It all started about a year ago (8-15-02)when I saw an add in the paper for a 64 sunroof sedan. When I went to look at it The car was in the back of a field with a couple of other non-running vehicles.
I didn't know anything about VWs at the time. Didn't know what the difference was between swingaxle and irs. Didn't know what year they switched from linkpin to balljoint. Didn't know I was buying a car with a 40hp motor with valve guides so worn out that you could move the retainer about 1/4" side to side. Still ran though. With just a battery and a set of plugs.
Well, I did get the thing home filally. Even drove to work for a couple of months before those guides just couldn't take it anymore. Motor started smoking all the time. Real bad. So I bought a used 1600sp out of the paper for about $300.
The motor was complete with carb, alternator, and heater boxes. I sold everything I was not going to reuse on E-Bay. Heater boxes and exhaust(from both motors),engine tins and shroud from the 1600, and other misc stuff. In the end I think I will have paid about $50 for the 1600. Not too bad.
I put the 1600 in the car and tried to start it. Nothing! At first I thought the battery was dead. Nope. Then I suspected the brand new starter was bad. Nope. Someone said it may be the new diaphram clutch rubbing on the bellhousing. Nope. Turns out the pilot hole in the bell housing was WAY worn out. So I switched to an automatic type , self supporting starter. It did the trick. Turns over fast now.
Well I just couldn't leave well enough alone. An unexpected winfall at work allowed me to purchase CB Performance 044 heads and dual Weber 40IDFs. Along with some Scat 1.4 ratio rocker arms. The thing really screams above 2000 RPM now. But has hardly any bottom end. Turns out the last guy to build the motor put a bigger cam in it. Oh well, at least it runs. That is untill you tear apart the front end to build it for high travel.
It now has been sitting at my parents house(I live in an apartment) since about June.They Live 100 miles away so its not easy to go work on. I'm supposed to go down there this week end and try to get it back on the road.
11-07-04
Its been a while since I've worked on the bug. My day job, my side job and outher hobbies have kept me busy. Now that the dirt bike is gone (stolen) I will have to finish the Baja to get my dirt fix. My tool inventory has expanded thanks to my side job. I now have a Lincoln 255 mig welder, Lincoln 185 tig welder, Hypertherm 600 plasma cutter, Pro Tools adjustable tube notcher, and a M Tech model 400 tube bender(late december). Over the next few months I will be completing the cage, installing the seats and fuel cell and converting to IRS in the rear. I scored some type 3 backing plates from the pick-n-pull last week. I'll be installing those on the new rear suspension.
Look for more updates to this site in the near future. The rear suspension will be first. I bought one of those class 11 cage kits and have it half way installed. But now that I have a tubing bender and notcher I may start over.
10-19-05
Wow where has the time gone? At this rate I'll never finish it. lol.
I did end up removing the cage "kit". I started over with new 1.5"x .120" wall 1020 DOM tube. So far I like how my new cage is comming along. Check out the cage section for some updated pics.
Updated!
11-21-06
It seems that I only work on this thing once a year. Anyway made the A pillar and spreader bars for the interrior last weekend. Hopefully over the Thanksgiving holiday I will finish the interior and the front end. My plan for the front end is to move the beam forward about 4-6 inches and cut the pan head off. That way when I install longer front arms the tire will still be somewhat centered or slightly forward. Once the welding is done I can take the Baja back to my place to finish. Check out the new pics in the interrior and cage pics section.
