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

Wed Mar 12, 2008 3:22 pm

I have heard people argue that if you only turn one tube, it gives you lift but not a rough ride. Personally it doesnt make sense. If you only do one, then the springs are working against each other in the bottom part of your suspension cycle so you wont gain lift. You would not bottom out as easily since the lower tube is pre-loaded, but i dont see how it would lift the car...

And i want some more pics already!

:wink:

Wed Mar 12, 2008 4:24 pm

See, I would consider 'that' to be preloading, kinda like re-indexing the back end and forcing the plates onto the stops. Now I'm not a mechanical engineer, but if you change the pivot points one BOTH tubes, I would think that would change the angle on the trailing arms 'without' stiffening the ride. In other words, if you turn the pivot point 1/4 inch (~12 degrees) on both tubes, that would change the angle of the trailing arms by a corresponding amount, but I don't see how that makes it any stiffer.

Wed Mar 12, 2008 7:42 pm

rickosuave1987 wrote: Chop it up already before some one else gives you crap.

Looking forward to progress. 8)

Man, what a shame. It looks nice. I made mine after my buddy wrecked his and i bought it for $600.

But at least its not an oval or split like the other guy said.

Thu Mar 13, 2008 9:48 am

shawn407 wrote: Man, what a shame. It looks nice. I made mine after my buddy wrecked his and i bought it for $600.

But at least its not an oval or split like the other guy said.

I think it's more of a shame when people buy these "classics" no matter what the brand, make, model....and let them gather dust or become trailer queens.

These things were built to be driven and enjoyed. :)

I'll 2nd Rick....more pics Bob! :P

Thu Mar 13, 2008 5:46 pm

I would never trailer a classic car, They are made to be driven by all means.I just wouldn't cut up a nice car ,that's all... :)

Thu Mar 13, 2008 9:34 pm

shawn407 wrote: I would never trailer a classic car, They are made to be driven by all means.I just wouldn't cut up a nice car ,that's all... :)

Understandable. :)
Bob has had a couple and is a bit tired of fixing other's mistakes, so he's starting fresh & clean. He makes the cuts and insures it's done right the first and "last" time. :D

Fri Mar 14, 2008 8:26 am

CopperBaja wrote:
Bob has had a couple and is a bit tired of fixing other's mistakes, so he's starting fresh & clean. He makes the cuts and insures it's done right the first and "last" time. :D

Yeah, well I can definately understand that side of it. I hate it when people do sloppy jobs cutting the car.

Fri Mar 14, 2008 8:54 am

shawn407 wrote: I would never trailer a classic car, They are made to be driven by all means.I just wouldn't cut up a nice car ,that's all... :)

I 2nd that

Fri Mar 14, 2008 9:37 am

shawn407 wrote: I would never trailer a classic car, They are made to be driven by all means.I just wouldn't cut up a nice car ,that's all... :) mines never seen a trailer.

Fri Mar 14, 2008 10:01 am

It's a convertible. Cut it! Oh wait that was another thread. :D

Maybe I should just Class 11 my car and then the first time I bash the front end into a rock I can get permission to convert it to a Baja. Would that make everyone happy? :twisted:

Fri Mar 14, 2008 10:04 am

dirtsarcade--- SO, SO sick looking. i'm awfully jealous....

Fri Mar 14, 2008 10:16 am

DesertBob wrote: It's a convertible. Cut it! Oh wait that was another thread. :D

Maybe I should just Class 11 my car and then the first time I bash the front end into a rock I can get permission to convert it to a Baja. Would that make everyone happy? :twisted:

Or you could have the wife "accidentally" back into it....to appease the masses. :lol:

(I heard that suggested somewhere)

Just cut it already! I can't stand the anticipation! :P

Fri Mar 14, 2008 1:09 pm

motorbreath53 wrote: dirtsarcade--- SO, SO sick looking. i'm awfully jealous.... thanks. i have alot of blood sweat and beers in the victoria. by the way it was cut. it was a hardtop. the guy that owned it befor me cut the top off. here is a picture of the front. you can tell im a vw guy at heart when i use vw parts for my custom. check the bug bumper guards as the grill teeth. :D this is the last non baja picture, i promise.

Fri Mar 14, 2008 2:23 pm

Very, Very Nice. And it has VW parts so it is OK. Very creative I must say.

Fri Mar 14, 2008 11:55 pm

DesertBob wrote: Actually this may be a blessing. I have been told that the Thing beam braces might have interfered with my tow bar. That would have sucked since I sold my trailer when we sold all of the quads.

The additional beam to pan brackets on a Thing beam do not interfere with a std. T1 tow bar. I've tow bar'd my Thing all over the place. There are three distinct differences between a Bug beam and Thing beam.

First, triangular shaped brackets that come off the back side of the beam and attach to the pan. I've never tried, but probably wouldn't work on a Bug pan since the shape is different, and the pan is narrower.

Second, the shock tower on a Thing beam has an additional layer of steel over the top. It's basically a double layered shock tower.

Third, the leaf pack in a Thing beam has a ~10 percent heavier spring rate than Bug leaf packs. I posted a thread in the Thing forum with all the measurements on the different leaf set thicknesses.

Each one of these "improvements" on their own don't amount to much, but all three together give you a noticably stronger front beam.

Sat Mar 15, 2008 12:11 am

dirtsarcade wrote: motorbreath53 wrote: dirtsarcade--- SO, SO sick looking. i'm awfully jealous.... thanks. i have alot of blood sweat and beers in the victoria. by the way it was cut. it was a hardtop. the guy that owned it befor me cut the top off. here is a picture of the front. you can tell im a vw guy at heart when i use vw parts for my custom. check the bug bumper guards as the grill teeth. :D this is the last non baja picture, i promise.

i'm thinking we would get along just fine friend... that grill looks sick...
i've got a 53' chev pick up that will basically be my version of a custom sled with some 60's era strip influence.... all in a pickem'up....

chop/sectioned/shaved/frenched/bagged/black suede and striped/tuck n roll...... with mechanical fuel injected BBChev(under the hood ofcourse), 4speed manual, and some widewhite cheater slicks... or so is the plan ..... after the house,,,, :roll:

Tue Mar 25, 2008 11:06 am

Hey Bob, how did the beam swap go?
Updates, pics?

Wed Mar 26, 2008 4:31 pm

Still working on it. Got the new Thing German ball joints installed. The spindles and arms are all nice a clean - who every invented undercoating should be shot. It took forever to get these cleaned up. Will paint them this weekend.

Stripped down the beam (what a pain) and totally botched up when I welded up the seams. It would appear that my welder was getting low on gas and I am to much of a novice to notice. Thank heavens for grinders. I think I am going to go with a strap to limit droop as this lack of welding skill has me thinking about finding someone to weld the hook stop kit in. I would hate to screw up these nice clean arms.

I also rebuilt the steering box. Turns nice a smooth. If you don't have one get the Bently manual. I have owned 5 bugs before this one and I don't know why I never bought one. It tells you how to do everything.

Got the new bushings, tie rods and steering coupler on order. Beam should be in over the weekend with the rest by next weekend. Got to redo the brake shoes on the front and put in some SS hoses. The rears are new so looking good there. I have a bunch of pictures and if I can get the kids off the computer I will upload them.

Wed Mar 26, 2008 4:50 pm

Which Bently manual are you referring too?

Thu Mar 27, 2008 7:57 am

Dodahdude wrote: Which Bently manual are you referring too?

The factory service manual. Cost about $30 on amazon and it is so much better that the idiots guide or any chilton manual. I highly recommend it if you want to go beyond tune ups.