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eetdrt88
Senior Nomad
Posts: 986
Registered: 2-20-2005
Location: Az/Ca/Baja
Member Is Offline
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baja bug?
i want to make a regular VW bug a baja bug,anybody ever attempted this in nomad land???
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woody with a view
PITA Nomad
Posts: 15939
Registered: 11-8-2004
Location: Looking at the Coronado Islands
Member Is Offline
Mood: Everchangin'
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have had both, but all three came in that state. i'm sure you only have to remove the fenders and hoods, re-attach plasctic or fiberglass fenders. get
some shocks and an engine cage, maybe a new exhaust and you're there.
and tires...
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bajaloco
Nomad
Posts: 159
Registered: 12-5-2002
Location: Huntington Beach, California
Member Is Offline
Mood: wishin I was fishin
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I've done it but in was many years back. You need to start with a VW with IRS rear suspension, not swing axel. You can raise the rear torsion and not
change the camber of the wheels on an IRS suspension. The front end will need to be lifted also. There is some body cutting involved on both the front
and rear of the car. It all depends on what you want, one piece front end, ect. Go out and pick up a VW magazine and maybe to a VW show and go from
there. It also depends on how handy you are. A 1969 VW is the earliest you should use.
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Neal Johns
Super Nomad
Posts: 1687
Registered: 10-31-2002
Location: Lytle Creek, CA
Member Is Offline
Mood: In love!
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You need this used book (about $10 bucks) from:
http://shorterlink.com/?JVK14A
Hibbard, Jeff
BAJA BUGS & BUGGIES - How to Prepare VW-based Cars for Off-road Fun and Racing. Engine & Transaxle Modes. Suspension & Steering Mods. Roll
Bars, Cages & Skip Plates. Tires, Wheels & Brakes. Driving Lights & Electrical Tips. Driving & Safety Tips.
Los Angeles, CA: HP Books, 1986 Soft Cover. Good. 8 1/2 x 11". pp160.
My motto:
Never let a Dragon pass by without pulling its tail!
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surfer jim
Super Nomad
Posts: 1891
Registered: 8-29-2003
Location: high desert
Member Is Offline
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did this 25 years ago....what year bug?......I think you would be MUCH better off buying something already built...they are cheap...and you can just
go drive it....lots of work and $$$$ involved and you will NEVER be finished as there is always something else that needs to be
changed/improved.....tell us more about what you want to have when you are done...and I suggest you go see a few finished vehicles that you like and
see what people have done to them....
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bajalou
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 4459
Registered: 3-11-2004
Location: South of the broder
Member Is Offline
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Baja bugs, desert rails and other off road VW based toys work great but need maintance.
My saying is "If it doesn't need fixed, its just been parked in the garage" If you use them off road, ya gotta keep them up.
One of the first things you have to learn is to "Tighten your nuts"
No Bad Days
\"Never argue with an idiot. People watching may not be able to tell the difference\"
\"The trouble with doing nothing is - how do I know when I\'m done?\"
Nomad Baja Interactive map
And in the San Felipe area - check out Valle Chico area |
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Bajaddict
Junior Nomad
Posts: 50
Registered: 12-6-2002
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I've had a couple of Baja Bugs.... Johnny's Speed and Chrome in Buena Park is a good resource - just bring money! They are fun, but involve a lot of
wrenching. For the $ involved, I'd just go buy a beater Tacoma.
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Desertbull
Senior Nomad
Posts: 558
Registered: 8-27-2003
Member Is Offline
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We built a cool little Baja Bug last year...you can visit it at
The Car named El Robi
Just another Baja Bug built for fun!
DREAM IT! PLAN IT! LIVE IT!
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Mexray
Super Nomad
Posts: 1016
Registered: 8-30-2002
Location: California Delta
Member Is Offline
Mood: Baja Time
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Bajaddict
Johnny's Speed & Chrome...now there's a name from the past...have spent a small fortune there years ago during my Sand Rail, buggie, and Baja Bug
years!
Are they still in business - I remember you could buy just about anything you needed for a rail or bug, there!
The Bug I built had a 67 as a 'donor' chassis...bought it from a tow company for $50 as the front end was damaged - a perfect candidate for the BB
conversion! I think I bought all the f/glass panels, Nerf bars, exhaust, white spoke wheels, cutting brake, etc, etc from Johnny's.
According to my clock...anytime is \'BAJA TIME\' & as Jimmy Buffett says,
\"It doesn\'t use numbers or moving hands It always just says now...\"
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Bajaddict
Junior Nomad
Posts: 50
Registered: 12-6-2002
Member Is Offline
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Perhaps they are no longer in business, Mexray. I did a quick search on them before posting and came up with a few hits. Since reading your post I
checked the yahoo yellow pages - no match!
I should have checked my facts before posting....
Lot's of folks posting about their "Johnny's Speed and Chrome" buggys.... must still be a number of them out there.
[Edited on 5-6-2005 by Bajaddict]
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bajalou
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 4459
Registered: 3-11-2004
Location: South of the broder
Member Is Offline
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Southern Calif his the home of several suppliers of VW parts for off road or customized vehicles. You have some of the best prices for kits etc in
the country in LA and Orange counties - Pick up a issue of "Dunebuggies and Hot VWs" magazine and check out the advertisers. It comes out about the
2nd of the month so should be on the stands now. Also the book Neal Johns recomended will be a great help. Bajaloco recomended a IRS pan, but there
are many Baja Bugs built on the swing axel model. VW of Mexico never went to the IRS rear suspension building only swing axel until the final one
produced last year. Make sure you have a title to the doner car and the regristration up to date. Big penalties for old registrations. If you can't
use the origional pan/title for the year of manufacture, you have to come up to todays smog laws - about impossible - if you want it registered for
street use.
No Bad Days
\"Never argue with an idiot. People watching may not be able to tell the difference\"
\"The trouble with doing nothing is - how do I know when I\'m done?\"
Nomad Baja Interactive map
And in the San Felipe area - check out Valle Chico area |
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Bajadtodebone
Junior Nomad
Posts: 36
Registered: 1-8-2005
Location: Kingston Springs TN/Campo Gecko
Member Is Offline
Mood: baja dreamin'
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baja bug
I have a '66 baja conversion for sale. fresh 1600 dual port and less than 1500 street miles on it. I currently have it stored in BOLA. Interested,
email simondphotographic@comcast.net
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Barry A.
Select Nomad
Posts: 10007
Registered: 11-30-2003
Location: Redding, Northern CA
Member Is Offline
Mood: optimistic
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Baja Bug garages--------
"Edge Industries" in Imperial, Ca (in the Imperial Valley---just north of El Centro) specialized in Baja Bugs-----he may still be in business----have
not been by there in years.
Just a thought.
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John M
Super Nomad
Posts: 1919
Registered: 9-3-2003
Location: California High Desert
Member Is Offline
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Books
eetdrt88 - I have the book Neal mentioned and if you are serious I'll mail it to you if you want it. I have two other real good vw books also, if you
are interested.
why don't you email me direct.
jnmarnell "at" yahoo.com
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MIKEMCCARTY
Newbie
Posts: 21
Registered: 5-20-2004
Member Is Offline
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BAJA BUGS
VW PARADISE IN SAN MARCOS, has been helping me with my project, they also have a web site you can check out. I started with a 68, bought it for
400.00, now have 3,200.invested and still going. I am not sure when to stop! I think i was bit by a baja bug....
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El Camote
Senior Nomad
Posts: 514
Registered: 9-7-2003
Location: Above the clouds
Member Is Offline
Mood: y Blues
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More, Mike, more!
I've got a '69 that I bought for...NOTHING. I traded an '83 Chevy S-10 truck with a bad carb. for it. Would love to know what you've done to yours
so far, Mike. Pics would be really cool. 
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m.mccarty
Newbie
Posts: 2
Registered: 5-4-2005
Member Is Offline
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baja bugs
Not sure how to put pics on site yet, only a junoir nomad. I have a stock 1600, but put a super sand trans, close ratio gears. I have the swing axle
which does limmit me on the hight I can go but so far it has been working for me. I put an adjustable front end which does need some axle cutting. the
shocks I have are KYB. The motor was just rebuilt. I rebuilt the brake system and having some issues with it, a project in its self. I took my kids to
the desert,borego and it climbed everthing I tried. So far so good, like I said I cant stop. Like the post ahead of me said, I should have started
with a Irs sytem fisrt if I was going to go this far,Too late..
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m.mccarty
Newbie
Posts: 2
Registered: 5-4-2005
Member Is Offline
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Sorry I have not figured out how to post from my work sign on. had to use a short cut.
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bajalou
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 4459
Registered: 3-11-2004
Location: South of the broder
Member Is Offline
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| Quote: | Originally posted by Barry A.
"Edge Industries" in Imperial, Ca (in the Imperial Valley---just north of El Centro) specialized in Baja Bugs-----he may still be in business----have
not been by there in years.
Just a thought. |
He's still there Barry - still kind of grumpy but with lots of stuff
On Aten Rd a block or so west of hghy 86 (Imperial Ave)
No Bad Days
\"Never argue with an idiot. People watching may not be able to tell the difference\"
\"The trouble with doing nothing is - how do I know when I\'m done?\"
Nomad Baja Interactive map
And in the San Felipe area - check out Valle Chico area |
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bajalou
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 4459
Registered: 3-11-2004
Location: South of the broder
Member Is Offline
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| Quote: | Originally posted by m.mccarty
Like the post ahead of me said, I should have started with a IRS | Quote: |
You can change to IRS if you really want. Have to get different torsion bars and have a bracket for trailing arms welded on. And of course a
different transmission.
[Edited on 5-27-2005 by bajalou] |
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No Bad Days
\"Never argue with an idiot. People watching may not be able to tell the difference\"
\"The trouble with doing nothing is - how do I know when I\'m done?\"
Nomad Baja Interactive map
And in the San Felipe area - check out Valle Chico area |
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