BAJA SEARS BUILD

Master cylinder bracket and linkage rod to pedal done. The rod is held in by the master cyl being bolted into place.


Master cylinder is from 98 Jeep Cherokee.


I decided to just use the caliper that I had and bolt it in front of the rotor. I made a bracket out of angle iron. An extention from the transmission skid plate or a extra shield can protect it if nessesary. It's a close fit but I think it will work.


I didn't put the pads in yet, washers space the caliper out to where it needs to be.


It's a little early for the hood, but I wanted to see how this would look.


With the bumpers on to make the tractor look longer and lower, it might look closer to being the right size. As it is now, it looks a little too high and too wide. Just an idea.

That hood looks AWESOME!!   

What colors are you planning for it?

Just like Thunderdivine, your ideas are really clever mate.this competition is going to be fierce lol

That cardboard hood did it man, looks cool!

I dig the hood idea. I was almost thinking something triangle with quarter panels and a fancy bumper like a ultra 4 car. Lots of styles out there

Thanks guys. I'll see how it goes once the bumpers are on. For colors I was thinking yellow frame with blue bumpers and rails. Rims might end up blue or black. I'm still thinking about the exhaust.

I was supposed to put the clutch back together, but instead I made the battery tray. I didn't make anything to hold the battery down yet. Also I found some fancy blue rubber bushings for my shocks.




Might use this zero air can as a gas tank. I ground through the spot welds and took off the bottom ring and handle.


I'll cut off the nozzle. I was thinking that a gas cap and filler neck from a car might be neat, but I have to find one that's in usable shape. My cage bumper will protect the tank. I imagine it probably holds around three gallons but I didn't check it yet. They aren't coated with anything inside so I would probably use some of that gas tank sealer to prevent rust before final assembly. Yes it was a little tough getting the tank to sit on the end of the grinder.

redlinemotorsportts wrote:

I dig the hood idea. I was almost thinking something triangle with quarter panels and a fancy bumper like a ultra 4 car. Lots of styles out there

I was going to go for a sand rail type look with a flat hood originally. There isn't as much room as I thought there would be to have the engine stick through and still have a hood. The air cleaner is the main thing, also the shock towers are in the way for the super low hood I had in mind originally.

mr. modified wrote:

I was wondering if I should cut the stock clutch pedal up and make it match the brake pedal, but I'll wait and think about it. The gas pedal will be off to the right. I don't know if I'll make my own or use a bicycle handbrake

I think you should use the same design for the clutch and gas pedal as you have here for the brake.

I think that's what I'll end up doing. Then everything will match. Next on the list I think (after the clutch) will be the gas tank and rear bumper. Probably the best thing to do I guess is to get the fuel system, clutch, and brakes working so I can go for a test ride. Then I can change anything that I need to before painting.

Definally diggin that tank. Id go with it.

I really like that tank   

lots of older baja trucks used to have the shocks sticking through the hood, just saying I think it would look cool

Yeah, I always liked the looks of the "barrel" fuel tanks. Makes me a little nervous about the placement though.... Is anyone on here old enough to remember the Ford Pinto cars that would explode if ever rear ended? Also, don't back into anything or hang too high of a wheelie!!!   

i like the tank idea, just dont get hit

always wanted a pinto...

Creepycrawler wrote:

lots of older baja trucks used to have the shocks sticking through the hood, just saying I think it would look cool

That was what I intended, but the placement of things unfortunately doesn't allow for this. At least not if you want any kind of hood left when your done. I will have some small fenders that might go around the shocks and give a similar look. As far as the gas tank, it'll be pretty safe inside the cage bumper. Also a shield/skid plate will cover the bottom.

I'm not old enough to have been there of course, but I thought the only purpose for pintos was to make drag machines out of them. In which case you both use a different gas tank and don't get hit in the rear anyway...

One tank of gas would last you a month haha! A design you should incorporate is a marine type "flip top spring loaded" type of gas cap. It would top off a classy look with what your going for. Ill post a pic.


Just remember to vent the tank. You will need to vent it because its a large tank. It will cause a vacuum in it and gas wont get to the engine. This goes for using a car filler neck too. The cap isn't meant to breath very much.

Another benefit of having a nice solid steel tank is that the fuel will stay fresh forever, unless you vent it too much.   

T-Dub13 wrote:

Yeah, I always liked the looks of the "barrel" fuel tanks.  Makes me a little nervous about the placement though....  Is anyone on here old enough to remember the Ford Pinto cars that would explode if ever rear ended?  Also, don't back into anything or hang too high of a wheelie!!!   

yup... I remember... while I never actually owned a "Pinto" I had 4 mustangs if the pinto design (Ghia) Loved that 18 to 2300 engine series

as to the vent problem in the tank... weld in a ball check valve. LOL think of it as a fuel diode  

My friend had a Pinto Wagon.  Chopped the rear roof off of it and called it the "PinCamino".  Good motors in them cars.   

edit: It never ocurred to us to call it a "PinChero"     

Started on the rear bumper. Some overly wide bicycle handlebars happen to look pretty close to the look I wanted without excess cutting and welding.


One upper bar on. I'll admit I took the easy route placing the bar under the edge instead of notching the tubing. It takes forever to notch it with a grinder though and never lines up straight when your done. I was going to try it with a hole saw, but the tubes would have had to be notched on an angle because of the way the bicycle handlebars bend towards the mower at the ends. I think once everything is together it will look ok. I could always weld the ends shut with washers or caps of some kind to change the look if nessesary.


Up in the air shot.


Clutch back together. I got lazy and just welded the arm onto the clutch pedal rod. One running board is trapped with this setup, but I can slide it out about a foot away from the frame. Plenty of room to sand up the edges before painting. Otherwise, I shouldn't really ever need to take it apart.


Temporary exhaust pipe installed for test running. I'll get some video when I get a belt that fits. The video I had of this motor running is as much as I've had it running. I figured I would get it warmed up and see how bad it smokes. Not making super fast progress, but it's getting there. With a couple of good days here and there, I think everything should be in order by june...

i like the test pipe, take your time and get it perfect the first time.

Second tube welded on. Next I'll make the cradles to hold the gas tank.

Looks pretty sturdy... should protect your tank okiedokie!

looks good!