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1971 Stroppe Baja Restoration

Baja71

Bronco Guru
Joined
Oct 16, 2004
Messages
2,908
Last month, I finally got the nerve to turn a wrench on the first bolt on my Baja, taking us down a different type of trail. When I purchased it a few years back, I knew this day would come. The original owner's family that I purchased it from had taken the Baja in for a repaint. The shop used the wrong red, and the wrong white. As good as it looked, I knew that some day I would bring it back to it's true glory. But it wasn't just the color that brought us to this trailhead. The leaky motor was showing signs of becoming tired, and leaks from the differentials, xfer case, and tranny pushed for a mechanical overhaul as well. I put it off as long as I could, but the day had come for a frame off.

I wanted to go from this...back to this.
 

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Baja71

Baja71

Bronco Guru
Joined
Oct 16, 2004
Messages
2,908
Day 1 (5/5/08)

(Approx 4 hrs. of work)

Remove top
Remove riveted gun rack from roll bar
Remove Dash Pad
Lower windshield
Remove Doors

Rust free windshield channel...whew!

How cool do these look with no doors and top??
 

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Baja71

Baja71

Bronco Guru
Joined
Oct 16, 2004
Messages
2,908
Day 2 (5/6/08)

(Approx. 4 hrs. work)

Remove door hinges
Remove hood
Remove battery & tray
Remove headlights/turn signals/side lights
Remove radiator overflow bottle
Remove Jack & mounts
Remove Fenders
Remove Grill
Remove Ft. bumper/cactus smasher
 

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Baja71

Baja71

Bronco Guru
Joined
Oct 16, 2004
Messages
2,908
Paint

Here you can see these are original fenders. Also, in the other pic you can see the glaring differences in the whites and reds.
 

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sprdv1

Contributor
REBEL
Joined
Mar 8, 2007
Messages
81,983
Still looks good man.. Gonna like this build thread.. ;D
 
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Baja71

Baja71

Bronco Guru
Joined
Oct 16, 2004
Messages
2,908
Day 3 (05/07/08)

(Approx. 5 hrs. work)

Remove rear lighting lenses
Remove Spare tire
Remove spare tire carrier
Remove tailgate hardware
Remove tailgate
Remove rear bumper
Remove Stroppe hitch
Swap Stroppe steering wheel for basic
Remove 90% of Stroppe rollbar (what a b^tch!!)
Remove all seats (completely dismantle rear seat for powdercoat)
Remove all metal interior trim
Remove speakers
Remove T shift cover and handle
Remove floor mat, front and rear
 

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Baja71

Baja71

Bronco Guru
Joined
Oct 16, 2004
Messages
2,908
Day 4 (05-12-08)

(Approx. 3 hrs.)

Remove rear flares
Finish removing Stroppe roll bar (PIA!!!)
Remove evap. cover
Loosen windshield wiper assy.
Spray down body mts and other with PB Blaster
Begin dash & windshield disassembly
Remove door rubber weather stripping
Remove side beltline trim - rear
 

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Baja71

Baja71

Bronco Guru
Joined
Oct 16, 2004
Messages
2,908
Here you can see that this was a replacement set of rear flares. Of course, I already knew that. On day 4 I got a surprise pile of magic Baja dust. I wonder if I should bottle and sell this! ;D
 

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Baja71

Baja71

Bronco Guru
Joined
Oct 16, 2004
Messages
2,908
Day 5 (05-13-08)

(Approx 3 hrs. work)

Remove windshield wiper assy
Cut rubber seal, remove windshield glass
Remove antenna assy
Remove wiring harnesses in engine bay to firewall
Remove regulator, solenoid
Remove wiper washer assy

All original wiring...ain't it purty?
 

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Baja71

Baja71

Bronco Guru
Joined
Oct 16, 2004
Messages
2,908
Day 6 (05-15-08)

(approx. 2 hrs.)

Remove Driver's side air box
Continued on dash disassembly....
 

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Baja71

Baja71

Bronco Guru
Joined
Oct 16, 2004
Messages
2,908
Day 7 (05-31-07)

(Approx 3hrs. work)

Remove front wiring harnesses
Remove Passenger vent/heater box
Remove parking brake pedal assy.
Remove steering wheel, turn sig. lever, shifter lever
Remove firewall insulation
Remove dash, disco
Remove wiring harness
Remove heater hoses to dash
Remove accel. linkage from firewall
 

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Baja71

Baja71

Bronco Guru
Joined
Oct 16, 2004
Messages
2,908
Day 8 (6-23-08)

A little time off, I guess....

(approx 3 hrs. work)

Remove radiator
Remove one set of four shocks
Remove all PO's towing/being towed wiring
Remove trailer brake system
Remove beltline trim fastners on bed
Remove tail light/rear side marker harnesses
Disco shift linkage to column
 

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Toddpole

Sr. Member
Joined
Jan 2, 2008
Messages
832
That is sweet, Thomas. Reminds me of a long ago ketchup commercial...
"ANTICIPAAATION, it's makin' me wait!"
 

Louie

Bronco Guru
Joined
Mar 29, 2004
Messages
1,805
Guess it had to happen. It'll be fun to sit back & watch!! Good luck with it!
 
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Baja71

Baja71

Bronco Guru
Joined
Oct 16, 2004
Messages
2,908
Thanks for the well wishes guys. Yes, teardown is almost too easy....and too fast for my short term RAM. ;D
 

Ohio Bronco 21

Bronco Guru
Joined
Dec 5, 2006
Messages
4,194
Loc.
Cleveland
Your truck has to be from the south west, Those bolts and screws turn out too easy. Its always much more fun to take apart a truck that is rusted all together (or apart). LOL.
Good work.
 
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