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AndrewK
Samba Member
Joined: July 19, 2015
Posts: 4
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 Posted: Sun Jul 19, 2015 5:53 pm Post subject: 1971 Baja Bug Body Removal Roll Cage Issue |
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Hi all,
My friends and I got a fairly rough 1971 baja bug. We'd like to take the body off the pan to be able to paint and fix it up. Some previous owner installed a roll cage, and it seems that the roll cage is in the way of lifting the body off and part of the cage is welded to the pan. We're all fairly new to this, so we were curious what you all thought the best course of action is. Is our only option to chop the cage and re-weld it later?
Thanks in advance
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Dale M.
Samba Member
Joined: April 12, 2006
Posts: 20380
Location: Just a tiny bit west of Yosemite Valley
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| Posted: Sun Jul 19, 2015 6:06 pm Post subject: |
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I don't see any issue.... Unbolt body around perimeter, and remove section across body behind front seats and basically body should lift off (gonna be a high lift to cleat roll bar)...... Anyway that is what I see by the pictures you supplied....
Other option is if you do not like cage... Sawsall....
Dale
_________________
“Fear The Government That Wants To Take Your Guns" - Thomas Jefferson.
"Kellison Sand Piper Roadster" For Street & Show.
"Joe Pody Sandrover" Buggy with 2180 for Autocross (Sold)
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All suggestions and advice are purely my own opinion. You are free to ignore them if you wish ... |
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AndrewK
Samba Member
Joined: July 19, 2015
Posts: 4
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| Posted: Sun Jul 19, 2015 6:11 pm Post subject: |
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| Dale M. wrote: |
I don't see any issue.... Unbolt body around perimeter, and remove section across body behind front seats and basically body should lift off (gonna be a high lift to cleat roll bar)...... Anyway that is what I see by the pictures you supplied....
Other potion is if you do not like cage... Sawsall....
Dale |
Thanks for the quick response. I didn't realize that the section of the body under the sheet metal box was separate from the rest of the body. If we can get the body off without the sawsall that would certainly be easier |
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[email protected]
Samba Member
Joined: July 02, 2003
Posts: 593
Location: Florida Space Coast
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| Posted: Tue Jul 21, 2015 12:34 pm Post subject: |
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Look for some photos of vw pan/chassis.
The only place roll cage is an issue is if it goes thru a body panel, often under or thru the dashboard.
_________________
1974 Standard Beetle to Baja Bug
http://picasaweb.google.com/fvee1234/BajaBug02# |
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AndrewK
Samba Member
Joined: July 19, 2015
Posts: 4
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| Posted: Sat Aug 01, 2015 5:21 pm Post subject: |
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| Dale M. wrote: |
| remove section across body behind front seats and basically body should lift off |
Found some more time to work on the bug and got all the bolts holding the body off. I now understand what you were saying about the body section behind the front seats. The only thing I'm not sure about is how that section comes off. Were you saying to just cut it? I couldn't find any good pictures online.
Thanks |
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Bugzilla
Samba Member
Joined: February 08, 2004
Posts: 240
Location: Rapid City, SD
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| Posted: Sat Aug 01, 2015 8:29 pm Post subject: |
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I swapped the body on a baja with a cage similar to yours. Of course, my rear parcel tray was completely removed.
It slipped on without too much trouble, but I had to take the beam off. The linkpin shock towers wouldn't let the body slide back:
Hope this helps!
T |
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Dale M.
Samba Member
Joined: April 12, 2006
Posts: 20380
Location: Just a tiny bit west of Yosemite Valley
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| Posted: Sun Aug 02, 2015 5:57 am Post subject: |
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| AndrewK wrote: |
| Dale M. wrote: |
| remove section across body behind front seats and basically body should lift off |
Found some more time to work on the bug and got all the bolts holding the body off. I now understand what you were saying about the body section behind the front seats. The only thing I'm not sure about is how that section comes off. Were you saying to just cut it? I couldn't find any good pictures online.
Thanks |
Yes, just cut it...
Dale
_________________
“Fear The Government That Wants To Take Your Guns" - Thomas Jefferson.
"Kellison Sand Piper Roadster" For Street & Show.
"Joe Pody Sandrover" Buggy with 2180 for Autocross (Sold)
============================================================
All suggestions and advice are purely my own opinion. You are free to ignore them if you wish ... |
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AndrewK
Samba Member
Joined: July 19, 2015
Posts: 4
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| Posted: Mon Aug 03, 2015 7:42 am Post subject: |
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Thanks for the advice guys. I cut that middle section and the body lifted off easily! As for putting the middle section back in later, would you recommend bolting it with gusset plates or welding?
Thanks again for all the help! |
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EnjoyNukaCola
Samba Member
Joined: January 27, 2014
Posts: 491
Location: Santa Clarita
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| Posted: Mon Aug 03, 2015 10:50 am Post subject: |
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Oh I am looking forward to this build.
_________________
"when i go to drive it i get to like 5-10 mph it is at high rpms and gets higher the faster i go when i shift up to second the rpms drop is this normal or what and this is my first vw please help" |
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oldcrow
Samba Member
Joined: July 29, 2015
Posts: 156
Location: middle Georgia
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| Posted: Tue Aug 04, 2015 10:16 am Post subject: |
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| slug weld.. find a piece of pipe hat slides into where you cut (bout 4-6 inches) and leave a 1/8 to 1/4 inch gap between the 2 joining pieces and then weld. |
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dustymojave
Samba Member
Joined: January 07, 2007
Posts: 5802
Location: Lake LA, Mojave Desert, SoCal
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| Posted: Tue Aug 04, 2015 11:29 pm Post subject: |
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The middle section they removed was body sheet metal under the stock back seat. Considering how much of that area of the body is cut away, it may make better sense to leave it out. If putting it back in, I say use sheet metal gusset plates of 18 gauge to span the joint and fasten to the body with screws.
_________________
Richard
Offroading VW based cars since 1965
Tech Inspection 1963 - 2012 SCCA/SCORE/HDRA/MORE/MDR +
Retired from building Bajas, Fiberglass Buggies and Rails in the Mojave Desert. Also Sprints & Midgets, Dry Lakes, Road Race cars. All types New and Vintage
SoCalBajas Member
Kicked Cancer's A$$...1st and 2nd round...Fight ain't over yet. |
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