Bad Thing, good buggy

impaleale · Posted: Sun Jan 26, 2014 12:18 pm Post subject: Bad Thing, good buggy

I tried to build a vw thing. Went the worst way you could imagine. Engine falling off on the highway, top coming off, shocks breaking. The only thing I could do was sell off all the thing parts and turn to the evil itchy fiberglass. I did try to save the thing. I even had 2 of them I tried you purists, I really tried.

tgodber · Posted: Sun Jan 26, 2014 3:04 pm Post subject:

We like pictures!
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impaleale · Posted: Sun Jan 26, 2014 3:08 pm Post subject:

[img]thesamba.com/vw/gallery/pix/1164015.jpg[/img][/img]

impaleale · Posted: Sun Jan 26, 2014 3:11 pm Post subject:

I truly hate computers. I have some great pictures to document this mind blowing build. How the heck to you work this devil machine! I read the picture upload thing. A little help here please... Anyone... Someone? Why can't I just cut and paste!

wythac · Samba Member Joined: August 02, 2004 Posts: 2791

Image may have been reduced in size. Click image to view fullscreen.

Here you go, Bud. Good start. Make it fun or you will make it a chore, hate it, and sell it before you finish it.

impaleale · Posted: Sun Jan 26, 2014 3:47 pm Post subject:

Thanks. How did you do post the picture? That's just the start. I'm way ahead now.

wythac · Samba Member Joined: August 02, 2004 Posts: 2791

http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=6

Here is a link. You can also find it at the top of the forum main page.

BL3Manx · Posted: Sun Jan 26, 2014 11:50 pm Post subject:

A Thing chassis is a great basis for a buggy that's going to be used off-road with the 3" lift in front, the low final drive ratio, stronger CVs and the wider rear brakes. The one drawback is it uses the Ghia floor pans which were wider than a bug so they'll have to be narrowed.

manxdavid · Posted: Mon Jan 27, 2014 6:27 am Post subject:

You're probably best swapping the Thing pans out for Bug ones when you shorten the chassis, or reshape the Thing ones (if they're solid) and add some 2x1 or similar box section around the outside to bolt the body to and to stiffen things up.

glassbuggy · Samba Member Joined: June 02, 2005 Posts: 897

I think someone was working on a body to fit the Ghia/Thing chassis. Who was it , anyone remember ?

joescoolcustoms · Posted: Mon Jan 27, 2014 1:55 pm Post subject:

And it was a yellow Thing too! I am partial to Yellow Things.

And I am partial to buggy's.

A Thing uses Thing floor pans, A Ghia uses Ghia floor pans, They are not the same, they only share the same outer perimeter shape. The floor stampings are different and the seat tracks are different.

Cut them out and use either beetle floor pans or a perimeter boxed tube frame. SAVE AND SELL THE SEAT TRACKS! If you are building for off road use, you could not have picked a better chassis to start with. The rear torsion housing is strengthened, the shock mounts are raised on the tailing arms for more lift/clearance on the suspension, a strengthen front beam with stronger lifted spindles and stronger ball joints, the CV's will provide more suspension travel than the bus units and are much stronger than beetle units. The transaxle will have a stronger set of 3rd and 4th gears and 10 tooth spider gears with none-undercut side gears.

If you are going for a street use, sell the chassis and buy a beetle. Plenty of Thing restorers who would love to have those parts and pan.
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Bad News Racing 2018 NORRA 1000 3rd in Class
Best Day Ever Racing 2022 NORRA 1000 2nd in Class and first All Female team to complete the race

Everyone is gifted. Some just do not open the package.

Looks like it was painted with a live chicken,polished with a brick and buffed with a pine cone

impaleale · Posted: Mon Jan 27, 2014 6:14 pm Post subject:

I cut it all down already. Got rid of the floor pans and made aluminum. Pans with my own out side chassis that I have seen a few of you guys do. Got the body from berrian acme in Pa. I have lots of pics I have in my profile.

impaleale · Posted: Mon Jan 27, 2014 6:24 pm Post subject:

https://www.thesamba.com/vw/gallery/pix/1164629.jpg

impaleale · Posted: Mon Jan 27, 2014 6:49 pm Post subject:

http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/album_search.php?search_author=impaleale

Joescoolcustums, I can assure you I really tried. I did sell a lot of thing parts for really cheap to people that needed them. I guess I did not say my past. So a lot of you don't know me. This is my second buggy. I have been building cars for the past 15 years. I did a real nice 32 ford a while back I was trying to trade for a thing. This build is going for street and off road. I'm using a 1915cc from mofoco with a 73 bus trans on a 76 thing chassis. When I cut it in half Passos fell out. I was hopeing for pirate treasure, but Mexican money was funnier.

impaleale · Posted: Mon Jan 27, 2014 6:54 pm Post subject:

For the rear I went with 3x3 with atomerks 2 inch lift spring plates. I just ordered them so I will let you all know how it turns out. I can't seem to get the old spring plates off the torsion bars. I also added even more braces through out the car. My motto builed it at least 5x stronger then you will need. Over kill yes. Never worry again yes.

impaleale · Posted: Mon Jan 27, 2014 7:03 pm Post subject:

https://www.thesamba.com/vw/gallery/pix/1164625.jpg

Well on my way. I hade appendicitis. Now my guts hurt and this is how it sits.

joescoolcustoms · Posted: Mon Jan 27, 2014 7:56 pm Post subject:

Sweet build!

I like you design of the chassis and cage.

Thought that might be a berrien body by the look of the dash.
_________________
Bad News Racing 2018 NORRA 1000 3rd in Class
Best Day Ever Racing 2022 NORRA 1000 2nd in Class and first All Female team to complete the race

Everyone is gifted. Some just do not open the package.

Looks like it was painted with a live chicken,polished with a brick and buffed with a pine cone

impaleale · Posted: Tue Jan 28, 2014 2:01 pm Post subject:

Got the torsion bars off the spring plate. If your wondering how, here is what to do. VERY carefully grind off the end cover, put it in a press and push them out. Took me about 5 minutes.

joescoolcustoms · Posted: Tue Jan 28, 2014 2:08 pm Post subject:

Are you going to re-use the torsions?

I am interested in the trailing arms and torsion bars if they will not get re-used.
_________________
Bad News Racing 2018 NORRA 1000 3rd in Class
Best Day Ever Racing 2022 NORRA 1000 2nd in Class and first All Female team to complete the race

Everyone is gifted. Some just do not open the package.

Looks like it was painted with a live chicken,polished with a brick and buffed with a pine cone

impaleale · Posted: Tue Jan 28, 2014 8:31 pm Post subject:

Joescoolcustumes, I'm going to reuse the torsion bars, but the rest is yours for a six pack of good IPA. Come get it. Also I have do have a add on here for a lot of engine parts. I also do ceramic coating on exhaust. Works great for dropping temps on the heads from #1 and #3.


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