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Sun Oct 24, 2004 7:05 pm

Hey, I'm 16 years old and you may have seen other posts from me about other types of VWs. But, I have finaly settled my mind and come to the conclusion that I want to turn my '64 Bug into a Baja Bug. My dad and I have had this car for about 2 years and it has been my transportation to school and work for about 6 months now. We have brought up the idea of restoring it but that is way out of my budget; but don't get me wrong, I love stock VWs too. I have always liked how Bajas looked and recently looked into what it takes to make one and to my suprise it isn't as expensive as restoring the car so I finally decided that this is what I want. The reasons being as followed:
1.It is cheaper to make than restoring the car to stock.
2.I already have some non-stock parts.
3.I live in the sticks and we have a lot of dirt roads and gravel roads and in the hurricane season it get really muddy sometimes and taking a nice looking restored VW through that would be horrible.
My dad doesn't know about me wanting a Baja but he will this weekend. I just want to know what are some good sites to buy from and what are some tips for building one. I mean I don't plan on taking off-road much at all, I like the way they look and I think it would be better for where I live. I just want a nice little Baja, not huge though. Please give advice

Sun Oct 24, 2004 9:06 pm

If it was me, I would just try to find a bug that has already been turned into a baja, instead of messing up a restorable bug. You could even sell it and buy a baja with the money. That's probably not what you wanted to hear, but you have to consider that they don't make bugs any more. It's your car though, so do what you want to with it. :D IMO, you should look for another one to baja.

Daniel

Mon Oct 25, 2004 10:04 am

There are plenty of baja project vehicles out there. give someone else a chance of restoring the old bug before cutting her up.

Mon Oct 25, 2004 3:20 pm

[img]DSCF0042[/img]
I will be cutting up this bug probably next weekend to make another a baja!!!
Its your car Do what you want with it..

Mon Oct 25, 2004 3:34 pm

i do know it is your car and you can do what you want with it. i would be a hipocrite if i said you should baja that car. look around. see what prices of cars in your condition are going for locally and then compare that to what pre-done baja's are going for. then make your decision wether to cut it up or not

Mon Oct 25, 2004 3:37 pm

just whatever you do, don't build it and then set it on fire and then have to rebuild it again! :lol: ask brad for help with that !!

Mon Oct 25, 2004 4:02 pm

HomespunKustom wrote: just whatever you do, don't build it and then set it on fire and then have to rebuild it again! :lol: ask brad for help with that !!
ass

Mon Oct 25, 2004 10:53 pm

............there's a story worth buying you a beer to listen to.

Mon Oct 25, 2004 10:55 pm

CBrock you might just come out ahead if you put a little effort into the car you and sell it, then pick up something that is a solid base for a baja but way cheap, something that got in a mild accident but only mangled the part of the front you are going to cut off anyway, something along those lines......but like these guys pointed out in other threads watch out buying someone elses old baja that they are geting rid of, dont buy a hack job with all kinds of half arsed homespun mistakes hiding under there.....stick with a street car that you can convert your way and get what you really want out of your project. besides its fun doing it yourself

Tue Oct 26, 2004 9:04 am

im just messing with you Brad. I saw the newest pictures of your beast. Must say, it looks pretty damn nice! Now if only I had time to work on my stuff. :evil:

Tue Oct 26, 2004 9:06 am

HomespunKustom wrote: im just messing with you Brad. I saw the newest pictures of your beast. Must say, it looks pretty damn nice! Now if only I had time to work on my stuff. :evil:
you apparently have time for samba. get your ass to work, i demand progress!

Tue Oct 26, 2004 11:13 am

i have time for samba at work 8) its when I get home that the chaos starts!! this winter (if so cal has a winter) i will be renovating my 3 car garage/shop to make it much easier to keep things organized as I seem to spend most of my time picking up stuff instead of working on it! plus I just picked up a Samurai to turn into a rockcrawler. just what i needed, more cars :shock:

Tue Oct 26, 2004 11:18 am

screw the samauri. finish the volkswagens

Tue Oct 26, 2004 2:50 pm

Screw the Volkswagens,
tell us the fire story!

SHMO

Tue Oct 26, 2004 4:02 pm

there is still someone on this board that hasn't heard or seen the aftermath of the fire incident :shock: too funnay!!! Brad, care to link?

Tue Oct 26, 2004 4:26 pm

westy now owes me a beer...

I just typed this all out for you guys

http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=89719

Tue Oct 26, 2004 4:33 pm

i honestly can't figure out what it is but that story is too funny...the busy operators at 911 is the bestest!~

Tue Oct 26, 2004 4:34 pm

HomespunKustom wrote: i honestly can't figure out what it is but that story is too funny...the busy operators at 911 is the bestest!~
that really pissed me off

Tue Oct 26, 2004 4:36 pm

welcome to california :roll:

Sat Oct 30, 2004 8:51 pm

Go ahead and Baja it, you'll have more fun being able to go anywhere ya want to with it. I've had my 69 VW street style, then mild Baja style, then Street again, and now goin all out monster Baja style :)

You've got a great base car, the swing axle front end is very strong for of roading. As for the negatives about a 64 swingaxle rearend, you can't lift it much with out it looking bad. The tire will really get a positive camber to'em if you go more than 2" above stock. But if your not duning, you don't need to lift the vehicle much anyway.

That said, you can still get some 31x10.5 mudders on stock suspension in the rear, once ya get the baja kit. And BFg makes a 215/75 Mud tire for the front that will fit on stock 5.5 inch wheels :).

Go here for some great Baja buildin tips. http://www.geocities.com/Baja/Dunes/4099/tech.html

Cost to build my baja so far:

Baja kit, (w/ used tranny, and baja bumpers) $50
Wheels, 2 chrome 15x8 $170
Exhaust $95
Rear tires, Dunlop Mud Rovers 31x10.5 $217
Front tires, BFG Mud Terrain 215/75/15 $245

Good luck, and I know you'll have a blast!