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 The_Bronze.
A.k.a.: Bronze
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 posted on December 28th, 2004 at 12:48 AM |
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An 'L' or 'S' Baja: Ideas & Advice Please
Ok - I searched - I found. Now anything is possible. I have learn't that in my time here, but is it worthwhile?
I found this thread in Pic's of the week in my research:
http://www.aussieveedubbers.com/forum/viewthread.php?tid=32711#pid280024
A Super Baja:
Why you might be asking. Well I have a 71 standard and the wife and I are looking at moving up to a more modern interior for the long trips. A buggy
(Sharpbuilt or Astrum for the 4 seats) has long been considered but the truth is we live too far inland (Dubbo) for a confortable family drive back
home. The current Baja is comfortable but crampt. We are mostly for a modern beetle interior with airconditioning and a real dash board with a more
modern spacious interior.
Use: 5 hours from Dubbo to Newcastle (or 6 to Sydney) so reliability, comfort and space would be nice. Monthly camping using mostly dirt country roads
with some mild offroad use with some dune ability (at Stockton).
Now as most of us knows this offers a few technical challenges:
(1) Weak Macpherson Strut Front end: How hard is this to swap over to king / link or ball or aftermarket lift kit?
(2) Can a kombi transaxle (even Auto) be shoehorned into the 'L' bug IRS rear?
(3) What realistic reliable engine combination would you suggest?
(4) Is Air-con a viable request or should we just stay driving the Forester?
(5) Can a 'L' Baja Kit be still purchased in Australia?
(6) What year model would you advice for the body and adr's? Suggestions of 72 or 73 before pollution compliance I think?
Your knowledge and suggestions would be very welcome. I know some people don't consider 'L' bugs a real bug. I like all VW's. Thats for a whole
other thread so if you don't have anything nice to say then keep it to yourself please.
Any advice comments very welcome.
Thank you in advance.
Bronze.
[Edited on 27-12-2004 by The_Bronze.]
[size=4]Bronze.[/size]
Rathmines, Lake Macquarie, NSW.
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Anthiron
A.k.a.: Nicko McKay
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| posted on December 28th, 2004 at 01:54 AM |
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make a baja from a 76 or up L bug they have IRS and Ball Joint front end. as well as a spacious interior and dash board. and u could get an under dash
air con unit and hook up the compressor etc somehow.
62/60 model bug eye baja bug, (Full Build in Progress)
1974 Chevrolet Luv
1970 MK2 Ford Cortina GT
1979 Yamaha RX125 Two Stroke tracker project.
2004 Harley Davidson Sportster XL Custom
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MR930
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| posted on December 28th, 2004 at 06:30 AM |
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Time for a Kombi I reckon.
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Beaker
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| posted on December 28th, 2004 at 08:56 PM |
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Before baja kits my Dad used to just chop the original guards for clearance and put on some rubber edging, looked pretty tough!
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Baja Wes
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| posted on December 28th, 2004 at 10:37 PM |
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| Quote: | Originally
posted by Anthiron
make a baja from a 76 or up L bug they have IRS and Ball Joint front end.
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A 76 is not an L bug, it is a standard beetle. That is why it has ball joint. They made standard beetles the whole way through the S and L bug era.
It's just the 76 is the only year that was strictly ball joint and IRS.
Bronze, you can get an L or S and cut the front off and put a king and link or ball joint on. Then of course you have to cut the body to clear the
beam, move the fuel tank, move the steering column, move whats left of the strut towers etc, and in the end you will have a very very custom L which
looks alot like a homemade standard beetle. Way too hard, way too expensive.
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WABaja
A.k.a.: Daniel
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| posted on December 29th, 2004 at 02:54 PM |
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What was the question???:jesus
I hate to admit it, but man, I think you're right....
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Andy
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| posted on December 29th, 2004 at 03:58 PM |
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Interior sizes didn't vary much anyway did they? My L bug is still cramped inside, and little room for luggage.
If it's only mild off road, why not consider a type 3 or Kombi, clearence the guards and fit large tyres. Heaps more room and plenty of engine
options.
If you want aircon, just cut a sun roof :thumb
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The_Bronze.
A.k.a.: Bronze
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| posted on December 29th, 2004 at 09:02 PM |
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So mabey the 76' Standard is the way to go. I thought there was a fair few restrictions on what engone modofications you would do with post 72 models
that's why I hadn't considered later models.
I really don't care so much about the super shape just having the dash and being able to hook up some aircon. Out at Dubbo a sunroof just won't cut
it unfortunately. Might work on the coast or your city traffic but in 47 degree heat, with out aircon driving somewhere is just not an option until
well after sundown if you don't have aircon. In summer during the day I literally leave the Forester running in the front yard with the AC on for ten
minutes with the sprinkler spraying the car to get it cool enough to drive. This is not where you drive un airconditioned car.
Your right Wes = don't really want it to become an engineering feat for the sake of aircon. I think the transaxle replacement and engine conversion
will be enough for a man of my limited talents. Matching alignments and panels will taint my love for the humble type 1 I reckon.
WABaja - Sorry for the compound questions. I did use bullets to break it up a bit. Jhez, I thought I had to type slow for the New South Welsh men! I
will take it at one enquiry at a time from now on.
Is there a thread on the forum which discusses kombi boxes into type 1's. Particularly autos. I'm calling into a place on the way home to see if the
type 2 auto box sitting in a yard is up for grabs.
Bronze.
[size=4]Bronze.[/size]
Rathmines, Lake Macquarie, NSW.
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david
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| posted on December 29th, 2004 at 11:28 PM |
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type three squareback baja i say
ian nankervis showed me pics of one he had years ago in the outback and seen a few more on the samba ,that would be neat with a family
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Anthiron
A.k.a.: Nicko McKay
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| posted on December 29th, 2004 at 11:36 PM |
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bit heavy though and u would have to do alot of mods for it to go places that a bug can go.
62/60 model bug eye baja bug, (Full Build in Progress)
1974 Chevrolet Luv
1970 MK2 Ford Cortina GT
1979 Yamaha RX125 Two Stroke tracker project.
2004 Harley Davidson Sportster XL Custom
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Brad
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| posted on December 30th, 2004 at 08:21 AM |
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A 76 Would be the best option. Only the L Bug had a real dash. The mac strut front end will handle mild off road but you need to keep an eye on the
bottom ball joints. I have worked on a few super bugs which have been used in Variety Bash etc and held together fine. Sand dunes would probably kill
it though.
For all your purpose apart from the sand dunes part I would suggest a Kombi as it will give you room, room and more room. hey are fine on dirt roads
and mild offroad. COG kills them but that is sometjing you get use to.
I have a complete 76 if you decide you want to go that way.
Cheers,
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Baja Wes
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| posted on December 30th, 2004 at 09:30 AM |
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air con will be just as difficult no matter which model you go for. You won't find anything that will bolt in.
Try hot rod shops, they sell under the dash kits for hot rods. I had found heaps of links ages ago when I was looking into it.
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Andy
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| posted on December 30th, 2004 at 09:44 AM |
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Just a note on aircon, you need to look a little closer at your setup. My '77 kombi was left outside in full sun on a 40deg day. Max inside temp was
44deg! If I put awnings out and open windows it will be cooler inside than outside (in sun) air temps. We have travelled through interior NSW/SA on
days up to 47deg with no aircon and survived in "relative" comform.
Just an option.
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clarkey
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| posted on December 30th, 2004 at 10:27 PM |
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offroading comfort
Bronze, I stongly agree 76 beetle is the way to go. But with bits and pieces you can get same result. Graham's beetle from stockton is a 68 shell
on l'bug chassis with beam front clip welded on. Works a treat, was easy to do and cost bugger all. Compared to a buggy it offers extreme comfort
and with the big wheels 120 on the freeway is cruzing speed. As for air cond, your dreamen. See you at the next event. Andrew.
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The_Bronze.
A.k.a.: Bronze
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| posted on January 7th, 2005 at 01:18 AM |
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Hey I'm aloud to Dream - It's all I can afford most of the time.
The house comes forst and then I have some financial leeway with start inproving the toolbox. The wife got her forester, We are in the process of a
house and provided it dosen't need to many weekends to get it liveable in a hurry I can put my Buggy Dreams into action.
Have considered the Kombi option. An from experience know that they are good at keeping the heat out. I doubt the wife can manovure (?however its
spelt?) it though. She dosen't drive the Baja much but I know she couldn't handle a kombi without losing her cool too much.
I have seen a couple of AC units. One under the back seat of a kombi which to me looked factory fitted and hammered out heaps of cool air. I was
thinking today that the best thing the Baja has is 1/4 glass windows which it the usual way I stay cool in it. Aircon would be good but not an
essential at present - just a future option, particularly for the wife.
I have come across a 2l Auto Type 2 BW (Mechanical Condition Unknown) which is going to cost me the time to tow it home and push it out the back. Time
to do some past post reading I think. For now I will leave my Baja the way it is but who knows for the future.
Thanks for all your replies - very inciteful. Brad you have a U2U.
The Bronze.
[size=4]Bronze.[/size]
Rathmines, Lake Macquarie, NSW.
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Doug Sweetman
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| posted on January 7th, 2005 at 10:53 AM |
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Bronze - dont give up on the aircon, its not that complex a system to so yourself, as with anything its an education and planning issue, then buy your
parts and custom build the whole thing.
Or spend about $1800 and get a kit from the states.
There is a Karman Ghia Convertible over here that has just had a custom system put in - looks and works a treat, uses under dash blower.
There is a bunch of old posts about aircon on the forum too - much helpful info there.
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The_Bronze.
A.k.a.: Bronze
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| posted on January 7th, 2005 at 02:51 PM |
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Thanks Doug - Have been reading a lot of past posts lately.
Saves rehashing the same questions over and over again.
Bronze.
[size=4]Bronze.[/size]
Rathmines, Lake Macquarie, NSW.
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BiX
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| posted on January 7th, 2005 at 03:17 PM |
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My L bug gets flogged in autocross and khanacross, and it seems to handle it fine. It does get a few big hits everyknow and then. it includes blasting
across paddocks and open feilds at 60km/hr plus over pot holes and bumps, with no damage to teh front end. A super if driven well would be ok for
soft off roading? but make sure you get a new set of std springs in the front and run some larger tires.
I have no sympathy for my car, only the wallet that pays for it!
Go hard or go home!!!!
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Doug Sweetman
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| posted on January 7th, 2005 at 03:29 PM |
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f you want to get really serious you could swap the struts for something bigger - easiest with 74 onwards, reinforce the strut towers and beef up the
lower control arms - that should be a good start.
Or you could do an A arm conversion - see photo - if you want to get REAL serious.
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Doug Sweetman
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| posted on January 7th, 2005 at 03:30 PM |
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Second photo of A arm conversion
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Doug Sweetman
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| posted on January 7th, 2005 at 03:31 PM |
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Third photo (last)
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Secoh
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| posted on January 11th, 2005 at 05:19 PM |
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Doug, who makes those?
If it aint broke,
Make it go faster!!  |
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Doug Sweetman
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| posted on January 11th, 2005 at 10:19 PM |
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The photos are from one of the forum members - I'm not sure but I think it might be GL1972. From memory the post was called angry gumby ? or I could
be getting it confused with another car - not sure.
Definetely off of this site though.
Custom one off stuff.
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The_Bronze.
A.k.a.: Bronze
Custom Title Time!
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| posted on January 16th, 2005 at 01:32 PM |
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Thanks Doug & Bix-
They look plenty stong. Checking out cars for sale now but haven't really decided for sure what the plan is yet so I'm really only window shoping
and being one of those Tyre Kickers types.
I have a mate pretty keen on Baja to but have swapped from a Bug to a Bus for his offroad expeditions. Interesting to see what sort of Bus he buys.
I really don't have a significant enough work shop to achieve anything too serious. I should start hanging around the tool supplies a bit more and
bringing home a checklist of goodies that turn rooling stock from mild to wild.
Bronze.
[Edited on 16-1-2005 by The_Bronze.]
[size=4]Bronze.[/size]
Rathmines, Lake Macquarie, NSW.
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