Thought I might post some photos showing what is happening to my daily baja
Heres whats been done so far:
* stripped out floor including sound proofing (flooded interior of car by over 1 foot dep) and resound proofed
* removed rear screen and fitted rear bar work. (rear screen fitted via preheat mounts and tinwear, not very good)
* polished aluminium checkerplate dash panels
* aluminium checkerplate door cards need to be finished with polish and still to decide what I will use for map pockets and door handles.
* also replaced old torn racing seats with old torn Daihatsu Charade G11 seats 😂, to be recoverd in blue and white ( the colour scheme for interior when I get round tuit)
* also have begun reshaping rear guards (not normal baja guards (still looking for cheetah baja guards, may even make my own)
* stiil lots of work to do and ideas to realise.
Hope you guys enjoy seeing it happen. Not easy trying to work and improve on a daily driver.
68 Baja - It's a growing pain!
58 Baja ute - and the pain spreads!
85 T3 Kombi - still growing
89 T3 Kombi - parts car
Well my plans for these hollidays change just a little. Was hoping to begin work on front bar and tail lights. But car had other ideas and decided I needed to work on another engine. Car thought that there wasn't enough oil on the road and dumped the lot in space of 10 meters on the freeway🥲. Anyway now preping second motor for putting into car so I can rebuild current motor.
68 Baja - It's a growing pain!
58 Baja ute - and the pain spreads!
85 T3 Kombi - still growing
89 T3 Kombi - parts car
Well Geoff once I get it reliable I hope to be heading up your way to catch up with a mate and possibly see dylan the dubber for same parts. Not sure when this will happen though.
68 Baja - It's a growing pain!
58 Baja ute - and the pain spreads!
85 T3 Kombi - still growing
89 T3 Kombi - parts car
Well motor was preped and installed but is not starting. Turning over but I think I need to check valve clearances just doesn't sound right. Also need to check for spark as used old dizzy but may need my new one fitted.
68 Baja - It's a growing pain!
58 Baja ute - and the pain spreads!
85 T3 Kombi - still growing
89 T3 Kombi - parts car
"A car for the people, an affordable Volkswagen, would bring great joy to the masses and the problems of building such a car must be faced with courage." Adolf Hitler At opening of 1934 Berlin Auto Show
Finally got engine running on thursday. So on friday took it for a test drive to check engine etc.
Problem is found some puddles and couldn't help getting the car washed.
Work done:
Rust repair of 'A' & 'B' pillar - 'B' pillar is actually completely separated at base. Both are now repaired but unbeleivably a previous owner had cut out the rust in the 'B' pillar and just put a single layer of fiberglass in to replace the steel. What sort of an idiot does that, particualrly in a structural area?
Replaced number plate light.
Replaced VW bolts with M14 studs in rear barke drums. A previous owner had changed rear drums to an earlier type. Another stupid move.
Brakes been repaired by CBB. They were very poor, looked like they hadn't been serviced in years.
CBB also found:
Needs new steering box & 2 upper ball joints.
Thanks to Mike and the guys at CBB for being a great help.
By the way have finally named the car. I call it Al. Just seems to suit it.
68 Baja - It's a growing pain!
58 Baja ute - and the pain spreads!
85 T3 Kombi - still growing
89 T3 Kombi - parts car
Oh yeah, thems was the days, think I'll go back and maybe I can call him Paul and maybe meet his mate Art. 🤓
Just went back and am listen again, reading the words makes me wonder what the hell they were on. 😂
I dream of a day when a chicken can cross a road without being asked for it's motive!
Well just spent 2 days working with a fibreglasser working on laying up a mould for him and making some carbon fibre racing dashes and wings. Love the stuff and now am thinking that when I make my new rear guards I will use some carbon fibre for them. Just bloody expensive! $6000 dollars a roll for the fibre.
68 Baja - It's a growing pain!
58 Baja ute - and the pain spreads!
85 T3 Kombi - still growing
89 T3 Kombi - parts car
Not been too many updates except for when hit in rear. Finally got sick of dealing with the other persons insurance and told them to p*&^%^f. Al's back on road and have now got some motivation to do some other work on it that I had planned on but never got to. Guess some good has come out the accident.
Anyway, pulled off front bar today bcause of a broken mount. Bar was really over engineered; - 3mm wall thickness on 50mm OD pipe with 10mm by 40mm flat bar welded to front of floor pan and hooked over bottom beam.
It took a little persuation to get the mounts off the car. Had to cut the welds ( they looked ugly but I guess if there is enought weld metal then they will hold) with the grinder and use a largish hammer for encouragement. Done though.
Well more work done today. Cut up front bar to reshape it and couldn't believe how heavy it is. You can see why in the photos. Double layer of tubing at top of the bar.
1st photo shows the twin tubes that were approx 400mm long and how much weight the front bar lost. At least 6-7 kg and maybe more.
2nd and 3rd photos show the newly designed bar preped and ready to weld up.
