate!
Smiley ·
Chris!
Frog is looking amazing, and you and Meg even more so!
Congrats on the wedding and eveything else you have acheived!!
I have to get mine done now so I can come down for a play!!
Smiley 🙂
grinderman ·
Awesome photos Chris. It was a pleasure to meet another veedubber over at straddy and it looks like you had a great time as well.
What is it about VW based weddings on straddy................
(hope you dont mind this pic from our 24th anniversary at the same location the next day !)
Cheers, Greg
baghall ·
Congrats, nice photos at the beach!
bajachris88 ·
haha was great meeting ya Greg! and good to have a yarn too. I appreciated the convo as I needed it to take my mind of things with the usual wedding rat race to the finish line. I never want to go through that prep/stress again 😂
Great photo! looks like u had a great time 😀, yea the vw and fun thing on the island go hand in hand ay?
I think it warrants a rename of Deadman's reserve... thinking something German haha.
bajachris88 ·
And so now we finally have a 2054cc SP long block :S, only took a yr and a half since achieving short block geez! 0.050'' deck height, 8.4:1 comp ratio, Big delays from head work (porting, unshrouding, machining to 61cc each, 3 dremel-knock offs later) and getting deck right. Will it pay off? Who knows!!?! Now onto rocker geometry... eep.
I love the Jaycee pushrod bling. Pity it ain't topside
Yes the garage needs a good clean / sort 😀
Chris.
grinderman ·
Engine looks like it's coming along nicely Chris, will be very interesting seeing your induction setup. 31's or larger tyres in soft sand will be the test. Hopefully a light touch of the throttle in second gear will see you clearing every sandtrap or hill climb
bajachris88 ·
Thanks! yea she worked hard on the sand last time i drove her with the 31's, even with teh 3 rib. The engine is so tired... you could smell the heat after a 10 minute drive up Main Beach on Straddie.
Engine progressing slowly but surely. just finalised rocker geometry, but need to grind the swivel foot studs to channel oil a little further down to meet the hole. Finally got my hands on a lathe and cut the push rods accordingly.
Pics below!:
CB Turbo manifold came in yesterday. Thought i'd throw a quick mock up for motivation. I will need to rotate the compressor wheel housing (just a v-band). Can't get to excited yet, got plenty more to go. water injection, air to air intercooler, wide band and CB black box with turbo retard still on the 'to be procured' list. Let alone downpipe and fueling.
Carbs are Dual 32DIS SOLEX on Weber ICT manifolds. straight fit. Will need to clearance the fan shroud for the one the right.
Should have a bit of zing hopefully 😀
I found reports of a 1.8 litre (not vw) with a CT26 starting spool around 2000 rpm, so this 2054 should crank this puppy according for sorting the SP top end drop. With the low ratio gearbox this spool should come quick i'd assume. Turbo came from a GT4. Turbo was a low km freebie so worst case just swap over the flanges for a smaller turbo if not suitable.
pete wood ·
*likebutton* 😏
Is there any reasons you went carb instead of EFI?
bajachris88 ·
Thanks Pete!
I originally bought the carbs simply for familiarity on the vw application, tried & tested and the upfront costs were a bit gentler at the time. Different senario now though, and efi isn't a bad idea. Might be the next upgrade. Haven't seen many SP efi dubs. Will work with what i have so far, but will see what the future brings. A vw is never finished right❓😂
pete wood ·
Actually, SPs are a nightmare to put injectors on the ports right. So going carb might be a bigger blessing than you think.
A quick search on thesamba or shoptalkforums has a gaggle of SP turbos. Check this out...
140hp at the wheels from a mostly stock motor at 20PSI! 158ft/lbs of torque, which is where the real fun is. Your's should spool a bit faster and give a really big torque curve. There was a similar SP stroker on youtube a while back. I went looking for it but couldn't find the car. Lots of boost, drag racing and he couldn't kill it. The SP heads really restrict the flow, but that's what saves the engine's life.
bajachris88 ·
The SP heads i'll be using are the big valve heavily ported / polished ones from this thread that I used the manometry test on: http://forums.aussieveedubbers.com/viewtopic.php?tid=102675#pid962366 I got them to flow just shy of 12% better than stock DP heads prior to unshrouding the valves.
15 psi would be my max I rekon, which I won't be hitting all the time, but it could get addictive. I'd be starting low and then seeing what the limitations are of heat and fuelling. I think the three rib trans might say no 😂 I'd love 120 hp personally. It would probably be triple what i currently am getting from the tired 1600.
I assume with SP injected one would have to have 2 big injectors, one for each side a fair distance from the head and to simply spray a constant stream similar to a carb jet under vacuum.
Anywho, sooner i finish her, sooner I can get to Fraser Is! (tis the dream; map is on the wall).
Smiley ·
bajachris88 wrote:Anywho, sooner i finish her, sooner I can get to Fraser Is! (tis the dream; map is on the wall).
Count me in!!! 😎
Smiley 🙂
bajachris88 ·
sweet!!! Pete you in? 😂
The dream of hittin Fraser in teh baja will be a life achievement for me 😀, something to tell the kids.
