Ive finally started my build on my 70 Baja. My plans are to build a full mid travel Baja and run an ecotec in it. So far I have acquired a fully built front beam with coilovers and 2.5 over arms, rear 3x3s, seats, belts, gauges, pedals, and a built 3 rib. I have a few questions and hope I can get them answered here. My front beam is missing the mounting tabs for it and so I can't mount it to the pan head with my balljoint to linkpin conversion adapters. Does anyone know where I could get the brackets from to mount it? If not I guess I may have to get my cage done sooner than I thought, does anyone know where might be a good place to get a full cage built and what it may cost to get done? My next question is about rear torsion bars. What would be the recommended size to get with the ecotec and 3x3 arms? I was thinking about going with 30mm but am unsure. Also, how do I know what length to buy other than pulling them out and measuring? Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thank you. Very much for your time. I will add pictured when I get a chance to take some

Frame head mounting bracket: www.socalautoparts.com...ad-p-13879

If you are going coil over up front you might as well go coil over in the back. If going fast offroad is something you want to do, your suspension is just as important as the engine. When the cage is built, set it up for a pair of coil over shocks that will allow you to use the ecotech.

www.pacificcustoms.com...1361k.html

If you run with a limited suspension, it just limits your motor.

NOW if you are more of a trail guy who doesn't care about running fast offroad then don't even worry about the cage. Lots of people build big motor cars and do not drive them fast offroad.

if you are going with 3x3 you may want to move the trans back 3" .. its better for the CV's and you wont need to cut your firewall for the ECO Tec.

on the torsion... there are only 2 sizes.... "Short" and "Long" I run 27mm "Longs" no cage, gas tank in fount of car. I love the ride.... if I put a heavy cage, gas tank in the rear and wanted to go fast I would go with the 30mm "Long" but it is a tuff ride. don't runt the "short" torsions... not worth the ride. they tend to beat you up a lot more than the Longs... if you look at my link you will see I am running the long torsions..

I live in Peoria... 67ave and Peoria.. if you want to come by and take a closer look at my ride ... it might help you with your project...

Awesome info and thank you for the links wideopenmotorsports. I plan on upgrading the rear to a coilover setup eventually but want to keep the torsion setup for a bit to save up for a good set of coilovers. The car will mainly be used to beat around in the desert with but will probably see sand dunes about 4x a year so I would feel more comfortable with a cage. How would I go about moving the trans back? I may take you up on your offer to look at your car Dalton, that would give me some ideas and might help keep me motivated. I live on47th ave and thunderbird so your not too far.

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I was going through the list of adapters Kennedy sells and and am curious about the 22r conversion vs the ecotec? I know the 22r is bulletproof and I'm pretty familiar with them since I've had 4 of them in different trucks I've owned. How reliable is the ecotec? I know it has more power but I don't know how great that would be on my trans either. I've read that the Toyota weighs about 315 lbs dry, does anyone know what the ecotec weighs?

I ran the 22R great motor....!!! Had problems with the head gaskets if it over heated..

1) the 22R is a rough motor you will feel it on the HWY. you will need to run rubber mounts.


2) the 22R is carburetor motor. or old school EFI
old school EFI does not off road well...

the Eco tec is balance and a much better EFI system..

you will be much happier with an eco tec. I think.

Awesome. That was the type of first hand knowledge I was hoping for. Thank you