Project 69

BROmanian

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Aug 16, 2023
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100
Ever since I built my first buggy there was always something missing, like windshield, seat heaters, air-conditioning, doors that open and you can get out without braking your back, knees and neck, and of course lots of lights. I needed something like handled like a Class 1 off-road and like a Porsche on the road and that I didn't need to smog, because Cali, big dreams that can't really be reality but a guy can dream.
Anyways, from big dreams Project 69 was born, it needed to be a 69 because obvious reasons that we cant get into since this is a family friendly establishment.
It needed sequential transmission, (because once you have one you just don't go back) high revving V8 with big power and to be street legal that I can drive wherever I wanted. Only thing that fit that bill was a 69 Baja bug so I started looking. Really wanted it to look period correct with lots of light and louvers, we get to that later, with some modern touches.
So I started talking about it at work and one of my coworkers said, I have exactly what you want, it's all there, basically you just need to finish welding and get whatever engine and transmission you want. Hell yeah, I thought, this is off to really good start, I should be done in a few months. Turns out it was a 96, I might have heard what I wanted to hear there. He had purchased a kit that you just send to a laser cutter and they cut everything for you and you just weld it together and voilà you're done, off to the desert and hit all the sweet jumps. I had the same kit on my old buggy so I knew that it works really well so I wasn't worried.
So the saga begins.
 
I started with the engine because, where else would you start? The block is a 6.0 liter LS2 with the LS3 crank, LS2 rods and forged pistons and 823 LS3 heads. With the Summit racing 8710 cam it should produce right around 540 hp.
 

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The jigsaw puzzle coming together. That Everlast welder better ever last me because we have work to do.
 

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Went to Kartek and bought these spindles only to find out that the design was for some other diameter. Shit balls, luckily I have a CNC machine that can make this hole bigger. After a quick programming and setup the hole was larger just like magic and I could finish the welding.
 

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The test fit went well but where are the shocks going to go? I think he was planning on doing his own shock mounts. Since I have the files, I just sent them out to a buddy of mine and got the bulkhead laser cut.
 

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So I started cutting, turns out this is not the last of the cutting, more to come.
 

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Picked up a 69 bug that will be the star of the show. Started cutting of all the shit that I won’t use.
 

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I really went ape shit with the grinder and got the body to sit pretty good on there. Lies, it fits like shit but that was expected. Time to cut more.
 

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Started with cleaning up the pan to fit the tube chassis. This Harbor Freight air hammer does wonders on the spot welds. Those sauerkraut welds didn't stand a chance, they surrendered like the French.
 

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Built this sweet, super safe, made out of leftover fence material that I had laying around cradle. Flipped it over and now I can build the frame that the body will be attached to.
 

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Pretty proud of this CAD design for the roll cage, I mean even the King suspension is on there.
 

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The body is attached to the frame and the bulkhead is set at 7 degrees. Fits pretty good
 

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