The Baja - Progress Thread
- Thread starter Hawk Tuah
- Start date
Don
- Joined
- 20 Oct 2002
- Posts
- 17,048
- Location
- In a house
Would look awesome with a chalkboard paintjob 
Soldato
- Joined
- 23 Feb 2009
- Posts
- 4,988
- Location
- South Wirral
I love quirky stuff like this. Please keep us updated.
I suppose this is somewhat of an update. Engine died. I've stripped the engine entirely and found the problem. Oil starvation to the middle of the crank caused the central bearing to overheat and warp (bottom). Hopefully the crank itself looks ok, just need the motivation (and warm weather) to put it back together.
Will be putting it in a new case and replacing lots of bits while I'm at it.
Good spot!
I didn't want the white writing showing, so put it on the inside. Ideally, I should go over them with a black marker pen.
After sitting on this for a few years - I thought for my 40th I'd get my Baja back up and running.
Everything had been sitting out in the garden / shed for quite a while (covered in oil) - so piecing everything back together was a bit of a challenge. However with the help of a few reference manuals, I managed to get everything together with new bearings.
While I was working on the engine / waiting for parts - I did a few jobs to the back end. New rear suspension and a new throttle cable.
With the engine finally back in one piece, a friend came round to help fit it back onto the gearbox.
Before spending any more money on new parts - I refit all the old anciliaries to test if I'd actually built a viable engine, or just a random pile of bolts.
Didn't work, however turned and seemed to breath correctly, so I replaced a number of parts and low and behold....
Everything had been sitting out in the garden / shed for quite a while (covered in oil) - so piecing everything back together was a bit of a challenge. However with the help of a few reference manuals, I managed to get everything together with new bearings.
While I was working on the engine / waiting for parts - I did a few jobs to the back end. New rear suspension and a new throttle cable.
With the engine finally back in one piece, a friend came round to help fit it back onto the gearbox.
Before spending any more money on new parts - I refit all the old anciliaries to test if I'd actually built a viable engine, or just a random pile of bolts.
Didn't work, however turned and seemed to breath correctly, so I replaced a number of parts and low and behold....
After a few months of happily driving round locally, I took it a step too far. Tried a motorway journey to get up to Bug Jam, but after 30 miles - died. I think an oil hose came loose - I lost oil pressure - and now the bearings are gone again. 
Don
- Joined
- 20 Oct 2002
- Posts
- 17,048
- Location
- In a house
Awww man, bad luck.
Second time is always a lot easier anyway
Second time is always a lot easier anyway
Soldato
- Joined
- 22 Aug 2004
- Posts
- 7,607
Park it in a ditch where it belongs, and get a proper British classic
I'd have to replace all my tools with imperials though.Park it in a ditch where it belongs, and get a proper British classic
Soldato
- Joined
- 22 Aug 2004
- Posts
- 7,607
Even better!
After the failure to get to Bug Jam, I 'think' while I was driving the pipe on the external oil filter let go - which led to reduced oil pressure, and the main bearings going. So, #1 was to do away with that potential failure point.
Although I managed to replace them before, I'd rather just get it done by an expert, so I ordered a refurbished long block.
Fitted it last weekend - and it fired right up.
Although I managed to replace them before, I'd rather just get it done by an expert, so I ordered a refurbished long block.
Fitted it last weekend - and it fired right up.