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Randyzzz
Samba Member
Joined: October 03, 2004
Posts: 283
Location: Sisters, OR
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 Posted: Sun Oct 02, 2005 9:00 pm Post subject: It Begins....My 74 Baja Project |
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Just thought I'd share my bliss with everyone here. This weekend I picked up a good 65 body, and a good used IRS rear clip. So, I started taking the body off the 74... what a mess. About the only thing salvagable is the glass, and the window regulators. I really like the 65 body, it looks so smooth....and there's not a bit of rust! I was going to make this a real boonie-basher, but with gas prices, I've changed my plans to a clean, off-road capable Baja. The 74 already has a Thing front end and a rebuilt 1600DP and some cool centerlines...short version of the master plan is replace the floor pans, replace the bent rear IRS arms, replace the tranny that pops out of reverse, swap over the body and rewire everything...bend up some cool tube bumpers, and get over 12 MPG for the first time in a long time.
Here's some pics...first of what I'm starting with...
And then the replacement body...
I'll post more pics as I make progress.
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Randy Statton
Old Souls Retros
"It's not what you buy, it's what you build"
73 Bus "Annie"
81 Jeep Scrambler
82 Jeep Scrambler |
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Nicksan
Samba Member
Joined: April 13, 2004
Posts: 2777
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| Posted: Sun Oct 02, 2005 9:22 pm Post subject: |
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Looks good. Whats all that tubing, air conditioning? and you gotta keep those seat covers.  |
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Jowlz
The Anti-Purist
Joined: May 02, 2005
Posts: 2464
Location: Tunkhannock, PA
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| Posted: Mon Oct 03, 2005 4:32 am Post subject: |
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Looks like a good project. Nice old Jaz fuel cell...
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The honey-do list put my project on hold....... |
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Randyzzz
Samba Member
Joined: October 03, 2004
Posts: 283
Location: Sisters, OR
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| Posted: Tue Oct 04, 2005 11:44 pm Post subject: |
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All that tubing is the PO's attampt at forced air heat. It actually worked(sort of). It's going away with the new build.
Spent today cutting up/off the old body. New floor pans should be here for the weekend...Saturday is beer-drinking day (Hops Fest in Hood River), so Sunday will be cut and weld day...
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Randy Statton
Old Souls Retros
"It's not what you buy, it's what you build"
73 Bus "Annie"
81 Jeep Scrambler
82 Jeep Scrambler |
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SHMO
Samba Member
Joined: July 29, 2004
Posts: 1647
Location: Lynden, Washington
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| Posted: Wed Oct 05, 2005 12:45 pm Post subject: |
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You are already off to a shakey start with your build. Everyone knows you don't schedule "cut and weld days" right after the "beer drinking days". What a rookie mistake. Man, why don't you just go for broke and schedule "grind and bang a hammer on some metal close to my head day" instead. You poor bastard. You'll learn....lol
SHMO
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SHMO's Baja |
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scott the viking
Samba Member
Joined: January 02, 2005
Posts: 535
Location: bababooeyville
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| Posted: Wed Oct 05, 2005 1:38 pm Post subject: |
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Well...since SHMO is not going to say it...the first thing you need to do is get yourself a water cooled engine....
 Looks good, keep us up to date with pictures of how your coming along. Are you going to replace that bent arm with a stock one, or were you planning to go after-market arms? If you are going back to stock, I have a few laying around if your interested.
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No more circus midget ...Vote for Herbie.
Play an accordion...go to jail. |
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Skidmark
Samba Member
Joined: June 17, 2005
Posts: 2988
Location: Minden, NV
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SHMO
Samba Member
Joined: July 29, 2004
Posts: 1647
Location: Lynden, Washington
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| Posted: Wed Oct 05, 2005 5:30 pm Post subject: |
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Ya skidmark,
and if you do it properly you kinda end up with a "surprise", and everyone loves surprises. You gotta love just waking up and saying, "hey wow my Baja has a snowplow blade".
SHMO
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SHMO's Baja |
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Skidmark
Samba Member
Joined: June 17, 2005
Posts: 2988
Location: Minden, NV
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Randyzzz
Samba Member
Joined: October 03, 2004
Posts: 283
Location: Sisters, OR
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| Posted: Wed Oct 05, 2005 11:01 pm Post subject: |
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| SHMO wrote: |
You are already off to a shakey start with your build. Everyone knows you don't schedule "cut and weld days" right after the "beer drinking days". What a rookie mistake. Man, why don't you just go for broke and schedule "grind and bang a hammer on some metal close to my head day" instead. You poor bastard. You'll learn....lol
SHMO |
No problems, SHMO...I went "Pro" a long time ago. ( 2 Excederin Migrane tabs and a big glass of water before going to sleep and you feel great the next morning ) Now if it was a beer/whiskey/tequilla day, yeah, you'd have a point.
Besides, don't you always seem to come up with the best, most innovative ideas when you have a couple of brews in you?
Here's a link to the fun this Saturday in Hood River...
http://www.hoodriverhops.com/
And the next weekend...just down the road from me in Bend...Oktoberfest!
http://www.benddowntowners.com/page_detail.php?page_id=30&category_id=8
Scott- thanks for the offer, I already got a whole rear clip and I'm going to bend some tube reinforcement for the trailing arms.
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Randy Statton
Old Souls Retros
"It's not what you buy, it's what you build"
73 Bus "Annie"
81 Jeep Scrambler
82 Jeep Scrambler |
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Randyzzz
Samba Member
Joined: October 03, 2004
Posts: 283
Location: Sisters, OR
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| Posted: Mon Oct 10, 2005 11:09 pm Post subject: |
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Well, SHMO, you were right...I didn't get much done this weekend. But not because of a throbbing head...but it was HopsFest related...
We had such a good time drinking beer after beer, dancing, and whatnot, that the wife and I decided to get a room and spend the night. Took our time driving back home Sunday afternoon (No hangover, though  ) and when we got home I just cleaned the mess I'd made the prior week.
Here's a couple of pics, first one is where I'm at now, ready to start the pan replacement process. The second one is of the seats I scored. They're leather buckets out of a PT Cruiser. They recline and have a ton of adjustment on the slider. The base is flat once the front bracket is removed, and the passenger seatback folds flat to make a handy tray. $200.00 for the pair...I have them in both my jeeps already, they're comfortable and supportive as all heck.
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Randy Statton
Old Souls Retros
"It's not what you buy, it's what you build"
73 Bus "Annie"
81 Jeep Scrambler
82 Jeep Scrambler |
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Randyzzz
Samba Member
Joined: October 03, 2004
Posts: 283
Location: Sisters, OR
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| Posted: Mon Jan 30, 2006 1:04 am Post subject: |
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Well, it's been awhile since I updated this. I've made alot of progress, new pans, rebuilt front beam, new body, and I just finished installing front discs. Here's some pics...
New pans-
New body-
And some pics of the disc brakes-
I like the wide 5 better than the 4 lug...Got these wheels for FREE!
Still lots to do...but I'm trying to get her running ASAP- my DD Scrambler lost a head gasket last week, so I'm pushing to get the Baja ready. This week the tube bender gets a workout, and rewiring with VDO Vision gauges! 
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Randy Statton
Old Souls Retros
"It's not what you buy, it's what you build"
73 Bus "Annie"
81 Jeep Scrambler
82 Jeep Scrambler |
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carsonwarren
Samba Member
Joined: October 05, 2005
Posts: 138
Location: Alaska
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| Posted: Mon Jan 30, 2006 11:24 pm Post subject: |
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that is looking sweet, keep the pictures comming!
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-59 Euro ragtop baja-
"i had $1000 in the bank yesterday were did it go?.........must be a bug in the system!" |
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Randyzzz
Samba Member
Joined: October 03, 2004
Posts: 283
Location: Sisters, OR
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| Posted: Sun Feb 05, 2006 9:44 pm Post subject: Updated Pics! |
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Well...got a little more accomplished this weekend. I didn't just want to attach the nose cone with screws/rivets/seam sealer, so I built a bulkhead out of tubing and some sturdy sheet. Sorry the pics aren't better...daylight would have been nice. The front fiberglass will hang on tabs and the tubes for the bumper/lights.
This is a front view of the bulkhead, it's fully welded along both sides and the bottom.
I painted it all with Duplicolor spray bedliner...love that stuff.
Here it is from the backside, you can see the rectangular tubing I used to make the frame first. It's sturdy as all heck!
I needed a front flange to stiffen the upper lip, and to run the weatherstripping. So, I bent one up. Was a bear getting it to fit flush with the front and then follow the contour of the sides, but I got it.
Next step...figuring out hood latches- front hinge or rear hinge? And...I got my VDO gauges too....
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Randy Statton
Old Souls Retros
"It's not what you buy, it's what you build"
73 Bus "Annie"
81 Jeep Scrambler
82 Jeep Scrambler |
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jrcush
Samba Member
Joined: March 04, 2004
Posts: 84
Location: Pasadena, Ca.
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| Posted: Sun Feb 05, 2006 10:53 pm Post subject: |
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What size were the old rims? The four lugs
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I need a big garage, wait maybe a barn will do. |
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Randyzzz
Samba Member
Joined: October 03, 2004
Posts: 283
Location: Sisters, OR
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| Posted: Sun Feb 05, 2006 10:54 pm Post subject: |
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They were 15X5...Pro Wheels. One is great, the other has slight runout .
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Randy Statton
Old Souls Retros
"It's not what you buy, it's what you build"
73 Bus "Annie"
81 Jeep Scrambler
82 Jeep Scrambler |
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wibaja
Samba Member
Joined: February 15, 2005
Posts: 122
Location: Wisconsin
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| Posted: Sun Feb 05, 2006 11:05 pm Post subject: |
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| Wow, that looks like an awesome project to start with. It is nice to see SCHMO back. I have to say I kind of missed hearing from him. With that said I think my project will have to start with a new body. There is just too much rust and gaping holes to repair with these wisconsin bodies. Who wants to send me a new bug body? |
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Randyzzz
Samba Member
Joined: October 03, 2004
Posts: 283
Location: Sisters, OR
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| Posted: Sun May 21, 2006 9:41 pm Post subject: Progress update 5/21/06 |
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Haven't posted my progress for awhile but I haven't been slacking...Finished my rewire, installed most of the interior, built a dash, motor's in, made some upper beam supports that will clear the stock tank, trimmed the front fenders, and started bending the front bumper. Hopefully I'll have it driving by the June 3rd Bug In at Woodburn, OR... I want to be there in a VW this year!
Here's some pics....
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Randy Statton
Old Souls Retros
"It's not what you buy, it's what you build"
73 Bus "Annie"
81 Jeep Scrambler
82 Jeep Scrambler |
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