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ConcreteAce
Samba Member
Joined: May 19, 2005
Posts: 862
Location: Spring, Texas
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 Posted: Fri Apr 03, 2020 10:11 am Post subject: Re: 1961 Baja Resurrection |
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I guess I should have elaborated a little better they were cheap for us, we paid 50 bucks for all four. The good part of knowing a ton of people with parts laying around. I really do not know why they get such a bad name, I have heard many times that they are crap, but I have a set on the back of my own Baja (it came with them) and I have had no issues with them for the past 5 years.
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Ethan Dunlap
Spring, Texas
'51 Deluxe
'61 Build
'68 Turbo Diesel Baja
'64 Ghia Vert
'61 Baja Build |
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dustymojave
Samba Member
Joined: January 07, 2007
Posts: 5847
Location: Lake LA, Mojave Desert, SoCal
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| Posted: Tue Mar 31, 2020 7:31 pm Post subject: Re: 1961 Baja Resurrection |
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| ConcreteAce wrote: |
| I get what you guys are saying. I have heard many times they are crap. But they are cheap and this was built on an extremely tight budget. One day down the road if he has extra money he can buy better ones. He has enjoyed the car for over a year now and I have not heard any complaints from him. He drives it 2-3 times a week to go into town. |
Appletree says $121 for a pair of EMPI coilovers as on your Dad's Bug.
https://www.appletreeauto.com/KING-PIN-and-IRS-COIL-SHOCKS-CH-17-2815-8/
Or Auto Parts Warehouse has KYB Excel G, which is a gas charged shock FAR better than stock OR the EMPIs for under $70.
https://www.autopartswarehouse.com/sku/Volkswagen/...43144.html
Yeah, the EMPIs are "cheap". But there are other options easy to find that are much less expensive and work better. Too late now... But for reference for others.
The EMPI coilovers WILL raise the ride height a LITTLE.
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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. |
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ConcreteAce
Samba Member
Joined: May 19, 2005
Posts: 862
Location: Spring, Texas
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| Posted: Mon Mar 30, 2020 8:01 pm Post subject: Re: 1961 Baja Resurrection |
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I get what you guys are saying. I have heard many times they are crap. But they are cheap and this was built on an extremely tight budget. One day down the road if he has extra money he can buy better ones. He has enjoyed the car for over a year now and I have not heard any complaints from him. He drives it 2-3 times a week to go into town.
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Ethan Dunlap
Spring, Texas
'51 Deluxe
'61 Build
'68 Turbo Diesel Baja
'64 Ghia Vert
'61 Baja Build |
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Powaypete
Samba Member
Joined: February 26, 2019
Posts: 71
Location: San Diego (Poway), CA
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| Posted: Mon Mar 30, 2020 7:26 am Post subject: Re: 1961 Baja Resurrection |
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| dustymojave wrote: |
| I recommend NOT using those EMPI coilovers. They are crappy shock absorbers. And the coils add stiffness to the ride, making the shocks that much worse, which MAY be a help in SOME cars, but if it IS a help, then adjusting the rear torsions is a better way to do it than adding a bandaid. |
I second that motion!!
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David
We're all here because we're not all there. |
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dustymojave
Samba Member
Joined: January 07, 2007
Posts: 5847
Location: Lake LA, Mojave Desert, SoCal
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| Posted: Sun Mar 29, 2020 2:41 pm Post subject: Re: 1961 Baja Resurrection |
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I recommend NOT using those EMPI coilovers. They are crappy shock absorbers. And the coils add stiffness to the ride, making the shocks that much worse, which MAY be a help in SOME cars, but if it IS a help, then adjusting the rear torsions is a better way to do it than adding a bandaid.
_________________
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. |
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ConcreteAce
Samba Member
Joined: May 19, 2005
Posts: 862
Location: Spring, Texas
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farmergeddon
Samba Member
Joined: February 26, 2020
Posts: 6
Location: shropshire
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| Posted: Sun Mar 01, 2020 9:31 am Post subject: Re: 1961 Baja Resurrection |
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| great build,like it alot! are the empi coilovers standard length or longer?Are your spring plates set at a different angle to standard? I have just started building my bug and i havn't got a clue about how to set up a bug for offroad yet! |
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rkwfxd
Samba Member
Joined: March 17, 2013
Posts: 107
Location: Whittier
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| Posted: Sun Aug 11, 2019 7:57 am Post subject: Re: 1961 Baja Resurrection |
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I am VERY envious of this car and your skills.
I can only hope mine comes out half as nice.
Great job and thank you for sharing. |
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c.davis419
Samba Member
Joined: May 18, 2003
Posts: 506
Location: Vista,CA
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| Posted: Thu Aug 08, 2019 8:55 pm Post subject: Re: 1961 Baja Resurrection |
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Fantastic build in such a short time and on such a small budget. My last baja was built on a shoe string budget with almost all Craigslist, thesamba, swap meet and barter trades to build. After dumping 30K+ into my previous show car build I loved this one way more and appreciated doing virtually every thing myself and only when I could afford it. Its the only way I'll build cars from now on. Congrats to you and your dad for an awesome car and award!!
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1967 beetle
1974 Thing |
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ConcreteAce
Samba Member
Joined: May 19, 2005
Posts: 862
Location: Spring, Texas
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| Posted: Mon Jun 24, 2019 2:46 pm Post subject: Re: 1961 Baja Resurrection |
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Well just a little update, Dad has been having tons of fun in his Baja. He is currently building out the backseat area, I am waiting on photos of that. He got himself a CB radio for it and a radio so he will have some tunes soon. He drives it almost every day. Here are a couple of shots he sent me the other day.
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Ethan Dunlap
Spring, Texas
'51 Deluxe
'61 Build
'68 Turbo Diesel Baja
'64 Ghia Vert
'61 Baja Build |
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bus guy
Samba Member
Joined: November 13, 2002
Posts: 789
Location: Southsea, UK South Coast
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| Posted: Fri Apr 19, 2019 5:05 am Post subject: Re: 1961 Baja Resurrection |
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| Really nice build. Congrats |
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veeweeman
Samba Member
Joined: December 20, 2009
Posts: 940
Location: New Port Richey, FL
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| Posted: Fri Aug 31, 2018 6:22 am Post subject: Re: 1961 Baja Resurrection |
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Congratulations!
Great job!
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Never be a follower...Do your own thing, make it your own! |
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plotch
Samba Member
Joined: December 22, 2004
Posts: 554
Location: jeffersonville, vermont
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| Posted: Wed Aug 29, 2018 4:15 pm Post subject: Re: 1961 Baja Resurrection |
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| Verrrry, verrrry nice. |
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Stauffenberg
Samba Member
Joined: December 12, 2008
Posts: 342
Location: Denver
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| Posted: Wed Aug 29, 2018 12:45 pm Post subject: Re: 1961 Baja Resurrection |
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 Looks great!! Congrats on the trophy it is deserving for sure! |
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ConcreteAce
Samba Member
Joined: May 19, 2005
Posts: 862
Location: Spring, Texas
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| Posted: Tue Aug 28, 2018 4:00 pm Post subject: Re: 1961 Baja Resurrection |
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Just got these photos from Dad, he has already started making some changes
He added a breather pipe, as well as some Kadron filters to the carbs, and a new tri-mil exhaust
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Ethan Dunlap
Spring, Texas
'51 Deluxe
'61 Build
'68 Turbo Diesel Baja
'64 Ghia Vert
'61 Baja Build |
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ConcreteAce
Samba Member
Joined: May 19, 2005
Posts: 862
Location: Spring, Texas
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| Posted: Tue Aug 28, 2018 3:49 pm Post subject: Re: 1961 Baja Resurrection |
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Well I delivered the Baja to Dad in Oklahoma this past weekend. We made a pit stop in Eureka Springs Arkansas for their annul VW event. Dad got him a trophy so that was pretty cool. He is really going to enjoy making it his.
Here is the temporary interior I threw in until Dad makes his own. I used some old factory mats out of my Baja and some material I bought at Hobby Lobby. Turned out decent.
I tagged the front emblem area. 
Here are pictures from Eureka Springs
and Dad with his first trophy
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Ethan Dunlap
Spring, Texas
'51 Deluxe
'61 Build
'68 Turbo Diesel Baja
'64 Ghia Vert
'61 Baja Build |
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ConcreteAce
Samba Member
Joined: May 19, 2005
Posts: 862
Location: Spring, Texas
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| Posted: Sat Aug 18, 2018 9:44 pm Post subject: Re: 1961 Baja Resurrection |
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well 60 days into the project and I took her on the first drive its made in years.
a few little loose ends and she will be done.
Friday I got the motor all buttoned up
and into the car she went for the break in
got the rear bar installed and some lights
and the roof rack installed
Just a few loose ends to be tied up and she will be ready to be delivered to Dad in Oklahoma next weekend.
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Ethan Dunlap
Spring, Texas
'51 Deluxe
'61 Build
'68 Turbo Diesel Baja
'64 Ghia Vert
'61 Baja Build |
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ConcreteAce
Samba Member
Joined: May 19, 2005
Posts: 862
Location: Spring, Texas
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| Posted: Sun Aug 12, 2018 11:24 pm Post subject: Re: 1961 Baja Resurrection |
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Well a little more progress. Got the headliner installed. I used the headliner material with the foam backing. Got it off of amazon for 30 bucks. I am really happy with how this turned out, and it was cheap.
also got the roll bar installed. I feel sorry for the next owner. I welded the main part in. She is not going to come out easy now.
Dad brought the seats down from Oklahoma. I made some brackets to mount them they were way to low. I thought the seats would look cool in there, but I am not really fond of them, for a streat Baja I would rather have a set of scat lowbacks or factory lowbacks. But Dad loves them so that is all that counts.
also replaced the shifter.
and Dad started installing the carpet.
I got the wire harness installed.
Tested everything. I ran into a few snags. I need to get a new turn signal switch it only makes left turns, and the windshield wiper motor does not work. Other than that everything else is powering up properly.
Waiting on some bearings and a new cam and lifters and I will be ready to throw the motor together. Everything has been cleaned. Luckily the pistons and heads are brand new so that saved a ton.
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Ethan Dunlap
Spring, Texas
'51 Deluxe
'61 Build
'68 Turbo Diesel Baja
'64 Ghia Vert
'61 Baja Build |
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pickuptrucker
Samba Member
Joined: May 19, 2018
Posts: 16
Location: WA
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| Posted: Mon Aug 06, 2018 4:18 pm Post subject: Re: 1961 Baja Resurrection |
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| that panel work looks awesome! nice work!! i think the gauges are cool too, but of course that is personal preference for everyone. |
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ConcreteAce
Samba Member
Joined: May 19, 2005
Posts: 862
Location: Spring, Texas
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| Posted: Sun Aug 05, 2018 5:40 pm Post subject: Re: 1961 Baja Resurrection |
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A little more progress. I got the gauges installed. I know... I know... Boyd Coddington is rolling over in his grave. It's a little on the hotrod side of things. But I will remind you that there is an extremely tight budget on this build and these were gauges I bought back in 98 for a 59 I was doing a custom build on. Looking back my taste have sure changed. I had smoothed the dash, grafted in an oval window, installed suicide door hinges, but never finished it and ended up selling it. I would never do those kind of mods these days. But since I had these and they were free, in the baja they went.
I forgot to pull the plastic off the back, its gonna be hard to get it off of there clean now.
Also got the rear brake lines buttoned up and the front and rear shocks installed. Yep those are the chepo empi shocks. It was all about saving money. Plus I have the same shocks on my Baja the past 3 years and they seem to be ok. If Dad wants to upgrade in the future he can get better ones then.
replaced the fog lamps with a 12" LED bar. still have to adjust and tighten headlights
and I got the passenger door built and am halfway done with the driver door.
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Ethan Dunlap
Spring, Texas
'51 Deluxe
'61 Build
'68 Turbo Diesel Baja
'64 Ghia Vert
'61 Baja Build |
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