THE '72 BAJA CONVERSION TO THE '72 BAJA/RAT

GOT STARTED ON PUTTING THE FRONT END EXTENTION ON THE CAR THIS PAST WEEKEND. YOU ALL REMEMBER WHAT IT LOOKED LIKE RIGHT


WELL HERES WHERE IVE BEEN ON SATURDAY:



AND WHAT I GOT DONE ON SUNDAY:



AND WHAT IS HOLDING ME UP RIGHT NOW FROM CONTINUING WITH EXTENDING MY STEERING SHAFT IS THIS DAMN FLANGE


IT IS RUSTED ON. IVE TRYED SPREADING IT AND POUNDING IT OFF, HEATING IT, PB BLASTING IT. EVERYTHING SO FAR TO NO AVAILE. IM THINKING I MAY JUST CUT IT OFF. ANY IDEAS BEFORE I PULL THE SAWZAW OUT AGAIN?

I have a gear puller that I think might work

I HAD THOUGHT OF THAT BUT I REALLY DONT WANT TO PULL EITHER THE BEAM OR STEERING BOX OFF AND THERES ONLY ABOUT 3-4 INCHES OF ROOM

Did you try soaking it in WD40?

It may be old school, but when stuff on my quads would rust and corrode from all the salt and sea air at Pismo I would soak them in WD40 a couple of times a day and then take a rubber mallet to it.

WD40 seems to do well on loosening up the rust.

I also have an pnumatic air hammer/chissel if you want to give that a go. If you can get it in there, it will most likely knock it off.

How about I make you a disc that would bolt right to it? (like the rubber doughnut used to) I can put a 1-1/2" long x 3/4" dia. shaft on one side that will fit your universal joint.

Well.......got that flange off finally. And swapped out steering shafts. Now just need a sleeve or something to go on the steering box shaft to take it from 5/8 to 3/4, a shaft extension to weld to the steering shaft to take it from 7/8 to 3/4, then a measurement from u joint to u joint for another length of 3/4 shaft to complete the steering extension. Thanx again to Eric "our group Fab man" for the parts to get me where I'm at so far.

No more pics yet but was thinking bout loading it on my trailer & bringing it with Sunday. Whatcha all think?

sounds like a lot of work....LOL

Can't wait to see what it looks like finished.. I am having a hard time envisioning it with a longer nose.

I think you should man up and use some duct tape and drive it on Sunday!

Got your coupler done tonight! This bolts to the yoke (that you just removed) The shaft on the left will weld to the shortened steering(column) shaft. I'll bring them to IHOP Sunday. Give me a call at 530-575 7617 and we can go over the next step. Eric
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Man Cliff you're really going all out on this deal. It was cool to see on Sunday. Hope it all works out for ya.

Hey Cliff, the steering gear is in and works nice! I'll be home after 4:30 Wednesday, so you can pick it up.[img][/img]

That looks clean.

It's heavy duty. Those are 20hp U-joints for a tractor PTO!

Will the gas tank clear?

No, Cliff is going raise the tank with framework.

That looks super clean. Nice work!

WOW!!!!!!

THAT LOOKS GREAT ERIC!!!

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR ALL YOUR HELP WITH PROJECT. MY OTHER 72 RATROD SHOULD GO MUCH EASIER NOW. LOL I MAY EVEN MAKE IT REAL EASY AND GO WITH THE RACK AND PINION ON THAT ONE

I WILL SEE IF I CAN CLOSE UP A LITTLE EARLY TONIGHT SO I CAN COME BY AND GET IT.

THANX AGAIN FOR ALL THE HELP, PARTS, MACHINE WORK, ETC. LET ME KNOW IF THERES ANYTHING I CAN HELP YOU WITH

Nice work Cliff. It turned out really good.

NOT 100% DONE YET. STILL HAVE A WIND BLOCK TO WELD IN AND PROBABLY SOME BRACKETS TO RAISE AT LEAST THE FRONT OF THE STOCK GAS TANK. JUST ABOUT THERE

Will you have it done by tech day though? How do you think it will effect the handling?

I WILL DO MY BEST TO HAVE IT BACK ON THE ROAD BY TECH DAY. JUST NEED TO RAISE THE TANK AND PUT IN A WIND BLOCK. SHOULDNT BE TO HARD.

LOL FAMOUS LAST WORDS HUH

FROM WHAT IVE READ ABOUT OTHERS IT DRIVES PRETTY MUCH THE SAME. ITS JUST THAT HOT ROD LOOK TO MAKE IT DIFFERENT.

It definitely will set it apart.

WELL.................GOT THE CAR BACK FROM ERICS ON WED. LAST WEEK. BLEW A COOLANT HOSE TO MY EGR COOLER ON MY TRUCK ON THE WAY HOME . TOOK ABOUT 30 MIN TO COOL DOWN AND FIX THEN ANOTHER 45 OR SO TO VERY LIGHTLY DRIVE TO FIND COOLANT. FOUR STOPS, $43 AND 4 GALLONS OF READY MIX LATER.....BACK ON MY WAY HOME. *#^@IN WATERCOOLED VEHICLES

GOT THE GAS TANK RAISED, "TRUNK" PAINTED BLED BRAKES, RETORQUED EVERYTHING SATURDAY. TOOK A QUICK DRIVE TO GET GAS. IT WORKED

SUNDAY MARY AND I WENT TO GRASS VALLEY TO GET A COUPLE PARTS AND DO SOME GROCERY SHOPPING. STILL HAS THE SHAKE OF WARPED ROTORS WHEN I BRAKE BUT IT GOT A BIT OF A SHIMMY AT ABOUT 35 AND 45 MPH . CHECKED THINGS OUT WHEN WE GOT HOME.......I SHOULD PROBABLY DO THE BALL JOINTS AND STEERING STABILIZER, BUT TIGHTENED UP THE WHEEL BARINGS A LITTLE AND TOOK A QUICK DRIVE DOWN TO WHERE GIOVANNI'S USED TO BE AND DIDNT NOTICE THE SHIMMY.....MAYBE IT WAS THE BARINGS

SO......................I WOULD POST SOME PICS BUT THAT WOULD RUIN THE FUN IF YOU WANT TO SEE IT YOULL HAVE TO COME TO TECH DAY ON THE FEB 19TH

Hopefully setting the bearings cured the problem.