Baja Bug Build (ep 1): Intro to the build: what, why and goals)

In this video I do an intro and walk through my first Baja Bug build. How I decided on a bug. The inspiration for the build. And the plans and parts I'm going to use for it!
I'd like to give HUGE shout out to:
Howard: You're help has been invaluable and awesome. I wouldn't have this bug without you!
@BlakeWilkey357 - Your escapades open my eyes to the possibilities and potential of a bug!
@EvanLS55 - You and your bug has been a constant stream of inspiration and encouragement! You’re build literally steered the direction of this build in a major way.
@Terra-Crew - James and Crew: Without your sweet videos and love for the sport, I wouldn’t have found this community. Its not just the video with Evan, but you’ve given me a front-seat view on builds that have really helped guide me build this bug.
Original Videos in this video:
Terra Crew "BUILT TO DESTROY" Video (of Evans Build):
• Garage Built VTEC Swap...
Blake’s “Urban Assault” Video:
• URBAN ASSAULT: San Die...
All video clips and content used with permission..
Music from #Uppbeat (free for Creators!):
uppbeat.io/t/tatami/let-me-rule
#TheBinderBuilder #BajaBug #BajaBuild #BuildIntro #TerraCrew #MyFirstBug #My1stBug #Bug #BajaBug

[@jefferybuchan4235]

I have a 69 VW with a Baja kit. I got it in florance from the VW place there back in 2010 I had a 1600 engine in it. I stored it out behind my garage here in pueblo colorado for years. I put it back together in 2016 to race stick shift drags in Denver for a few years. I took the engine out and sold it to do a subaru swap and it has sat since for various reasons. Got asked about if it was for sale the other day I and I told the person a price I thought was pretty low for a rolling chassis but he never cam back lol anyway can't wait to see yours done.

[@thebinderbuilder]

Thanks Jeff, I'm glad to have you along! I hope you enjoy the build!

[@NewWaveFan1]

Ever since I saw Rivers Edge. I have wanted a Baja bug.

[@thebinderbuilder]

I dont believe that I have seen that...I'll have to take look. I hope you enjoy the journey!

[@TheEZGZ]

Ya can't please everyone so ya just gotta please yourself.

[@VWJawbreaker]

Boy isn’t that the truth!

[@bigbird-xm]

I have build 2 of them and made a 3.5" inch lift on the last one. I dropped the front beam down to the next slot on the front pan and made a custom brace for the bottom King and link Beam. Cut off the whole back of the torsion suspension and dropped 3.5" down and back 3"and welded a custom full skid plate. It took me 3 weekends to Finnish but my little play ground in the gravel pits and steep roller dirt hills. It stopped getting high sided on the bottom. I jumped the Baja every weekend for 2 years. I sold it way to cheep in 2009 in the crash. It was a 3 months total build with the new 1835cc motor and EMPI Dual-D 40mm Deluxe Carburetor Kit, big oil cooler kit on the back. Dyno run 73hp @ 4800prm and 89lb-ft max torque @2500rpm. I ran the Old Mickey Thompson Baja MTZ skinny 35x9.50R15 tires up front they don't make any more, and Baja MTZ 35x12.50R15 in the Rear. Bus trans is the only way to go. I wish I never sold it. People called it a monster bug in Oregon. I have a 64K mileage 2004 Volkswagen Passat GLS TDI 2.0L that got hit but still drives and the Ins, paid me for the car so I was thinking of starting another build and 134 hp @ 4,000 rpm and 247 lb-ft @ 1,900 rpm. I just took the car in for a complete service (De-carbon and New turbo) and runs beautiful and grate power and my best mileage is 23mpg city and 34 MPG. I cant imagine a almost 2 times the HP and almost 3 times the Torque in a light Baja bug. Nichols Fabrication Front style A Arm build front end will make a huge difference. Happy to see building. Keep up the good work. Subscribed

[@thebinderbuilder]

Wow...you definitely have way more experience than I do with bugs (this is my first)... but I'm definitely happy to have you along. I hope my build is one of the many that will convince you to build another! ...and when you do, be sure to share!

[@markgibbons6176]

Yes good lights on a Baja is a must ... I have Grote for stock location high/low + 2 hella flood & 2 KC spots..

[@thebinderbuilder]

Nice! Yeah, I hope the lights I got do the trick (see Light Reveal Vid). I'll be building a light bar across the top, and a couple in the front push-bar/brush guard.

[@DIYWilly]

Sounds like a great build plan. I have also started a Baja build but I’m choosing a different path for mine. I’ll sub so I can follow the build.

[@thebinderbuilder]

Glad to have you along... I subd to your channel to see whatcha gonna do with yours

[@justingoodman5201]

A good youtuber for a-arm baja build stuff is Doug bug. He and now you are inspiring my own baja bug build. Keep up the good work!

[@thebinderbuilder]

Thanks Justin! I'm glad to have you following along! I've also seen and enjoyed DougBugs content when I was deciding on my Baja Bug Project. Stay tuned! There's a lot more to come!

[@laroark5036]

Baja bugs are a blast to drive.

[@thebinderbuilder]

They better be! Lol. I KNOW I really enjoyed the SxS testers in the dunes were a blast, but I have yet to go out on a real outing in an actual Baja. But I'm in too deep to turn back now! Enjoy the show!

[@garyjones2582]

I like the direction youre going with this.. i'll follow along..

[@thebinderbuilder]

Sweet! Welcome! Glad to have you along for the ride

[@VWJawbreaker]

Sounds like a killer build. Subbed!

[@thebinderbuilder]

Thanks...great to have you aboard!

[@talesofanasphaltjockey]

I'm excited about this build as I want one for myself ... I'm subscribed!!!

[@thebinderbuilder]

Sweet! Glad to have you along!

[@Henry_G99]

I'm looking forward to your build.

[@thebinderbuilder]

Thanks Henry! That makes two of us! Stay tuned, I'm hoping to take this to another level!

[@flash333g]

Your build goals close to perfect for my build ..But I am not a fabricator I can put stuff together I may need to buy more items...

[@thebinderbuilder]

Thanks Flash! Yeah, I'll be honest, I need to buy more stuff too! Glad to have you along. I hope you enjoy the build!

[@TheRealBanrun]

As someone who has seen that video with Evan Smith and his build, I too want to pursue the way he built his bug. I currently have my first ever bug that is a 1969, it already has the baja package done to it and I am currently redoing all kinds of stuff to it to make it run again currently on the wiring portion of it... Anyways, with all that being said, I do hope to see you posting videos of the build and how you are doing everything, maybe help people like me on building our bugs up. Thank you :)

[@thebinderbuilder]

Sounds like a fun build and I'll definitely be uploading a complete wiring job on this bug eventually. Stay tuned! Check out my Instagram as well...lots of progress pictures

[@joshslackslack8115]

I would find a Suzuki samurai and swap the axles and everything over to the bug 4x4 bug would be a cool idea and could keep up with the SXS

[@thebinderbuilder]

I used to live near FN-Zuki in Colorado Springs and I actually wanted to build a Sammy and throw a 4.3 Vortec and throw some Scout axles under a tin-top Zuki. I wouldn't mind building a Duster/Tracker/Zuki in the future.

[@larrymcgarage2152]

Hi Dameon, don’t know if I spelled your name right. I’m also an Arkansan Baja builder. I don’t know if you’ve seen Doug bug KZbin channel on here I believe he’s from Arizona. He has a video on building an a-arm front suspension from scratch, also a lot of other cool things he has built. I haven’t posted any videos lately do to poor internet. And just laziness I guess. But I’ll be following your build on here. Thanks for sharing. Larry

[@thebinderbuilder]

Hey Larry! Glad to have you aboard! Even better you being in Arkansas. Yes, I've seen DougBug. He's from Colorado (I'm from there too), he's definitely helped me with some measurements from his chassis but I'm going to try my own design for the A-arms. If there's anything I can help you with just let me know!

[@iprodigy6723]

I'm going to subscribe and follow. I'm currently working on my baja I picked up end of last year. Still air cooled and running. And still a beam suspension. It's my first and would love to go A arm but I don't see many vids on how people are actually doing A Arms so it kinda leaves me sticking with beam at this time. Would love to see how you doing your A Arm set up to give me an idea. I to am looking to do a J30 engine I found one for a killer price with the harness. I need to find a trans that's the hard part finding one for a good price.

[@thebinderbuilder]

Thanks! I looks forward to having you along for this ride. I hope how I put the a-arm suspension together gives you some insight and clarifies any questions you may have, if not just ask!

[@iprodigy6723]

@The Binder Builder will do I appreciate it and excited to see how yours turns out. Like you stated they are all different and these builds are a lot of fun to see.

[@thebinderbuilder]

@@iprodigy6723 I still have to find a motor... I know I can get one from a JDM importer, but working on other stuff ATM.

[@SimonPhoenix313]

I can’t wait to start mine with my daughter soon. I’ll be watching your build! gl

[@thebinderbuilder]

Awesome to have you along!

[@timswitzer792]

Hello, Did you cut the front and rear off, or was that done before you got it? If you cut it off is there a video showing the layout of where to cut? Thanks, Tim

[@thebinderbuilder]

Hey Tim! I'm glad you found the channel. The back was already cut off, but I covered how I cut our the front end in the video where I sealed up the bulkhead. I didn't spend to much time measuring out everything, percisely, rather I sized up the 1-piece front end and left enough material to mount the Dzus fasteners or body bolts to mount it.

[@thebinderbuilder]

Here's a link to that video: kzbin.info/www/bejne/pnmTp4KooMR0htksi=_f7i6Oj9KoyFdTZC

[@timswitzer792]

Thanks for the link!!! Im currently looking at a '63. Its already stripped completely down. Im amazed at how nice the body is!! Especially a Pa car!! Dont have the heart to tell the seller what I plan to do to it. Are you going with an A-arm suspension or sticking with torsion? Im new to all this so Im trying to learn and watch and absorb as much as I can. Thanks again!! Tim

[@timswitzer792]

I just saw youre from Colorado and used to live near Colorado Springs. My cousin lives over in Florissant(sp). He is/was a huge VW guy, as well as his dad.

[@thebinderbuilder]

​​@@timswitzer792Yup...20ish years in the Springs. Florissant is a nice (albeit VERY small) place...I've driven through it a few times going to the mountains and various 4x4 trails and rendezvous.

[@TheDavidMcCreary]

What’s the plans for the rear arms? 3x3 is what most go to. I started with 3x3s and am now going to a 5x5

[@thebinderbuilder]

Hey David, thanks for asking. When I bought the 091 transmission, the guy had some BuggyBarn 3x3s that I picked up. I wanted wider (like 3x5s) but for a couple hundred bucks, I snatched them up!

[@TheDavidMcCreary]

@@thebinderbuilder you’ll be happy! I’m excited to watch this build.

[@estebangarcia3365]

Nick at buggy barn is the man! I know a couple guys in California high desert running his stuff

[@markgibbons6176]

@@estebangarcia3365 Totally agree .. been running Nicks 5x5 arms for 3 years no issues...

[@thebinderbuilder]

​@@markgibbons6176 are the 5x5 arms your using tube or boxed?

[@flash333g]

Just like to know about budget target?

[@thebinderbuilder]

Initially I wanted to stay under 15k. But with prices going crazy...its grown. That's one (albeit small) reason I'm building my own suspension. That, and a built 091 transaxle is going to be the single most expensive part of the build 4-6k. Then when you consider $2k for a motor, 2500 for wheels/tires (new), 3k in coil-overs. It's all adding up.

[@JohnStevens-iq3mp]

Great project intro. Check out DougBug here on KZbin. He has built two great Bajas and has insane attention to detail. He builds an a arm front end showing every detail and has CAD files linked for the arms and uprights.

[@JohnStevens-iq3mp]

Oop, I see you already know of DougBug 😊

[@thebinderbuilder]

No sweat, thanks for the heads up. Yeah DougBug is cool, I've watched his builds, I don't have a plasma like he does, kinda makes me jealous! But yeah, my planned geometry is a little different than his. But I did hit him up for some measurements and he came through big time.

[@admrizzo1]

Hey Dom... dude, how could you come all the way to Utah and drop me a message?... I would have totally driven to Provo to have lunch with you... cool build, I dig Baja Bugs aka "Sand Turtle"

[@thebinderbuilder]

Sup Rizzo! Whatcha up to?!?! Sorry man, we were in and out of Utah so fast, it was crazy. But I will come back when the Bug is done...and would love to meet you down in Sand Hollow or up in Rexburg to the St. Anthony Sand Dunes....but we'll figure out how good this Sand Turtle goes.

[@admrizzo1]

@@thebinderbuilder Sand hollow it is!... I would also like to plan a trip to Windrock at some point...you still got the scout?

[@thebinderbuilder]

@@admrizzo1 No, the scout is gone. I'm just getting back in the game...building this bug to go fast versus crawling like I did in the Scouts

[@nilsonkochinski6591]

what gearbox is that? which car?

[@thebinderbuilder]

091 bus transmission (commonlyreferredto as the 6-rib), from what I understand they come out of the later busses. Early busses have the 002 or 3-rib

[@backyardbuggies939]

i subscribed . . . . .Built not bought

[@thebinderbuilder]

Awesome to have you along! I hope you enjoy the build! #builtnotbought