hi all
I thought some of you might be interested in my latest project. A 12a rotary powered baja bug.
Currently:
adjustable front beam
combi rear end grafted on (so combi box/suspension etc)
volks conversion adapter kit
racing seats
50mm lift kit (which also lifts the gearbox and motor)
roll cage for five point harnesses
steering brakes
cheetah kit

I am considering a bridgeport but i am a little hesitate as offroad drivability may be lost not to mention getting it quite considering exhaust fit issues. Probably end up with an extend port. Wont be able to go huge on the rear wheels to keep gearing suitable for rotary but hey thats the comprimise of a rotary!
Also still looking for a suitable donor body to put on the pan.

whatdayarekon!

Sounds wickid! Can you please get some pics of the kombi rear end?
Cheers

i dont have a digital camera at the moment. Ill see if i can borrow one this week. The interesting bit is how the gear level shaft steps up the 50mm to meet the gaerbox since that is lifted as well.

you might find that a kombi rear end is kind of overkill. Beetle IRS can be just fine when set up the right way, and it means you don't have to cut the chassis up.

kombi trailing arms are relatively heavy and relatively weak, that's why it's not a popular conversion. Your better off with beetle gear or custom arms.

12A would be very low on my list of engines for a Baja, but different strokes for different folks I guess

Have fun building your creation, and buy a digital camera, you can get them real cheap these days. It's worth getting one to capture your conversion with.

thanks for the input guys.
The reason for the combi rear end was it was easier to get the height and it was cheaper than putting a combi gearbox on a beetle rear.

As for the rotary what could be better than a german designed engine in a german car braaaap braaaap braaaap
Combining two loves is always nice!

ive got a few other mods in mind but ill post them when their done.

go to the local wreckers and pull the rear subframe (from drum to drum) out of a late type 3 squareback. You get big drums for the back and the stiffest factory torsion bars along with trailing arms, mounts and dual spring plates. That will give you all the best parts you need without having to cut a combi up. I bought a complete type 3 floorpan a few years back for $300 bucks. Cheap and cheerful. If you do that, you also get twinpot front calipers that fit on a ball joint front end.

Got the engine last week, not a bridge port but a good strong standard port. Should have it bolted up soon! Water now runs to the front of the car through the lift kit sides witch are seperated from the center humps, doweld and galved so no visable pipes in or under the car. By the way thats not my idea so i cant take credit.
Pictures soon.

looking foward to it

yeah looking forward to seeing some pics of a 12a bug....should fit pretty easily yeah?

i know its a baja...but are you going to run a decklid?


Anthony

Definately upgrade to kombi box. beetle box will have the wrong ratios and wont last unless you spend big dollars. a standard 1800-2ltr kombi box will have heaps better ratios and shouldnt break with a standard 12a.
Type 3 torsion bars wont work (went down that road) theyre too weak. i tried the type3 wagon torsion bars but the extra weight of the rotary engine was too much for them.
what about the exhaust?
check out this thread may give you some ideas..
http://bb.bbboy.net/vwengineconversions-viewthread?forum=1&thread=19 

Thanks for the link rotorbug, i had seen that before and was pretty much going to copy it.
Not going to run a deck lid this time round, i did that last time, was good for keeping the rain off but kept popping open and rattling. I think ill stick to the old style rear and maybe put the oil cooler in it, will be using the dorsal type scoop to pressurise the cabin to help keep the dust out.

All the rally guys use smaller roof vents for pressurising the cab. The dorsal type scoop is designed for oil coolers.

yeah i know but the dorsal scoops look good and i dont like the idea of ripping off my oil cooler on a low branch!

pictures

:pics?:

Finally some pics.
Some of my original ideas have changed since first posting. This always happens with projects that take to long (not my fault but its a long and sad story).
No roof scoop, no roll cage but decided on aircondition! Why be hot and dusty
Water is to be run through pipe instead of the lift kit to avoid rupture etc
As for combi gear being relatively weak, the trailing arms are tubes i.e circles, the strongest geometric shape and not to heavy at all. It is a more involved swap but the results are good. Ill get some pics of it later.
Anyway here it is (bonnet yet to be painted)

Theres a green baja out there with a 13b in it, anyone know whos it is?

looks nice always glad to see or hear about other rotary engine conversions, that way i know im not a loner looks great gotta love the sound and performance of a rotor sliding around on the dirt. i would realy interetsed to know how it performs and to see some more pics.

the green baja was a 13 b turbo and was for sale on this site

the green baja was, maybe still is, owned by a young bloke called cameron. It's in sydney. he was selling it for around $4500 from what i recall. I beleive 'Magic Performance' in brookvale, sydney had something to do with the conversion, there also was an orange one that was a similar conversion i presume, neways gl.

yeah what a steel 4500 for a turbo 13b baja bug with what looked like the works the rear suspension setup looked quiet interesting when i saw it in a pic a while ago ,,, does anybody have any pics of the green baja ??? and willing to post em

my 70 beetle had a 13b and full type3 squareback arse end for the last 17 years with no probs at all
the last 5 years its been sitting in my shed dormant but thats beside the point....lol
the 2 chassis forks have been beefed up with box section and there is a rubber mounted front gearbox brace across to each as well
be that as it may im still going subi tho

-Joel

Sweet, I've always wanted to do a rotary conversion.

if i can talk this old guy into selling his manx to me i wil definately be building another rotor manx but this time for offroad not street like my current ride which has been rotorised since '89

ahh nothing beats the sounds of rotary vw talk love it as it seems to be very rare on forums

Quote:

Originally posted by THUDKNUCKLE yeah what a steel 4500 for a turbo 13b baja bug with what looked like the works the rear suspension setup looked quiet interesting when i saw it in a pic a while ago ,,, does anybody have any pics of the green baja ??? and willing to post em

great example of a mean baja bug i would have bought it if i had of seen it in time

anybody know what the go is with the rear suspension set up ?? i have never seen this before ?? looks interetsing

i did see a nice pic of this car hanging out the rear on a dirt road any one got that pic??

Seller- Cameron
Location- Balgowlah NSW 2093
Phone- 0400 009 273

Green 1970 Baja Bug YJN-222
PRICE $4500 ONO

Mazda Series 5 13b turbo rotary engine with EMS ecu, 500hp fuel pump, surge tank, 31/2" exhaust.
Fresh 2ltr kombi transaxle, 2100lb kennedy pressure plate. Adapter plate and flywheel by Unicap.
Runs standard length Kombi driveshafts and cv's via 2" wider x 2" longer rear trailing arms
Dual shocks tied into rear of rollcage and adjustable height coil springs.
Widened 15" steel rims with 31" rear tyres.
Hydraulic hand brake.
Has 1/2 rollcage tied into rear cage.
Radiator is mounted in the front behind the bumper.
Interior has VDO guages mounted in aluminium panel, aluminium door trims and saas seats (no rear seat)

Very exciting car to drive with 230rwhp @ 12lbs boost.
must sell to finance new project.
Price- $ 5500 ono.

hey guys new member here.
what ecu's a you guys using if any to look after your rotary's? factory/aftermarket? and also whats the go with regeristing your rotary dubs, does the engine have to meet its year of manufacture ADR's regarding emissions. if yes how did you's do it?:alien