Lifted Sedan, Class 11, Full Body Baja, etc (pics 1st trip)

AZ-BUG · Last edited by AZ-BUG on Sun Oct 19, 2008 10:06 pm; edited 1 time in total

I've been lurking for a while, posted a couple of times, and now ready to share progress of my current project. It's a 71 bug which I am lifting for trail riding, etc.

Done so far:
- cut & turned front
- Hook & rod stops up front
- reinforce rear arms, relocate shock mounts
- index rear
- install cage (not bolted/welded yet)
- replace tierod ends with heims (outer only), reinforce tierods
- misc stuff (repack bearings, misc wiring, tune-up, replaced dash, etc)

Still to do:
- solid trans mounts
- cage to front susp & frame horns
- upper shock mounts (rear)
- spring plate retainer straps (rear)
- front & rear bumper/skid plates
- install seats
- misc interior work (carpet, etc)
- finish wiring
- new rubber (windows & doors)
- Bilsteins for the front
- take it for a test spin!!!

So here are some pics:

As it came home

Image may have been reduced in size. Click image to view fullscreen.

front susp stuff

rear susp stuff

stance

cage (reinforced front corner)

rear seat from a 2006 Jeep (not installed yet)

rear shocks...

Now all I need is more time & money to finish it!!!

Thanks for looking... let me know anything you think I should be doing differently. My intent is a reliable, comfortable car to take the family out in to the desert & mountains.

Previous VW's I've owned... a 66 bus back in the 80's, a baja in the 80's & 90's, a Class 9 with my brother (raced 94, 97 and 98 Baja 1000)... and now, 10 years later, this 71!

runslikeapenguin · Posted: Sat Apr 12, 2008 12:24 am Post subject:

looking good, i like it. i would recommend that you ditch those factory oil shocks though Smile

AZ-BUG · Posted: Sat Apr 12, 2008 7:14 am Post subject:

UncleDirty · Posted: Sat Apr 12, 2008 8:33 am Post subject:

Looks good! If you had a 9 car then you know all the tricks to keeping that bj beam alive. Wink

Are the lift spindles your handy work?

GhiaBateman · Posted: Sat Apr 12, 2008 8:44 am Post subject: Nice, I like it

AZ-Bug,
Really like what you've done so far. I'm headed towards the same thing with my '61 Ghia... I have a few Questions if you please.

Do you have Heim joints at both ends of the tierods, and do you like 'em? would make alignment easy...

Can you please post pics of the Jeep seat once it's in? I'd like to see how you mounted it up and can you measure the height of it after, The Ghia roof is lower, i'd like to see if this will work for me...

Are you planning on trimming the wheel wells at all, and thoughts on custom bumpers??

side note: Your rear shock mount seems it might be a bit weak (anyone with me?) I'm in the book of overdo it and go from there...

Great build so far, look forward to seeing the progress -Dave

AZ-BUG · Posted: Sat Apr 12, 2008 8:58 am Post subject: Spindles & heims

The lift spindles are not my handy work, got them here on the Samba, however PO didn't state the holes in the steering arm for the tie rod ends were messed up, that is why I ended up drilling them out and using heims. It went together nice, but I have 0 miles on them so can't comment on feel, etc. I have the stock TRE at the pitman arm.

I will gladly post seat install when I get there, progress has been on the slow side though, so don't hold your breath!

As for wheel wells, no plans to trim unless the tires are rubbing. For bumpers, I'm going to keep stock with some tubes to reinforce... from the beam coming forward & up, and in the rear coming off the frame horns and up to the bumper. Will post as I make these as well.

I've wondered about the rear shock mounts. I got really good penetration and nice welds, so I am not necessarily worried about the welds. I used 0.095 wall mild steel, and I am wondering if that section of tube right around the weld will crack/break... I may go ahead and add some gussets.

thanks for the comments

neanders · Posted: Sat Apr 12, 2008 9:41 am Post subject:

Very NICE!!! I like it!! One question and one suggestion: Where'd you get the hook stops for your front end? I need some of those. When you put your cage in, did you round the corners on the mounting plates? I read somewhere that if you round the corners, they're less likely to shear through the pan on impact.

Keep the pics coming!
_________________
It's mine now and I want a BAJA!!!

AZ-BUG · Posted: Sat Apr 12, 2008 11:26 am Post subject: Hook & Rod source

I got mine at McKenzies (http://www.mckenzies.com/), they have any gusset, tab, etc you could ever think of or want for an off-road vehicle. The folks there are extremely knowledgeable and have helped many a racer with their race cars including the limited classes like Class-11 and Class-9 (specifically for VW ball-joint front end stuff). I also got some really nice steering arm gussets there, as well as the shock bushings.

Have fun shopping...

earthquake · Posted: Sat Apr 12, 2008 6:59 pm Post subject:

AZ-Bug
what size tires are those? I need new tires for my class 11 look a like.

Earthquake
_________________
74 CLASS 11 LOOK-A-LIKE
69 DUNE BUGGY
79 INTERNATIONAL SCOUT II
05 SCION XB SERIES RELEASE 2[#437]
95 Chevy C3500 dually
98 Ford E150
Link to Kelly J. Nolte 3/20/53 - 11/6/08
https://time-zonelabs.blogspot.com/p/about-kelly.html
DEATH TO CHINGERS!
[From a military recruitment poster in the novel "The Stainless Steel Rat" By Harry Harrison]

AZ-BUG · Posted: Sat Apr 12, 2008 8:56 pm Post subject:

They are 235/75 -15's Definity A/T from Pep Boys, $70 each and if you follow their ads you can get 4 for the price of 3 (rebate). They seems pretty nice, and have like a 60k mi warranty.

TKS · Posted: Sat Apr 12, 2008 9:56 pm Post subject:

It's coming along great! Did you make the cage or buy it?

runslikeapenguin · Posted: Sat Apr 12, 2008 10:29 pm Post subject:

TKS · Posted: Sat Apr 12, 2008 11:20 pm Post subject:

Yeah, It looks a lot easier. How do you plan to tie in the rear shocks? Fab up a horizontal bar from the loop behind the front seats to the back mounts?

AZ-BUG · Posted: Sun Apr 13, 2008 12:12 am Post subject:

not sure yet... I think I may come up diagonally from the rear torsion housing, through the body behind the rear seat and into the two rear cage supports. I also plan to drop a couple of tubes down from the rear supports to the frame horns, so I think the diagonal ones coming up from the torsion housing will help support that as well. Any other ideas are welcome!

feuer_kampfer · Posted: Sun Apr 13, 2008 12:45 pm Post subject:

Hey Nice job...
I am looking to do similar on a 65 sedan. I want it to look like a militaryish "kdf" ( just a faint resembelance). What is the hook and rod deal on the control arms and axle,(i assume to limit wheel travel) and can I purchase a "pre lifted" beam or do those adjustable axles only lower? Any info you can throw is great..

bajahucks · Posted: Sun Apr 13, 2008 4:40 pm Post subject:

bug looks good and clean

neanders · Posted: Mon Apr 14, 2008 5:33 am Post subject:

Okay, I found the hook stop kit on McKenzie's, did they (or anyone else) provide you info on how to set them up? I am going to add these to my front end, as well as some gussetting (sp?) and weld the seams when I have the body off this week or next.
_________________
It's mine now and I want a BAJA!!!

oktr6r · Posted: Mon Apr 14, 2008 10:48 am Post subject:

feuer_kampfer · Posted: Mon Apr 14, 2008 11:13 am Post subject:

Is mcKinsies(sp.) a bug supplier?

AZ-BUG · Posted: Mon Apr 14, 2008 1:43 pm Post subject:


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Lifted Sedan, Class 11, Full Body Baja, etc (pics 1st trip)
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