A 1967 Baja Bug Build

[Ruger59]

A couple months back I attempted to take my 36hp 1959 bug off road with street tires equipped. I wanted to go places that the car just wasn't meant to go and maybe the 5" of ground clearance and loose gravel didn't help that either. Since that day I've been searching for a baja bug to take off road. Fast forward a few months and a lady stops my mother who was driving her beetle and tells her about a couple old VW's laying in her front yard. Me and my farther made arrangements later that day to look at these VW's. Driving up we didn't know what to expect, but when we arrived there were a couple baja bodys and one almost complete baja sitting there. We looked them over thanked the woman and left, but that one baja caught my eye. I went back a week later to inspect the baja and made a deal. So I'm now a proud owner of a somewhat red 1967 baja bug. Enough talking how about some photos?

The worst part about this bug is that the roof is caved in. Anyone got ideas to fix it? I was thinking 2x4 and a floor jack.

Now the baja didn't have an engine, but there was a late model pan with a 1500cc attached sitting a couple feet away so a deal was made for that as well.

What are my goals? To build an inexpensive yet fun baja bug!

Comments and suggestions welcomed.
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Current Volkswagen's:
*An all original 1959 capri blue beetle nicknamed Ruger
*White 1970's Vert Baja Bug

[Dark Earth]

If the later model pan has the same front suspension as the '67, I'd build the later model pan, fixing any problems with rust, then throw the '67 body on it.
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My Build: '69 Baja - Dark Earth Version

~I'm almost done. I just lack finishing up.~

[earthquake]

Smack the roof from the inside with the palm of your hand and it may just pop out, that how I got mine out.

Casey
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74 CLASS 11 LOOK-A-LIKE
69 DUNE BUGGY
79 INTERNATIONAL SCOUT II
05 SCION XB SERIES RELEASE 2[#437]
95 Chevy C3500 dually
98 Ford E150
Link to Kelly J. Nolte 3/20/53 - 11/6/08
https://time-zonelabs.blogspot.com/p/about-kelly.html
DEATH TO CHINGERS!
[From a military recruitment poster in the novel "The Stainless Steel Rat" By Harry Harrison]

[Ruger59]

After waiting nearly two weeks on the seller to clean out the area around the bug and find the titles for it and the IRS pan it was time to pick it up and bring the baja home.

The interior was trashed being open to the elements for who know how long so I decided to strip the entire bug.

Now the dented roof looked pretty bad, but I was able fix that with a floor jack and a 2x4. Looks pretty good now.

This is the only section of fiberglass that is cracked should be an easy fix?

Previous owner added in a transmission strap and what appears to be bilstein shocks wounder if there any good still?

[Dark Earth]

You could run wheel adapters on the rear ...

Sorry, I just like the IRS rear end better.
_________________
My Build: '69 Baja - Dark Earth Version

~I'm almost done. I just lack finishing up.~

[Dark Earth]

Then there's always VW Thing drums for the rear ...

_________________
My Build: '69 Baja - Dark Earth Version

~I'm almost done. I just lack finishing up.~

[Ruger59]

I'm liking the idea of running wide 5 wheel adapters on the IRS. Here's a better look at the IRS chassis. It would need new cv joints and a battery tray replacement. Question if I use this chassis would I title the rest of the baja as a 71? I have titles for both.

_________________
Current Volkswagen's:
*An all original 1959 capri blue beetle nicknamed Ruger
*White 1970's Vert Baja Bug

[Dark Earth]

[Dark Earth]

It isn't a super beetle pan, It has a ball joint front end frame head right ?
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My Build: '69 Baja - Dark Earth Version

~I'm almost done. I just lack finishing up.~

[Ruger59]

yes, it does have a ball joint frame head.

EDIT: Just read the numbers off the IRS transmission says it's a AT 30 04 3
_________________
Current Volkswagen's:
*An all original 1959 capri blue beetle nicknamed Ruger
*White 1970's Vert Baja Bug

[Dark Earth]

[Ruger59]

I've been reading that thread on transmission and searching The Samba finding info about AT transmission and I'm coming to the same conclusion. The final drive ratio of the AT is 3.60 and AH is 3.67 according to this site.
http://sandlizrd.baja.org/gears.htm
Would .07 help run larger sized tires? Cause I'd like to run a 235/75/r15 tire.
_________________
Current Volkswagen's:
*An all original 1959 capri blue beetle nicknamed Ruger
*White 1970's Vert Baja Bug

[Dark Earth]

I don't know from experience, but the first gear overall ratio of the AT : 14.68 (3.79 x 3.875) vs. the AH : 16.00 (3.88 x 4.125) might make the lower end suffer. I'm not sure if the top end would differ that much. Maybe someone with this setup will chime in.
_________________
My Build: '69 Baja - Dark Earth Version

~I'm almost done. I just lack finishing up.~

[Ruger59]

Over this past weekend myself and a few friends were able to separated the body from the pan. Once that was accomplished I spent the next 45 min degreasing and power washing the pan.

The body and the rest of the parts we took off.

A goodie I found while digging in the transmission tunnel. Just cleaned up a little bit.

This is the worst spot of rust on this car and should be a easy fix.

I've noticed quite a bit of orange silicon around the axle tubes and I want make sure none of that has gotten inside the transmission which is why I'll be replacing all the gasket's with ones from WW.

_________________
Current Volkswagen's:
*An all original 1959 capri blue beetle nicknamed Ruger
*White 1970's Vert Baja Bug

[Dark Earth]

Looks like everything is in pretty good shape. One thing I thought I'd mention:
There are different pressure plate/throwout bearing combinations depending on the year you have.

This thread I was reading recently made me think of it ...
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=658634

It's possible that you have a late model pressure plate on the engine and an early model throwout bearing on the transmission.
_________________
My Build: '69 Baja - Dark Earth Version

~I'm almost done. I just lack finishing up.~

[Ruger59]

[Dr OnHolliday]

The worst indignity imposed on that poor red Baja are the stupid headlight gizmos.

And wheel adapters suck - all wheel adapters everywhere, that ever existed, suck...
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1965 Type 1 sunroof Baja / about 70k miles on self-rebuilt '74 1600 and counting / SP heads and aftermarket valve keepers / non-doghouse shroud with external cooler and filter / 1.5 qt extended sump / Weber 32/36 DFAV progressive carb / 009 dist with Pertronix / 1.25 ratio rockers and ball adjusters / 1.5" stainless steel J-pipes and carbon steel baja exhaust

[Ruger59]

Today I began sand blasting the entire pan and once that's finished I'll move onto addressing the battery tray and filling in all the small holes.

The rear brakes have been cleaned, painted and rebuilt.

_________________
Current Volkswagen's:
*An all original 1959 capri blue beetle nicknamed Ruger
*White 1970's Vert Baja Bug

[Ruger59]

So I'm putting together the axles and I noticed I have two different style axle bearing covers and I'm wondering which one's correct? I believe it's the 311 on the left. It's a 67 long axle transmission btw.

_________________
Current Volkswagen's:
*An all original 1959 capri blue beetle nicknamed Ruger
*White 1970's Vert Baja Bug

[Ruger59]

A lot has happened with the baja project since my last post. The pan is finished and is ready for assembly.

Testing fitting the pan replacement metal I bought from Wolfsburge.

Seat rail welded into place.

I'm using Master Series silver as the base.

Two coats of Master series chassis gloss back.

Ready for assembly!

_________________
Current Volkswagen's:
*An all original 1959 capri blue beetle nicknamed Ruger
*White 1970's Vert Baja Bug