TheSamba.com :: View topic

Mon May 17, 2010 8:32 pm

I prefer civilized campouts like Havasu. I'm old, what can I say? :lol:

Anyway, we'll be there at the crack of dawn in the SO-42 and probably the orange Thing. See you suckas there.

Tue May 18, 2010 7:24 am

I will be overnighting with the Thingster, a tent and an air matress.

See you all there!

Wed May 19, 2010 11:17 pm

///Mink wrote: I prefer civilized campouts like Havasu. I'm old, what can I say? :lol:

.

You like the polar bear swim that much?

Fri Jun 04, 2010 3:17 pm

Did some more work on the beater '74. At the Bugorama I scored some cheap Baja wheels to replace the 4" Bug wheels that were on there as well as a pair of mondo industrial-style bumpers to replace the horrible junk that it came with. Looks a ton better but now I need to raise it some more.

Fri Jun 04, 2010 8:53 pm

Those are some beefy meats... looks good...

Fri Jun 04, 2010 10:48 pm

lookin good Tom. those bumpers are a nice addition.

Wed Mar 09, 2011 8:55 pm

So I haven't exactly been diligent about updating this thread, but over the winter, I stripped the ugly '74 down, fixed the body and pan rust, painted it and started the reassembly. Here's a sort of photo breakdown of the last 6 months:

Started stripping down the multiple, multiple layers of paint:

Repaired some body rot:

Continued the body work, sourced some replacement doors:

Tools of the trade:

Painted some small bits in the fall:

Primed fenders:

Painted fenders:

Body shell, before priming:

Primed shell:

Painted shell:

And finally, beginning reassembly!

I will update this thread as I continue the reassembly, as I should have been doing all along! :oops:

Wed Mar 09, 2011 9:15 pm

And finally, a few "as-found" pics. I originally bought it to part out and then felt sorry for it.

Wed Mar 09, 2011 9:57 pm

DAMN!!! You wanna volunteer your services to work on my Thing???

Fri Mar 11, 2011 10:27 pm

Reassembly continues - hood, engine lid, windshield, front bumper, lights, mirrors, etc. Still need to repaint the rear bumper, finish the interior, install the top, reassemble the doors and so on...

Sat Mar 12, 2011 12:25 am

Good job!

Sat Mar 12, 2011 3:25 am

Tom: my buddy is gonna help me make some this weekend for the top reinforcement brackets for the top frames

Sat Mar 12, 2011 6:38 am

Mink,
How did you repair the rust areas?
Thanks, Chuck

Sat Mar 12, 2011 9:53 am

norcalmike wrote: Tom: my buddy is gonna help me make some this weekend for the top reinforcement brackets for the top frames

Cool! Put me down for a couple of sets.

Sat Mar 12, 2011 9:56 am

Chuck Lewis wrote: Mink,
How did you repair the rust areas?
Thanks, Chuck

Standard operating procedure: Cut out rusted areas, fabricate new section from same gauge sheet metal, weld in, grind down, fill as necessary, prime, paint.

Sat Mar 12, 2011 10:13 am

Looks great Mink!!!!

Sat Mar 12, 2011 11:06 am

Nice build!

gotta admit I am partial to the color

Sat Mar 12, 2011 12:06 pm

63ziggy wrote: Nice build!

gotta admit I am partial to the color

Thanks, your car kind of influenced my decision to go with the white. And the shade I picked is almost blinding in the sun. If there were a fluorescent white, this would be it. 8)

Sat Mar 12, 2011 12:13 pm

///Mink wrote: 63ziggy wrote: Nice build!

gotta admit I am partial to the color

Thanks, your car kind of influenced my decision to go with the white. And the shade I picked is almost blinding in the sun. If there were a fluorescent white, this would be it. 8)

it is nice. it will be a shame when you hit the trails and show it some dirt

Sun Mar 13, 2011 6:22 pm

More progress. Repainted the rear bumper, assembled and installed the doors, wiper assembly, top and bottom windshield frame seals.

Gotta do something about the ugly Vanagon seats, but they'll have to do for now.