New Baja owner, and New Member!

06_cummins · Posted: Mon Aug 25, 2014 7:15 pm Post subject: New Baja owner, and New Member!

Hello all!

well as the title suggests I just bought a 1973 standard beetle. I have been looking around the thread for a month or so now and finally decided to create an account.

here is a description of the bug, and my goals for it, and my questions. I'm completely open to suggestions, I'm a diesel mechanic, and have access to mig/tig welders, grinders, plasma cutter, torch, but NO tube bender Sad

1973 VW Beetle
-motor unknown size
-dual dellorto 45s carbs
-bone stock suspension(minus the adjustable coilovers up front the cheap ones that are $70 a pair...)
-Corbeau baja ss seats and 5-point harnesses, I paid $80 for the seats!
-4 point roll cage
-fiberglass kit (I removed the front fenders due to rubbing on full compression)
-Micky Tompson mud tires on the rear 31X10.50 $40...(Im a pro craigslister!)
-new plugs, 8mm wires, malory distributor, and 3ohm super coil
-im sure im forgetting something!

Goals are
-just a fun bug, not for racing
-longer travel... 6" wider front beam
-2.5" or 4" trailing arms... not sure?
-push the front bean forward if its a must?
-3x3 or 5x5 rear arms... witch ever will work without moving stock trans location
-coil overs eventually
-ditch the leaf springs
-link/king pin for new wider axle
-disc breaks front and rear

My questions are...

-what is the best/ budget friendly rear end kit? I have seen "complete" 3x3 kits are they any good, or should i piece my own together?

-do i need to push my front beam forward or can i just get the bugzilla convertion beam and longer link pin trailing arms?

I know everyone here says just get it on the dirt and beat the crap out of it... i have, and will continue to do so...but the power of the motor is way out powering the capability of the suspension

any help would be much appreciated!

~Matt
oh... and little to NO RUST Smile

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06_cummins · Posted: Wed Aug 27, 2014 9:50 pm Post subject:

all these views and no reply??? no welcome to the forum?? Sad

haha

Brian · Posted: Wed Aug 27, 2014 10:08 pm Post subject:

Welcome to some money loss Wink

I've heard mixed things about these guys, mostly good though:
http://www.appletreeauto.com/VW-SUSPENSION/SUSPENSION-KITS/

You don't have to push the beam forward, but I would.
_________________
Wash your hands

'69 Bug
'68 Baja Truck
'71 Bug
'68 Camper

Only losers litter

sloboatnova · Posted: Thu Aug 28, 2014 7:53 am Post subject:

Looks like there should be a snap on cover for the engine. I have been wanting to do that to mine for rain protection while its sitting around. Do you have the cover? If so, would you put it on and take a pic?

Welcome to the samba
_________________
Ms Hoover, I glued my head to my shoulder.

3BT Baja build page
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=417564&highlight=3bt+baja

Bashr52 · Posted: Thu Aug 28, 2014 8:24 am Post subject:

Looks good, but someone didnt cut the body back far enough to install that new body panel under the hood.

2trackrat · Posted: Thu Aug 28, 2014 9:49 am Post subject:

As far as the front end you should buy a beam extender that moves the beam forward and converts to link beam spacing and then install a new wider link pin beam. Then tie the new beam into your roll cage.
PS. welcome to samba!

QurtysLyn · Posted: Thu Aug 28, 2014 10:55 am Post subject:

Welcome!

You should bring it out to Wendover on the 13th to the Offroad race, there will be a bunch of us VW guys out there. We can give you all sorts of ideas.

I'd love to check it out in person.
_________________
'72 Std Beetle - 1641 CC
BRAT Motorsports #936

06_cummins · Posted: Tue Sep 02, 2014 9:10 pm Post subject:

I'm planning on heading out to wendover in 2 weeks. as far as pushing the front beam forward could i use one of Laurence's beam kits http://www.thesamba.com/vw/classifieds/detail.php?id=1382835
or should i go another route?

what is the best 3x3 kit for the rear? and with the 3x3 how much travel can I expect? i was out in the desert this weekend and hit pretty hard... (broke the stock urethane bump stop, hit so hard it broke in two) im looking to avoid these kind of things in the future. do I need to relocate the upper shock mounts to my cage?

and as of now it is just bolted to the floor pan(its a bolt in 4-point cage)

im planning on about $1000-$1200 on the rear suspension minus shocks and around $800-$1000 for the front, link beam 10" towers... am I in wonderland or is this a good guesstimate?

thanks!

QurtysLyn · Posted: Wed Sep 03, 2014 8:59 am Post subject:

There should be at least two other Bajas out to Wendover that you can get a few ideas off of. A 5-1600 and a 5 Unlimited (if he gets it done).

3x3's, it depends on what CV joints you're using (someone else probably can give you better numbers than I could, I can't recall), and you'll have to relocate the shock mounts with 3x3s.
_________________
'72 Std Beetle - 1641 CC
BRAT Motorsports #936

viperjcr · Posted: Mon Sep 08, 2014 1:27 pm Post subject:

VW car show this weekend (Sept 13th) in Riverton, Utah. Would like to see some Baja's out there. I will not have my Baja in the show but might drive it to the show. (If it is running.)[/img]

06_cummins · Posted: Wed Sep 10, 2014 10:28 am Post subject:

more info on the car show in riverton?? website?

viperjcr · Posted: Wed Sep 10, 2014 12:49 pm Post subject:

here is more info:

http://utahcarczar.com/images/pdfs/2014/Utah_VW_Classics_2014.jpg

http://www.utahtransporterassociation.com/UtahTransporterAssociation/Utah_VW_Classic_2014.html


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