Jps1145's Little Baja - Build Thread

Offroad VW based vehicles have problems/insights all their own. Not to mention the knowledge gained in VW durability.
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jps1145
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Jps1145's Little Baja - Build Thread

Post by jps1145 » Fri Mar 20, 2009 1:03 pm

By popular demand, I guess I should add a build thread for my little Baja on STF.

1969 VW Beetle

I bought this car as a fun little project back in 2000, man how time flies. I got it from a co-worker that used it as a daily driver. It was stock, but it was beat to hell…
I’ve slowly been working on it and updating it as time and money allow.

So Far:

Engine:
1915 aluminum case 94x69
Stock crank
Stock flywheel
10.5-1 CR
42, 35.5 valve ported heads
Engle 110 cam w/ 1.25-1 rockers
Dual Webber 44 IDF carbs
Sand seal cut into case
Stock ignition including points
1.5” Bobtail exhaust with quiet pack

Transmission:
Stock ’69 Type 1
Type 2 drive flanges
Solid mount

Suspension:

Front:
6” wider beam extended 5.5” forward and tied to cage
1.5” x 3/4” trailing arms
Stock gusseted spindles and carriers
Bilstein 6100 shocks
Roughly 10” of usable travel
Cheap L/P conversion disc brakes with 4 lug rotors

Rear:
3x3 trailing arms by JP Designs in Santee, CA
Type 1 conversion stub axles with Type 2 CV flanges
30mm x 26-9/16 torsions
¼” notched spring plates with custom torsion caps (Thanks Seabee)
Bilstein 6100 series shocks
About 15” of travel, maybe 13 usable because of the stock lower spring plate stops

Cage:
I started with a Class 11 style kit and have added to it:
Seat supports
Front beam tie in
Frame horn supports
Shock mounts
Seat belt mounts for shoulder straps
Corbeau Baja SS seats
RJS 5 point restraint system

Photos:
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Soon to be upgrading…
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So... comments, concerns, suggestions are all welcome!!!
Last edited by jps1145 on Fri Mar 20, 2009 1:29 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Texas Class 5 #515
Transplant from San Diego.
'66 deluxe beetle
'69 Baja My Baja
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CopperBaja
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Post by CopperBaja » Fri Mar 20, 2009 1:10 pm

Looks great John!

...I'm going to put those arms on one of these days. :lol:
96 Pathfinder 4x4 - Family Offroader - 6" "Lift" (2" coil lift + 4" Sub-Frame Drop)
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Post by jps1145 » Fri Mar 20, 2009 1:28 pm

CopperBaja wrote:Looks great John!

...I'm going to put those arms on one of these days. :lol:
Thanks Jeff!
Why did I have a feeling you would be the first to comment? :P
Texas Class 5 #515
Transplant from San Diego.
'66 deluxe beetle
'69 Baja My Baja
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CopperBaja
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Post by CopperBaja » Fri Mar 20, 2009 5:40 pm

:lol:

You need to get some more use out of that bender. ;)
96 Pathfinder 4x4 - Family Offroader - 6" "Lift" (2" coil lift + 4" Sub-Frame Drop)
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ntsqd
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Re: Jps1145's Little Baja - Build Thread

Post by ntsqd » Fri Mar 20, 2009 6:02 pm

jps1145 wrote:
Image
How does it steer? Those U-J's look like they're operating in a really tight angle. I'd expect the steering to have high points as you turn the wheel.
Cross-threaded is tighter than Lock-tite
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Re: Jps1145's Little Baja - Build Thread

Post by jps1145 » Fri Mar 20, 2009 9:11 pm

ntsqd wrote:How does it steer? Those U-J's look like they're operating in a really tight angle. I'd expect the steering to have high points as you turn the wheel.
It's really not bad. I have the joints clocked (now anyway...) The rack has a really quick ratio 1 full turn lock to lock. I can't feel any tightness in the full turn.
The picture make the angle look steeper then it really is. The shaft angle down some too.
Texas Class 5 #515
Transplant from San Diego.
'66 deluxe beetle
'69 Baja My Baja
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Post by jps1145 » Fri Mar 20, 2009 9:13 pm

CopperBaja wrote::lol:

You need to get some more use out of that bender. ;)
so far, I've made the front bumper, added the top bar to the rear bumper, and made the bar behind the seats for the seat belts. I'm sure I can come up with more...
Texas Class 5 #515
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'66 deluxe beetle
'69 Baja My Baja
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perrib
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Post by perrib » Fri Mar 20, 2009 9:33 pm

You have spent the time well. Its a very clean build. Don't be afraid to grind away the lower torsion arm stops you can reinforrce them from the bottom. The limit strap should absorb most of the energy.
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jps1145
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Post by jps1145 » Sat Mar 21, 2009 9:28 am

perrib wrote:You have spent the time well. Its a very clean build. Don't be afraid to grind away the lower torsion arm stops you can reinforrce them from the bottom. The limit strap should absorb most of the energy.
I need to get the limit straps first... :wink:
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'66 deluxe beetle
'69 Baja My Baja
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Leatherneck
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Post by Leatherneck » Sat Mar 21, 2009 11:20 am

Hey John, yes about time you posted that here. Good to see it, could not look at all the pics,, I am on dial up and the guy generating the power. well his arms are getting tired, haha, not that bad but dial up sucks camel spiders.
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jps1145
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Post by jps1145 » Mon Mar 23, 2009 8:20 am

Leatherneck wrote:Hey John, yes about time you posted that here. Good to see it, could not look at all the pics,, I am on dial up and the guy generating the power. well his arms are getting tired, haha, not that bad but dial up sucks camel spiders.
Good to hear from you Leather! Keep safe!
Texas Class 5 #515
Transplant from San Diego.
'66 deluxe beetle
'69 Baja My Baja
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Hedrock
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Post by Hedrock » Mon Mar 23, 2009 6:46 pm

John... Looking to seeing more progress on this ride. This just may be the last little kick I needed to finish mine, now get busy :wink: .
Collecting parts again... No I'm not going to say why!
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zancat
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Post by zancat » Mon Mar 23, 2009 9:35 pm

That's a nice Baja.

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Post by jps1145 » Tue Mar 24, 2009 8:03 am

Thanks Guys.
Just got two tires mounted on the BTR's yesterday. I had to tap all the holes in one of them, they were only tapped about 1/4" into the wheel... :evil:
Hed, I just ordered some paint... It will be one color soon :P I'm sticking with the stock Diamond Blue so I don't have to paint the inside.
Texas Class 5 #515
Transplant from San Diego.
'66 deluxe beetle
'69 Baja My Baja
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Post by jps1145 » Tue Mar 24, 2009 8:26 am

A few updates...
Baught a pair of used doors to use when racing. gutted them except for the handles and locks. I will attach the window nets to them. When not racing, just swap the complete stock doors back in for the street.
Rear bar with seat belt attachment. I cut a 1/2" bolt down and turned the head round and drilled for a spring clip. I welded two tabs on the cross bar. When I need to get to the back I just pull the pin and tilt the passenger seat forward.
I need to come up with a way to attach a spare tire. I was thinking of welding two bars to the rear hoop and bring them straight out of the firewall and connect them to the rear bumper.
Photos, cause everyone likes photos...
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Texas Class 5 #515
Transplant from San Diego.
'66 deluxe beetle
'69 Baja My Baja
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