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

Thu Mar 27, 2008 6:25 pm

Some Updates:

Found 1st Serious Rust - easy to fix

Welded up my Beam Seams (hey that rhymes) Will install adjusters this weekend. Then paint and grease nipples. Yes I said nipples.

Cleaned up the Thing Spindles and Arms. Installed new Ball Joints. Going to paint this weekend.

Getting Front ready for surgery

Will paint the front clip after I weld the seams

Pans looking really good. I'm very happy about this. And yes that is a "real" Hurst shifter.

Only surface rust under the battery

Thu Mar 27, 2008 6:40 pm

Bob,
Have you given any thought to welding up the zerk fitting holes, and drilling/tapping them on the back side to protect them from trail damage? I have seen many guys do this so they don't get torn off. If you were to do it, now would be the time!

Thu Mar 27, 2008 6:48 pm

Why don't you just put urethane bushings in and forget about the zirks/nipples all together?

Thu Mar 27, 2008 6:59 pm

neanders wrote: Why don't you just put urethane bushings in and forget about the zirks/nipples all together?

The needle bearing in this beam are in great condition. In the past I have had urethane bushing squeak and creak. Even with the silicone grease. I am going to use the urethane end seals though.

Thu Mar 27, 2008 7:00 pm

Skidmark wrote: Bob,
Have you given any thought to welding up the zerk fitting holes, and drilling/tapping them on the back side to protect them from trail damage? I have seen many guys do this so they don't get torn off. If you were to do it, now would be the time!

Good idea I will do this before I paint it up.

Wed Apr 02, 2008 10:23 am

DesertBob wrote: Will paint the front clip after I weld the seams

What seams are you speaking of?

Wed Apr 02, 2008 12:27 pm

I welded the seams on the beam towers as they are spot welded. Makes them much stronger. I have also welded the seams where the front clip attaches to the pan. These looked really good but I filled in a couple of gaps to make the weld contiguous.

Wed Apr 09, 2008 12:42 pm

Any progress in the last week, or are have you been busy prepping the motorhome and Jeep?

Wed Apr 09, 2008 12:51 pm

Motorhome and the Jeep getting ready for the Rasor Rd trip.

Sun Apr 20, 2008 4:12 pm

Our trip to Rasor Road motivated me this weekend so I started installing the Mark V Baja Kit.

I did the hood first. I cut off 2" from the springs so it wouldn't break the hood trying to close it.

The hood fit nicely and is easy to open and close.

Now to the cutting. The first cut is scary!

I took my time and I think it turned out fine.

Started on the rear but I ran out of time since I will need to pull the engine to finish. Next weekend I guess.

Ordered all of my front end parts and will get the beam installed as soon as they get here.

Sun Apr 20, 2008 4:55 pm

So are you using the stock hood supports and springs? I've thought about how to accomplish that, I was thinking some of those little gas struts like are on camper shells and my pickup bed cover. I'd appreciate a pic of what you developed, if you have time.

Sun Apr 20, 2008 5:31 pm

I used the stock hinges and springs. If you cut 2" off of the spring they work fine. When I close it I just make sure that I am holding the edges to distribute the force from the center.

Sun Apr 20, 2008 7:28 pm

When I had a 7 piece kit, i used the stock springs and didnt cut them at all. It was nice to have the hood hold itself up. I never had any issues since I have the "heavy duty" kit.

Mon Apr 21, 2008 9:14 am

rickosuave1987 wrote: When I had a 7 piece kit, i used the stock springs and didnt cut them at all. It was nice to have the hood hold itself up. I never had any issues since I have the "heavy duty" kit.

Same here. I have the stock springs and hardware.

Cutting the springs, huh? ...maybe mine are just worn out. ;)

Keep up the great work, Bob! :)

Fri May 09, 2008 8:11 am

I got the spindles in but now it is very hard to turn. Does the car need to be on the ground to get an accurate feel? Right now it on jack stands without wheels. I have only worked with Link Pin front ends so this is all new to me. Could the ball joints be binding and get easier to turn with weight on them?

Fri May 09, 2008 8:31 am

Ball joint, right? When I put my new front end it, it was so stiff I could barely move the spindles by hand. I put the rotors on and was able to get a little more leverage, and once I connected the steering I was able to turn it more. I've got 500 miles on the new front end, and it's loosened up quite a bit, but initially I thought there was something wrong because the ball joints (and springs, for that matter) were REALLY stiff.

Fri May 09, 2008 8:47 am

DesertBob wrote: I got the spindles in but now it is very hard to turn. Does the car need to be on the ground to get an accurate feel? Right now it on jack stands without wheels. I have only worked with Link Pin front ends so this is all new to me. Could the ball joints be binding and get easier to turn with weight on them?

You remember how hard it was to turn mine at Rasor Rd. (thanks again, Jose) ...mine's not even cut&turned....yet.

Fri May 09, 2008 9:30 am

I guess I am a day late on this reply but you can have a trunk on a baja with a 1 piece front end.

All you have to do is leave more of the top of the body than you normally would. What I did is leave the full body about 3/4 the way down the gas tank and build a sealed firewall where I made the cut.

The trunk is a little bit smaller but very usable.

Fri May 09, 2008 10:44 am

Pics??

Fri May 09, 2008 10:48 am

neanders wrote: Ball joint, right? When I put my new front end it, it was so stiff I could barely move the spindles by hand. I put the rotors on and was able to get a little more leverage, and once I connected the steering I was able to turn it more. I've got 500 miles on the new front end, and it's loosened up quite a bit, but initially I thought there was something wrong because the ball joints (and springs, for that matter) were REALLY stiff.

That is good to hear. I thought I had done something seriously wrong. It is a ball joint front-end with Thing spindles. I bought the good German Thing ball joints and thought I was going to pull the Baja off of the jack-stands trying to get it to turn. It does turn but WOW! I will finish up tonight with the steering box and tie-rods and see how it feels then.