I have a '64 Beetle that I've been driving for years now, but it's badly in need of some tlc. My original intention was to restore it as it still is original on the outside. The guards are all stuffed and rusted and full of bog (thanx previous owner), painted in enamel (thanx previous owner), but body itself is in ok nick. I am considering converting it to Baja, but want to know whats involved. Are there kits, is it DIY, whats involved in it. And most of all... how does the Qld rego office and the cops here react to them ??? , its rego'd at the moment, I guess it's only a prob if I let it run out. Comments ??
........ as the tumbleweeds roll by....
am I in the right forum, or is it just that no-one visits this one ?? 
Welcome to the forum, 64 Bug.
People probably looked at your questions and thought, the answers are obvious. So with a little 'homework' you could find out the answers to
your questions, easy.
First, do some searching on the web. If you're wanting infomation on anything, put some 'key words' into a Search Engine, like http:///www.ninemsn.com.au/. So you're interest is Baja's. Type that word into a
subject line and you'll find no end of info on the subject.
Yes, Baja.s come in kit form and you can buy kits. See http://www.fibrefab.com.au/
It all depends on your mechanical skills, if you can fit one to your bug.
Make a phone call to the Transport Dept. in your state, to see what they think is OK.
See, all these questions could of been pretty well sussed out before you asked these very broard questions to the Forum. Now armed with some
information and knowledge you've gleened off 'The Web', you can narrow down your questions to specifics.
Do some homework and see how you go.
Regards,
Mark
:thumb
Baja it! There's not enough of them around.
64 bug
theres a guy on the forum "wibble" who has a new baja kit and i think he lives in Cairns
try and track him down
Hey,did I here my name mentioned?
Hi 64 bug, I am from Cairns but in Brissy at the moment. Will be bring the baja kit home with me in a month or so if you are interested. the kit is in
brand new condition, it has been fitted but the holes for the head lights haven't even been cut in. new prices are between $800 and $1000
I'm chasing $400 firm for mine, if I don't sell it I'll just build another one!!!
oh yeah welcome to the forum!!:beer:beer
Thanx guys.
Yeah wibble I'll have a look at the kit when you get back up here, will u2u my Email address. Have definitely decided on the Baja now after
looking at all your cars. Gotta now have a look around for some nice wheels, lift kit and some engine goodies. Got a motorbike to sell at the moment
to help finance the project. Did you know a local guy has started manufacturing fibreglass Bug bits ? Thanks again.:beer
Go the Baja :thumb
Boozer, how big are those wheels and tires mate ?
well....on the front-14inch 205 65
rear-15inch 275 60, The rear's are good and fat on sand and decent offroad you just gotta watch for sharp rocks as they're only 2 ply so
they bulge a bit when the pressure is let down on sand. In case you wanna know my baja is a '62 with a 1500 SP engine, nothin fancy, turned rear
torsion bars, air horn and big whip aerial I'm trying to find a
pirate flag for, arrrr! You'll be glad you chose to go baja I get tons of comment, especially form kids (i think it's because of my paint
job), they're loads of fun and I'm only just a new comer. As for QLD rego I didn't have any major problems and I haven't had any
problems from the cops so far, I've had a few wave to me! Go for it!
Yes.. love the paint !. Did you have any drama's resetting the rear torsion bar ?. It looks pretty straightforward in the manual, however it
looks like one of those jobs that could turn into an epic !!. I take it yours is still swingaxle rear end, so do the tires wear funny with the
increase in caster?. I just picked up a new tie rod end and gearshift shaft bush, so tomorrow will be spent under the front end with dirt raining
down into my eyes !! what fun !!:P
Catcha. Glenn
probably as stupid observation but
why don't you hose the front of the car down :P
A hose won't remove the under-car crud that accumulates up in there, I'm not talking about mud !
Why didn't i hose the front of my car down? well, I hit a really big purple bug and the splatter looked cool so I left it.:P Yes my bug still has swingaxle and it took me and my Dad one and a half days to turn the torsion bars, get them back on the ledge/slots and then get the axles on. Turning them was easy the hard part was putting it back together. To do it we used the jack, straps to pull torsion bar up, and cause we also took the engine out my not inconsiderable weight hanging on the back of the bug on the gearbox to do it. However it was a first time and i'm certain that next time will be much easier considering we had none of the right equipment or tools. Yeah the paint was a home job by my Dad and Uncle who are VW fanatics and hadn't ever sprayed anything bigger than a motorbike tank. But it turned out pretty good cept for a few spots on the drivers fron guard.
Raised swingaxle cars have positive "Camber" not castor......