Rocco, my 75 Baja

[poomwah]

I found Rocco on craigslist back in february of this year. Listed as needing brake and alignment work, interior needing TLC.
pics from the ad



and from when I went down to columbus to see it

[poomwah]

the dash pad was shot, there was a poorly cut and fitted piece of aluminum plate on the dash, the headliner was trashed, no visors, no turn signals, no horn, no gas gauge. The camber was so far off it couldn't be driven home, and the brakes were REALLY soft (turned out to be a bad wheel cylinder and brakes were probably never adjusted. under the hood was a total mess. we made a deal including delivery of the car.

[poomwah]

It was too cold and snowy to drive it (no heat and I didnt want it seeing salt) since I don't like caps on the end of the exhaust, and I didnt want water in there, I cut the stinger off, welded in a kadron pipe I got off ebay, a section of pipe from autozone, then put the stinger back on.

then I pulled the aluminum off the dash

huge gaping hole and factory dull yellow paint

[poomwah]

after some aluminum work, some school bus yellow paint, and some black wrinkle paint.

then I ditched the stickers, added a front bumper, and ditched the hubcaps

[poomwah]

then came the switches

the dual empi 34's and the fender trimming

[poomwah]

then rewiring EVERYTHING,
and finally some detail work on the engine

[poomwah]

I can't remember the order, but somewhere along the line I did the alignment and the brakes, and replaced my front tires, removed the running boards, added turn signals, flag poles, made a roller pedal, shortened the shifter, pulled out most of the sagging headliner (plan on painting the ceiling around the center section body color, and painting the middle part bedliner, then bedliner on the floors.
In case you haven't seen my intro thread, here's how it is right now

[poomwah]

so now, after all this, I've decided to try to sell or trade it. I've got some back issues that make off roading of ANY sort very painful. I found this out by going off road ONCE, through the ditch in front of my house and onto the road, and it was enough to tell me that I'm done with offroading.
I don't think it would look good lowered and streeted with the current body. And if its up where it is, I will ALWAYS be tempted to go offroad, LOL.
So, I'm going to try to get a tub and make a street buggy, so hopefully I can sell this and buy a buggy, or better yet, trade this for one. maybe even a sandrail that I can set up for street (I know kinda pointless, but I still like them). If I can't sell the baja for a decent ride, and I can't make any trades, I'm going to go a different "direction. Volksrod. So, depending on what happens, I will either continue this thread as a baja to volksrod conversion, or I will start a new thread for a rail or buggy project. Either way is good for me :]

[MikeH]

Pink sunglasses?

Nice work on the car. Should be fun for somebody.

[teamafx]

That diamond plate dash was kinda cool. Did it fit good? How hard was it to take off?

[poomwah]

the sunglasses are my daughters, notice the booster seat
the diamond plate dash was a nice idea, but, it didnt fit right, there were gaps in places, in other places it was digging into the dash pad, it was two pieces that were welded together. had they put more time into it, it would have looked good . It came off pretty easy, they had it on with pop rivets

[81pumagtc]

Right...for your daughter...



Dave

[poomwah]

dammit, you got me. since I have the booster seat in there, I thought I could get away with glasses :[

[vwrick69]

I really want to see this car!!! I have several bugs and buggies for trades or sale. LETS MAKE A DEAL!!!! Did the surfboard come with it or the roof rack? I have been looking for something like that for DC.

[poomwah]

sorry rick. the board didn't come with it.
I'm going to be near edon tonight just after 8pm, if you pm or email me your address I could stop by.
[e-mail]