Baja Bug owners

[coondawg47]

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[McTavish]

Sweet. I had one years ago with an 1835 in it.
Then got into sand rails. Just sold my last one not long ago.

[McTavish]

LOL, my 1st rail broke the pressure plate during an off road fun fest. I drove it home locked in 2nd gear. Yep mine stayed parked in the winter too. LOL

[EDELWEISS]

My first car was a '66 Beetle. I bought the "Narrow Eye" , Baja kit from Montgomery Wards. It had the head lights in the "grill" instead of the fenders.
http://www.chircoestore.com/catalog/images/bugeyekit.jpg

My Dad and I used adapters from Western Auto to mount full size Chevy wheels. I wanted a Porsche 914 engine, it was supposed to be a drop in fit; but I sold the BUG before I found one I could afford. It saw still pretty zippy. Nothing could beat you off the line; but everything beat you to the next night, unless you hopped a curb to shorten the distance........

I heard the guy I sold it to, shaved the pistons for more speed and pushed a rod for his trouble.

Ive been wondering if anybody is doing that kinda stuff with the "NEW" Bugs????

[McTavish]

I saw a pic of a new Bug done as a Baja for a race, that would have been a few years back in Hot VWs.

[McTavish]

Here is one I just found doing a google search. Doesn't look near as good as an older bug done right.
http://i189.photobucket.com/albums/z269/blueflu/HotWheelsNBBaja3.jpg

[CouchTater]

Coondawg, how does your Bug handle in the snow?

I've been curious about them for years, never had the time or money to build one. I love the seemingly infinite customizability. Engines, gearboxes, suspension, cages, etc. I'd want to build one with muddability, a real torque monster engine (maybe a Subaru flat 4?), and lots of gas tankage.

[CouchTater]

Holy cow! 30 mpg on such old technology is impressive. Your engine is carbureted?

[fldback]

Man this brings back some old memories.

My first vehicle was a '71 Super Beetle. Not able to convert it to a Baja with the strut front end so I dropped the front end and shaved it and had one of the first Cal Style Bugs in Casa Grande.

I also owned a '73 Beetle while I was living in Iowa. It went anywhere I pointed it. Wish I still had it. It would be a baja now.

Both had 1600s in them. I couldn't break them and GOD knows I tried.

[Kansas Volunteer]

I got 35 mpg out of my carbureted '69 on the highway. I could bust through snow drifts with it. I'd just get up some speed, hit the drift, and slide over on the floor pan. There's a Baja near me for sale -- it's been sitting a long time, no telling why -- I've been thinking about stopping and asking about it. I don't really need it, but I've just been looking for something fun to drive. To me, a 1500 cc engine is big enough, I'd just want a limited slip differential, and I'd be set.

[McTavish]

Just found some pix of a bug I owned. Not really a Baja per say but it was a BEAST. Bug body on a cj6 frame with the Dauntless V6 oddfire. 5.38:1 R&P etc. It was fun but rolled over very easy. The camo job was more to hide body damage than anything. :rolleyes1:

http://i189.photobucket.com/albums/z269/blueflu/6-26-2008-09.jpg
http://i189.photobucket.com/albums/z269/blueflu/6-26-2008-10.jpg

[s4141]

Nice Bugs! I didn't have one to drive when I was young. I had a '73 pinto. I think my parents were hoping I would get rear-ended.

[Czechsix]

I've got a squareback that's on my list of things to do. Planning on lifting it a bit, different tires/wheels, etc. Caged, prerunner bumpers, more storage space. I've had one baja before, but it was a bug. I'm looking forward to the squareback.

[Netpackrat]

Just found some pix of a bug I owned. Not really a Baja per say but it was a BEAST. Bug body on a cj6 frame with the Dauntless V6 oddfire. 5.38:1 R&P etc. It was fun but rolled over very easy. The camo job was more to hide body damage than anything. :rolleyes1:

That poor Jeep....

[fldback]

That poor Jeep....

That was my thought!

I just watched "Three Kings" the other day. I ran baja bugs/sand rails all over the area they filmed the movie. I remember not understanding why it was such a big deal that Clooney took a limo to the WalMart in CG. He's just another guy that needs basics like everyone else. I thought it was cool that he didn't just send someone for the stuff.

[McTavish]

That poor Jeep....

I know, I didn't build it if that helps. :sad:

[5thShock]

Czechsix...a squareback going toward a Cherokee sounds like an interesting project. A lightweight monocoque shoe box that can go places. Please put up some pictures when you've got something.

[Netpackrat]

That was my thought!

I just watched "Three Kings" the other day. I ran baja bugs/sand rails all over the area they filmed the movie. I remember not understanding why it was such a big deal that Clooney took a limo to the WalMart in CG. He's just another guy that needs basics like everyone else. I thought it was cool that he didn't just send someone for the stuff.

I bet his limo driver doesn't mind having work. People who bitch about the priveleges of the "rich" never seem to take into account that they are keeping food on some regular guy's table.

[Kansas Volunteer]

I've got a squareback that's on my list of things to do. Planning on lifting it a bit, different tires/wheels, etc. Caged, prerunner bumpers, more storage space. I've had one baja before, but it was a bug. I'm looking forward to the squareback.

That would be really cool. Some outfit used to sell body lift kits for type 3s. Way back in the early '70s one of the VW magazines, before they merged, featured an article about a guy who extensively traveled in his square back. He removed the back seat and installed built-in storage, and turned the passenger seat around so he could use the flat space created by the storage compartments. I could sleep well enough in the back of my square back.

[fldback]

I know, I didn't build it if that helps. :sad:

Only a little! :tongue:

[s4141]

The heart of the jeep is still in there though!

[Czechsix]

I actually got this T3 from a buddy on a trade - he'd converted it way back when to an electric car, so it's pretty well stripped as far as interior goes (perfect! less work for me!), but all the running gear is there. I've got a couple old engines floating around, one'll get rebuilt, maybe some different sheet metal, maybe not, and then the fun really begins. I always looked at the squarebacks and thought they'd be a great budget car to build for desert fun. Never saw many, but it seems lots of folks I talk to have seen build ups, but danged if I can find past owners, and even photos are hard to find. It'll be a cheap build and the most expensive parts are probably going to be the zerorust paints LOL.Then again, I hang out with hard core desert racers and I've seen more than one project that has started in one direction and ended up as something completely different. As I build her up I'll post pics on various forums...lots of other projects first though, sigh.

[Kansas Volunteer]

Cxechsix, I used to work nights on a drilling rig. On those rare days I had off, we'd sometimes go visit family. I'd sleep in back of the squareback while my wife drove. I always slept with my feet over the engine. Even though the lid was insulated, my feet would get hot. If you plan on sleeping in yours, work out a way to keep the area over the engine cooler to the touch. The old V-Dub magazines of forty years ago used to occasionally feature a type 3 set up for offroading. I don't recall any that had the body all chopped up like a Baja Bug. The original idea behind those was racing the Baja 1000, not just offroad driving. If I were building a type 3, I'd go with a remote oil cooler and filter, both to keep the oil cool and gain a couple of quarts. I'd install a windage tray if building an engine. Basic hotrodding stuff like porting, polishing and cc'ing the heads, balancing the pistons and cranks ought to be done if building from scratch. I wouldn't go overboard, just pay attention to details. Definitely a limited slip in the differential.

[wil]

Holy cow! 30 mpg on such old technology is impressive. Your engine is carbureted?

Easily done if you set it up right.

Add edit: had the same results with a datsun 510, went from L16 to L20B < (2000cc engine vrs 1600cc engine) on the car. A lot more torque & increased the mileage IF driven the same.

[wil]

Any bug fanatics on this board? I have a 68 sedan, 235 75/15s in the rear and 215 75/15s up front, with 14 inches of clearance. 1641 motor. Best off road vehicle I have ever driven!
http://www.warriortalk.com/http://i1218.photobucket.com/albums/dd414/coondawg47/0605111442.jpghttp://i1218.photobucket.com/albums/dd414/coondawg47/0605111442.jpg

Very nice ride, exactly what I'm starting to look for. 1641cc = 1mm overbore? I was thinking about stock bore & rods but use the 68 mm stroker crank. If I have it right that'll allow stock rods & no clearancing the cases?

[Czechsix]

Thanks for those ideas KV, makes sense with the insulation. Even though I don't plan on sleeping in it, one never knows....

Good thoughts on finding some of those old VW mags from way back, unfortunately I've long ago tossed the stash of old mags out. On the samba site there are a few cool bugs, and one is pretty similar to what I'm thinking of:
17305

I agree with you on the additional cooling and filtration, having that on any engine is never a bad idea. Matter of fact,everything I own is set up with that...from the XR, to the NV4500 5 speed in the suburban. Somewhere floating around I've got an old copy of the Hibbards book, lots of what I plan on doing will be covered in that. I guess a close idea to what I'm thinking of is making a semi-copy of a Sugga. Since I haven't really been able to find a Sugga I can afford...hey, there's that old squareback hehe.

[5thShock]

Thanks for that video. Nice to see the view out of that windshield again, a cooler ride than I knew at the time.