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Sat Apr 05, 2014 9:13 pm

Hello Everyone! My friend and I are going to be building a Baja Bug here in the near future. First off, we've been looking around at other posts for a while and we think that a Bug around the years of '64 to '70 is what we want to start with. We think a 2.2L Ecotec is the engine we want. We have no idea what kind of transmission to use, although we know we want a Manual and not an Automatic. We want to make it street legal, but also to go onto the beach and to go mudding. We are both speed demons, so whatever we can do to make this thing really sing would be awesome. We would like some input on what size of tires you guys would recommend, we are kinda leaning towards 15 in. rims, but how wide and tall should the tires be? How often would we have to put gas in this if we use a 5 gal. tank? Would it be better to upgrade the tank to 15 gal.? We were thinking of having there be two front seats and a bench seat in the back. We want this thing to have enough power to haul us, he's 6 ft and I'm 5'10, and our wives, one of them is 5 ft and the other is 5'5. If we were to buy a hard top shell, how hard would it be to add a sunroof to it? As of right now, we don't have anything to start building with, we just want to get some ideas on how to proceed with our build. Any and all help will be greatly appreciated. Also, if you guys have any questions of us, ask away and we'll answer as best we can!

Sat Apr 05, 2014 11:44 pm

Ok so if you plan to off road the bug then I'd start with a 1969 or later bug as they have the irs transmission. That'll allow you to do heavier suspension mods to run the tires you want without camber issues. That'll get you started and you'll run into the rest of the things as you go.

And just have fun with it. Bajas are great as you can modify them however you want. Sounds like you've already figured that out. :lol:

Sat Apr 05, 2014 11:45 pm

Ok so if you plan to off road the bug then I'd start with a 1969 or later bug as they have the irs transmission. That'll allow you to do heavier suspension mods to run the tires you want without camber issues. That'll get you started and you'll run into the rest of the things as you go.

And just have fun with it. Bajas are great as you can modify them however you want. Sounds like you've already figured that out. :lol:

Sun Apr 06, 2014 3:52 am

Introduction: http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=490543
Stage 1 and Stage 2: http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=490544
The Book of the car: http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=492485
Beetle Basics: http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=490545
Pan ID: http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=492187
Body ID: http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=492193
The IRS Transmission: http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=492880
The Ball Joint Beam: http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=491123

Sat Apr 19, 2014 7:34 pm

Hey all! I've been doing some research recently and have a couple of questions. Where can I go to get a dash kit for a Baja? What I want to do is to be able to place all of the gauges and switches myself. My buddy and I also want this Baja to be a manual. So, where can I go for a clutch kit, shift levers, etc.? Also what is a good place to pick up seats for front and back? We are going to put in a roof rack, and we want to put some lights up there. Where would you guys recommend we go to get the lights for everything (roof rack, headlights, taillights, turn signals, reverse)? Where can we go to get an alternator conversion kit? We would like to put a sunroof in it as well. How difficult is it to put one in? Thanks in advance for the help.

Sat Apr 19, 2014 7:53 pm

Quote: I've been doing some research recently
Really?
You need to look at advertisers web sites, read all the stickys on this site, look at some build threads, ck ebay, craigslist etc. We have no idea what your shop or your capabilities are in regards to how easy is it to install sunroof.
as previously mentioned, read these
Introduction: http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=490543
Stage 1 and Stage 2: http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=490544
The Book of the car: http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=492485
Beetle Basics: http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=490545
Pan ID: http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=492187
Body ID: http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=492193
The IRS Transmission: http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=492880
The Ball Joint Beam: http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=491123

sorry to be harsh, but you need to do some homework.

Sun Apr 20, 2014 7:25 am

You may want to find a bug/buggy shop near you and look at some cars/parts and get some first hand advice.

Mon Apr 21, 2014 8:25 am

I'd also recommend finding some fellow baja/sand guys near you who would be willing to help.

From what I've seen, at the minimum you should use an 091 or a beefed up 002 transmission. I've personally yet to see an Ecotec swap where the car isn't fully caged. It's primarily a safety thing, because when you start adding power you increase the risk of a crash/rollover. On the lesser side of things it makes mounting the engine, radiator, controls, etc easier.

What appears to be a common and reliable setup for the ecotec cars is:
-Fully caged car
-091 transmission
-3x3 trailing arms
-930 CV's
-Coilovers
-Stock beam would probably work, but a widened beam would keep the track width the same front/rear

As far as everything else goes, the sky (or maybe your wallet) is the limit. Lights can be whatever you want them to be. I just dropped $150 on tail and turn signal lights for the back of my bug, but you could just as easily re-use the stock bug rear lights.

If you can't fabricate, your cost is going to skyrocket because you'll have to hire the work out. If that's the case, you might be better off cruising craigslist or the classifieds here and buy a turn key car.

-Jameson

Mon Apr 21, 2014 10:22 am

BajaFirstTimer wrote: Also, if you guys have any questions of us, ask away and we'll answer as best we can!

What is the air speed velocity of an unladen swallow?

Mon Apr 21, 2014 2:12 pm

Male or female?

Mon Apr 21, 2014 4:23 pm

Is that an African swallow, and can it carry a coconut.