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My 'Under Construction' Baja
5lam - January 3rd, 2007 at 09:35 PM

I thought it was about time I posted some pics of my Baja. I haven't had a chance to work on it since I moved 6 months ago, but I cleared out some space in the garage today, and I'm going to hook in and try and get the doors and guards finished by the weekend.

(WARNING - SOME IMAGES BELOW MAY BE OFFENSIVE TO VW PURISTS) :o
I couldn't find a Baja at the time so I had to cut up a standard beetle. Plus I got it with a full Baja kit, and barwork at a good price.

This is what it looked like when I first picked it up. It'd been sitting around for about 8 years. The previous owner ran it around the block every now and then, but never got around to doing anything with it, apart from installing 2 new floor pan halves. (bonus!) It's a 61, and it came with a 1600 TP already in it. Runs great.
http://i135.photobucket.com/albums/q149/5LAM/IMG_3374.jpg
http://i135.photobucket.com/albums/q149/5LAM/IMG_3375.jpg
http://i135.photobucket.com/albums/q149/5LAM/IMG_3379.jpg
There was no major rust in the car, but it had been hit in the front at some stage, hence the replacement bonnet. Most of the bent metal was cut off to attach the fibreglass nose cone anyways. The interior however was pretty trashed.
http://i135.photobucket.com/albums/q149/5LAM/IMG_3382.jpg
http://i135.photobucket.com/albums/q149/5LAM/IMG_3383.jpg


5lam - January 3rd, 2007 at 09:48 PM

The first weekend I got it I started pulling it apart, and marked out what I had to cut off to fit the fibreglass panels on.
http://i135.photobucket.com/albums/q149/5LAM/IMG_3393.jpg
The front needed a little bit of panel beating to get the nose cone to sit properly.
http://i135.photobucket.com/albums/q149/5LAM/IMG_3395.jpg
This is the worst bit of rust I came across, in the LH heater channel. Replacing the heater channel was a little more work than I was capable of, so I cut out the area and made up a replacement section out of a piece of sheet metal.
http://i135.photobucket.com/albums/q149/5LAM/IMG_3387.jpg


bajachris88 - January 3rd, 2007 at 10:03 PM

Sweet stuff man. its good to finally see some pics of ur project!

good to have another baja brother:thumb

:D:D


5lam - January 3rd, 2007 at 10:12 PM

Nose cone screwed in place. I then fibreglassed it on the inside, to strengthen it, and also to seal it
http://i135.photobucket.com/albums/q149/5LAM/IMG_3594.jpg
I welded up all the holes down the side of the body, that held the chrome trim pieces. The running board holes were welded up too.
http://i135.photobucket.com/albums/q149/5LAM/IMG_3596.jpg
All the front panels in place.
http://i135.photobucket.com/albums/q149/5LAM/IMG_3591.jpg


5lam - January 3rd, 2007 at 10:15 PM

Cheers Chris. :thumb
Lookin forward to going for a drive with ya. :bounce


5lam - January 3rd, 2007 at 10:48 PM

I did have a lot of photos of the build, as I was primering and painting it, but I can't find them. Here are a couple of photos I took today.

I cleaned everything up under the bonnet. Everything got a coat of Gunmetal Hammertone. Hammertone paint looks good, and is practical too, just in case I get mud or water in there. No point carpeting it!
http://i135.photobucket.com/albums/q149/5LAM/IMG_4712.jpg
A couple of shots of the front. Lifted front beam, new 205/75 Canyon Climbers on the front, 31/10.5 muddies on the back (not in pic), RX7 headlights.
http://i135.photobucket.com/albums/q149/5LAM/IMG_4714.jpg
I have almost 13 inches of ground clearance, to the floor pan.
http://i135.photobucket.com/albums/q149/5LAM/IMG_4715.jpg
Stainless steel exhaust I scored for $20. It had a big stinger on it, but I cut that off, and welded on a stainless U bend, and stainless Honda muffler, with 3inch dump tip. Owes me $40 all up. :thumb
http://i135.photobucket.com/albums/q149/5LAM/IMG_4716.jpg
http://i135.photobucket.com/albums/q149/5LAM/IMG_4717.jpg
Honda CRX bucket seats, waiting to go in.
http://i135.photobucket.com/albums/q149/5LAM/IMG_4718.jpg


13BVW - January 3rd, 2007 at 11:14 PM

Should start lookng for a donor beetle got 2 baja kits and am longing for another baja as the last one got written off!!


baybuscamperkid - January 4th, 2007 at 09:37 AM

nice oen man, i like your style alot! have you thought about a 2tone with flat white sides, would look great with the flat black and the red rims :cool: :yes:


5lam - January 4th, 2007 at 03:21 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by 13BVW
Should start lookng for a donor beetle got 2 baja kits and am longing for another baja as the last one got written off!!


You should! :P
Love your buggy by the way. I've seen it around heaps.
Go the rotor.


5lam - January 4th, 2007 at 03:24 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by baybuscamperkid
nice oen man, i like your style alot! have you thought about a 2tone with flat white sides, would look great with the flat black and the red rims :cool: :yes:


I did actually! But I figured the flat white would stain/mark easily from mud etc. I'm just gonna put a flat white iron cross on the doors instead. I've made the stencil already.


Rural Baja - January 4th, 2007 at 07:07 PM

Me dad and i cut up a standed 64 beetle into a baja. No rust at all but had back end all ready cut off. Keep goin g with her mate. Don't like seing a baja being made but it's the owners choice.