TheSamba.com :: View topic - What did you do to your off-road VW today?

Fri Oct 31, 2008 8:41 pm

2gr8dgs wrote: joescoolcustoms wrote: Well now 2gr8dgs , did you not read the rules?

You cannot say your are changing something and post pictures without telling us what you are changing to.

We need sizes and types. sorry! :oops: fronts were 215 75 15 toyo's on 6" rims 3.75 backspace. rears were 28 x9.50 15 tsl's on 8" with 2" backspacing. changed to 30x9.50 rear & 235 75 15 front tires, 7" rims with 3.75 backspacing all around.

Still TSL's on the rear? Mine are the TSL Radials, they're great for trails.

Fri Oct 31, 2008 8:58 pm

oktr6r wrote:

Still TSL's on the rear? Mine are the TSL Radials, they're great for trails. no, i kept the tsl's on the other rims. at only 28" they still kicked ass. I'm surprised they're not more raved about for baja's. a hardcore aggressive tread & still not too tall for a smaller motor to turn. this new set is just kind of an experiment.

Fri Oct 31, 2008 9:01 pm

2gr8dgs wrote: oktr6r wrote:

Still TSL's on the rear? Mine are the TSL Radials, they're great for trails. no, i kept the tsl's on the other rims. at only 28" they still kicked ass. I'm surprised they're not more raved about for baja's. a hardcore aggressive tread & still not too tall for a smaller motor to turn. this new set is just kind of an experiment.

Mine are 30/10.50-15's. They are expensive, but the results are well worth it.

Di you ever run in sand with them? That's one thing I haven't tried.

Fri Oct 31, 2008 9:21 pm

Quote: this new set is just kind of an experiment.

Darn, I was going to PM you and see what was up with the old set. I'm needing a set of rims.

Mon Nov 03, 2008 6:44 pm

Went mug booging in Brandon, Fl. It was the first trip off road for the baja. We went through the pit with no problem! Several large trucks got stuck! A guy with a Ford stopped me and said I was an inspiration to him and he was going to buy a bug!!!

[/img]

Mon Nov 03, 2008 6:56 pm

making progress (last weekend)

Mon Nov 03, 2008 9:43 pm

What did I do? I fixed my broken exhaust that I broke off being a dufus trying to climb some muddy hill only to slide back and rip my exhaust off.
Took me an hour McGivering my car out with wood that I stole from a fence. I had to make a lever and lift eh car in the air and shove smaller pieces under the wheels. My daughter and her friend thought I was an idiot and my son thought it was cool that I was able to get the car out of the hole.

Mon Nov 03, 2008 11:10 pm

Today, on my buggy,

Since my fuel tank is in the front, a built a template to install a piece of sheet metal behind the seats and the engine to put a tool box and extra fuel can..framed it...cut out carboard template, and my 1/8th sheet is being delivered tomorrow...

Gonna look nice...

Tue Nov 04, 2008 2:02 am

Bought two of these tires for the rear, LT31x10.50R15 Ironman LT66 Mud Trac.

And after the next payday, I will buy two of the 700 X 15 Traction Pro 8 Ply Bias by Nanco.

Now, if only I had rims. :oops:

Tue Nov 04, 2008 11:07 am

yesterday, changed out the clock gage for a gas gage. put back on the air horn, installed door panels.

Tue Nov 04, 2008 11:11 am

Gas prices came down so I gave mine the day off and drove the ford, besides lost brakes sat out at painted rock :(

Wed Nov 05, 2008 10:55 am

Payday is tomorrow, so I ordered the 700 15's today (credit card). Going to a buddy's house to trade a 40 horse engine for a roof rack with the wooden slats. Posted a add looking for front fenders for my Baja kit on the Samba.

Here are some pictures:

Here is the bug in as is condition, how I bought it.

Lots of cancer.

73 Fat Chick. The interior is really nice, just needs carpet.

Here is some of the repair panels that will go into it.

Here is the used Baja Kit that still needs the front fenders.

Here is the finished pan ready for the body. I know, I should use the IRS pan, but I want to save it for my FG buggy. It is a swing, that is why the body lift is on it. I have done some real mud and rock climbing in rail buggies back in the day with swings.

Here is the FG Buggy Body (NOS never drilled or mounted) that will go onto the IRS pan and get 31's rear and 30's up front it self with a bus box.

Wed Nov 05, 2008 1:01 pm

I was lucky enough to still be at home when the ExFed man came with my tires.

Holy Rat Snot Bugman! :shock: , them sum beotches are real big! Its going to take some engine and gears to tun them things.

I am now wondering if a 4.37 ring and pinion with a 3.80 first gear will get them moving. I have a 4.11 first gear main shaft but was saving it for the drag bug, but may need to use it here.

Wed Nov 05, 2008 4:48 pm

Fear not KimoSabe!
Many Bajas run around on jeep trails embarrassing 4wds with 4.37s turning 31x10.50s. A 002 Bus box with 5.14 to 5.38s is better, and an 091 with 4.87s or whatever they are work well too. Even 4.12s as found in Sedan IRS tranny's work OK.

Wed Nov 05, 2008 7:15 pm

put my old 1 pice front end back on, and the front bumper. im thinking of messing around in the desert this weekend.

Wed Nov 05, 2008 7:30 pm

joescoolcustoms wrote: I was lucky enough to still be at home when the ExFed man came with my tires.

Holy Rat Snot Bugman! :shock: , them sum beotches are real big! Its going to take some engine and gears to tun them things.

I am now wondering if a 4.37 ring and pinion with a 3.80 first gear will get them moving. I have a 4.11 first gear main shaft but was saving it for the drag bug, but may need to use it here.

The higher the gear ratio, the lower the gearing. A 4.37 will pull better at low end than a 4.11.

I've been running 4.12 in an IRS transaxle with 30/10.50-15's with most of my off-road driving being low speed. It's rare to get out of 1st gear on these trails. I'd be happier with the 5.38 bus transaxle, but I'm having too much fun with the car to tear it back down to complete the swap.

BTW, I'd bet my rear tire / wheel combos are a few pounds heavier than whet you've got. The TSL Radials are a 6 ply sidewall. The tire alone weights more than the old 31/10.50-15's mounted on rims.

Wed Nov 05, 2008 8:31 pm

Sorry oktr6r, I should have been more clear, the 4.37:1 is my ring and pinion in the transmission I am going to build for this Baja.

The 3.80:1 is the first gear ratio I mentioned is on the stock transmission main shaft with a 2.06:1 second gear (these are machined onto the shaft) I had planned on using but may instead use the 4.11:1 first gear and 2.34:1 second gear in the transmission that has the 4.37:1 ring and pinion.

My R&P will be a 4.37 but I may change the ratio of the first/second gear set.

Wed Nov 05, 2008 8:44 pm

I have had three pm's about the Ironman tires I purchased for my project. I purchased them off-of egay for $ 240 shipped to my door. They are located in TN and I live in WV so the shipping was lower than what it would be to the West coast.

The ebay item number is 250320806011. From Mac's tire bin. Mac was real good to work with giving me a quote.

Wed Nov 05, 2008 8:55 pm

joescoolcustoms wrote: Sorry oktr6r, I should have been more clear, the 4.37:1 is my ring and pinion in the transmission I am going to build for this Baja.

The 3.80:1 is the first gear ratio I mentioned is on the stock transmission main shaft with a 2.06:1 second gear (these are machined onto the shaft) I had planned on using but may instead use the 4.11:1 first gear and 2.34:1 second gear in the transmission that has the 4.37:1 ring and pinion.

My R&P will be a 4.37 but I may change the ratio of the first/second gear set.

Ok, that makes more sense now. My trans is stock, with the 4.12 ring and pinion and works OK to pull my heavy tires off-road. I'd love to have a lower 1st gear, as that's all I use off-road. I'd go with the 2nd tranny if it was mine.

Thu Nov 06, 2008 10:01 pm

Not mine yet, but I went to go take a look at my auto shop teachers '73 half-built baja. Negotiations on price start tomorrow. :)
Not much rust to boot! :D