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DurocShark
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Joined: April 05, 2004
Posts: 6635
Location: Crappy town in a crappy state. But the beach is nearby, so I have that going for me.
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 Posted: Sun Jun 23, 2024 9:17 am Post subject: Air dam on a Baja? |
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My 68 Baja has a problem. On the freeway, anything over 75mph I can feel the nose lifting. (I'm very familiar with this feeling, had a 280z that did the same thing.)
Anybody put a spoiler on the front of their baja to resolve this?
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Wulfthang
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Joined: August 25, 2018
Posts: 869
Location: Tucson
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| Posted: Sun Jun 23, 2024 7:22 pm Post subject: Re: Air dam on a Baja? |
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My Rat Rod Trail Rail does the same thing at about 80 mph. It's because of that big flat pan on the underside. I decided to just keep it under 80, at least on the road.
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Dusty1
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Joined: April 16, 2004
Posts: 2094
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| Posted: Mon Jun 24, 2024 6:10 am Post subject: Re: Air dam on a Baja? |
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"Doctor, doctor. My arm hurts when I move it like this!"
Doctor:
"Don't do that!"
Seriously, why did you build an off- road car? Slow down and see the sights! Imagine how many snail darters you're annihilating at those speeds, how many endangered desert turtles are becoming speed bumps. 
A VW Bug is shaped like a pregnant airfoil. Lifting it makes it a better airfoil.
A regular old air dam isn't exactly sleek and slippery. Maybe a sprint car style nose wing? Or look at a few F1 cars. See where you can find some downforce.
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Dusty1
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Joined: April 16, 2004
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| Posted: Mon Jun 24, 2024 6:12 am Post subject: Re: Air dam on a Baja? |
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"Doctor, doctor. My arm hurts when I move it like this!"
Doctor:
"Don't do that!"
Seriously, why did you build an off- road car? Slow down and see the sights! Imagine how many snail darters you're annihilating at those speeds, how many endangered desert turtles are becoming speed bumps.
A VW Bug is shaped like a pregnant airfoil. Lifting it makes it a better airfoil.
A regular old air dam isn't exactly sleek and slippery. Maybe a sprint car style nose wing? Or look at a few F1 cars. See where you can find some downforce.
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DurocShark
Samba Member
Joined: April 05, 2004
Posts: 6635
Location: Crappy town in a crappy state. But the beach is nearby, so I have that going for me.
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| Posted: Mon Jun 24, 2024 6:45 am Post subject: Re: Air dam on a Baja? |
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I daily this thing. So it must perform in all conditions.
Plus the air conditioning (windows) works better the faster you go. 
As for slippery... This thing's about as aerodynamic as a dirt clod. I'd rather break up the airflow than pick up 1 or 2 mph at the top end.
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Dusty1
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Joined: April 16, 2004
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| Posted: Mon Jun 24, 2024 10:14 am Post subject: Re: Air dam on a Baja? |
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Add some downforce. A spoiler mostly adds drag.
Some of the newer Class 5 one piece front ends look like they add a little downforce.
Build a shroud over where the gas tank would normally be. If you can intake air down near the lower torsion tube and release it in front of the windshield... you might make a little downforce like that.
Ducting air out to reduce lift is as important as ducting air in to make downforce.
These are all things we do on our short track racers. We're going just fast enough to make it worthwhile.
Another short track racer trick... add lead if there's no other way to make it stick. A couple hundred pounds in a weight box bolted to the front of the beam should make your front end stick like a booger. 
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oprn
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Joined: November 13, 2016
Posts: 14735
Location: Western Canada
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| Posted: Mon Jun 24, 2024 10:38 am Post subject: Re: Air dam on a Baja? |
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| DurocShark wrote: |
I daily this thing. So it must perform in all conditions.
Plus the air conditioning (windows) works better the faster you go.
As for slippery... This thing's about as aerodynamic as a dirt clod. I'd rather break up the airflow than pick up 1 or 2 mph at the top end. |
It’s pretty simple really, it’s just the wrong tool for the job. Ya you can cut a plank in half with a hammer if you are stubborn enough but there are better ways. To successfully make it do what you apparently need, it will no longer be a Baja Bug and for good reason.
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DurocShark
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Joined: April 05, 2004
Posts: 6635
Location: Crappy town in a crappy state. But the beach is nearby, so I have that going for me.
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| Posted: Mon Jun 24, 2024 11:44 am Post subject: Re: Air dam on a Baja? |
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Typical Samba. Ask a specific question and get a bunch of comments that have zero to do with the question.
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DesertSasquatchXploration
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Joined: April 16, 2021
Posts: 968
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| Posted: Mon Jun 24, 2024 12:02 pm Post subject: Re: Air dam on a Baja? |
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| Why don't you add a front spoiler and let us know?? I make sure to have a full tank of gas and I have a full size spare with steel rim up front my bug is fine at 75MPH maybe you should try an alignment and add weight. |
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DurocShark
Samba Member
Joined: April 05, 2004
Posts: 6635
Location: Crappy town in a crappy state. But the beach is nearby, so I have that going for me.
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| Posted: Mon Jun 24, 2024 12:03 pm Post subject: Re: Air dam on a Baja? |
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| DesertSasquatchXploration wrote: |
| Why don't you add a front spoiler and let us know?? I make sure to have a full tank of gas and I have a full size spare with steel rim up front my bug is fine at 75MPH maybe you should try an alignment and add weight. |
Yeah, I just wanted to see some existing installs. All good. I'll figure it out.
Another option is to drop the nose a bit, but then I lose clearance.
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DesertSasquatchXploration
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| Posted: Mon Jun 24, 2024 12:13 pm Post subject: Re: Air dam on a Baja? |
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| I even have a 24X30 skid plate on the front. With a half tank and no front spare the bug is scary past 60 its all about weight. If your toe in its really scary |
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Dusty1
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Joined: April 16, 2004
Posts: 2094
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| Posted: Mon Jun 24, 2024 2:47 pm Post subject: Re: Air dam on a Baja? |
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Handy thing about stock Bug bodywork is you can fill the spare tire well full of rocks to tone down sketchy handling. It won't fix a woefully mis- aligned front end but it sometimes makes an un- drivable VW... drivable.
Lose the rocks for spirited off- road driving.
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ORANGECRUSHer
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Joined: June 09, 2006
Posts: 3489
Location: West Coast (Michigan's)
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| Posted: Mon Jun 24, 2024 3:20 pm Post subject: Re: Air dam on a Baja? |
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1 down vote
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cbeck
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Location: high ridge, mo
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DesertSasquatchXploration
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Joined: April 16, 2021
Posts: 968
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| Posted: Mon Jun 24, 2024 4:05 pm Post subject: Re: Air dam on a Baja? |
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| Dusty1 wrote: |
Handy thing about stock Bug bodywork is you can fill the spare tire well full of rocks to tone down sketchy handling. It won't fix a woefully mis- aligned front end but it sometimes makes an un- drivable VW... drivable.
Lose the rocks for spirited off- road driving.
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Rocks really??? WOW Sand works much better I did that in the early days it worked. Like I said add weight. |
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DurocShark
Samba Member
Joined: April 05, 2004
Posts: 6635
Location: Crappy town in a crappy state. But the beach is nearby, so I have that going for me.
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| Posted: Mon Jun 24, 2024 4:09 pm Post subject: Re: Air dam on a Baja? |
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| cbeck wrote: |
| Fab a fromt bumper/skidplate that you can flip over into a cow catcher |
Hmmmmm....
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Dusty1
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Joined: April 16, 2004
Posts: 2094
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| Posted: Mon Jun 24, 2024 5:28 pm Post subject: Re: Air dam on a Baja? |
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| DesertSasquatchXploration wrote: |
| Dusty1 wrote: |
Handy thing about stock Bug bodywork is you can fill the spare tire well full of rocks to tone down sketchy handling. It won't fix a woefully mis- aligned front end but it sometimes makes an un- drivable VW... drivable.
Lose the rocks for spirited off- road driving.
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Rocks really??? WOW Sand works much better I did that in the early days it worked. Like I said add weight. |
I like rocks. Easier to load and unload compared to sand. It sounds like a joke but it isn't. Every short track racer knows the quick way to change your chassis balance is to move some weight around. We're supposed to use bolt- in lead with our car number on it if we add weight. Rocks work just as good if you don't have to please a tech inspector.
Re- locating your ten gallon stock tank takes over 60 pounds off the front end. Moving the battery to the passenger side front puts some of that weight back. That doesn't apply as much to Optima batteries.
| DurocShark wrote: |
| cbeck wrote: |
| Fab a fromt bumper/skidplate that you can flip over into a cow catcher |
Hmmmmm.... |
Some of our local mud boggers cut up rubber "cow mats" and make a giant mud flaps on the front of their rigs. The idea is if you get into a deep sippy hole under the mud your rig won't submarine and pack the radiator and everything else full of mud. A piece of aircraft cable and / or a couple pieces of tubing behind the flap keeps it where it's supposed to be.
You could probably "borrow" a mud flap off a semi and accomplish something similar on a Baja bug.
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DesertSasquatchXploration
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Joined: April 16, 2021
Posts: 968
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| Posted: Mon Jun 24, 2024 6:05 pm Post subject: Re: Air dam on a Baja? |
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| Now I know your Full of BS first 39MPG and now sand bags are hard to move OMG |
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Dusty1
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Joined: April 16, 2004
Posts: 2094
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| Posted: Tue Jun 25, 2024 6:01 am Post subject: Re: Air dam on a Baja? |
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| DesertSasquatchXploration wrote: |
| Now I know your Full of BS first 39MPG and now sand bags are hard to move OMG |
O.k., Richard. I learned decades ago many s0- called VW "experts" are grumpy narcissists. I've been studying narcissists lately. One symptom... they don't value opinions other than their own.
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DesertSasquatchXploration
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Joined: April 16, 2021
Posts: 968
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| Posted: Tue Jun 25, 2024 10:05 am Post subject: Re: Air dam on a Baja? |
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Rocks will cut their way thru any container or bag you use thus dropping them all over the highway cracking windshields and causing an accident. Also would you like a face full of sand or rocks when you get in a wreck???? I always think about other people in everything I do, Sand is much safer that's just fact has nothing to do with my opinion.
If you can figure out how much weight works speedway has a good selection of mounts and lead weights for a more permanent install. Its just expensive https://www.speedwaymotors.com/Search?query=ballast. You can also pour concrete in custom molds and just use their mounts.
Dusty, Im sorry YOU got butt hurt because YOU give dangerous advice. |
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