1969 Baja Build

[amazingmason]

Hello guys! It's been a quick minute since I posted anything related to my baja. With school taking over and a recent trip out of the country,all of my projects got delayed. ANYWAYS, I'm back and ready to tackle this once and for all and FINALLY get this car road worthy again.

Related to my last update, I installed some Dual Kadrones, and redid the regulator and generator. But in the process I found out that the electrical was faulty somewhere in the system. I checked grounds, and all positive connections to make sure there was nothing missing and I couldn't figure anything out... the PO's wiring job didn't help. Multicoloured striped spliced to browns and every other colour..SO, I'm currently waiting on a new harness to get here. Should take about a month to get here, and then it'll be go time!

So in the mean time, I need a few projects to get the thing prepped and cut down the boredom on the wait time. So, I was thinking a new, smaller steering wheel... preferably a grant or something similar. Don't know how hard the install is, hoping for some guidance on that. I also need to replace the blinker handle because the current one is fried..same thing, I'm a beginner and would love some help on that..Also have to replace the doghouse and generator fan because no matter what I do with the shim kits for the generator fan, I get a nasty rubbing/grinding noise...

Next project would be a disk brake conversion in the front end, but I haven't the best idea for what to go to..current drums in the front are leaking like there's no tomorrow and I replaced literally everything I possibly could..also, discs are just way more safe!
Any insight into what you guys would recommend would be great, otherwise I'm thinking of something like this... http://www.jbugs.com/product/22-2895.html
Any input would be greatly appreciated! Thanks in advance.

[amazingmason]

Okay guys, update on the project! I spent the last few days digging the baja out of its snow fort and now I have enough room to tinker both inside and out. I'll take that as a major victory considering where I live. Here's the elusive creature in its somewhat natural habitat.

Anyways, I started to clean her up a little bit and I decided to check the engine. This is what I found when I took off the valve cover for valves 1 and 2...

I have no idea what this is. Smelled very strongly of gasoline, but had the consistency of oil, and poured everywhere when I undid the cover.

But, I checked the other side (valves 3 and 4) and it was bone dry! If anyone can help me out with this, it would be great. I understand that not all valves are closed, so I'm just assuming its leakage? The car has been sitting for about a year and change, and it's resting on a slight hill (leaning towards valves 1 and 2). I don't know if that is of any help, but I'm hoping that leakage is all that this is...

[dustymojave]

It SHOULD have some oil inside the valve covers. If it ran yesterday, it will have as much oil as on the right side in both. With it sitting for a year, you can expect the uphill side to be dry. Clean up the drips and maybe replace the valve cover gaskets.

If it has no oil in both sides at any one time, you don't have enough oil in it.
_________________
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.

[amazingmason]

Alright thanks for that info dusty! New gaskets will be installed ASAP. Glad that it is normal and nothing to be worried about.

[Bashr52]

It is not unusual to have more oil in one valve cover than the other due to the rotation of the engine throwing more oil to one side.

I'm intrigued by your valve spring retainers. The blue ones look funny to me, almost like someone installed a flat washer to retain the spring. What is the casting number of those heads? Those are stock rockers and shafts so I wonder what has been done to those heads in the past...

[dustymojave]

When you go to install the new gaskets, clean the cover thoroughly. Scrape any remaining gasket material. Finish cleaning with brake cleaner spray around the gasket area. Then apply the new gasket with 3M super weatherstrip adhesive. Be sure to wipe off the oil inside the rocker box of the head so it doesn't get on the glue. Apply the cover to the head with the glue still soft so it sets up right.
_________________
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.

[amazingmason]

Bashr, This is what I found stamped on the drivers side head..not sure if it helps or not...

Dusty, new gaskets have been installed! Thanks for the tip with the 3M adhesive.