Baja Squared

57baja · Posted: Sun Jan 11, 2009 10:28 am Post subject: Baja Squared

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....

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

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

type3dude · Posted: Sun Jan 11, 2009 12:00 pm Post subject:

...another perfectly good sunroof square...
_________________
Cut shocks, carbon fiber hoods, and massive mufflers will never make a Honda any faster!

ballchain · Posted: Sun Jan 11, 2009 12:16 pm Post subject:

I'm not purist, but....

Ouch.. Crying or Very sad

JSMskater · Posted: Sun Jan 11, 2009 1:38 pm Post subject:

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

mfnheff · Posted: Sun Jan 11, 2009 3:47 pm Post subject:

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?

DHPfirefighter · Posted: Sun Jan 11, 2009 4:07 pm Post subject:

Looks good, keep going!!!

57baja · Posted: Sun Jan 11, 2009 4:16 pm Post subject:

KTPhil · Posted: Sun Jan 11, 2009 4:41 pm Post subject:

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.

vwfye · Samba Member Joined: April 15, 2000 Posts: 7661

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"

j5josher · Posted: Sun Jan 11, 2009 6:52 pm Post subject:

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.

JSMskater · Posted: Sun Jan 11, 2009 7:05 pm Post subject:

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

mfnheff · Posted: Sun Jan 11, 2009 7:10 pm Post subject:

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

57baja · Posted: Sun Jan 11, 2009 7:18 pm Post subject:

j5josher · Posted: Sun Jan 11, 2009 7:40 pm Post subject:

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... Wink

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.

so-calvwdude · Posted: Sun Jan 11, 2009 7:53 pm Post subject:

Thats bad ass. I want to come out to one of the so cal baja runs. and see it when you get it done.
_________________

notchback · Posted: Sun Jan 11, 2009 8:03 pm Post subject:

DONGKG · Posted: Sun Jan 11, 2009 10:46 pm Post subject:

Baja Type 3! Wow! It has sunroof! ~~~~~~ Wink

_________________
'67 KG Cabrio (Mickey) ;
'66 Type 3 (Sharky 2)
'72 Type 2 Homey
'67 Splitty Bus
'65 beetle;'69 Country Buggy; '44 Kubelwagen (replica) TOOB MEMBER #20

ibjack · Posted: Mon Jan 12, 2009 8:49 am Post subject:

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

57baja · Posted: Tue Jan 20, 2009 1:18 am Post subject:

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

j5josher · Posted: Tue Jan 20, 2009 5:22 am Post subject:


Hello! Log in or Register \| Help \| Donate \| Buy Shirts	See all banner ads \| Advertise on TheSamba.com

	Forum Index -> Type 3	All times are Mountain Standard Time/Pacific Daylight Savings Time Page: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 Next
Page 1 of 6

Baja Squared
Page: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 Next