Thursday, May 31, 2012

The Baja Bandeeto VW Engine

OK so while I wait for parts to get UPS' d to me I figured I would rebuild the engine for the "Baja Bandeeto". I didn't want to pull the engine out of the car because I am still doing mock up stuff and need it to work around and fit things. So, I went out to my barn and pulled the 1500 CC engine out of my vintage Ed "Big Daddy" Roth trike! I figure how appropriate, the engine out of a Roth trike going into a Roth inspired bubble car! After I got it out I loaded it into my truck and drove around to the house garage. I bolted it up to my engine stand with a VW engine head my Dad gave to me a while ago. See Kids, when I was growing up in Long Island, NY my Dad was the Volkswagon go to guy! He started out building Dune Buggies in the late 60's as "HoBo Dune Buggies" and then later became "L&F Volkswagon Repair". When I was about 11 or 12, dad would give me $12 bucks to install a muffler, and so much to do brake jobs. Later on, after I got home from high school, I would rebuild engines all day every day. Pull 'em out and put 'em back in. So here I am, almost 30 years later, standing next to a 1968ish 1500CC flat four about to tear it down for a rebuild! I guess things have come full circle, so this is what I am doing in the garage. what are you guys up to? Get out in the garage and build something! FRITZ