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Pewpew82
Samba Member
Joined: June 10, 2025
Posts: 14
Location: NE Ohio
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 Posted: Wed Jun 11, 2025 7:04 am Post subject: 74 Baja Super |
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My daughter just picked this one up for our first father/daughter project from her great uncle. It is not yet delivered, I'm working on making room for it.
He also gave her most, if not all, of a fresh fiberglass baja body .
I'm told the engine is in pieces on the bench, so I know we have plenty of work.
I will update as much as I can as we get going.
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Baja restoration with my daughter
https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=803429
Last edited by Pewpew82 on Today 7:11 am; edited 1 time in total |
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NJ John
Samba Member
Joined: September 21, 2007
Posts: 2864
Location: HdG, MD & NJ
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| Posted: Wed Jun 11, 2025 2:19 pm Post subject: Re: 73 Baja Super |
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Make sure the Baja kit is for the late style Super beetle. The curved windshield makes the hood unique. Should be a fun project. You’ll have a whale tail of a time.
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1973 standard, yellow, lowered, 3” narrowed front, 1600 blo-thru turbo w/single dell 15.4@86, so far
11.41 et buggy. Long gone
Let’s go O’s! Let’s go O’s!
https://www.youtube.com/@AirSpooledGarage |
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Mikedrevguy
Samba Member
Joined: October 15, 2008
Posts: 2279
Location: No. Idaho
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| Posted: Wed Jun 11, 2025 7:15 pm Post subject: Re: 73 Baja Super |
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This is awesome. Had I not gotten the 69 Bwajaja I’d have done a Baja of my 1974 super.
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74 1303 (RevBug): plan for German Look
76 914 with 2260
79 VW Iltis
69 Bwajaja
"The wise speak because they have something to say; while the foolish speak because they have to say something." Plato
Illigitimi non-Carborundum!! |
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67rustavenger
Samba Member
Joined: February 24, 2015
Posts: 11015
Location: Oregon
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| Posted: Wed Jun 11, 2025 7:21 pm Post subject: Re: 73 Baja Super |
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This Super Baja was recently completed and sold. It's a badass build, if you have the funds to build it. 
https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=788317&highlight=baja
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I have learned over the years.
Cheap parts are gonna disappoint you.
Buy Once, Cry Once!
There's never enough time to do it right the first time. But there's always enough time to do it thrice.
GFY's Xevin and VW_Jimbo!
2003 Astrovan? GFYS again, Xevin!  |
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vamram 
Samba Member
Joined: March 08, 2012
Posts: 7996
Location: NOVA
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| Posted: Thu Jun 12, 2025 4:44 am Post subject: Re: 73 Baja Super |
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Holy crap 67! You just *really* complicated life for Dad! That's why I never get involved in other's "family business"!!! 
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"Men are qualified for civil liberty in exact proportion to their disposition
to put moral chains upon their own appetites. -Edmund Burke
“If something cannot go on forever, it will stop.”
Stop Russian-Soviet Aggression!!
'74 Super 9/16 - present, in refurb process.
'73 Super - 6/18 - Present - Daily Driver!
'75 Super Le Grande...languishing since 2022.
Click to view image
Save the Supers!! |
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Pewpew82
Samba Member
Joined: June 10, 2025
Posts: 14
Location: NE Ohio
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| Posted: Thu Jun 12, 2025 7:15 am Post subject: Re: 73 Baja Super |
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| vamram wrote: |
Holy crap 67! You just *really* complicated life for Dad! That's why I never get involved in other's "family business"!!! |
She already knows that it won't be "my" money. I will make sure it is safe for her. Any upgrades will be on her. My tools are at her disposal.
That build is amazing.
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Baja restoration with my daughter
https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=803429 |
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Buggeee
Samba Member
Joined: December 22, 2016
Posts: 4925
Location: Stuck in Ohio
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jinx758
Samba Member
Joined: October 04, 2014
Posts: 1022
Location: half a bubble from plumb
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| Posted: Thu Jun 12, 2025 3:36 pm Post subject: Re: 73 Baja Super |
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Interesting ... !
Please post progress, that's gonna be KOOL.
Does that frunk mounted tach pod hit the windshield ?
Different is good ... stay safe
jinx
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" It's not valuable unless you learn something from an experience. " Henry Ford
It's not unlike the same difference ...
My Craigslist rescued 100 footer :
1971 Standard Bug
1776cc dual port
034 distributor
38mm EGAS Carburetor |
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Pewpew82
Samba Member
Joined: June 10, 2025
Posts: 14
Location: NE Ohio
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| Posted: Fri Jun 13, 2025 6:42 am Post subject: Re: 73 Baja Super |
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| jinx758 wrote: |
Interesting ... !
Please post progress, that's gonna be KOOL.
Does that frunk mounted tach pod hit the windshield ?
Different is good ... stay safe
jinx |
First things first, we will have to move it from its current location to our house.
We will be cataloging the parts we have and making a game plan.
We have had a couple discussions about her vision for the car, and she may want to set up a rooftop tent at some point, so that's a hurdle we will have to tackle.
I will certainly make sure she has any information she needs as well as providing tools and time. Her little brother is looking forward to helping as well, so it will be a great bonding experience.
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Baja restoration with my daughter
https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=803429 |
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Pewpew82
Samba Member
Joined: June 10, 2025
Posts: 14
Location: NE Ohio
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| Posted: Fri Jun 13, 2025 7:44 am Post subject: Re: 73 Baja Super |
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I will be asking a ton of questions, but I will certainly check all of the sticky info and use the search feature first.
I'm excited as hell since I have been around cars my entire 42 years, but have not had the opportunity to build a VW.
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Baja restoration with my daughter
https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=803429 |
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Pewpew82
Samba Member
Joined: June 10, 2025
Posts: 14
Location: NE Ohio
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| Posted: Mon Jun 16, 2025 4:06 am Post subject: Re: 73 Baja Super |
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Went to get a few more pics of the Baja, now named after my daughter's great uncle. His childhood nickname was "Bimbo" Not sure what it meant, but that is the car's name now.
It needs ALOT of work, but it will be an absolute blast for me and my daughter.
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Baja restoration with my daughter
https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=803429 |
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Rome
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Joined: June 02, 2004
Posts: 10524
Location: Pearl River, NY
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| Posted: Mon Jun 16, 2025 2:26 pm Post subject: Re: 73 Baja Super |
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| Quote: |
| and she may want to set up a rooftop tent at some point |
You could remove that rooftop air scoop right away. In your cooler climate there's no need for using it for an extra engine oil cooler or for air intake. If it had an oil cooler already in place inside the scoop, see where the oil lines go into the engine bay, and if there was an adapter on the engine. Remove them and use an original style doghouse oil cooler base which does not use any fittings for external lines.
The huge rear spoiler is also unnecessary; but ultimately it depends on if your daughter likes the style or not.
Have you inspected the car to view the rust on the body and chassis? Beetles from your region tend to have lots of rust.
Can your daughter already drive a manual transmission car? |
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Pewpew82
Samba Member
Joined: June 10, 2025
Posts: 14
Location: NE Ohio
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| Posted: Thu Jun 19, 2025 3:56 am Post subject: Re: 73 Baja Super |
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| Rome wrote: |
| Quote: |
| and she may want to set up a rooftop tent at some point |
You could remove that rooftop air scoop right away. In your cooler climate there's no need for using it for an extra engine oil cooler or for air intake. If it had an oil cooler already in place inside the scoop, see where the oil lines go into the engine bay, and if there was an adapter on the engine. Remove them and use an original style doghouse oil cooler base which does not use any fittings for external lines.
The huge rear spoiler is also unnecessary; but ultimately it depends on if your daughter likes the style or not.
Have you inspected the car to view the rust on the body and chassis? Beetles from your region tend to have lots of rust.
Can your daughter already drive a manual transmission car? |
So far, she likes the spoiler. Her little brother and I are calling it the whale tail.
She has already changed her mind on the rooftop camping, and since it has "so much frunk space" she will be using a primitive tent when she wants to camp.
I will dive deep into the rust issues when its in my garage, I'm fully prepared for teaching her to weld.
She will be learning to drive manual in the wife's jeep until she understands friction points and such.
This is what the younger generation NEEDS. My daughter is a rare kid right now since she has the appreciation for things that actually last. At 16, she does very little social media, listens to my old records, and begged me to find her a vintage car like this.
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Baja restoration with my daughter
https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=803429 |
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Eriebugger
Samba Member
Joined: August 27, 2014
Posts: 44
Location: Erie, PA
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| Posted: Thu Jun 19, 2025 12:44 pm Post subject: Re: 73 Baja Super |
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Welcome to the world of VWs. I am in the process of building a 73 Super Beetle Baha myself, actually have been working on it off and on for about 10 years but life has gotten in the way frequently. As mentioned rust in our part of the country (I'm in NW PA) is the hardest part. As you know snow & salt takes it's toll. I didn't know how to weld when I started so it's been a long learning curve. My chassis is all rebuilt and I think I finally have all the rust repairs done. I'm planning to drop the body on for a little fab work before I pull it back off for painting. Hoping to use next winter for reassembly.
A couple thoughts for you, there is a Samba forum HBB Off Road that has info on Baha Bugs. Be aware though Super Beetles as Bahas aren't well thought of there. The MacPherson Strut suspension won't take the beating that the torsion front suspension on standard beetles do. I'm not worried about that as mine won't see a lot of off road use, mostly a daily driver with an occasional trail ride.
Also there are a couple of upcoming events that should be fairly close to you that you might want to check out to meet other VW folk and see what others have/are building. The first is JIm's Custom VW's Buckeye German Jubilee in Columbiana, OH on Saturday July 12, 2025. There is a car show, swap meet and discounts on merchandise in his shop. Next on Saturday August 30th is the VW Bug Infestation in Geneva on the lake. A great place for a car show.
If you go to either of the shows, PM me and maybe we can meet up and talk 73 Super Bahas. Good luck with your project, I'll be following.
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1974 Bus
1967 Beetle
1973 Super beetle(project)
1974 Super beetle(project) |
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Pewpew82
Samba Member
Joined: June 10, 2025
Posts: 14
Location: NE Ohio
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| Posted: Mon Jun 23, 2025 3:52 am Post subject: Re: 73 Baja Super |
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We found a German show on Saturday and my daughter got a few ideas and some inspiration.
I took a trip to the car's current location and picked up most of the spare body parts and a few other smalls.
Making room in the garage this week to get it home and get started on it.
I'm probably going to make this a build thread once we get started so we can document as much as possible.
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Baja restoration with my daughter
https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=803429 |
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Buggeee
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Joined: December 22, 2016
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Location: Stuck in Ohio
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Pewpew82
Samba Member
Joined: June 10, 2025
Posts: 14
Location: NE Ohio
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| Posted: Wed Jul 09, 2025 10:40 am Post subject: Re: 73 Baja Super |
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Took a trip to the car and found the original hood. Still has the old plate on it, will likely be a wall hanger with the frunk lid.
Engine is on a bench and I believe all parts are present except the car at my place now.
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Baja restoration with my daughter
https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=803429 |
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Pewpew82
Samba Member
Joined: June 10, 2025
Posts: 14
Location: NE Ohio
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| Posted: Fri Jul 18, 2025 10:16 am Post subject: Re: 73 Baja Super |
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Adding so more pictures. "Bimbo" is home now. We hauled it last night.
The front passenger brake is locked up right now, but that will be attended to on Sunday. We should be able to fit it in the garage soon.
After getting it mobile, the next order of business will be to get the disassembly started. The floors look like we will need to start there.
I didn't realize how short it is next to a modern truck.
Vintage KC lites, anyone?
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Baja restoration with my daughter
https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=803429 |
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jinx758
Samba Member
Joined: October 04, 2014
Posts: 1022
Location: half a bubble from plumb
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| Posted: Fri Jul 18, 2025 10:44 am Post subject: Re: 73 Baja Super |
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Looks like your rescue has found its "forever home". lol
Some of it looks a little crusty, just saw what state you're in.
Anything can be fixed.
Never seen those side window louvers -
cool factor x20 !
Get it safe
Get it to stop
Get it running
Make it pretty (optional)
Drive it everywhere
A little bit done every so often & BAM, satisfaction.
(They're never really done/finished).
Build it how you/she wants it.
Subscribed, good luck ... stay safe
jinx
_________________
" It's not valuable unless you learn something from an experience. " Henry Ford
It's not unlike the same difference ...
My Craigslist rescued 100 footer :
1971 Standard Bug
1776cc dual port
034 distributor
38mm EGAS Carburetor |
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Buggeee
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Joined: December 22, 2016
Posts: 4925
Location: Stuck in Ohio
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