Project Myrtle: Jim’s Baja Bug Build

Discussion in 'Restorations' started by JamesLey, Sep 8, 2019.

  1. JamesLey

    JamesLey Sponsor

    Slowly getting bits bolted back onto the shell and wired up. Rear light cluster, front indicators and the first mirror on today.
    [​IMG] [​IMG] [​IMG]

    Oh and the all important stickers!
    [​IMG]
     
  2. JamesLey

    JamesLey Sponsor

    Got a fair chunk of the wiring on the baja sorted today, and handbrake, gearstick and steering column back in.
    [​IMG] [​IMG]

    Lots of fun getting out to the workshop today with more than one fallen tree blocking my way! Up and over for me.
    [​IMG]
     
    iblaze, stirlingmoz, davidoft and 5 others like this.
  3. JamesLey

    JamesLey Sponsor

    Well that’s all of the wiring installed in the baja, tested and working. This was a loom I built from scratch so nice to know it works. Additional extras include the Hella spot lamps and an electric windscreen washer bottle out of a Mexican Bug (micro switch fitted to the original washer button on the dash for a clean install).

    [​IMG]
     
    nicktuft, paradox, scrooge95 and 11 others like this.
  4. JamesLey

    JamesLey Sponsor

    Baja pedal cluster built up and fitted today.
    [​IMG]

    I’ve pulled the cover off the bus engine I bought off my mate Rich to start cleaning it up. I’ve compression tested it today and it all checks out, so I’ll fire it up on the bench next week and then start stripping it down for a good clean.
    [​IMG]
     
  5. JamesLey

    JamesLey Sponsor

    Does anyone know what this is bolted to the side of my carb? It’s a genuine solex carb and none of the diagrams I’ve looked at show it.
    [​IMG]


    Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
     
  6. Looks like a throttle damper. An emission control device that VW fitted towards the mid 70s, designed to prevent the throttle snapping shut too quickly which apparently causes a spike in unfavourable exhaust emissions. Generally best removed and filed in the bin :thumbsup:
     
    Zed and JamesLey like this.
  7. JamesLey

    JamesLey Sponsor

    That was my plan if it served no useful purpose. It seems to be holding the throttle arm out too far anyway as it doesn’t touch stepped cam.


    Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
     
    Devon233 likes this.
  8. iblaze

    iblaze Supporter

    Amazing work as usual mate.

    Sent from my SM-G981B using Tapatalk
     
    JamesLey likes this.
  9. JamesLey

    JamesLey Sponsor

    Trying to get the baja ready for summer so have turned my attention to the engine. Will it run?!
     
    rob.e, nicktuft, markey and 7 others like this.
  10. Lazy Andy

    Lazy Andy Supporter

    I smell a rat!! I reckon you’d already tried it before the camera rolled ;)
     
    scrooge95, JamesLey and Zed like this.
  11. Zed

    Zed Gradually getting grumpier

    Shhh it took him all day to get it going. :)
     
    Lazy Andy and JamesLey like this.
  12. JamesLey

    JamesLey Sponsor

    Ok so I may have given it a few goes before this! First attempt made me realise I’d put the fuel pump hoses on the wrong way. After that it pretty much fired up straight away.


    Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
     
    CollyP, iblaze, F_Pantos and 4 others like this.
  13. JamesLey

    JamesLey Sponsor

    I’m still chipping away at the baja project. The engine is all stripped down now ready for a cleanup, and I spent a good 2 days repairing various rust holes on the tinware as I’m keen to reuse the original stuff where possible to avoid buying reproduction panels (lots of fiddly repairs like this to do).

    [​IMG] [​IMG]

    The tinware is now at the powdercoaters along with a stack of other little bits I had left laying around.

    The donor 3 rib bus gearbox turned up last week so just needs a cleanup before being installed, and I’ve just ordered the Porsche 924 driveshafts and stub axles to provide drive to the rear wheels.

    Hopefully an exciting few months ahead as I slowly breathe a bit of life into the old gal!
     
  14. MorkC68

    MorkC68 Administrator

    Mustie1 got it running; he just chuckled at it - away it ran :D
     
    JamesLey likes this.
  15. JamesLey

    JamesLey Sponsor

    A few little jobs on the baja over the weekend.

    The black side trim that I ordered back in December finally arrived and is now all installed.
    [​IMG]

    Gearbox mounts and steering box all painted. I did just intend to clean up the steering box but quickly found that the only thing stopping it from leaking was the 40+ years worth of filth on it so needed to strip it down to replace the seals anyway.
    [​IMG]

    I picked up a big box or two of bits from the powdercoaters so have started getting these components attached. Everything that is usually chrome on a bug has been painted black for this.
    [​IMG]


    And finally I’ve started getting the rest of the brake lines in. I stupidly ordered a set of the hard lines that run from the reservoir down to the master cylinder without realising they’re LHD only. So ended up ordering some pipe off eBay and making my own instead.
    [​IMG] [​IMG]
     
  16. Does the brake fluid reservoir move up because it's a late Bug, or because it's a Baja, Jim?

    Just curious...


    Great work as always :)
     
    JamesLey likes this.
  17. JamesLey

    JamesLey Sponsor

    It's a late bug thing; the bracket for the reservoir is on the N/S wheel arch. Where is it on yours? I've seen them mounted centrally in some earlier bugs.
    [​IMG]
     
    mcswiggs likes this.
  18. iblaze

    iblaze Supporter

    Looks fantastic Jim.

    Sent from my SM-G981B using Tapatalk
     
    JamesLey likes this.
  19. It sits centrally on the very front bulkhead, the bulkhead in front of the beam, or, if you prefer to think of it, behind where the spare tyre sits, it feeds the cylinder via hose, not hard-line.
     
    JamesLey likes this.
  20. JamesLey

    JamesLey Sponsor

    That sounds far more convenient! This setup has 4 hard lines and 6 small sections of hose connecting it all.
     
    F_Pantos likes this.

Share This Page