Ricko's New Ride-'71 Baja

ntsqd · Post by **ntsqd** » Wed Jan 31, 2007 1:39 pm

I broke a cut-n-welded beam right thru the welds. Literally pulled the weld metal apart. That damned Ponderosa didn't move at all!

The next beam I deliberately offset the cuts. Say I cut the lower tube near the anchor in the center on the left side. The cut on the other side of the anchor is ~4" closer to the shock tower.
Then I reversed where the cuts were on the upper tube. This way neither side has cuts directly above/below each other.

rickosuave1987 · Post by **rickosuave1987** » Wed Jan 31, 2007 1:58 pm

ntsqd wrote:I broke a cut-n-welded beam right thru the welds. Literally pulled the weld metal apart. That damned Ponderosa didn't move at all!

The next beam I deliberately offset the cuts. Say I cut the lower tube near the anchor in the center on the left side. The cut on the other side of the anchor is ~4" closer to the shock tower.
Then I reversed where the cuts were on the upper tube. This way neither side has cuts directly above/below each other.

Oh, i see. That seems like a good idea to me. Makes sense so all the weak(er) parts arent stacked right above each other. Once I get the beam torn down i think i will really consider doing it that way.

rickosuave1987 · Post by **rickosuave1987** » Wed Jan 31, 2007 2:19 pm

It looks like im going to be getting a new 1 peice front end. My uncle wants new rear fenders and I wanted a 1 peice so we are going to buy this kit from Baja Fabrications.

I cant seem to find a website for them, but they have ads all over the place. I found this one on Craigslist http://sandiego.craigslist.org/pts/268307154.html

After I get the 1 peice im going to trim my rear fenders down a bit too.

thrown_hammer · Post by **thrown_hammer** » Wed Jan 31, 2007 2:40 pm

Here you can kinda see them. This is the best pic I could find.

Class 11 streeter · Post by **Class 11 streeter** » Wed Jan 31, 2007 5:57 pm

rickosuave1987 wrote:It looks like im going to be getting a new 1 peice front end.

Would you consider a 1 piece front end for free? I have one in the back yard, the flip style with the front bumper hinge, been sitting for years, already has a few of the common cracks in it.

This type, but not this pretty:

It comes with one of these bumpers, with free rust:

C'mon, TAKE SOMETHING WILL YA?

I also have a few rear fenders laying around, maybe you guys could haul my jun......er,........give some perviously owned Baja stuff a new home......

rickosuave1987 · Post by **rickosuave1987** » Wed Jan 31, 2007 8:41 pm

Free rust?!?!?!? No way!

Well i dont think I can say no to free. Ill send you a PM tomorrow when I know whats up for this weekend, maybe I can swing by and take some ju...stuff

off your hands. Thanks

runslikeapenguin · Post by **runslikeapenguin** » Wed Jan 31, 2007 8:41 pm

thrown_hammer wrote:I have front adjusters but they don't look like either one of those...

Mine has like four bolts pinching the beam together in the center and two allen bolts with jam nuts on the outside. To adjust you loosen the four bolts and the jam nuts. Then you rotate the allen bolts to raise and lower the front end. Anyone know what I am talking about? I can't get a good pic with the shark mouth on the car. I may have an older pic....I will look.

yeah i remember seeing those in the Jeff Hibbard book, i havent seen a car actualy run one in person so i dont really know how they work, but it hibbard recomends them i guess they work pretty well.

findog78 · Post by **findog78** » Wed Jan 31, 2007 10:57 pm

Class 11 streeter wrote:
rickosuave1987 wrote:It looks like im going to be getting a new 1 peice front end.
Would you consider a 1 piece front end for free? I have one in the back yard, the flip style with the front bumper hinge, been sitting for years, already has a few of the common cracks in it.

C'mon, TAKE SOMETHING WILL YA? I also have a few rear fenders laying around, maybe you guys could haul my jun......er,........give some perviously owned Baja stuff a new home......

Wheres Antelope Valley??? I ll come help you clean up that back yard! How far are you from Palm Desert?

rickosuave1987 · Post by **rickosuave1987** » Wed Jan 31, 2007 11:05 pm

findog78 wrote:
Wheres Antelope Valley??? I ll come help you clean up that back yard! How far are you from Palm Desert?

You dont know where the AV is? Its like the poppy capital of CA.

I just went thru cathedral city on my way back from ocotillo. Were about 150 miles NorthWest of you. About 60 miles (as the crow flies) north of LA. Come on up and we can make a trip around the local mountains once i get my baja back on the road.

And, Just in case you are wondering, Class11 lives just a few miles from me.

Class 11 streeter · Post by **Class 11 streeter** » Thu Feb 01, 2007 5:22 pm

findog78 wrote:
Class 11 streeter wrote:
rickosuave1987 wrote:It looks like im going to be getting a new 1 peice front end.
Would you consider a 1 piece front end for free? I have one in the back yard, the flip style with the front bumper hinge, been sitting for years, already has a few of the common cracks in it.

C'mon, TAKE SOMETHING WILL YA? I also have a few rear fenders laying around, maybe you guys could haul my jun......er,........give some perviously owned Baja stuff a new home......
Wheres Antelope Valley??? I ll come help you clean up that back yard! How far are you from Palm Desert?

For now, ricosuave had "dibs" on the baja kit stuff, I really do need to do some yard cleaning, and these (well worn) kits came off a few junk bajas I ended up with over the years. The stray dog I took in last month looks like he is going to stay a while and I need to make room for him.

Most of California only sees a blank spot on the map where we live:
http://maps.yahoo.com/dd_result?newaddr ... country=us

rickosuave1987 · Post by **rickosuave1987** » Fri Feb 09, 2007 10:10 pm

Well even though the adjusters won the poll, tomorrow im going to cut and turn my stock beam. If it doesnt feel like a good ride, i will put some adjusters in the other beam.

rickosuave1987 · Post by **rickosuave1987** » Sat Feb 10, 2007 10:58 pm

Well I tore apart the beam today. One question, What do you guys do to get the grease out of the beam? A lot came out when I pulled the springs, but i know its still full. Is it easier to get it out after I cut the beam? I know it will be easier to get the bushings out after its cut but not sure about the grease.

Post by **Leatherneck** » Sun Feb 11, 2007 5:42 am

Almost like cleaning a small cannon but messier put one end in a large bucket (I use an old barbacue pan). get a rod and some rags and use your prefered degreaser (I use paint thinnner) soak your rag and ram it down the boar/tube till clean, it is important to get all of it clean in case you have some metal shavings. Once you think you have it pour your degreaser down the tube to rinse it then shine a flashlight down to make sure.

I had mine broken down into just tubes so it was fairly easy to handle. Have fun.

findog78 · Post by **findog78** » Sun Feb 11, 2007 9:30 am

You can hole saw a disk from an old tire the same size as tube. I had a threaded rod and used washers and jam nut, but I dont see why you couldnt just nail or screw it to a broom handle or dowel and push it through. It slips over the bushings and cleaned out the majority of the grease pretty nicely. Its not exactly summer right now but I set it out in the sun before I plunged it too.

rickosuave1987 · Post by **rickosuave1987** » Fri Feb 16, 2007 12:44 pm

Does anyone have a poly tank or a fuel cell they need to get rid of? I have shopped around a bit and they are expensive

used or not, if you would like to get rid of one let me know, i am planning on chopping off my front end this weekend.