TheSamba.com :: View topic - DesertBob's "Last" Baja (Trail Ready at last!)

Fri May 16, 2008 2:32 pm

UncleDirty wrote:

That is too cool. :)

Fri May 16, 2008 4:19 pm

CopperBaja wrote: What's your plans for brakes? Sticking with the drums or going disc?

I am going to use the drum brakes for now. They were rebuilt on the car that I bought. When I get the extra coin I will convert over to wide 5 and go disk on the front. I have one daughter going to college next year and one the following so I need to watch what I spend. If I spend too much up front I will lose momentum. I have found it is better to have a running car that I can drive and build upon it than to have a lot of parts in the garage and nothing to drive. I look at this as being a long term project that will be rebuilt in phases. Phase I is to get this junk in the dirt ASAP

Wed Jul 02, 2008 10:16 am

How's the car coming Bob?

Wed Jul 02, 2008 4:27 pm

Uncle Dirty,

Thanks for asking. It is going slow but I am working on it. I have pulled the engine and cleaned it up. Put on a Sand Seal Pulley and tighten and tuned up everything. Re-painted the sheet metal, etc... I have pulled the transmission as 1st gear is shot. The car is stripped down and the pan has been sanded and rust coated. The Baja Kit is on and all the sheet metal has been cut and cleaned. I also have started to re-wire it. I just thought it looked too messy. My parts list is not too long, here is what I need next:

* 73 or later IRS transmission
* High-back suspension seats
* 6 point Roll cage (will use this as the foundation for the rest of the cage)
* Bumpers
* Off Road 4 lug Rims or some wide chrome stockers for the rear
* Tires
* Bilstein shocks
* Type 1 CVs and Axles (funny thing is that I dropped one of the axles from all of 4 inches and some of the bearing popped out. When I put them back in the CV won't rotate and now I can't get them out. So I figure I will just get all new CVs and Axles and keep the one good axle as a spare.)

Not too bad and I could have it on the trail by the end of the summer if other So Cal Samba members would start cleaning out their garages and post some good stuff for sale. Hint Hint :wink:

Sat Jul 05, 2008 10:42 am

The CV's will go back together two different ways. It sounds like you have them assembled with the small end of the inner star & lined up with the small end of outer race/housing. They will give little to no articulation that way. Take them apart and put big to small......inner star to outer race.

Anyone have some good pics showing this? My explanation skills are lacking this morning after the 4th. :lol:

Sun Jul 06, 2008 8:49 am

Here's a decent article:

http://www.chircoestore.com/catalog/article_info.p...3i5oaer0m3

Sun Jul 06, 2008 9:51 am

That is a good article^

Sounds like you've been busy on this little project. 8)
For your trans, give Joe a call at JG Transwerks, in Anaheim http://www.jgtranswerks.com/
And if you're going to replace cvs, now would be the time to upgrade to type 2s.
Keep the progress reports coming.

Thu Jul 10, 2008 9:04 am

Bob.....we need pics. :razz:

Wed Jul 30, 2008 8:00 pm

It has been a while since my last update. I have been busy and want to get the car ready for the Fall-Winter Season.

I cleaned up the engine, tore it down and tuned it up.

Finished up the Baja Kit with the headlights.

Replaced the blown transmission. Budget (College Tuition for my daughter) forced me to get a Rancho rebuild. But when this one blows the wife says I can get what I want.

Took off the Type 1 Rear End and put in Thing Parts.

Before:

After:

Thing Arms, Stubs, Flanges and CVs. Put on new boots (Lot easier than I thought-Thanks Guys)

Wed Jul 30, 2008 9:14 pm

That's looking really good, Bob! Nicely done... 8)

Wed Jul 30, 2008 9:15 pm

Looks great Bob. 8)

Good to see progress. And those thing parts should hold up really well.

Thu Jul 31, 2008 10:02 am

Good work! Coming together nicely!

Wish you could make it out this weekend. 8)

Fri Aug 01, 2008 10:45 am

Looks great Bob! Thing parts are the way to go.....seeing as how you've got Thing under the front and back end now......all you are missing is the Thing body. :wink: :lol:

Fri Aug 01, 2008 11:56 am

Looks good Bob. I'm glad to see the upgrade to Thing parts. :)

Sat Aug 30, 2008 5:03 pm

Here is the latest update...

Got the engine finished. Take a good look at it because it will never be this clean again. 8)

Specs:

1600DP with Keifernet rebuild German 34 Pict 3

Here it is running. It purrs like a kitten. Thanks Keith!

Tue Sep 02, 2008 1:37 pm

BTW. I fixed my oil leak by re-adjusting the studs for the sump plate and used new cap nuts. Not leaking at all. Sweet.

Tue Sep 02, 2008 8:46 pm

I installed a fiberglass dash this weekend. This dash should let me install my gauges, switches and a GPS without having to cut the original dash underneath it. What is the best hole saw to use on Fiberglass?

Tue Sep 02, 2008 8:54 pm

Whatever hole saw you use, put a layer of masking tape over the finish side, and cut from the finish side first. The tape will help reduce chips on the edge.

Tue Sep 02, 2008 9:16 pm

What he said.

Use as fine a saw as possible. Lots of teeth :wink:

Tue Sep 02, 2008 9:18 pm

Looks like you've been busy Bob, so far so good. 8)
As far as hole saws, Lennox are the best, but any of them will cut fiberglass fine. Skid's tape trick is a good idea too.
Keep up the good work.