rebuilding from 1835 to 2110

[woodsbuggy1]

I sure like your Baja and woodsbuggy, I understand the rust belt problem. I am about 30 minutes South of Ft Wayne Indiana so we have similar weather just a lil warmer here and less snow but plenty of salt on the roads. Where do you ride off road? We really like Rush Offroad near Ashland Kentucky, about 7500 acres of playground. Keep up the good work and feel free to PM me.
Take Care
Kenric

[Ol'fogasaurus]

I put adjusters to try to get a little more lift. I don't think the adjusters were worthwhile though.

If you play with them correctly, you can do a lot of real suspension tuning not just lifting the front up.

I am planning on using only one adjuster and that will be on the top tube. This would allow me to lower down the preload some to soften up the ride and this is especially a good idea if you have short wheelbase buggy with or if the fuel tank in the rear of the vehicle.

There are also some other sneaky tricks but that's for another time.

Lee

[OrangeCrusher]

Thanks.
This was my first baja. I never ended up driving this as it was too rusty for me at the time. I sold the body to someone who needed it and put the rest in a berrien knockdown kit that eventually became my woods buggy. I loved the nostalgic paint job of Orange Crush and I'm tempted to give it to Mary, my red baja. But the Mary's red has kinda become a thing too so I'm not sure if I want to change it that much. I do love orange though. lol





That was back in 2006! In hindsight I'm realizing that pan wasn't that bad. I prolly should've sucked it up a little. The path I ended up taking definitely wasn't cheaper in the long run!

[OrangeCrusher]

Well after doing sum accounting this weekend (pun intended) and seeing how neutered my tax return is gonna be it looks like I'm gonna have to work more overtime than I already am if I want to buy more parts for this engine build. Not to get political on anyone, but I'm super annoyed with the way this country is falling apart. Two years ago, despite the orange man's silliness, I was headed in a lot better direction financially. I've even had four raises in the last year. And I'm still putting less in my pocket at the end of the day.

Boo!

[Ol'fogasaurus]

This by-far isn't the first time we have gone through this, and it won't be the last time it happens (I hope). "Take a deep breath and move forward" is the best advice I can give.

Lee

[OrangeCrusher]

oh I know. I've seen a few. Just hard to work hard everyday when there's so many who aren't.

[Ol'fogasaurus]

oh I know. I've seen a few. Just hard to work hard everyday when there's so many who aren't.

No comment and on so many different levels.

Lee

[woodsbuggy1]

It is fine, I am happy to work every day day so someone else can have an easy life.
Plenty of people don't want anything and are content being worthless so the people that want more from life are required to support them.
Not saying it is right but just how it is. I am done talking politics now and feel a lil better.
Kenric

[OrangeCrusher]

yeah lets not dwell. just venting. nothing wrong with getting it out.

I've got a little side project going on where I'm rebuilding my wife's XR100 with a big bore kit from a company called BBR that's been making this 120cc kit for years. I've never come across a kit like this where everything is done and figured out for you. It is literally a bolt together kit. Ring gap isn't even a thing. I guess for as many of these little bikes are out there and their simplicity it's not that surprising. I could have done it in a day but I wanted to get the whole bike cleaned up and port and polish the heads while I was at it. I just have to bolt the exhaust and the tank back on and then it will be ready to start. Always a nerve-wracking thing starting an engine the first time. Ugh. This kit went back together so easy though. It came with a new jug and piston of course but also rockers and a cam. I replaced the valves with new and just hand lapped them. First time ever doing that. Kinda practice for the VW. I didn't end up using the valve springs in the kit. I forgot they were in the box until I had the head all put back together and I wasn't messing with those little keepers again. Looking at the rockers, they match the stockers so Unless that cam is really high lift which I doubt, the springs were probably same as stock. The engine uses double valve springs which I found interesting. They're neat little motors. I had an 85 XR250R and that engine was not as nice to work in as this. Too bad because I loved that bike.
Anyway, enough boring you with non VW stuff. But I can do that, it's my thread.

[OrangeCrusher]

Spent a little time powder coating my head studs tonight

[Clatter]

Hi, nice build.
Glad to get away from the Samba Drama as well..

FWIW, valve springs are often a 'consumable' item, and good to replace at rebuild time.
As much as it sucks to do something twice, I'd be going back in there to stab those new springs, even if your cam isn't more radical than stock.
Happens to us all. If you've never been seasick you've never sailed, right?
Always have to take a while and 'come to grips' before doing something again for some reason.

Isn't 'madmike' here in your area?
He's been super helpful around here for years.

[OrangeCrusher]

You know, I see the drama, but it's not so much that as just the lack of enthusiasm of the members there. I don't get the feeling anybody gives a poo about anything anyone posts unless they can argue with it or if it deals with some high dollar project. I understand VW forums are experiencing some kind of lull in membership lately but I don't understand it. Where has everyone gone? Or are they just not sitting around typing on forums? I don't know. Personally, I'm only on here while I'm taking a break at work. I really enjoy seeing what other people are doing with their projects, especially if it's a fabrication project. Problem solving has always been something I gravitate toward. I love grinding through the design of some component of a vehicle and observing the way someone else figures out how to do it just intrigues me that much more. I wouldn't compare myself with anyone who does it as a profession but I've been doing my own projects for about 30 years. When I'm at work (machine electrician) and things are slow I want to be learning something. So I go to forums for inspiration and feedback on my own projects. Lately, I just don't 'enjoy' the Samba like I did pre-2020. Updating my threads there just feels like work no one appreciates or gives a damn about- so why do it? STF isn't all that much better as far as traffic. I don't like getting on first time of the day and not seeing ANY new posts in the forums I like. You know, I feel like these forums are my interactive magazine that I can pull out when I need some me time. I'm a busy guy. I don't have a lot of time to have friends. My friends are a 7 year old beagle and a small fleet of motorcycles and autos. But I do appreciate the back and forth I get on forums. As long as it's constructive. Not much time in my day for other people's BS and issues.

[OrangeCrusher]

Isn't 'madmike' here in your area?
He's been super helpful around here for years.

Yeah, I believe I met Mike about ten years ago at a swap meet when I was trying to be active in a local VW 'club' called the goodvolks. I think he lives about an hour or more away near Kalamazoo or Battle Creek?

[OrangeCrusher]

It's looking like it's going to be a very busy summer, which is good but bad for the VW. I've decided to set up a shelf for my engine project so I can keep everything out of harms way while other stuff gets done (if I can find some room).

#1. I'm still undecided about whether I want to have the main bearings machined (alignbored). I'm definitely not in a hurry, it's more of a logistics issue mixed with a worry about finding someone who won't screw up my case. I'm 95% certain I could run my case with new bearings and be fine, but there's that little voice telling me I'm cutting corners and I need to have everything checked out at least. I'm going to call the only actual 'business' I've been told about that deals with VW's and see what they say they can do. They are about a 2hr drive one way. I should check into shipping because gas prices for a trip that far might be comparable. I don't know.
#2. I need to pickup a tool to remove the gear from my old crank. Then I can assemble the crank assembly and find some place that has the proper dynamic balancing equipment. I need to decide whether I'm gonna use my old flywheel or get new. I don't know why I'd need new? Also need to figure out my crank pulley situation.
A. I just use what I had (don't remember) or get a shiny new one.
B. I install my MicroJolt system and buy a pulley with an integrated trigger ring or use the one I made 20 yrs ago (not pretty).
C Now's also the time to decide whether I want to have my case machined to install a sand seal pulley

Can any automotive machine shop generally balance a crank assembly? The number of times I've dealt with machine shops I can count on one hand so I'm not really up to date on their capabilities. I'll just have to call a few and risk wasting some people's time asking stupid questions.

Anyone know of some suppliers of crank pulleys with trigger ring for VW's?

[Max Welton]

Can any automotive machine shop generally balance a crank assembly? The number of times I've dealt with machine shops I can count on one hand so I'm not really up to date on their capabilities. I'll just have to call a few and risk wasting some people's time asking stupid questions.

I use a local shop that builds engines for circle-track and other race cars. A crank is a crank and local beats shipping.

Crank trigger:
https://thedubshop.com/crank-trigger-pa ... type-1-vw/

Max