New to vw's but after hunting for several months for a Baja I finally got one. After about 3 hours looking at it and making plans I decided to dig in. Spent a few hours yesterday and pulled the body off the pan. Found several issues and view a mess from the last owner, he was a welding freak and a bad one too. He welded the seats in, cage to the dash, roll cage to the pan and to the body, wiring was a disaster.

Ok the plan is to build the suspension/pan first, new roll cage and then do the body work. Have not decided yet if I will put an ecotec in or a v8 (north star) maybe. I want a sweet, fast ride but not wanting to drop thousands of dollars. I have all the tools, bend, mig and tig welder and skills but I need to understand vw's a bit so reading all I can.

If anyone can offer some advice and maybe some design help for the a arms maybe I could help with something in return?

I can't figure out how to add pictures? Any help?

Day 1 down, I'll try to post pictures and keep this site up to date with the progress. Going to get some wheel rollers today to move this thing around easier. Ok that's it for first post.

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PM Sent

Welcome to the site. Hope to see some more pictures in the near future. Good luck.

Welcome, looks like you found a good start... Keep the pics coming

Welcome to the site. Looks like you jumped right into the middle of it all.
Keep us up to date on what you do.

Well I ran into a great deal on Friday. I was planning on getting my motor and transaxle last but ran into a deal I could not pass on and picked up a Honda v6 J30a1 cheap. I believe by the time I'm done putting headers and custom CPU it should give at least 250 hp and be reliable as hell. I pulled the glass out and have the top just about ready to cut. Stinks on glass I was going to use 1 piece and broke it, ront windshield, oh well. Plan is to cut the top off tomorrow and possibly cut the pan. Remember I'm stretching the bug 8 to 12 inches. Tomorrow will be a busy day and HOT but I cannot wait. I to remember how to post pic again but I have more and will keep them coming.

I have added a few pictures on the update work. Engine is again a J301A, Honda 3.0, body is cut, old cage is now out and I was going to start bending the new cage but I have decided to streatch the pan first and I'm really considering widening the car 8 inches now. Thinking hell I'm doing so much work now, why not go all out. Trying to decide weather to cut on each side of the middle hump (not sure what that's called) or cut it right down the middle. Any suggestion would be very helpful. I cut the top with plenty to trim after I decide exactly how I will build the cage.
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You said in your 1st post in this thread that you didn't want to drop thousands into this project. With that engine, you'd better be prepared to drop several thou on just a gearbox. It's going to need a Mendeola or Weddle to handle the power. Then CVs and axle shafts and rear hubs and brakes. And it will need quite a chassis to handle it. Something like a Crumco. It's a slippery slope.

I het to bust your bubble, But I do think Honda is one a the few engines that turn backwords. You will end up with 4 gears backwards and 1 low gear forwards. You should check into the engine rotation.

I believe that with that V6 he's OK on that point of rotation. My buddy has a 4 seater rail with a Honda/Acura V6 using wrecking yard 002 gearboxes. Note the plural there. The term "gearboxes" refers to the many times the V6 has spit out gear teeth. It rotates correct, but way too much horsepower for the gearbox.

Welcome to AzBaja. You might as well cry once widen the front and rear suspension and buy a good transaxle now while your building it. Also take note the entry level Mendy has a stock T-1 reverse gear which is extremely expendable.

I just saw this on craigslist. Keep it and finish it. There are to many people that buy cars, cut them in half and then sell them for a loss.

I hear you my friend, nice thing is I don't have to sale it. If I could just finish building the front long travel on my sand rail I'd be back onto this project. It's just been so damn HOT and I want to make sure I get the sand rail done before the season.

Thanks for the encouragement, it just might work.

The heat is a killer. My car has just been sitting for the last month or so do to it being to hot out.