My 73 Baja thread

[bronkenn]

Really looks nice. Your garage wall stickers bring back some memories of my earlier days. The WRIF sticker reminds me of driving to work at GM and listening to Arthur Penhallow(?).

 

[Bajabrewer]

Really looks nice. Your garage wall stickers bring back some memories of my earlier days. The WRIF sticker reminds me of driving to work at GM and listening to Arthur Penhallow(?).

BA-BY!

 

[Bajabrewer]

So I got my new BFG All Terrains to replace the 25 year old BFG All Terrains. I found something interesting about my wheels - Because I plan to drive my Baja I wanted to protect the original 15 X 8's with a 1" Pos offset. I found & bought a set of 15 X 8.5 Slots locally for a good price & am going to run those. Well I was looking thru my Baja literature & was looking at a copy of the 75 Stroppe Catalogue & what do I see - Special Stroppe One Piece Aluminum Wheel 15 X 8.5. So I guess I'm replacing Stroppe wheels with Stroppe wheels. LOL They do stick out a little past the front fenders but I don't mind. New tires are 33x10.5x15 & the old ones are 33x9.5x15.

 

[77Bronco636]

Looking good man!!!!!

 

[gnsteam]

I like the look of the new set. Nice

 

[Bajabrewer]

Looking good man!!!!!

Thanks - Hope to catch up with you this summer - What night does Bakers have their car show? & do you ever go?

 

[Bajabrewer]

I like the look of the new set. Nice

Thanks - I think it looks more aggressive with the new BFGs vs the old smooth sided ones.

 

[House]

You want to get rid of those funky 1” offset ones?

 

[Bajabrewer]

You want to get rid of those funky 1” offset ones?

Nope - I like funky

 

[Bajabrewer]

Here it is Lady's & Gents!
I bought the Baja in 1988 when it was 15 years old & now it just turned 50 & I have a plate, insurance and gas in the tank. If it stops raining this afternoon I'll at least run it around the block for the 1st time in 17 years. When I started the restoration my goal wasn't a museum quality resto but more of a fix the problems & make it the reliable driver that would turn heads & be a ton of fun. I also wanted to keep it a Baja with tasteful upgrades & an old school feel. I am proud to say I did almost everything to get it where it is today - I rebuilt a 69 351w from a Cougar that's still stock bore & with a Melling MTF-5 cam she runs GOOD! I topped the air cleaner off with a lid that supposedly came off a Baja & I covered the hole in the hood with a Cougar Eliminator hood scoop(w/ford part number on it) I rebuilt the original C4 trans that already had a shift kit in it & it shifts GOOD! I added power front disc brakes to the original Dana 44 & it stops GOOD. The rear just got new brakes & a general refresh. I did a custom exhaust that started with a Sheldon Stroppe reproduction kit - at the back I got a universal exhaust kit and turned the pipes so they exit at the rear corners - The tips are used repops from a 65/66 Mustang GT & with the louvers kicking the exhaust down I'm hoping to not get fumes curling in the back. Also the exhaust sounds GREAT! The tips are also a nod to my 1st car a 66 GT Convertible Mustang that I planned to keep forever. It rusted to hell & I found the Baja so the decision to let the Mustang go was an easy one. I had a friend rebuild the Dana 20 because he's done lots & it didn't cost me anything to have him do it. I painted it a few years ago & despite making all the rookie painter mistakes I think it's a good 15 foot paint job. The interior I custom mounted the Corbeau seats & added the Winters floor shifter to the front seat mount so it's right where I want it. I still need to finish some wiring & complete the AC install but I can drive it while I work on these. I had a few minutes yesterday so I put together a few before & after side by side pics. If you see me at a show stop by & say Hi & we can talk Broncos for a while.

This is going to be a GREAT Summer!

David A

 

[House]

Looks awesome, congrats!

 

[cldonley]

That is one sweet ride. Isn't it something how that 6-0 birthday changes things?

 

[Bajabrewer]

That is one sweet ride. Isn't it something how that 6-0 birthday changes things?

Thanks - That & my son blew up the clutch on my 66 so I had to decide which Bronco to work on first. It was also just time to get it done.

 

[mjschneidy]

Been a while since I‘ve been in here, glad to see an update. Looks great ! So now 2 Bajas on the road in SE Michigan.

 

[Bajabrewer]

Been a while since I‘ve been in here, glad to see an update. Looks great ! So now 2 Bajas on the road in SE Michigan.

Thanks Mike - Look forward to maybe seeing you & your Baja this Summer

 

[Bajabrewer]

I was going thru some old predigital photos looking for something else when I stumbled on more Baja pics. Here's a few I scanned with more coming soon. 1st 5 pics are Broncorama about 1999 based on my taking my 2 year old son with me. The other pics are also Broncorama not sure what years.

 

[Bajabrewer]

It finally was sunny & about 60 degrees so I got my First ride in & it was Excellent! Needs some tuning but it went really well. I'm a Happy Guy!

 

[fordfan]

That's a great day when you get to ride for the first time in a long time!! It looks great too!

 

[mlarison]

congrats!! looks incredible!

 

[BajaBronco]

Nice work! Great to see it back and up and running!