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57baja Samba Member
Joined: April 15, 2008 Posts: 1166 Location: Kaddie Shack Temple City
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Posted: Sun Jan 11, 2009 10:28 am Post subject: Baja Squared |
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So I know I'm going to piss a few people off here, but I'm going to share what I'm doing anyway....
My 15 year old son and I went in together and bought a 71 squareback on December 10th for $400 with the intention of converting it to an off road vehicle. I took all the FI stuff off of it, figuring a simpler set of carbs and dizzy would be easier to repair in the dirt when banging around. I put ICT's on it and it runs very well. As you can see, we've lifted it and cut the fenders out to gain wheel travel. We're filling all the body molding holes and repairing the rust damage around the body. We're looking into taking the body off the pan today, and we're going to fabricate a full roll cage for the beast. I'm sure the T-3 purists will get all bent out of shape, but this will make a great off-road vehicle, and has plenty of room for his gear and stuff that he carries. We've got some extra parts (like bumpers, wheels, etc) that we'll be taking off and selling.
Before....
After....
Hopefully soon you'll be seeing it in the SoCal Bajas videos. _________________ KaddieShack.com - Kadron Carburetor Specialists, VW Parts and Accessories
Have fun with the KS crew on Facebook and keep up to date on the latest builds and happenings |
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type3dude Samba Member
Joined: March 07, 2007 Posts: 222 Location: Tacoma, Washington
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Posted: Sun Jan 11, 2009 12:00 pm Post subject: |
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...another perfectly good sunroof square... _________________ Cut shocks, carbon fiber hoods, and massive mufflers will never make a Honda any faster! |
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ballchain Samba Member
Joined: November 18, 2008 Posts: 56 Location: Bellaire, TX
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Posted: Sun Jan 11, 2009 12:16 pm Post subject: |
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I'm not purist, but....
Ouch.. |
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JSMskater Samba Grease Gorilla
Joined: February 01, 2006 Posts: 5362 Location: Murrieta California
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Posted: Sun Jan 11, 2009 1:38 pm Post subject: |
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althought I'm a purist...
I've been secretly harboring a chubby for this kind of conversion.
so far, the only bad thing is you've used a sunroof one but what the hell..
my suggestions:
fab up or modify some fender flares to give it a "factory" look. personally... if I was doing this I'd turn it into a pickup truck. that's just me though. _________________ 71 Squareback-FI -- 73 Bay (subaru powered)
TOOB Member #3
I make D-jet FI connectors |
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mfnheff Samba Member
Joined: November 03, 2008 Posts: 96 Location: va
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Posted: Sun Jan 11, 2009 3:47 pm Post subject: |
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i think square look awesome when they're lifted like that. i had thougt about doing the same thing to mine. i dig it
are those wide 5 adapters? where did you get them? |
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DHPfirefighter Samba Member
Joined: January 01, 2008 Posts: 238 Location: Albuquerque, NM
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Posted: Sun Jan 11, 2009 4:07 pm Post subject: |
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Looks good, keep going!!! |
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57baja Samba Member
Joined: April 15, 2008 Posts: 1166 Location: Kaddie Shack Temple City
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Posted: Sun Jan 11, 2009 4:16 pm Post subject: |
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JSMskater wrote: |
althought I'm a purist...
I've been secretly harboring a chubby for this kind of conversion.
so far, the only bad thing is you've used a sunroof one but what the hell..
my suggestions:
fab up or modify some fender flares to give it a "factory" look. personally... if I was doing this I'd turn it into a pickup truck. that's just me though. |
So maybe I should have told the guy, "No. I don't want the car for $400. It's got a working sunroof!"
I don't like the fender flare look. I want it to (sort of) retain the squareback look. I've been working on the fenders all day. They'll be cool and won't stand out. They'll match the car.
We're having fun with it. I can't wait until it's done.
Hey... My other car is an oval window baja. There's plenty of oval enthusiasts who'd like to hang me, too. It's fun though. If you're going to own a car that you really love, why not modify it to make it be what you like? I hope all of you purists type forgive me. I've been dreaming about cutting one of these up for over 20 years. It'll be cool when it's done. I promise. I do good work, and I won't waste this cool car.
Oh... and the wide 5 adapters came from Mooreparts. _________________ KaddieShack.com - Kadron Carburetor Specialists, VW Parts and Accessories
Have fun with the KS crew on Facebook and keep up to date on the latest builds and happenings |
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KTPhil Samba Member
Joined: April 06, 2006 Posts: 34009 Location: Conejo Valley, CA
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Posted: Sun Jan 11, 2009 4:41 pm Post subject: |
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I saw both cars, they are NOT hacks. They are well done, solid, professional. They know VWs and do it right.
Also, they are nice guys and sold me the front bumper at a great price. |
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vwfye Samba Member
Joined: April 15, 2000 Posts: 7661
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Posted: Sun Jan 11, 2009 5:04 pm Post subject: |
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way to follow through with your idea! forget the chirpers and stick to what you want to do! these cars are NOT rare. _________________ 64 No'back Speedster "Pearl"
1980s Sand Dragster "The Plunger"
LME "Little Giant Killer 3" |
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j5josher Samba Member
Joined: December 13, 2008 Posts: 778 Location: SC
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Posted: Sun Jan 11, 2009 6:52 pm Post subject: |
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did you have to notch the spring plate for that amount of lift.. and new cv's _________________ For any reason you believe me. Turn around and think differently. |
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JSMskater Samba Grease Gorilla
Joined: February 01, 2006 Posts: 5362 Location: Murrieta California
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Posted: Sun Jan 11, 2009 7:05 pm Post subject: |
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when i said flares, i really meant more of a subtle lip or something to set it apart from the flatish fender. if you leave it the way it is, IMO, it'll look funny and obviously cut. _________________ 71 Squareback-FI -- 73 Bay (subaru powered)
TOOB Member #3
I make D-jet FI connectors |
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mfnheff Samba Member
Joined: November 03, 2008 Posts: 96 Location: va
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Posted: Sun Jan 11, 2009 7:10 pm Post subject: |
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exactly...these cars aren't rare. some may have some rare options for certain people to obsess over, but that's about it. they're not bugattis or dinos. hell i cut up a running 68 mustang convertible, mainly for the satisfaction of cutting up a 68 mustang convertible.
but anyway, if it's your car, and it's something you wanna do with it, do it.
keep us informed with more progress pics |
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57baja Samba Member
Joined: April 15, 2008 Posts: 1166 Location: Kaddie Shack Temple City
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Posted: Sun Jan 11, 2009 7:18 pm Post subject: |
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j5josher wrote: |
did you have to notch the spring plate for that amount of lift.. and new cv's |
I didn't want to weaken the spring plate, so I just cut the stop off completely. I'll use some limiting straps to keep it from extending too far. I'm going to go with the T-4 and VW Thing CV's which are good to 22 degrees of travel. I measured the lift I have and at full extension I'm around 20 degrees. This leaves me with a bit of cushion.
I think I'm going to make some lifted spindles to get the front up 2 more inches. It looks easy enough to do. Maybe I'll even graft on some BJ T-1 spindles so the brake parts are cheaper and easier to get. Who knows. I'll play with the idea at some point in the future. I want to get it runable, then think about the other mods one at a time. _________________ KaddieShack.com - Kadron Carburetor Specialists, VW Parts and Accessories
Have fun with the KS crew on Facebook and keep up to date on the latest builds and happenings |
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j5josher Samba Member
Joined: December 13, 2008 Posts: 778 Location: SC
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Posted: Sun Jan 11, 2009 7:40 pm Post subject: |
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i could get some late square spindels and i was going to make a raise off them just to see how it feels... but i love your setup.. my fasty may not be a long ways behind you in the sky high club...
members 2 ... any one else want to join. you get a better ride and not be afraid of those big potholes... or rail road tracks?
and can i get a close up of the cutt up bump stop? i might try that ? and the limit strapes _________________ For any reason you believe me. Turn around and think differently. |
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so-calvwdude Samba Member
Joined: July 12, 2007 Posts: 532 Location: So Cal
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Posted: Sun Jan 11, 2009 7:53 pm Post subject: |
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Thats bad ass. I want to come out to one of the so cal baja runs. and see it when you get it done. _________________
iowegian wrote: |
I know a guy that put a Ghia motor in a bug. It would beat Mustangs. |
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notchback Insensitive Jerk
Joined: December 16, 2003 Posts: 7024 Location: Behind the Zion Curtain
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Posted: Sun Jan 11, 2009 8:03 pm Post subject: |
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type3dude wrote: |
...another perfectly good sunroof square... |
Looking perfectly good. Way to go. Someday I'll do it too. _________________
zeen wrote: |
Arguing with johnnypan is like mud-wrestling a pig. After a while you realize he just enjoys playing in the mud, winning the contest is not the point. |
FU#3 |
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DONGKG The Araneta Boys
Joined: August 28, 2006 Posts: 5475 Location: Cainta, Rizal, Philippines, "A Certified Type 3 and Karmann Ghia Maniac"
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ibjack Samba Member
Joined: February 06, 2002 Posts: 2106 Location: Imperial Beach CA
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Posted: Mon Jan 12, 2009 8:49 am Post subject: |
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I think that cutting up any car as a way to spend time with your kids instead of letting them roam the streets or who knows what is a perfectly fine idea. Oh BTW it's a fatty so who cares. Keep up the good work. _________________ '68 Lotus White T34 automatic sunroof
'64 Manila Yellow T34
'65 Sea Blue Square Panel
the1500club.com
Shop Lacky at the T3/34 Factory, https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100094313902074 |
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57baja Samba Member
Joined: April 15, 2008 Posts: 1166 Location: Kaddie Shack Temple City
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Posted: Tue Jan 20, 2009 1:18 am Post subject: |
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The body is off, and now it's time to do a body lift. I'm fabricating a 3" lift between the pan and the body. I ordered a bunch of steel today for the lift and the roll cage.... Yes, it's getting a full cage. Here's where it starts getting fun. This is more or less what it should end up looking like. It's always more fun to skip to the last chapter of the book for a sneak-preview, huh?
I know. All you lowered guys are having a cow right about now. Get over it.
.... So the fenders needed a little cleaning up to make them look cool and (sort of) factory-like, not to mention the fact that they needed strengthening after they were cut.
I'm doing the fronts like this: First I bought a couple of 6' pieces of 1/2" x 1/8" steel strap. I hand bent them very carefully to follow the contours of the new fender openings.
Then, I stitch welded them in place to the sheet metal fenders:
A little grinding made them smooth:
A bit of fiberglass reinforced body filler made them ugly:
A bit of sandpaper helped to shape them to final form.
They're not done yet. I just shot some primer over them to see the imperfections. They still need sanding in some spots, and a touch of filler in others. You get the point, though. They're much stronger now than the flimsy sheet metal with a raw edge. The fronts are tough, but the rears are going to be even worse. I'm going to focus on the body lift for a bit now, along with grinding and filling and shaping on the fronts in between other tasks. _________________ KaddieShack.com - Kadron Carburetor Specialists, VW Parts and Accessories
Have fun with the KS crew on Facebook and keep up to date on the latest builds and happenings |
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j5josher Samba Member
Joined: December 13, 2008 Posts: 778 Location: SC
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Posted: Tue Jan 20, 2009 5:22 am Post subject: |
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57baja wrote: |
The body is off, and now it's time to do a body lift. I'm fabricating a 3" lift between the pan and the body. I ordered a bunch of steel today for the lift and the roll cage.... Yes, it's getting a full cage. Here's where it starts getting fun. This is more or less what it should end up looking like. It's always more fun to skip to the last chapter of the book for a sneak-preview, huh?
I know. All you lowered guys are having a cow right about now. Get over it.
.... So the fenders needed a little cleaning up to make them look cool and (sort of) factory-like, not to mention the fact that they needed strengthening after they were cut.
I'm doing the fronts like this: First I bought a couple of 6' pieces of 1/2" x 1/8" steel strap. I hand bent them very carefully to follow the contours of the new fender openings.
Then, I stitch welded them in place to the sheet metal fenders:
A little grinding made them smooth:
A bit of fiberglass reinforced body filler made them ugly:
A bit of sandpaper helped to shape them to final form.
They're not done yet. I just shot some primer over them to see the imperfections. They still need sanding in some spots, and a touch of filler in others. You get the point, though. They're much stronger now than the flimsy sheet metal with a raw edge. The fronts are tough, but the rears are going to be even worse. I'm going to focus on the body lift for a bit now, along with grinding and filling and shaping on the fronts in between other tasks. |
sweet man... i just got my frist baja bug... aka spider bug...
once i learn enought out of it i'll start bajaing my fasty... _________________ For any reason you believe me. Turn around and think differently. |
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