BAJA - AUGUST

INSTALLING YOUR BAJA KIT

WITH THAT SAID LET'S GET ON WITH IT...

BAJA KITS COME IN SEVERAL STYLES... WIDE-EYE FRONT-END, NARROW-EYE FRONT-END, ONE-PIECE FRONT-END, 3-PIECE REAR, AND 1-PIECE REAR
I AM NOT GOING TO TELL YOU WHICH IS BEST, THAT'S A PERSONAL CHOICE.
I WILL HOWEVER TRY TO POINT YOU IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION TO MAKE A CHOICE THAT IS GOOD FOR YOU BY STATING SOME OF THE NEGATIVES TO SOME STYLES.

THE NARROW-EYE KIT (HEADLIGHTS MOUNTED IN THE NOSE-PIECE) IS NOT LEGAL IN ALL STATES. PLEASE CHECK YOUR STATE LAWS ON HEADLIGHT WIDTH. I HAVE SEEN SOME PEOPLE GET AROUND THIS BY USING WIDE-EYE FENDERS ALONG WITH A NARROW-EYE NOSE AND MOUNTING 4 HEADLIGHTS (DOES'NT LOOK BAD EITHER).

THE ONE-PIECE FRONT-END IS USUALLY RESERVED FOR RACERS AND HARD-CORE PRE-RUNNERS. THE REASONS BEING THAT YOU LOSE THE TRUNK SPACE, YOU MUST BUILD CUSTOM MOUNTS FOR THE HEADLIGHTS AND IT IS FAR LESS AERODYNAMIC AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS.

THE 1-PIECE REAR IS A COOL LOOKING UNIT BUT I CAN SEE SOME DRAWBACKS TO IT. FIRST BEING THAT THE "FENDER" AREA MAY NOT BE WIDE ENOUGH TO COVER THE WHEELS (MOST STATES HAVE A MINIMUM TIRE COVERAGE LAW, USUALLY LESS THAN 3 INCHES OF TREAD CAN STICK OUT FARTHER THAN THE FENDER) THUS RESTRICTING YOUR TIRE SIZE OPTIONS. THE OTHER PROBLEM IS SOMETHING THAT NONE OF US WANTS TO TALK ABOUT... CRASHING. I KNOW, I KNOW, THAT WILL NEVER HAPPEN TO ME, BUT IT CAN, BELIEVE ME ( I TURNED MY FIRST BAJA ON IT'S SIDE THE THIRD DAY I OWNED IT!). WITH A 3-PIECE REAR SECTION THEY MAY NOT ALL BE DAMAGED IN AN ACCIDENT AND A SINGLE FENDER IS CHEAP TO REPLACE, BUT WITH A 1-PIECE REAR ANY DAMAGE MEANS REPAIRING AND REPAINTING THE WHOLE SECTION OR BUYING A NEW ONE (NOT CHEAP). THIS ALSO APPLIES TO THE ONE-PIECE FRONT-END.

I KNOW I SAID LAST MONTH THAT I WOULD TELL YOU HOW TO INSTALL YOUR KIT (MOST DON'T HAVE VERY GOOD INSTRUCTIONS) BUT THERE ARE SO MANY STYLES THAT I THOUGHT A GENERIC "TO-DO" AND "NOT-TO-DO" LIST WOULD HELP MORE. IF YOU NEED HELP ONCE YOU HAVE STARTED, OR DON'T KNOW WHERE TO START SEND ME AN E-MAIL AND I WILL HELP YOU THROUGH IT PERSONALLY.

DO NOT CUT FIRST!!! FIT EACH PIECE, MARK WHERE TO CUT, AND THEN CUT LESS, IT'S EASY TO CUT MORE, BUT HARD TO REPLACE METAL AFTER A CUT

DO NOT USE A TORCH TO MAKE YOUR CUTS!!! I'VE SEEN PLENTY OF BAJAS THAT LOOKED REALLY NICE UNTIL YOU GOT UP CLOSE AND SAW ALL THE SLAG HANGING FROM THE CUTS. IT ALSO CAN MAKE IT HARD TO GET GOOD FITS ON THE NOSEPIECE. RENT A "SAWZALL" AT THE LOCAL RENT-ALL, THEY ARE CHEAP AND GIVE MUCH MORE ACCURATE AND SMOTHER CUTS.

DO NOT TRUST THE TEMPLATES PROVIDED!!! EACH BUG IS A LITTLE DIFFERENT. THE TEMPLATES PROVIDED WITH SOME KITS ARE MEANT TO BE A GUIDE. USE THEM TO MAKE YOUR INITIAL MARKINGS AND THEN TEST FIT YOUR PIECES BEFORE YOU CUT

DO HAVE A FRIEND HELP YOU!!! IT REALLY HELPS TO HAVE SOMEONE THAT CAN HOLD A PIECE IN POSITION WHILE YOU STAND BACK TO MAKE SURE THAT IT IS WHERE YOU WANT IT. IT ALSO HELPS DURING THE MARKING PROCESS

DO MOUNT ALL 3 REAR PIECES BEFORE CUTTING!!! ON 3-PIECE REARS YOU CAN MOUNT ALL 3 PIECES BEFORE DOING ANY CUTTING, THIS WILL HELP YOU TO DETERMINE HOW "OPEN" YOU WANT THE ENGINE AREA. I LIKE TO START MY CUT AN INCH OR TWO BEHIND THE LAST FENDER MOUNTING BOLT AND THEN ARC IT TO THE BOTTOM OF THE FIREWALL (THERE'S SOME PRETTY THICK STUFF TO CUT THROUGH NEAR THE FIREWALL THOUGH). THIS MAKES YOUR VALVE COVERS FREE OF ANY OBSTRUCTIONS WHICH MAKES ADJUSTING YOUR VALVES EVEN EASIER

DO NOT BE AFRAID TO E-MAIL ME!!! THERE ARE NO STUPID QUESTIONS... ONLY STUPID ACTIONS!

MIKE WRITES:

I live in Eugene, Oregon and recently picked up a 1964 bug that I plan to turn into a baja. My biggest problem so far is finding a company that sells kits. I want a good solid kit, as this will also be a daily driver. Any help you could give me would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks Mike Young E-MAIL TO: kith_kainan@hotmail.com

THANKS FOR YOUR QUESTION MIKE... THERE ARE MANY FIBERGLASS MANUFACTURERS AND DISTRIBUTORS AROUND THE COUNTRY. YOU MIGHT TRY
"STRICTLY FOREIGN" AT 405 S. UNION AVE. GRANTS PASS, OR.
THEY HAVE A FREE CATALOG CALL: 541-476-1999

AND IF YOU ARE WILLING TO MAIL-ORDER, A GREAT SOURCE FOR QUALITY BAJA KITS IS
"MARK V FIBERGLASS" AT 1650 FOOTHILL DR. , BOULDER CITY, NV. 89005
FOR INFORMATION CALL: 702-293-5329
ORDERS: 800-350-5349

AND OF COURSE YOU CAN ORDER ALL OF YOUR BAJA PARTS NEEDS FROM MY ONLINE CATALOG AT: OASIS VW

IF ANYONE IN THE EUGENE AREA KNOWS OF A VW DISTRIBUTOR THAT IS CLOSER TO MIKE PLEASE E-MAIL HIM AND LET HIM KNOW WHERE

THAT'S ABOUT IT FOR THIS MONTH, GOOD LUCK AND BEST WISHES!