1971 Stroppe Baja Restoration

[71 LUBER]

Are you just having it media blasted and repainted or are you finding body work to do as you tear into it?

 

[sprdv1]

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

LOL.. try it on ebay, you may be surprised.. ;D

 

[broncorick]

You are absolutely doing the right thing--amazing how an off color can effect the look of somthin---on another vehicle the red might work, but it needs the original to work. Good work on the tear down and I to am saving your pics to help grow my archive of photos. I always like to work on original ones rather than wading through PO changes.

 

[broncorick]

Yes--are you having dipped, media blasted or what? I am in debate as to what to do with a fairly clean albeit poorly painted tub myself.

 

[Bronco]

This is fun to watch. Good work.

 

[Uncut75]

Nice work and keep it up. Nice to see an original being restored.

 

[Rumpfy]

This'll be a fun thread to follow.

Fantastic documentation!

So do you have a timeline of when you aim to have it back together, or 'it'll get there when it gets there'?

 

[Bronco]

be careful about documenting the actual hours. The significant other might use that against you. I see hours of "chick flicks" and foot massages in your future.

 

[Uncut75]

be careful about documenting the actual hours. The significant other might use that against you. I see hours of "chick flicks" and foot massages in your future.

...or the Porsche will get jealous.

 

[Baja71]

You guys are killing me! ;D

Yes, the tub will come off, hopefully soon, and get media blasted. Any rusty parts will get sand. This guy tells me his he uses water with his sand so it does not pit or warp. We'll see.

There is no real body work to be done. No real rust. Just a few minor dings and not many of those. There is some rust on the floorboards but upon scraping seems very solid. This area will probably get sand. The frame and diffs, etc. will get sand blasted, any welds touched up that need it, and painted semi-gloss black.

As far as timeline, I want to push along and do it right. I don't want it to drag out for years, so look for a steady stream of posts. For god's sake, if you don't see them, post a nasty, taunting msg my way!!!

 

[Rumpfy]

For god's sake, if you don't see them, post a nasty, taunting msg my way!!!

I don't see an update post for today.

 

[trlblazr]

Ha Ha Ha, thats a good one;D

 

[broncorick]

What, nothing since yesterday---a slacker!!!

 

[Baja71]

Wow, you guys are hard up! But I really do need the encouragement! ;D

Well, I made the mistake of promising my dual exhaust system before I removed it. If I had not promised it, I would have gotten it out in 15-20 mins in several pieces. Since it was promised, I removed it with care, and it took me WELL over an HOUR! That's OK, at least it's going to have a second life, right? That bottom nut on the passenger stock manifold took about 20 mins by itself! Not only that, I was the filthiest I've been since I started the project after that session.

Also, I removed the data tag with a heat gun, not too successfully. I have a replacement from Marti standing by, otherwise I never would have attempted this. Slow going did not help anything here. 40 yrs on a sticker that is designed to self destruct on removal was too much.

The good news is I scored an engine hoist and stand.

So....

(Approx. 2.5 hrs. work)

Day 9 (6-24-08)

Remove exhaust system
Remove data tag

 

[Bronco]

nice work. i also have a sticker from Marti's coming soon, hopefully.

 

[Baja71]

Yeah, no way to save those. All this work and I didn't want to paint around it when I could get a duplicate.

 

[Baja71]

Day 10 (6-26-08)

(Approx 4 hrs. work)

Remove parking brake system
Disconnect vapor evaporator bottle
Remove AUX filler neck
Remove AUX gas tank
Remove MAIN/AUX switch
Disconnect various fuel/vapor lines attached to body

There's always discussion on this board about what color the original paint is underneath our Broncos. Here's a shot of my UNTOUCHED undercarriage. This shows the rust colored primer that was used with NO color coat. There is generally some overspray of color onto the bottom in places which I think confuses people into thinking that it got a full coat. I will coat the underside with the poppy red color coat, however.

 

[broncosbybart]

thanks for the pics thus far. keep them coming- that is an order!!! i have several pics of dennis carpenter's unrestored 19k orig mile baja. yeah, the undercarriage was sprayed w/the primer on his. it wasn't even fully covered. i'm planning to restore mine this way, not fully painting the undercarriage (but i will use an expoy primer and fully cover it). it looks like you're starting w/a pretty clean slate. been loving the thread.

btw, i'd give your media blaster man a junk hood or hardtop and see what it ends up looking like. almost everyone i've talked with that has used media blasting on a semi flat part has said that it has gotten wavy. i'd hate to see your truck ending up like this. give him something to try on first, then shoot it with gloss black and see what it looks like. the black will show any waves/imperfections.

what does yours have in the way of stroppe options- just curious. it looks to be a manual steering/ std trans truck.

lastly- what are you doing with a j**p in your driveway??? had to ask.

 

[Baja71]

thanks for the pics thus far. keep them coming- that is an order!!! i have several pics of dennis carpenter's unrestored 19k orig mile baja. yeah, the undercarriage was sprayed w/the primer on his. it wasn't even fully covered. i'm planning to restore mine this way, not fully painting the undercarriage (but i will use an expoy primer and fully cover it). it looks like you're starting w/a pretty clean slate. been loving the thread.

btw, i'd give your media blaster man a junk hood or hardtop and see what it ends up looking like. almost everyone i've talked with that has used media blasting on a semi flat part has said that it has gotten wavy. i'd hate to see your truck ending up like this. give him something to try on first, then shoot it with gloss black and see what it looks like. the black will show any waves/imperfections.

what does yours have in the way of stroppe options- just curious. it looks to be a manual steering/ std trans truck.

lastly- what are you doing with a j**p in your driveway??? had to ask.

Thanks for the feedback, Bart. I'd be interested in seeing your pics of DC's Baja.

Not a body man, but the way I understand it is that improper sand blasting will heat the metal up and warp it. This guy uses water with his sand that keeps it cooler, but he also does media blasting as well. I also know someone else who's opinion I respect that tells me not to bother with the media blasting and just use very fine sand everywhere. I think your idea of using a test piece is a good one.

Good catch on the std. items. Yes, my Baja snuck through without the PS, Auto trans. conversions. I know of a couple of others that did as well, but supposedly not many did. However, we also don't know where most of these 650 Bajas are, so who's to say what the real numbers were. I want to add both (plus power drum brakes, not disc!) for driveability sake as I don't plan to ever sell this, but I will also keep my manual stuff for the next inevitable owner....someday. Not a hard switch back to manual stuff. I plan to drive and enjoy this Bronco as a classic car, not hermetically seal it in a garage, as long as there is affordable gasoline available.

As far as the Jeep, yes I've owned Jeeps, seven in fact. I like 'em. I miss my Cj7s. Since I can't take this Baja down the Rubicon trail, I have the TJ with 4 discs, low range, PS, PB, lockers, helical ltd. slip, A/C, subwoofer, comfy seats, stereo, etc. but it's also no EB, and certainly no Baja. ;D I'm a car guy, I think hate is overrated. But we digress, maybe a new Jeep vs EB thread....back to the Baja.

Right now, I need to either make a dolly for the body and get a head start on the chassis before turning over the body parts to the paint shop, or trailer the whole thing to him and remove the tub there and trailer back the chassis for a rebuild. The latter will put me on a time clock, which can be good and bad...while the first option gives me the issue of storage and manipulating the tub several times.

 

[Baja71]

I forgot to address the primer issue. Yes, I considered leaving the under side red primer. However, I'm concerned with moisture, as a topcoat will seal the metal better. Primer was never intended to be a topcoat, it was just a money saving technique, and also, I don't think Ford expected these to last more than a handful of years. I also considered spraying some primer back on top of the topcoat but kind of let that idea go. Concours guys will leave their cars primer, but I think if you're going to drive it, you may regret that decision someday. Besides, can you think of anything more pretty than a shiny Calypso Coral undercarriage? ;D