As the title alludes I am thinking of doing a body lift while i have my body off the pan.

Aside from just buying a lift kit, what else is invovled?
Do you weld the kit together?
My seat rails are high enough already.
will i need to change the steering column?

Nicko

Next time you are heading out to your old man"s place, call in and have a look at one. Pm for details.
Shane

Sounds good Shane. I was Down there today actually. I'll let you know.

Also George sells an Empi branded kit which I have emailed re price. Anyone used this kit? I dont want to get something that is so poorly made it doesnt fit. It comes with the longer bolts and apparently "Maybe" comes with spaces.

I take it you run 2 body seals, one on top one on bottom?

Nicko

Here in WA the maximum lift that is allowed on a Baja or Beetle is 2 inches. 3 inches on a fibreglass buggy. You will need to check that where you live.

You will need to re-align the steering or fit a set of 2 universal joints into the place where the steering column crumple tube is. Check out the coupling on a Macphersom front Beetle or a Type 3. That will require a bit of machining.

I recently fitted a 2 inch lift kit to my sort of Baja.

I cut out the hole in the bulk head and re-fitted it lower down. I also added an extension to the steering column to make up for the extra length needed. It's made from 1 inch square tube with flanges welded to the ends.

As to seals. You will need a seal and lots of Butyl Mastic type goo that will never set hard, both top and bottom The original rubber strip will do and either another one or a strip if soft rubber from you friendly local rubber goods store.

Longer bolts obviously and then tube extensions where the body bolts to the chassis, above the front torsion bar tubes, under the seats at the sides and the tops of rear shock absorber towers

Sorry. No pictures. My camera was recently stolen and I haven't replaced it yet.

Thread revival,
Hey shaihulud, did you purchase your 2" lift kit or fabricate it yourself? I'm also in WA and loooking to get a baja so I can give my oval a rest. I'm thinking a body lif twill be the easiest option to get some clearance, the baja will only be doing some beach work so I don't really need to have massive susp travel. Any info you can help me with would be greatly appreciated.

Cheers

My kit was a prefabbed retangular tube section in 4 pieces (front, back and 2 sides).

Used stainless tube for 2 inch spacers at the two bolts for front beam, and 4 bolts at rear wheel wells.

I used an angle grinder to cut down where the steering column meets the front fire wall, fitting the steering column and rebolted, then welded the original firewall outter tube (that goes on the outside of the steering column) in place for the new position. The steering column will be at a new angle, so where it bolts up under the dash, it won't sit flush like original, but works fine.

If you have a kombi box, will need to clearance for shift rod if it goes above tunnel. wireing harness to chassis was no problem and needed no mods. maybe longer brake fluid supply hoses though.

Goosey

I fabricated my lift kit from 50x50x2.5mm steel tubing. I welded the whole thing together.

The parts that go over the Napoeon's Hat and rear bump were made of 25x50x2.5mm tubing.

Because of the angles there are differences in the heights of the tubes.

I believe that you can buy aluminium castings for the front hump.

Someone in the buggy industry in Qld. sells them.

A lift kit that was done for me years ago didn't have the middle bit of the rear hump.

As long as it's strong and bolted solidly to the pan and body, it will do the job.

I used graded bolts, washers and Nylock nuts.

If you are in Perth, PM me as I have pulled my buggy apart and you could come to my house and see exactly what I did, before I put it back under the body.

sharpbuilt has the aluminum nepoleons hats! as to whether Mike Sharp sells em' separately is an other question.

yeh sharpbuilt have 2 and 3 inch alloy kits that you an buy i have a 3inch one in my baja and the quality and strength is great and there price is good to

Quote:

Originally posted by bajachris88 sharpbuilt has the aluminum nepoleons hats! as to whether Mike Sharp sells em' separately is an other question.