S.O.B. build - on The Salt is off road ;)

[kyle_pc_75]

Since I actually worked on it a bit today, I thought I'd better start a build thread for my other car. Yeah, I know...finish the other one first. This one's called S.O.B. as my dad christened it. He says it stands for "Son Of Baja", but we all know that's not what he really had in mind.

As I got it, pretty solid car, but not built the way I wanted it. And there are some oddities, of course.



First of all, I couldn't have people calling it "The Blue Dart" or "Purple Flamer", so the paint job has to go no matter what. The cage was held together with zip ties, I'm not even kidding.



There's a bit of rust in the rear quarters, but nothing in the channels, total shocker for Utah. The engine has about .018" of freeplay It actually ran great, lol. It had a really nice stock interior, most of which I've sold for funding.

My plans are for a total play car. I don't care if it's ugly, but I want it to go! We have more mountain trails here, so 90 miles an hour through the whoops is not what I'm after. Plus, I like the VW simplicity.

Thing Beam
Thing CV's/beefed stock arms/relocated shock mounts/dual spring plates
002 Transaxle solid mounted (haven't decided on 10 degree or not)
1915cc w/ Zenith (machine work by our local guy, Art Thraen...perhaps you've heard of him )
Turning brakes
Flat tan paint

Progress:





I have it pretty much stripped and the Thing beam "installed", though it needs new ball joints. 16" of ground clearance...of course there's no weight on it.

It's not very rusty, but there are odd holes all over the place. One in each C-pillar, three on the roof, probably more...they all were definitely there for a purpose as they're evenly spaced and round, but for the life of me I can't figure out why they were there. Oh well, I'll just weld in some patches.

Critiques and suggestions welcome!

Kyle

[david58]

The cage was held together with zip ties, I'm not even kidding.
It's not very rusty, but there are odd holes all over the place. One in each C-pillar, three on the roof, probably more...they all were definitely there for a purpose as they're evenly spaced and round, but for the life of me I can't figure out why they were there. Oh well, I'll just weld in some patches.

Critiques and suggestions welcome!

Kyle

Zip Ties I hope they were just for mocking it up. I am glad to see they used the heavy duty ones instead of bread wire ties.

[Chris V]

Does that new beam have adjusters?

[kyle_pc_75]

Let me clarify, I just have the Thing arms and spindles on the old beam. It had adjusters installed. I just did that to get it off jack stands.

Kyle

[perrib]

Looks like a good winter project. Build a 76x90.5 (1955) instead. With a VZ 14 cam it will spin 30" tires with ease and the 90.5s last longer than the 94s will. To bad they did not use titanium ties straps.

[perrib]

Looks like a good winter project. Build a 76x90.5 (1955) instead. With a VZ 14 cam it will spin 30" tires with ease and the 90.5s last longer than the 94s will. To bad they did not use titanium ties straps.

[kyle_pc_75]

Now that Bajamungus is back on the road, I'm getting back on the S.O.B. build. Basically, I'm taking the body off, replacing pans, stripping the paint and Bondo, and repairing the rust before I dig into the fun stuff. My purchasing eyes weren't quite as keen as I thought. There's more rust than I thought, but nothing like Bajamungus.

Ooh, what's behind here?





Dented, rusted, beat.



The other side is about the same. Not bad for a Utah car. I'm not sure if I'm going to buy patch panels or just form and weld in some sheet. It's not going to be a show car.

Those oddball holes I mentioned earlier:









I'm selling used Bondo at a bulk discount. Any takers?

Looks like a good winter project. Build a 76x90.5 (1955) instead. With a VZ 14 cam it will spin 30" tires with ease and the 90.5s last longer than the 94s will.

After a lot of reading, research and discussion, I believe I've been convinced that's the way to go. That probably won't happen for quite a while, though.

Kyle

[fusername]

yeah, that there is the off road engine in my mind. good combo of low end grunt and a smooth torque curve for off road use.

[kyle_pc_75]

Holy crap, I actually did something with this car! Now that Bajamungus is pretty much together and good for the summer, it's time to really dive into S.O.B. Today I pulled the body off and built a sweet custom jig on which to keep it.

Ok, yeah, that's temporary. It's basically just resting on the tunnel.



I'm extremely thrilled with how good of shape the body is in. There's some rust and dents here and there, but all the bolts came out easily. For a Utah car, that's a rarity!

Kyle

[Qurtys Lyn]

Holy crap, I actually did something with this car! Now that Bajamungus is pretty much together and good for the summer, it's time to really dive into S.O.B. Today I pulled the body off and built a sweet custom jig on which to keep it.

Ok, yeah, that's temporary. It's basically just resting on the tunnel.



I'm extremely thrilled with how good of shape the body is in. There's some rust and dents here and there, but all the bolts came out easily. For a Utah car, that's a rarity!

Kyle

I'll say, I broke 2 running board bolts, and I can't remember if we broke a body bolt or not. And need I say it, Class 5, I need someone to race against.

[kyle_pc_75]

And need I say it, Class 5, I need someone to race against.

You mean 5 unlimited! I don't see your mid-engine Slubaru being 5/1600, and my Thing beam and engine won't be either. But yeah, that's pretty much the plan. Street legal, but pull the glass and we're racing! Get Patrick to build one and we'll have a race next year at Wendover.

Got the body out of the way with Jarad's help and organized the garage to a point where everything fit back in. I was shocked. All I had to do was put a few piles of parts in the kitchen.



Now do I start on the body or pan first?

Kyle

[Ol'fogasaurus]

kyle_pc_75 wrote; " Now do I start on the body or pan first?"

Yes!

I found on the first twofalse starts on my black buggy that you really have to get the pan done first. Everything fits to the pan and any variations you make in the pan will reflect back at you (cause and effect) in the worse way. Are you going the body lift way or staying with the stock body to pan mounting. Are you going to reenforce the outer body mount (tunnel) parimeter?

By-the-way, I did like the flame job.

[Qurtys Lyn]

Of course 5 Unlimited (Or 5000 by BITD rules). Shortie needs a job before he can build his up (hint hint, Shortie), and I'd love to have mine done by Wendover, but I might be cutting it close. But I'll aim for that, and there will be a Baja Shootout next year in May at Wendover!



'herbie and jps should come out, we can have a STF Baja Shootout...

[kyle_pc_75]

Thanks for the input. I'd rather do the pan first anyway...so I can put off the bodywork.

And yeah, I meant Wendover NEXT year. No way I'll be done before then!

Kyle

[Ol'fogasaurus]

I always have thought that body work was easier (within reason that is ) than completing the pan and suspenion. My blue buggy has had the body off three times now and, if I had known more before I started, it sure would have been easier to do it right the first time. My black buggy, well that is another story.