1969 Baja Bug - TX Build

[sailtexas186548]

Needs 2 turns in on the throttle screw, and 55 idles 2.5 turns out *
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it's more fun loud and dirty

[sailtexas186548]

It’s still running good, run probably 50 gallons of gas though it now, maybe more.

I finally broke down and got an SVDA from pertronix with the digital igniter. Night and day difference for drivability, very happy with it. Also changed to some autolite 3924 plugs(stock heat range, equivalent to an NKG 5), was running an NKG 7 non-resistor before and they were a bit prone to fouling. An autolite 3923 is equivalent to an NKG 6 so I may switch to those next if it pings with the 3924s.

I also jetted down to 120 mains and 180 airs in f11 emulsion tubes, it does not like the F7 s , kept the 55 idles, still needs the throttle cracked far enough to expose about 1/2 maybe a little more of the progression holes, at .5 turns the first progression hole is totally covered, 3/4 turn I can just see it, it wants 1.5 minimum but happier at 2 turns to idle. Might need bigger idle jets but it’s better than it has been, still maybe a bit rich but my accel squirter is turned way up, gonna back that off and reevaluate
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it's more fun loud and dirty

[8urrito]

I'm planning on tackling the muffler problem on mine this weekend, the straght pipe was cool for the first 100 miles but it's getting old now... I've got a Tri-Mil Quiet Pak collector that fit just fine until I tried to put the bumper back on.
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Bedliner Build

[sailtexas186548]

Well I reluctantly have put a muffler on, it’s still loud but it took the bark out so it doesn’t draw quite so much attention. The muffler is a circle track midget racer part “schoenfeld” is the brand. It’s straight through, kinda like a glass pack but it is rebuildable if the packing burns out.

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it's more fun loud and dirty

[sailtexas186548]

I “polished” the fuel for an hour today, and moved the the return line around to all parts of the tank to knock as much loose as I could. It definitely cleaned up quite a bit, I can see in the tank, there is some left but not much compared to when i started. I also put this big ol marine fuel filter in line behind the back seat instead of the small one for now, maybe I will make it permanent…

Cleaned the carb just in case, and it’s running great now. A little idle tuning and a check with the wideband is next

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it's more fun loud and dirty

[slayer61]

Very well done Sir. Very nice.
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[sailtexas186548]

Inspected/plated, it doesn’t need anything else so it’s “done” but I’m sure I’ll throw a few more things on like an interior light, a small radio, and a skid plate. I have an 002 and an 091 transaxle that might make their way into this thing, depends on how the type one holds up.

There is still some funky old varnish in this tank so I’m clogging the fuel filter filter pretty regularly, once I burn this tank of fuel I’ll be able to really clean it and get the jetting right, it’s hard to make intelligent changes when the fuel supply is inconsistent.

Now some pictures!

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it's more fun loud and dirty

[sailtexas186548]

Messed with the jetting some today, moved up from 50 to 55 idles and from 115 mains to 135, kept the 200 airs, and turned the accel pump way up so it squirts instantly when the throttle moves. Drives almost perfect, still a couple weird moments but overall it’s pretty good. I may try some smaller mains again since i went up 20 in one step.
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it's more fun loud and dirty

[sailtexas186548]

feels normal to me, but my other VW is an Ecotec Manx with front mounted fuel tank, so in comparison this is slightly heavier up front.

I dont have issues with understeer unless I'm in the dirt and going fast, but the cutting brakes more than compensate for that
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it's more fun loud and dirty

[ORANGECRUSHer]

I was just noticing your gas tank location. How does the front end feel being so light?
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Brian H.

OrangeCrushERBerrien Warrior-2.4L Quad4-2x3 arms-1.5Fox coilovers-094-930CVs
LAZY MARY1970 Baja 2110cc-82mm CB forged crank-AA pistons/cylinders-Grant rings-1.1 vw rockers-CB serpkit-CB chromoly PRs-CB maxiflow filter pump-wix51515 filter-Dual 44IDF-cut/turned front beam-AEM wideband-Auber CHT-Donaldson Dual PowerCore filters-custom AL air boxes

[sailtexas186548]

Finally fixed the turn signals, popped the windshield in and wired up the wipers. I am just a reverse light and license plate light away from passing my safety inspection so I can get plates.

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it's more fun loud and dirty

[ORANGECRUSHer]

I'm not sure if you've noticed, but there's a lot of decaying corpses in your neighborhood. Perhaps it is time to relocate?
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Brian H.

OrangeCrushERBerrien Warrior-2.4L Quad4-2x3 arms-1.5Fox coilovers-094-930CVs
LAZY MARY1970 Baja 2110cc-82mm CB forged crank-AA pistons/cylinders-Grant rings-1.1 vw rockers-CB serpkit-CB chromoly PRs-CB maxiflow filter pump-wix51515 filter-Dual 44IDF-cut/turned front beam-AEM wideband-Auber CHT-Donaldson Dual PowerCore filters-custom AL air boxes

[The Phil]

[quote="sailtexas186548"]

[sailtexas186548]

[The Phil]

What are you using for headlights? Are they DOT approved?
I'm after something like those to replace my stocks and mount to bumper as well.
Where can I find them?
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"In case I don't see you, good afternoon , good evening, and goodnight."

My '66 Baja Build Page http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=456365

Free from the evils of facebook Dec 2012. No other Social Media.

[sailtexas186548]

Ha yeah so it turns out black spray paint makes old shocks look good, but it doesn’t make them perform well! Overall it is way too soft to send it in the bumps. The old bump stops also disintegrated after taking a few big hits so that made the suspension travel even higher

The head temps are nice to have. I have oil temp warning light (235F), oil pressure gauge, and head temps. The heads stayed under 200F whenever I looked, their real Purpose is to show when they are getting really hot or when one is hotter than the other. They seem to work really well and are easy to see
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it's more fun loud and dirty

[ORANGECRUSHer]

That one pic makes your engine look like it went subterranean!

I'm curious how well the head temp gages worked. Was that useful information to have?
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Brian H.

OrangeCrushERBerrien Warrior-2.4L Quad4-2x3 arms-1.5Fox coilovers-094-930CVs
LAZY MARY1970 Baja 2110cc-82mm CB forged crank-AA pistons/cylinders-Grant rings-1.1 vw rockers-CB serpkit-CB chromoly PRs-CB maxiflow filter pump-wix51515 filter-Dual 44IDF-cut/turned front beam-AEM wideband-Auber CHT-Donaldson Dual PowerCore filters-custom AL air boxes

[sailtexas186548]

I’ll have to look at the tire size, I robbed them off another Baja I bought six months ago for parts.

The points in the distributor were trashed, got a new set installed

Also picked up Some jets, changed to 50 idles, 200 air, 115 mains and it is better, need to get a wideband on it and really dial it in

I thrashed on this thing all last week to make “Bug off 2022” so these pics are from last Thursday night. I zip Tied the wires up for now, I will loom them once it’s all working right for a while

Hood on:

Oil change from breakin to vr1, 10w-30. I have 45+psi oil pressure at cold idle, 22 psi at hot idle, and about 35-45psi any time it’s much above idle. No shavings or glitter, just some moly lube and fines from the cylinders and rings wearing in.

I learned that you still have to index the rear torsion bars close to how you want final ride height, and tweak the height with the adjuster, there isn’t much adjustment It’s more of a fine tuning tool.

Also set the front steering stops, I had to weld a nut to one because it was too short to keep the wheel out of the fender.

Loading up on a utv rack I bought from alpine designs. I had to winch it up, driving it was not really possible to do safely with the gearing and tire size I have. Also the pan just barely scrapes (like a high centering) when loading so if if you look into a rack like this your car better be all the way up on the limiters. My Manx can’t make up the ramps.

Made it to the “bug off” and had a great time running the off-road course. I had some fun sorting out the ignition (I had a 0.6 ohm coil on there, which melted… I ordered a 3.0 ohm but didn’t check it in my rush to get this thing done lol), my digital timing light was being erratic - only increasing my confusion!, and then I discovered this fuel tank has some varnish in it that was slowly dissolving in the new gas and clogging the fuel filter, so it would idle fine but under higher fuel demand it was breaking up. Once that was sorted it ran pretty dang good and I was able to make a few runs at the off-road course. I didn’t win but I posted a respectable time and the car performed well.

It still needs a few things sorted out, some suspension tuning, windshield, etc. but it’s running and driving almost 8 years later!!! It had been a lot of work but it was certainly worth it
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it's more fun loud and dirty

[ORANGECRUSHer]

What tire size are you running in front? Sorry if u already mentioned it but I run a narrower slightly smaller all season in front and 29" wrangler in back but i like your stance. I'm wondering how much more steering effort comes with those larger fronts. One of the reasons i contemplated a lift was going to a full size steering wheel.
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Brian H.

OrangeCrushERBerrien Warrior-2.4L Quad4-2x3 arms-1.5Fox coilovers-094-930CVs
LAZY MARY1970 Baja 2110cc-82mm CB forged crank-AA pistons/cylinders-Grant rings-1.1 vw rockers-CB serpkit-CB chromoly PRs-CB maxiflow filter pump-wix51515 filter-Dual 44IDF-cut/turned front beam-AEM wideband-Auber CHT-Donaldson Dual PowerCore filters-custom AL air boxes

[sailtexas186548]

Fuel!

Cranking oil pressure of 35+ lbs

Cam break in done, 1700-2100 rpm for 20 minutes.

Had a valve cover leak, and one oil pump stud is weeping, otherwise no leaks! The jetting is bad, way way way rich and I’m not certain but it seems like my timing/spark is a bit erratic. Need to check out the distributor, condenser, and maybe fouled plug from being so rich. Coil got pretty hot so I need to Chase that down also

Lights!

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it's more fun loud and dirty