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GI Joe
Samba Member
Joined: April 28, 2005
Posts: 2012
Location: Athens, TN
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 Posted: Sat Aug 27, 2011 4:54 pm Post subject: "Our Thing" build Thread. |
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Ok, it's high time I got a build thread going. It'll be Pic heavy, but enjoy.
I do ask that any questions be directed through PM, to keep this thread on topic(my build!).. I will post answers here, if I feel the general populace will benefit, otherwise I will respond directly to your PM... Thank you!
Paint/Body work was done by U.S. Kustoms in Knoxville. Keep the ideas flowing Shaggy!!
Everything else was done at home, by me, in our 2 car garage. Help was provided periodically by my wife, and a friend. Thank you guys!!
Majority of parts(Seals, Upholstery kit, minor other bits) were provided by Thingparts.com. I appreciate the help/advice/ and service Mike!!
I'll start with the basics...
'74 Thing, purchased by my Pop at a little used car lot in Youngstown Ohio in 1979. Started out white with black top/seats. This was our family's only car from '79-85 while Pop was serving in the USAF. It served us well from Maryland to Texas and spots in between all up an down the east coast. Heck we even blew the original engine in SC and spent a few stranded days while he had a 1641 with a 2bbl progressive carb and oo9 installed! Hot rod time! LOL!
Presenting Our Thing, the early years!
While living in Athens, Greece for 4 yrs, Pop decided to freshen the paint and upholstery. He chose a Porsche Rally Blue paint, and a two tone blue vinyl for the seats.
_________________
'74 Thing, "Our Thing"....
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=4...p;start=60
'71 Beetle RPU
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?p=8080337#8080337
www.NLEOMF.com
Respect, Honor, Remember
Last edited by GI Joe on Tue Aug 30, 2011 9:00 am; edited 3 times in total |
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wbrown45
Samba Member
Joined: July 08, 2008
Posts: 1318
Location: ada, ok
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| Posted: Sat Aug 27, 2011 5:51 pm Post subject: |
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We want more photos!
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OK Thang |
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caseydenise
Samba Member
Joined: April 25, 2004
Posts: 1637
Location: The Great Swamp, NJ
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| Posted: Sat Aug 27, 2011 7:06 pm Post subject: |
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I'm loving this story all ready. I spent some time in the Air Force with my family and we had a dune buggy the whole time. I can see how the Thing must have been fun 
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Central Jersey Volkswagen Society - President |
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dells68
Samba Member
Joined: January 09, 2008
Posts: 217
Location: Virginia
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| Posted: Sun Aug 28, 2011 10:35 am Post subject: |
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| Alright Joe, I've already gotten some sneak peaks at the paint job pics. You've got to let everyone else see what you've done. I won't give it away, but the details are awesome!!! Keep going buddy! |
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GI Joe
Samba Member
Joined: April 28, 2005
Posts: 2012
Location: Athens, TN
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| Posted: Sun Aug 28, 2011 7:28 pm Post subject: |
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HA HA!!! Great support fellas!! Thank you. More pics are coming, Trust me!! I appreciate you holding your tongue(text?) Dell! It's worth the wait!!!
It's been a busy weekend.
Here is my second installment!
In '85 Our Thing was stored in a one car garage in Ashland, OH, at my Grannys house in a "cacoon" made of plastic sheeting and put up on blocks. We were stationed on Okinawa and a follow on to Tucson and did not see the Thing except for a 2 wk leave cycle between Oki and Tucson. Even then it was a quickie start up and drive it a couple miles to for a family ice cream trip and to move the fluids. Then back to storage until Pop retired in '92. It looked as it appears in the large pic in the 1st post was from about '85 to '97 when that pic was taken with my '64 "Viper" buggy after I had returned from Oki on My 1st tour with the USAF.
_________________
'74 Thing, "Our Thing"....
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=4...p;start=60
'71 Beetle RPU
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?p=8080337#8080337
www.NLEOMF.com
Respect, Honor, Remember |
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GI Joe
Samba Member
Joined: April 28, 2005
Posts: 2012
Location: Athens, TN
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| Posted: Sun Aug 28, 2011 7:52 pm Post subject: Tragedy strikes... |
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So fast forward to 2002. It was December, I was stationed in Denver and anticipating a visit from my folks when I got a phone call from a hospital Chaplan who passed the phone to my Ma to inform me that Pop had been killed on duty(He had followed his dream and became a LEO after he retired). He was wrapping up his shift before their trip when the incident occured. Tragic chain of events and Pop was gone.
I inherited Our Thing and by the spring of '03 I had it shipped to Denver. Along the journey, the top had been shredded from wind buffet and the frame was bent beyond repair. The driver appearantly drove through a massive wind storm and continued many miles before he noticed the vinyl(what was left of it) flapping to the rear of the trailer(Semi car hauler).
Out of that came a new Thing Shop top/heavy duty frame! I opted to go with grey to lighten things up a bit. I also had Larry make me some matching roll bar covers for the 4point bar I had picked up in Denver. I also restored the suspensions and raised the rear a tad.(Thanks Eric!).
Anyway, here she was in Denver from '03-'04! I had installed the 14's back on her and went back to the single carb.
OH yeah, I had also done a '73 column swap so I could run the Empi wheel that I kept from my'73 Euro bug on Oki!!(yeah, i'm an addict!! LOL!)
This was a trail out near our house and is the most "off road" she's ever seen!
_________________
'74 Thing, "Our Thing"....
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=4...p;start=60
'71 Beetle RPU
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?p=8080337#8080337
www.NLEOMF.com
Respect, Honor, Remember
Last edited by GI Joe on Sun Aug 28, 2011 8:05 pm; edited 2 times in total |
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GI Joe
Samba Member
Joined: April 28, 2005
Posts: 2012
Location: Athens, TN
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| Posted: Sun Aug 28, 2011 8:01 pm Post subject: |
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With plans of starting our family(oh yeah, I got married in '99 before re-enlisting into the USAF!!) I decided to get off Active Duty and continue to serve in the ANG to set down roots for our kids.
SO, in '04 we headed back to Ashland where I persued my degree in Criminal Justice(yeah, I am my Fathers Son!) and worked as a 911 Communcations Officer until graduating the academy.
So, we have '04 to '06 back in Ohio and sporting the SVDA DIzzy, stock carb and some new wheels/tires!
And of course my little Man got in on the action too!
_________________
'74 Thing, "Our Thing"....
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=4...p;start=60
'71 Beetle RPU
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?p=8080337#8080337
www.NLEOMF.com
Respect, Honor, Remember |
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GI Joe
Samba Member
Joined: April 28, 2005
Posts: 2012
Location: Athens, TN
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| Posted: Mon Aug 29, 2011 6:20 am Post subject: Another changeup!! |
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With a vast situational change in late '05, we decided to find a new place to call home. I'd always had a vision of the horse country in E. TN, but had never been there.
Well, on a leap of faith, we sold our house in Ashland, and bought a house in Knoxville in Jan'06! This was shadowed by a transfer from the OH ANG, to the TN ANG! What a move this was! Best thing we've ever done.
So, now we're getting close to present day. Over the last 5 1/2 yrs, Our Thing has been enjoyed by my family and we've had many good times with our local club, Knox Volks Motor Club.
These pics are from the last 5 yrs of family fun in Our Thing!
Oh yeah, we had our Daughter in early '07!! A long day at a show and they were whooped!
Worlds largest treehouse anyone?? LOL!!!
And of course sporting my new Thing shop Safari top!! (Thank you Ziggy!!!!) Drove all the way to TX to pick this one up!!LOL!!
I also updated to front disc brakes! Easy project and they work great.
And this was '10 at Summer Jam2 in Knoxville. I deployed the following Tues!!
_________________
'74 Thing, "Our Thing"....
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=4...p;start=60
'71 Beetle RPU
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?p=8080337#8080337
www.NLEOMF.com
Respect, Honor, Remember
Last edited by GI Joe on Mon Aug 29, 2011 7:47 am; edited 2 times in total |
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GI Joe
Samba Member
Joined: April 28, 2005
Posts: 2012
Location: Athens, TN
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| Posted: Mon Aug 29, 2011 6:30 am Post subject: |
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Now let's look to Oct '10. I decided that the 1641 was a bit too tired and I was tired of it.
So I yanked it out for a freshening!
I also sold the big tires to help finance the engine! LOL!
That freshening turned into a full build into a 1915, Dual Kad 40s, 009 Dizzy, Pertronix, and a mild Engle cam and Alternator conversion. Full stock shrouding with ceramic coated heat boxes And muffler! I spent the winter of '10 on this project, taking my time and doing research to make sure it went right the first time! (more on that later)
_________________
'74 Thing, "Our Thing"....
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=4...p;start=60
'71 Beetle RPU
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?p=8080337#8080337
www.NLEOMF.com
Respect, Honor, Remember |
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GI Joe
Samba Member
Joined: April 28, 2005
Posts: 2012
Location: Athens, TN
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| Posted: Mon Aug 29, 2011 6:45 am Post subject: |
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Now, through a local club member the opportunity arose for some freshening of the body/paint. I figured it'd be good a time as any, as the Rally blue single stage had seen better days, and a couple rust bubbles had reared their ugly heads. There was also a pre-'79 collision repair on the Left rear corner that has bugged me since I first noticed it.
So, while the engine was out, I tore her down and sent her off for a facelift!!
And this is what was discovered in that rear corner!! A cross section of different stages of Filler!!
_________________
'74 Thing, "Our Thing"....
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=4...p;start=60
'71 Beetle RPU
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?p=8080337#8080337
www.NLEOMF.com
Respect, Honor, Remember |
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GI Joe
Samba Member
Joined: April 28, 2005
Posts: 2012
Location: Athens, TN
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63ziggy
Samba Member
Joined: June 19, 2005
Posts: 1100
Location: The Woodlands, Texas
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| Posted: Mon Aug 29, 2011 7:42 am Post subject: |
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GI Joe
enjoying the pics and even more the background and real life stories.
having flashbacks seeing the bondo pics as well as ride in parts and pieces
keep feeding the pics
looking good
like that gray bikini top....... |
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GI Joe
Samba Member
Joined: April 28, 2005
Posts: 2012
Location: Athens, TN
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GI Joe
Samba Member
Joined: April 28, 2005
Posts: 2012
Location: Athens, TN
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| Posted: Mon Aug 29, 2011 9:05 am Post subject: And then..... |
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I enjoyed the Rally blue, but it didn't quite have enough "pop" for me.
My thoughts are this. It's an odd vehicle and gets alot of attention. Might as well make it scream!!! LOL! Plus the safety aspects of high visibility in our modern world of half distracted and half oblivious drivers.
I wanted Burn your eye balls Blue! I found it in a Mack truck color. It is also Very close to the Grabber Blue on the new Mustangs.
Here she is, just home from paint.
I did a full coating of Master Series on the pan and wheel wells, and then it was onto lining the interior. I used the Duplicolor Armor Bedliner.
With the need to replace a bad MC resevoir, I opted to go with the direct mount Volvo unit and get rid of the lines through the firewall and their inherent leak points.
And then there was fender hanging day with my Hot Rod Girl!!
_________________
'74 Thing, "Our Thing"....
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=4...p;start=60
'71 Beetle RPU
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?p=8080337#8080337
www.NLEOMF.com
Respect, Honor, Remember
Last edited by GI Joe on Tue Aug 30, 2011 5:18 am; edited 2 times in total |
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wbrown45
Samba Member
Joined: July 08, 2008
Posts: 1318
Location: ada, ok
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| Posted: Mon Aug 29, 2011 10:38 am Post subject: |
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Thanks for sharing the photos, and your Thing's/family history. Your dad would be proud of what you have done to keep the car going.
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OK Thang |
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Ron Domeck
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Joined: August 05, 2007
Posts: 1466
Location: louisville Ky
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| Posted: Mon Aug 29, 2011 2:44 pm Post subject: |
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| The ribs on your rockers look different. Is it just the pictures? |
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GI Joe
Samba Member
Joined: April 28, 2005
Posts: 2012
Location: Athens, TN
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GI Joe
Samba Member
Joined: April 28, 2005
Posts: 2012
Location: Athens, TN
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| Posted: Mon Aug 29, 2011 6:45 pm Post subject: |
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So, I noticed I haven't explained the name. "Our Thing" is the official name.
I chose this because it was one main thing Pop and I did together that we both enjoyed and every time we were around the Thing it was special.
After I received the car in Denver, I had the custom plates issued.
"OUR THNG"!
She wore those until the move to TN, where I now run Antique tags. I continue to build memories with My kids and Our Thing! I wonder how many generations we can keep her alive!!
In this rendition, I wanted to honor Pop, as well as the thousands of other LEO's that have made the ultimate sacrifice.
I made some Lexan front tags to honor Pop, that include the NLEOMF Rose and Sheild symbol and his EOW(end of watch) date. I display those on ALL my vehicles.
I wanted to take it a little further with Our Thing and had some "ghost" art done on the front quarters.
I also had the symbol put on the glove box door!
_________________
'74 Thing, "Our Thing"....
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=4...p;start=60
'71 Beetle RPU
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?p=8080337#8080337
www.NLEOMF.com
Respect, Honor, Remember |
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GI Joe
Samba Member
Joined: April 28, 2005
Posts: 2012
Location: Athens, TN
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| Posted: Mon Aug 29, 2011 6:54 pm Post subject: |
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Another place needing improvement was the interior. The vinyl was in great shape, aside from a 3" cut in the right rear seat back. The colors just didn't work with my new vision. So, off came the blue vinyl!
I can see why Pop had the uphosltery done!!! LOL!! That's the original black vinyl under there, and it was Rough!!
Anyway, down to bare frame where I cleaned it up and painted them.
Fixed a couple loose spots and layed down some burlap in preparation for the new molded foam!
Now time for the Tweed TMI upholstery! Man this stuff went together Super easy! TMI put out a great kit and this novice was happy with the results!
Of course the back seats were laughable at how easy they were!!
The only thing missing here are the harnesses.
_________________
'74 Thing, "Our Thing"....
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=4...p;start=60
'71 Beetle RPU
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?p=8080337#8080337
www.NLEOMF.com
Respect, Honor, Remember
Last edited by GI Joe on Tue Aug 30, 2011 5:21 am; edited 1 time in total |
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GI Joe
Samba Member
Joined: April 28, 2005
Posts: 2012
Location: Athens, TN
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| Posted: Mon Aug 29, 2011 7:00 pm Post subject: |
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In this rendition,I also added a few gauges to keep an eye on the new engine(very opinionated topic, I chose what I felt was best for me!)
I chose to put all 3 in the right hand dash panel and relocate the switches all to the left hand dash panel. This would help avoid any clearance issues between the gauge housing and the fuse block/wiring.
Time for cutting. This was hard to do. Measure 4 times, drill once!! Oh, then grind out for more clearance because I could only find hole saws that were 1/16" less. Left the final detail work and fine tuning for a tight fit!
_________________
'74 Thing, "Our Thing"....
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=4...p;start=60
'71 Beetle RPU
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?p=8080337#8080337
www.NLEOMF.com
Respect, Honor, Remember |
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