What to look for in a Baja Project Bug

HURF · Last edited by HURF on Mon Oct 17, 2005 5:11 pm; edited 1 time in total

My daughter has always wanted a Yellow slug bug. We saw a Yellow Baja Bug at Silver Lake Sand Dunes in Mears Mi this summer,,,she fell in love.

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I build Jeep CJ's. I know nothing of bugs other than what I see while crawling around a couple,,they look simple,,like a Jeep. Soooo I am looking around for a Baja Project for my daughter and myself to build.

I will keep it mild while she is driving it. But I want to have a good base to start a strong off-road build when I reaquire it,,I assume she will want somthing more ,,$$$$$,,after a year or two
,
Like Jeeps, I am certain that there are yrs/models that are better suited for a baja build.

Your input is greatly appreciated

HURF[img][/img]

dr. awsome · Samba Member Joined: May 19, 2005 Posts: 1298

first step welcome to the REAL off-road world! Crawling is great! That's where i started my off road life. One of the first things you need to do is go buy a book called baja bugs and buggies. This is the baja bible as many people will tell you. You can get it at just about any online book store. I would read it word for word before you buy a bug because this will tell you some thing sot look for. As well as my favorite repair manual for vw's is how to keep your Volkswagen alive, the idiots guide to vw's. This will also be a big help in your build.
While looking for you baja I would keep your eye out on ebay as well as there are sever great project cars here in the classifieds section. Depending where you are or how far your willing to drive you can get some great deals.
Question: How mild are you looking to build? So you mean stock bepober that is fine for the dunes and fire trails? Or do you want to do some fairly aggressive driving a little ways down the road? once we know the answers to these it will help us guide you on what mod you'll need to look to do.
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is it time to get out of the dirt and switch to the street?

Randyzzz · Posted: Mon Oct 17, 2005 4:05 pm Post subject:

Cool...another person stricken by the Jeep/VW obsession!
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Randy Statton
Old Souls Retros
"It's not what you buy, it's what you build"
73 Bus "Annie"
81 Jeep Scrambler
82 Jeep Scrambler

bajaherbie · Posted: Mon Oct 17, 2005 4:13 pm Post subject:

the book is by jeff hibbard. usually the best deals are a project that somebody else gave up on or somebody that is getting out of the vw hobby. stay away from all super beetles, their macphereson strut front end is junk off road.

read all the topics in the second forum post, lots of good info there....
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Brian T. · Posted: Mon Oct 17, 2005 4:42 pm Post subject:

There are two ideas on what year to buy. One idea is to get a 1965 or older bug with the link pin front end. And at some point change the swing axle rear of the car over to irs. The second idea is two buy a late 1968 on up with a irs rear and change the balljoint front over to link pin. The link pin front. irs rear is what most people go for. With this setup the options are almost unlimited. Most people would get a late 68 on up and replace the pan head with a link pin. At this point you have the option of going to a wider and longer front track. 3x3's rear arms are available for the rear for added width and length.
Brian

HamburgerBrad · Posted: Mon Oct 17, 2005 4:50 pm Post subject:

for a budget car, i'd get a model year 69 or later. the stock BJ front end is pretty strong, and you can't beat IRS. i'd stay away from the earlier cars for the reasons of swing axle, and cost. you can pick up later cars dirt cheap compared to their earlier counterparts.
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OGST | CU05 | OGJHC
1970 baja|1953 oval

Wanted: two beat up, ugly, curb rashed 6" phone dial wheels

SHMO · Posted: Mon Oct 17, 2005 5:04 pm Post subject:

I pretty much agree with buying a 1969 or later Bug. That will be the best platform to build a great off road car on. I also agree that finding one already cut and Baja'd would be the best bet. Fiberglass alone can run you well over $500, so finding one that already has it is a bonus. If at all possible, I would post any vehicles that you are considering to purchase. Guys on here are really sharp on the going price for VW stuff. It doesn't hurt to ask opinions. To go on further, I totally agree with buying the baja bugs and buggies book. It is invaluable for someone just starting off. Other than that, I would refer to people in the know before doing any major improvements on your project. When I first got into them, I found there is about a thousand different ways to do every modification on a Baja, and that some parts were good and some were absolute garbage. You will not find a bigger range of quality in any motorsport.

SHMO
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SHMO's Baja

dr. awsome · Samba Member Joined: May 19, 2005 Posts: 1298

one that I personally think would be a good candidate to start with is one that tim is selling here on the samba it looks like a solid car and was one I was considering until I found mine on ebay for 204 last week. Here's the link to tims baja at 400 bucks it seems like a pretty good deal.

http://www.thesamba.com/vw/classifieds/detail.php?id=226967

Hope no one objects to me posting this. If you do sorry I'm still learning the edicate.
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is it time to get out of the dirt and switch to the street?

bajaherbie · Posted: Mon Oct 17, 2005 6:14 pm Post subject:

avoid the '68 model that has swing axle rear and ball joint front. sorta the worst of both worlds.... Very Happy

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Brian T. · Posted: Tue Oct 18, 2005 1:43 am Post subject: Not all 68's are swing axle

Not all 68 bugs are swing axle. The late 68 cars had irs I have owned two of the 68 irs cars. 69 was the first complete year of the irs. My current Baja is a 68 irs.

SHMO · Posted: Tue Oct 18, 2005 10:24 am Post subject:

Are you sure it isn't a 69 model year that was built in late 1968? That's pretty common. I have owned SEVERAL vehicles that had build dates on them dating before their supposed first year in production. Keep in mind, that most factories build stuff all year long. It aint like they switch gears on January 1st.

SHMO
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SHMO's Baja

bajaherbie · Posted: Tue Oct 18, 2005 10:34 am Post subject:

josiah has the swing/ball joiint combo. i thought it was a '68 , but i might be wrong.....
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HamburgerBrad · Posted: Tue Oct 18, 2005 10:42 am Post subject:

shmo is correct. however, if you bought at the very beginning of the model year of 1969 (probably late august) i could see it being registered as a 1968.

all US Import beetles in model year 1967 had swing axle transmissions
all US Import beetles in model year 1968 with manual transmissions had swing axle transmissions
all US Import beetles in model year 1968 with autostick transmissions had IRS transmissions
all US Import beetles in model year 1969 had IRS transmissions

_________________
OGST | CU05 | OGJHC
1970 baja|1953 oval

Wanted: two beat up, ugly, curb rashed 6" phone dial wheels

65BAJA · Posted: Tue Oct 18, 2005 11:22 am Post subject:

Another thing to think about is single port/dual port heads for the motor. I believe 70/71 is the split for that. And what is the first year of the doghouse oil cooler and the dual relief engine case? 73?
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All the good deals in the world will still make you poor.

I'll finish it!... Some day....
Edit, I started in 2003 and still haven't built a driving Baja. lol

HamburgerBrad · Posted: Tue Oct 18, 2005 11:34 am Post subject:

[email protected] · Posted: Tue Oct 18, 2005 5:31 pm Post subject:

I'm jumping on the 69-up train as well Smile

vwRyan · Posted: Tue Oct 18, 2005 6:31 pm Post subject:

I have a 72 super beetle that i am turning into a baja. im allready done bajaing the back but when i tryed to put the front hood on it was too skinney and the nose cone woldent work eather. i spent over 900$ on the kit and found out you cant get a fiberglas baja kit for super beetles and i just dont want to give up on it, but i still want to make it a baja but dont know how i would get a front end. if aneyone had aney ideas on what i could do it would be appreciated.

dr. awsome · Samba Member Joined: May 19, 2005 Posts: 1298

sorry to tell you but the best way to baja a super is to sell it and start again with a normal bug. Supers are very weak in suspension design and will not hold up to really any sort of off road abuse. Sorry again to burst your bubble.
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is it time to get out of the dirt and switch to the street?

HamburgerBrad · Posted: Tue Oct 18, 2005 7:51 pm Post subject:

they do make baja kits for super beetles, but like stated earlier, the super is not the greatest platform to off-road.
_________________
OGST | CU05 | OGJHC
1970 baja|1953 oval

Wanted: two beat up, ugly, curb rashed 6" phone dial wheels

Randyzzz · Posted: Tue Oct 18, 2005 9:41 pm Post subject:

Ryan-
Try these guys... http://www.markvfiberglass.com/catalog/kits/kits.html
_________________
Randy Statton
Old Souls Retros
"It's not what you buy, it's what you build"
73 Bus "Annie"
81 Jeep Scrambler
82 Jeep Scrambler


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