Turn my 1970 bug to a baja?

IdaVdub · Posted: Mon Apr 23, 2012 7:37 pm Post subject: Turn my 1970 bug to a baja?

Hello all, I have a 70 bug that is lowered and custom!
Recently wrecked the front end and crushed it to the fuel tank!
So I want to make it a baja instead of parting it! My question is how would I go about doing that! I want a daily driver that's not all long traveled out! Any help would be great

The goods:
1915cc
Duals weber 40
Tranny that is def not stock gearing
Lowered with drop spindles
Disc brakes
Lots of little extras too

Thanks
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pafree · Posted: Mon Apr 23, 2012 10:48 pm Post subject:

if the front is smashed bad enough to get to the tank then i would bet the frame head and beam might be bent too. a one piece front end and a rear fenders would cover the body work but either the frame head would have to be replaced or a full car roll cage system to support the front beam would have to be built.

if there is no frame head damage then it you have it made. how is the front lowered? if it has adjuster then it you could cut and turn the adjusters. if it has dropped spindles then swap them with some stock or even lifted spindles.

do you have any pictures?

welcome to the forum.
_________________
1972 vw hunting truggy

sand it, fill it, paint it, throw some mud on it and then baja it.

twomonkeysayoyo · Posted: Tue Apr 24, 2012 5:50 am Post subject:

If the frame head IS damaged wouldn't this be an ideal time to go to a linkpin front end?
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Looks like trouble.

auslander · Posted: Tue Apr 24, 2012 6:23 am Post subject:

Here is a pic of my baja. Depending on the damage to the car you could do a class11 or fiberglass style baja. Post up some pics, so we can give you better advise on what route to go.

There was nothing wrong with my car when i converted it , i wanted a dual purpose car

Image may have been reduced in size. Click image to view fullscreen.

Image may have been reduced in size. Click image to view fullscreen.

_________________
Wandering
66 POS Bus
69 Class 11 Beetle
!!! F**k Cancer !!!

Time's Tide will Smother You

"You can't throw a rock in Long Beach without hitting a tweaker" Steve Tucci

IdaVdub · Posted: Tue Apr 24, 2012 10:41 am Post subject:

Hey guys! Thanks for ur replies, as for pics I am posting from my phone and haven't been able to find out how to post pics from the iPhone! I could email them to you so u have a better idea!

The damage looks like it didn't hit the beam axle, there's still a tiny gap between the smashed body and beam. Where does the frame head start? Also can u explain what the difference between a class 11 and fiberglass front end!

The car is lowered with drop spindles so I'll have to get lift ones! I took a measurement of center wheel hub to bottom corner of door on both sides and found them to be a inch apart, don't know if the accident bent some front suspension or not. Thanks for the help guys

KooK · Posted: Tue Apr 24, 2012 11:32 am Post subject:

Three ways of replacing the front end obviously...

Fix it normally and bring it back to a bug

Fix it with a Seven piece fiberglass kit and cut the back as well

Fix it with a one piece fiberglass front (either bug or baja)

One piece:
http://www.markvfiberglass.com/catalog/frontends/frontends.html

Seven piece:
http://www.markvfiberglass.com/catalog/kits/kits.html

Now, a warning here, when you do fiberglass kits like these you will buy them and they WILL NOT bolt right up. You have to modify for mounts so they will fit and fit properly. The seven piece kit will use a lot more of your existing sheet metal and will be easier to do. However if your front end is damaged badly enough a one piece might be the cheapest and easiest way to do it.

Either way, expect lots of cutting, drilling, fabricating, some welding and maybe even some fiberglass work to mount everything. While the idea of a one piece is tempting (even for me, I already bought one I have never mounted), the seven piece typically looks better, functions better, and is a lot easier to install with less tools. Plus the one piece kits almost always look goofy on the car unless you're pretty good with your fabrication and take the time to do it right.

Either way, you have to do something obviously, I just don't want you to take a street bug and try to baja it because you think it will be easier to fix it. Good luck and let us know which way you're thinking of going!

Dave24 · Posted: Tue Apr 24, 2012 12:05 pm Post subject:

adams77 · Posted: Tue Apr 24, 2012 12:46 pm Post subject:

Bug Eye nosepiece and cut your fenders and hood would be the cheapest.
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If Stupidity got us into this mess, then why can't it get us out? ....Will Rogers

auslander · Posted: Tue Apr 24, 2012 1:15 pm Post subject:

Class11 is a full bodied beetle raised. If the beam and frame head were not damaged you would just clip the apron and get some fenders which are relatively cheap.
_________________
Wandering
66 POS Bus
69 Class 11 Beetle
!!! F**k Cancer !!!

Time's Tide will Smother You

"You can't throw a rock in Long Beach without hitting a tweaker" Steve Tucci

bartman · Posted: Tue Apr 24, 2012 2:31 pm Post subject:

Look under the car from the side and sight down the beam tubes to see if they're bent. If not and one wheel sits further back than the other, then you probably have a bent framehead. You can pull the tank and measure from the edges of the framehead to the firewall to see how bad it is.

The framehead can be repaired without replacement by shimming out one side if you have some metal and a welder. I did this but it's kind of a ghetto repair. Seems to work, though. I used through-bolts with nuts on the back to hold the beam on. I'll try to get some pics up
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Remember, kids------> KCR Transmissions SUCKS

bartman · Posted: Tue Apr 24, 2012 4:10 pm Post subject:

I put a bunch of pics in the off- road VWs gallery so you can get an idea of a possible frame head fix without complete replacement.
here's one:
Image may have been reduced in size. Click image to view fullscreen.

I welded in a bunch of plate to fill the gaps. Unfortunately, I don't have pics of the finished product
_________________
Remember, kids------> KCR Transmissions SUCKS

IdaVdub · Posted: Tue Apr 24, 2012 4:38 pm Post subject:

Thanks for the info,

The front frame head is not been damaged as far as I can tell from measuring and looking at the damaged part of the body! I'm gonna put a 7 piece kit on and I am wondering where I cut the apron, before the gas tank or after the tank? Is there a pic I can look up to see where to cut! I got a baja book and it only shows a early model being cut up! Any suggestions would help thanks!

bartman · Posted: Tue Apr 24, 2012 5:00 pm Post subject:

Most likely in front. You can eyeball it and make a rough cut while deliberately leaving too much material. Then test fit the hood and front piece and make the finish cut as necessary. The hood will probably determine where the front piece will sit.
_________________
Remember, kids------> KCR Transmissions SUCKS

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