Greetings; Newbie with questions

[wahrsuul]

Hi ya'll. I recently picked up a '74 Baja...at least it's kina baja. Here's a pic:

I drove it the 90 or so miles to the house barely making it before the elecetrical system died. After a bit of fiddling we found that the charging system wasn't connected at all. There was a voltage regulator under the seat, but according to everything I read, I have an internally regulated alternator. At the moment we're hooked to the alternator and getting positive voltage so that's good. We just used whatever wire we had so it's a bit small but we'll have to rewire it all anyway.

So, on to questions;

Its got a tilt front end and I'd like to find a way to put a bumper on it; is this possible?

The front end suspension seems very harsh. I suspect it's because there's so much less weight on it. Is there a way to fix this?

The tires are 14"... what size can I go to without major mods? I don't do "serious" off roading, just the dirt/back roads around here. I just love the way the bug looks.

The oil cooler...there's a HD type, but the PO put it in front of the intake fan. I'm thinking that might not be a good place for it? Should I move it and maybe use a small electric fan? Or maybe put it in a scoop?

Thats all I can think of at the moment. Thanks in advance for any help/suggestions.

[vwkid]

They do make bumpers for the one piece front ends and at the moment this is the only location i found them:

http://www.jcwhitney.com/autoparts/ItemBrowse/c-10...8410269249

You can upgrade to a 15" wheel and be open to many more tire options especially for anything all-terrain.
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74 Baja
76 Bus

[bajaherbie]

here is your baja.... looks very nice and shiny. bigger wheels and tires are a must for this car. those 14's look like go-kart rims....
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[wahrsuul]

Thanks for the help, I couldn't figure out why the pic wouldn't come up, but I got it now.

Yes, the wheels are way too small, but I suspect the suspension will have to be raised some?

[sammyphsyco]

"The oil cooler...there's a HD type, but the PO put it in front of the intake fan. I'm thinking that might not be a good place for it? Should I move it and maybe use a small electric fan? Or maybe put it in a scoop?"


get that cooler off of the fan intake . It's trying to cool with hot air not a good idea.

[wahrsuul]

Would these do as a good start on wheels/tires?
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/classifieds/detail.php?id=255413

[Jowlz]

Sizes will most likely fit. Every car is a little different and your fenders seem on the larget size.

The seller got raped when he bought the tires if he paid $550 for those 4.
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The honey-do list put my project on hold.......

[wahrsuul]

The seller got raped? Does that mean these are a good deal? I'd have to picke them up, but thats not a problem from here.

[bajaherbie]

the ad says OBO, offer 400 bucks....
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[wahrsuul]

I'm looking at that tilt front bumper....I've seen a pic of it on one bug, but I'm not sure how it would mount or whether it would work on mine at all. Anyone have some good pice on how it works? Or do I need to post some of my setup?

[scott the viking]

[wahrsuul]

I'd think that would depend on which side of the deal you're on? If its the seller that getting it, then wouldn't that be a good deal for the buyer? Just curious, I haven't priced tires for anything but a motorcycle in some time. Bike tires wear out way faster than my truck.

[Jowlz]

This is what I meant, and yes, getting raped usually isnt a good thing

White wagon wheels. $60 each x 4 = $240
4 Goodyear wrangler tires that have matching tread = $320
Total $560.

Sam's club is a great source for car tires cheap. Check their prices.

Mastercraft are less expensive tires. The 205/75 15's with the rain groove really arent a good tire for any, even light off road. Both are less than my $80 each allowance above.

So, If the guy is just trying to recover what he paid for tires. He is saying he paid $137 each...... either he got totally ripped off.. or he is a lying sack.
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The honey-do list put my project on hold.......

[andk5591]

tires - check out www.tirerack.com - I have been buying exclusively from them for maybe 5 years. Great selection, service and price (even 2 out of three would be good, but they manage to do all three)
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D-Dubya Manx clone 1914. Ex wifes car.
Rosie 65 bug - My mostly stock daily driver.
Woodie 69 VW woodie (Hot VWs 7/12).
"John's car" 64 VW woodie - The first ever
Maxine 61 Cal-look bug - Ex-wifes car.
66 bug project - Real patina & Suby conversion
There's more, but not keeping them...

[vidiesel]

The oil cooler is in a GOOD spot thats. is where the fresh air intake is, and also that is where the original stock chiller is located. inside the fan shroud. Most people mount them there, Straddling the hole on the back of the shroud. lot of air flow right there.

[theblueblack71]

hey nice baja bug!! a few inprovements and you shoud be havin fun.. about that oil cooler.. DONT put it infront of the intake.. you restrict the air flow to your cooling system.. you'll burn up pistons like you cant imagine!.. make sure to block off where the stock oil cooler was or you'll run hot and burn up cyl #3.. an electrick fan sounds great... as for the suspension, if you can spent some money, get some pro coilovers with reserves, but if your on a budget, you can get some new stock ones for around $23 a piece, they should work fine for light to medium off road... but if you want, you caqn get a set of ajustible coilovers for 60 bucks, and they should work great, i got them on mine, and it's got smooth ride, and no problems, good luck, nice BAJA!!!, Nick

[wahrsuul]

Seems the opinions on the oil coller vary, but I'm not comfortable with it there so I expect I'll move it. Just not sure where. We're going to re-wire the whole car so I can get a thermostat fan put in fairly easily.

On the coil overs... I'd remove the torsion springs completely and run with just the coil spring shocks? Just wanting to make sure I have everything clear. What kind are you using? The front end (tie rods and ball joints) needs to be rebuilt as well so I'm thinking the front is where I'll start first.

Thanks again for all the help so far. I'm sure I'll have more questions as time goes on.

[USMCord1]

To remove the torsions you need a high end coil over not just a common shock with springs on it. But if you have that there is more to it but in a nut shell yes.
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For a Good time

[scott the viking]

Here is not an opinion but rather a FACT. If you put the oil cooler in front of the air intake it WILL cook the motor. When the factory set the oil cooler inside the shroud, they put it over number three cylinder, then the retarded the timing on only number three cylinder on the distributor so it would run a little cooler. The rest of the cylinders got cool air, not half obstructed hot air. Not to mention the in shroud cooler was meant for a street driven car with small tires and a box stock engine with all of it's cooling tin.
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[vidiesel]

How much restriction do think is going on with an oil cooler. I would say almost none. Had mine over the intake hole on My sand rail for years, on this motor approx 5 yrs. One thing is the oil cooler has stand offs so it is not a seal over the hole, still allowing all the cool air the engine needs and giving external cooler air fllow. The engine gets even more air flow since the factory cooler is gone. #3 piston has the problem due to the fact the factory cooler is actually blocking direct air flow across that head..