Baja Bug Chronicles

Give details and pictures of your ACVW projects here.
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MrHappypants
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Baja Bug Chronicles

Post by MrHappypants »

Right, Let's get this Project Thread started.

The Baja (Which my wife has promptly named "Skedonk") made it's way to me here in PE all the way from Nelspruit. I must admit that seeing an old VW with such little rust (Read: from inland) is really a great sight. A few spots here and there but nothing serious at all! Great!

The engine unfortunately didn't turn over when I got Skedonk, after further inspection the sparkplugs came out like such:


Image


I took a flashlight and had a look down the plug holes and saw some water in the one cylinder, so sprayed compressed air down it and out came the water.
I sprayed air down the other cylinders as well and no water came out. After draining the oil it was apparent that there was little to no water in the oil.

Q20 was sprayed into all the sparkplug holes and I let it sit for 2 days, gently applying pressure to the flywheel nut every so often in both directions.
On Monday the engine became free and I rotated it a good few times.

The reason for the water in the cylinder can only be because the exhaust points upwards and rain can get in like that.

How serious is it running an engine that has gone through what I have just described? Taking into account that I do not have enough bucks at the moment for a rebuild.

There is no spark either, so I am currently trying to figure out where the spark is hiding.


73type2
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Re: Baja Bug Chronicles

Post by 73type2 »

Now that the engine is turning I would do some basic maintenance and get it started. Put in some fresh oil, clean up the spark plugs, put it back. I'd also try to start the car without fiddling with the carb in order to see what you're working with. Just check that all hoses are connected without leaks. As a minimum just complete the ignition circuit. You probably need to clean the carb at some stage, but I'm sure you just want to start the car for now. If the engine turns there isn't much that can go wrong when trying to start it. I'm sure the experts here will disagree with me but this has always worked for me.
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MrHappypants
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Re: Baja Bug Chronicles

Post by MrHappypants »

73type2 wrote: Wed Jun 27, 2018 11:05 am Now that the engine is turning I would do some basic maintenance and get it started. Put in some fresh oil, clean up the spark plugs, put it back. I'd also try to start the car without fiddling with the carb in order to see what you're working with. Just check that all hoses are connected without leaks. As a minimum just complete the ignition circuit. You probably need to clean the carb at some stage, but I'm sure you just want to start the car for now. If the engine turns there isn't much that can go wrong when trying to start it. I'm sure the experts here will disagree with me but this has always worked for me.
Thanks, I agree. I have put fresh oil in it and cleaned the plugs. There are new plugs waiting to go in but will only put them in once i know what I am dealing with.

I think I am just going to run it until it breaks...if it breaks, I would imagine there is some imperfections on the cylinder walls and eventually it will wear the rings. Thats a guess anyway. The valves/head where the water was might have some damage too...not too sure.

I have just found the spark, hidden in the distributor cap :lol: The little spring and center piece had fallen out somehow - the distributor cap was loose when it arrived.

I made up a make shift fuel tank with clear hoses just to see if the petrol pump is working and it is. So I attached it to the carb, swung the motor and it started up without much persuasion/cranking.
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Re: Baja Bug Chronicles

Post by 73type2 »

Great!! There's no greater feeling than that first start after sitting for some time.
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retrovan
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Re: Baja Bug Chronicles

Post by retrovan »

Great to hear it started, but how is she running. ?

Does she sound fine after the water treatment..? :shock:

:lol:

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Re: Baja Bug Chronicles

Post by Haans »

As Retrovan always says,.....little steps,.....once around the block,.....then twice,.......you get the drift !!!!!

Haans
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Re: Baja Bug Chronicles

Post by MrHappypants »

It at least runs :wink: ... I haven't taken it for a drive yet but will be soon... I have a question first though, will get to it at the end.

Decided to get some new fuel hose and filter. I also made up a stainless steel tube to go through the fan housing to get the filter away from the engine bay... that is when I noticed that I need to ask a question.

My makeshift grommet on the stainless steel tube

Image

My oil pressure sensor is non existent ... need to get one of those.
On that note my alternator light doesn't go off when the car is running :roll:

Next Pic is of the tubing out the back and the new fuel filter.
Yes I know I have the dreaded fuel line through the interior horror. It is how it came. I will get to running a solid line in the future.

Image

So while I was down there I noticed that there was only one nut holding the left drive shaft cover plate on, so I had a look at the other side and there are no nuts holding that one on. The gearbox looks like it has lost all its oil or how do those cover plates work?? What is going on here...why would someone do that? Why would they not put those nuts on?

Image

Image
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MrHappypants
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Re: Baja Bug Chronicles

Post by MrHappypants »

Oh and I know we all like pics so a pic of skedonks ass

Image
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Edmond
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Re: Baja Bug Chronicles

Post by Edmond »

Yes you need those nuts on the axle side cover plates, I used flat washers and M8 nyloc nuts on my baja. It will be low on gearbox oil and also looks like the axle boots have seen better days. I wonder if someone removed the axles and then just put them on loosely, I would check if the gaskets/shims are still between the cover plates and side covers, if not you have to get new ones and work out the required gasket/shim pack so the axles move up and down freely with no binding but also as little play as possible.Remember to follow the torque specs on the cover plate nuts otherwise you will distort/warp them if they are overtightend. I would check these things before even thinking about driving the car and definitely check the gearbox oil, maybe even drain it and after the cover plates and boots are sorted fill it up with 2.5 l of fresh gearbox oil.
I also wouldn't run the fuel line through the fan housing, there should be a tin cover plate piece that clips over the bell housing area of the engine that the fuel line runs through, this plate bolts to the head tins, see pic
Image

One more thing, get a better exhaust system like this one when you can, much better flowing and it won't ingest water, the one i got is Stainless Steel

Image
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MrHappypants
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Re: Baja Bug Chronicles

Post by MrHappypants »

Thanks Edmond.

The boots are toast. I couldn't help myself this afternoon and took the baja to the shops. It doesn't run well, but I got the need to drive it out of my system so I can get on with fixing what needs fixing. My budget looks like it is going to get stretched thin.
I just took the carb off when I got home from the shops and no wander is doesn't run well...will put pics up in my next post.
Will get new boots and gearbox oil as suggested, as well as some nyloc nuts for those cover plates.

I had a very similar style stainless exhaust to yours on my last buggy...I like it. Will be looking for something similar or perhaps try and fab one up.

So the list is...in no particular order...

Oil pressure switch
Reattach Axle cover plates
Axle Boots
Gearbox Oil
Check king and link pins
Speedo not working
Fuel gauge not working
No keys for doors
New windscreen...this one is cracked
Carb refurb or new carb or refurb a weber 36DCD?
Alternator not charging (light in dash stays on)
Windscreen wipers not working
Fit baja front end
Get 1 or 2 side mirrors
Better exhaust
Bleed breaks and check shoes
Rip the old dirty torn headliner out and make a plan
Drivers seat is kaput on the right side, I sit skew when driving
...and ...and ...and :roll:
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Edmond
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Re: Baja Bug Chronicles

Post by Edmond »

I picked up the SS 4 in 1 exhaust on the forum here for R450 a few years ago.
Good luck with the project, I've already spent 3 years working on my baja project on and off though.
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Re: Baja Bug Chronicles

Post by MrHappypants »

The magical Solex 30 PICT - 2 carb in all its dirty glory....VERY well used and abused...

ImageIMG_20180629_175234 by B R, on Flickr

The magical WTF were you thinking I suppose its better than nothing gasket...blocking a few holes too...

ImageIMG_20180629_175242 by B R, on Flickr

Nothing holding the pumps arm on unless I knocked it out or loose when I took the carb off but I don't think so.

ImageIMG_20180629_175254 by B R, on Flickr

Inside...

ImageIMG_20180629_184824 by B R, on Flickr

Checking to see if the auto choke warms up which it did but it didnt move the flap at all because the little arm on the inside wasn't lined up when put on by whoever thought they were a carb specialist the last time

ImageIMG_20180629_185324 by B R, on Flickr

Dirty Dirty

ImageIMG_20180629_190056 by B R, on Flickr

What is the purpose of this part of the carb? ...isn't it suppose to have an electrical terminal on.

ImageIMG_20180629_184856 by B R, on Flickr

The main shaft that runs through the carb has a lot of slop and play on it, it will definitely suck air through it... I suppose I could get bushings made up....or...


So do I rebuild this one...try and find another one, buy a new one...... or perhaps someone has a decent 36 dcd weber for me at a reasonable price? For some reason I feel like I need to have one.

please keep in mind funds are getting low.

Someone talk some sense to me.
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MrHappypants
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Re: Baja Bug Chronicles

Post by MrHappypants »

Edmond wrote: Fri Jun 29, 2018 10:10 pm I picked up the SS 4 in 1 exhaust on the forum here for R450 a few years ago.
Good luck with the project, I've already spent 3 years working on my baja project on and off though.
THanks. I need this baja to be running while I work on it otherwise I will loose interest. So I am going to try get it mechanically acceptable...nothing more... for now and then take it from there.
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Re: Baja Bug Chronicles

Post by John Alves »



THanks. I need this baja to be running while I work on it otherwise I will loose interest. So I am going to try get it mechanically acceptable...nothing more... for now and then take it from there.
good policy, there are lots of classics that I know off sitting in garages because owners want perfection before using them, interest is lost very quickly that way, and also when they are 'perfect', nobody wants to use them because they might get damaged or scratched
IMO classics that are being used are the best, enjoy the ride, life is too short. :)
No sense being pessimistic. It wouldn't work anyway.

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Re: Baja Bug Chronicles

Post by retrovan »

Even if you need to sit on a soap box, and wear googles, :shock:
get it running and enjoy it as you go,
then each additional part fixed will be an excuse to take it for another run,.... :D

Nice project, keep it coming.

Herman
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