Everywhere I read it says that baja kits are not compatible on superbugs due to a front end change. (And the suspension doesnt lend itself to offroading anyway).

My question is however, what aspects of a baja kit are not compatible with a SB front end? Is it just the nose cone? nose cone and hood?

I only ask as I have found a great deal on a local bug convertible that id love to baja-fy, but I wanted to know what my worst-case would be if it turned out to be a superbug.

its the difference in the front thats the problem the bonnet is rounder as well as not having a beam front end. not saying that it cant be done its just harder due to these items

So does that mean teh front fenders wouldnt bolt straight on either?

Sorry about the double post... i found a couple of pix. Can you tell from the outside if its a superbug? I know all will be revealed with a simple look under the car, but it is a long way to drive, so if i can find out now id be much appreciated...

pretty much they are a different shape all together. there is one or two i saw some where in the states

Going by the windscrean that is definatly not a super!!!!

why wibble cause it hase a flat screen. my sbug all 1302s have a flat screen. its the 1303s that have a curved screen

looking at the bonnet and its bulge i'd guess 90% that that is a superbug.The front seem to bend nearly back under the front and to answer another question the front gaurds are not interchangeable bacause of the bulge.
You might be able to modifiy some fibreglass ones.

the aerial is mounted in a differnt spot to my super.
why not give the person sellig it a call before you go out, and ask if they can see a big spring behind the front wheel?

you can get a baja kit to fit it easy enough, but with the Mac strut front end (coil springs) you will have to do some serrious work to make the suspension hold up in an offroad situation.


Oh and just looking at that bonnet you can tell its a superbug

Those tail lights are worth $170 Each....!!!
You can buy a Baja kit for a super, but they are harder to find and I doubt that you'de find a used one..
If you aren't going racing and treat the front end with a little respect, it should be ok, however if you really want a baja, it's probably easier to just go find an old one or do up a regular beetle...
You can get a fair bit of lift by tweaking the coil front end on strut beetles, but get ready to spend some extra dollars...
If you fill out your Profile, people would know where you are and could recommend a car or 2 for you to look at that might be of interest...
Just a thought...:duh

the struts need the front nose to keep them apart or you can modify them.

I have a friend that runs a superbug as an off road race car, not fast but it is reliable. he has the standard nose with baja guards

Thanks to the clue provided by the shape of the bonnet, that pink car is a Super. Forget attempting to modify it into a Baja if you are a 'beginner' and can't tell the models apart (no disrespect). Unlike standard Beetles, the Supers need all thier front sheetmetal/body intact (not cut off) as it is all structural.

Use a 'standard' Beetle instead.

Im no beginer (no offence taken) to cars, fabrication or customisation, I am just new to bugs. I live in Katherine (regional NT) and have a nuber of cars, my fav (and most expensive) is my 1990 Chev Camaro 350, turbocharged, caged etc, 556rwhp and build in my shed without a "mechanic" in sight.

So I bought the bug and yeah, it IS a super. But all the doomsayers saying it will never off road well have just fueled my drive .

I've only had the car half a day, and ive already braced the strut 'tower' areas, seam-welded plate steal all around the original sheet-metal and have nearly finished my new 1/4 inch steel bell-housings to box in the strut mounts. Im actually glad i gota super now since I am alot more familier with a sturt-type setup and moding the bug is still easier than building a buggy from scratch.

Ive found a second hand baja-like kit in a wreckers WAAAYYYYY out of town. LOL so Ill grab the front guards off there. The rear is weird tho, as its a single piece, that is both rear fenders and a kind of egine cover all moulded as one. Doesnt look like the 7 piece kits ive seen on the net.

The car doesnt drive right now, as it seems to be missing whatever it needs to connect the brake pedel and no clutch cable. I havnt got under the car yet though, so they might just be both hanging there. Engines been re-built, has all new electrics and altenator, new extractors and a clean looking carby, so all up im happy. Ill try to get a few pics of the build up if anyone is interested.

My only other question is;

Are bug and Superbug bonnets inter-changeable? For the comments here i doubt it, but its worth asking....

no the bonnets arent not interchangeable as they are noticeable different in the curve and size

Well done.. Good to see somone with intiative...
Looking forward to some pics..
You gunna leave it PINK.....

[ Edited on 12-11-2005 by WABaja ]

Good stuff. Can't wait to see what you come with.

I see no problem with a Baja Super. There are kits available. Good luck with the conversion.

Hi

Struts aren’t a weak as they are often portrayed, most WRC cars would be running struts as do the Daddo 1600s, which made very successful rally cars.

Bonnets are different between 71 & 72 supers and the 73 on curved window bugs and they are different to beam front-end cars. I believe the scuttle pan is the is the same on 71 & 72 model cars so a Baja bonnet from a beam front end car might be made to fit, you can cut the front off a super you just need to put some bracing in. Check out the pipe buggy that Alex Hozle had 4 sale.

Steve


[ Edited on 13-11-2005 by 1303Steve ]

The weak point of the strut front end offroad seems to be the single bottom ball joint. We have preped a few supers that compete in the Variety Bash and Kidney run and they have held up ok. If you modify the strut towers you can get about 2 " of lift out of them.

Well I spent most ofthe weekend on the car and have got way futher than I thought I would. Compared to building drag cars these things are so easy to play with. I got a kit from a wreckers here for $50. But it doesnt look like any of the baja bits ive seen on the net.

The rear piece, as i mentioned was all one mould, and was totally the wrong shape. As you can tell from the pics we just cut the side fenders off and didnt use the engine cover and they fit ok. But i would still rather proper baja fenders. Does anyone know where I might buy just the fenders for this little bug? New, used whatever.

What ive got for now will do though, Ill just spend a few hours fiberglassing and clean them up, but I really think the normal baja kit would look better. Since I still want a baja kit im not really sure i want to start cutting up the rear. I may just cut the lowest stuff, since the baja-cuts seem to be quiet high.

Mechanicly there car seems A1. Engine turned over quick and started great. A few idle dramas but i doubt its been tuned since its rebuild. The only thing I need is the bar that contects the brake pedel to the brake piston, but i think ill try to get a whole reco'ed brake assembly. The engine has extractors, new pump, reco'ed carby and new electrics.

The car sat out in monsoonal rain sat night with its top on and and not a drop ended up inside. There are a few bit where some dodgy fiberglass has cracked off but totally fixable. We also made up mounts for the new seats but didnt get around to bolting them in properly. As i mentioned earlier, we started to brace up the front but I totally forgot to get pics.

The girlfriend has all ready deceided how im painting it. Its going black (satin probly), white and red strip up the middle and 69 on the hood and doors. Plates are really cheap here so i think she went and ordered EVL-HRBY, so i guess the car will end up being hers.

Anyway... here are a few pics of where the car is at now.... (told you it was red :P )





As far as i can tell, proper baja front fenders would wrap down a bit further so that would look much better IMO.



These are the cut up guards i mentioned. Like i said ill clean and shape them for now but i really want the proper fenders.

Top off:











And finally, if anyone wants the full bodykit the car came with make me and offer, i really dont want it, and its in absolutly great nick. The fenders are new i thnk.

that sure is a weird kit!.

never seen one like that.

kits come up for sale on the forum pretty regularly.

search in buying selling swapping parts.

ive got a couple of sets but i kinda need em for a new project......

where did the Pink go...???

It told you it was red :P

Well the green kit is in the bin and im waiting to sort out a proper baja kit. I just didnt like the look of it at all. Ive got the carrera kit up for sale but considering i own 1 of the 4 only bugs in town (only 2 of which arent wrecks) i doubt ill seel it locally.

[ Edited on 17-11-2005 by droopz ]

Man, that was quick. guess you have less distractions out in the country. can't wait to see what you do next.

Nah no mucking about up here. Nah, these bugs are so easy to work on, there isnt really much we cant get done in an afternoon. Its the waiting for parts that always holds things up. Its been 5 days and my 2 small parts (brake plunger and pedel) still havent shown up.

Well, I spent another weekend playing and tinkering, unfortunatly most of my time was spent fixing cracks in the fiberglass used in the vert conversion. Eventually i gave up and just sprayed it in black primer (with little intention of spraying it again).

I finished hooking up the pedels, but realised there must have been a mount or something on the original floor that attaches onto the accellerator pedel which obviously isnt there since the new pan went in. The plan this atfternoon is to fill up the brake system with fluid (its stone dry) and hope really hard that it doesnt leak anywhere.

Anyway... STILL waiting for my baja kit to arrive so for now shes an open-wheeler...

Good Work Droopz

Never say never, I have often pondered about turning a Super into a Baja, because of the front suspension.

You can get some mighty tough offroad mac strut components that take a lot of punishment.

Cheers

Rob