1956 Buggy

[ToyotaDon]

I just traded my 1957 Chevy for this buggy and some cash.

I figured out it's sitting on a '56 pan with a '60 engine, thanks to the reference charts on TheSamba.com.

I don't currently have a title, but am working on that process. The end goal would be to have it street legal (again) and be able to flat-tow it to Pismo from California's central valley.

The wheels are from a Monte Carlo and the tires are mostly shot due to weather cracking. It is set up with 5-lug adaptors, aluminum finned ones in the rear and these steel ones in the front. I just finished replacing a stud on one then cleaning them up and painting.

I have very little experience with VWs, but have been a professional automotive technician for 18+ years (12 with Toyota), and a community college automotive instructor for almost 4 years. Thanks to a little searching I found this forum and am already learning so much I need to know.

One little nugget of info I picked up was how to service the oil bath air cleaner.

This is post-cleaning when the horse-hair element was drying. I'll get another picture after paint. One thing that's broken is one of the side clips, just the flat c-shaped piece. Does anyone know if that's easy to find a replacement for?

[ZARJDR]

If you plan on doing any offroading with the car you will wanna ditch the oil bath air filter. They are fine on the road, but are heavy and hard to keep in place when off roading, plus they will eventually sling and slosh oil everwhere
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2006 RAM 1500 HEMI 4X4 92 LT250
06 Raptor DP1776 Sandrail
02 HONDA 400EX
03 YAMAHA WR450F 74 BAJA

[ToyotaDon]

Thanks for the tip. What type of aftermarket filter are you guys having success with?

While I had the wheels and tires pulled off, I found the RH tie rod was bent. It was even scraping the tunnel, so I knew someone hadn't done it on purpose.

I lieu of buying a new one, I used a press to straighten it a little at a time.

All cleaned up with the ends greased. It's not the ideal solution, but it's a workable one for now.

_________________
My first VW
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=551095

My other toy.
http://forum.ih8mud.com/80-series-tech/387567-did-i-do-right-thing.html

[Mal evolent]

old school tie rod fix: cut off a sway bar and hammer it in there. makes it a mostly solid bar. that bent and straightened rod is very weak now.
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73 Beetle Baja, Ghia front brakes, Type 3 rear brakes, 2220 ( 94 X 80 ), Weber Progressive, Bosch SVDA, '97 Mustang seats

Baja Bugs for Volkswagen Virgins: Index

[ToyotaDon]

I had thought about checking the scrap metal yard for a piece that would fit. Good to know the sway bar is the right size.
_________________
My first VW
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=551095

My other toy.
http://forum.ih8mud.com/80-series-tech/387567-did-i-do-right-thing.html

[ToyotaDon]

I picked up some metal awhile back and used it to strengthen the tie rod before reinstalling. There's something still wrong with the steering, it sits too high and contacts things like the battery cable and battery support box.

I'm wondering if I can just rotate the steering box slightly to give some more clearance. Would loosening the bolts that hold the box to the tube be an okay way to do this?

After reinstalling and filling the oil bath air cleaner, I noticed it was leaking at the seam. It's off now, and this one that I had laying around is in its place.

_________________
My first VW
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=551095

My other toy.
http://forum.ih8mud.com/80-series-tech/387567-did-i-do-right-thing.html

[ZARJDR]

That style of washable fabric air cleaner will work fine. For dunes or
dusty dirt you will want to put a prefilter over it. I oil my K & N filters with
dirt bike filter oil as well. Yes you can rotate the steering gearbox slightly if you need to, they can and do loosen up, and yours may very well have
clearance/contact issues because of that. Cool little buggy, have fun with
it!
_________________
2006 RAM 1500 HEMI 4X4 92 LT250
06 Raptor DP1776 Sandrail
02 HONDA 400EX
03 YAMAHA WR450F 74 BAJA

[don't_bug_me]

I'm curious about the shape of the 57 chevy you traded for a buggy

[BUGGUTZ]

I second that, mabe it was a rusty old truck??

[ToyotaDon]

Slightly rusty 4-door sedan.

http://forum.ih8mud.com/other-vehicles/238275-1957-chevrolet-4-door-sedan-sale.html

I did get some cash for it, too, but probably got the short end of the bargain.
_________________
My first VW
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=551095

My other toy.
http://forum.ih8mud.com/80-series-tech/387567-did-i-do-right-thing.html

[BUGGUTZ]

I like the buggy, way less detail to deal with. Dig the air filter.