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Mon Jun 21, 2021 8:27 am

Made good progress despite the rain.

Sat Sep 11, 2021 7:12 pm

Had a brilliant idea last night while having a couple drinks, take a trip to Kelley's Island. My daughter was up for a trip so we got up today and took about a 2 hr, 100 mile drive and a 20 minute ferry trip to Kelley's island. Spent the day driving around the island, walking the beaches and enjoying a great day.

Had a front row seat on the way back and was first on, first off.

Stopped at a nearby lighthouse on the way back and got a lake side picture

Talked with numerous people about the Thing, had people taking pictures and lots of waves, beeps and thumbs ups.
Of course it wouldn't be a complete trip without something to fix afterwards. Saw my brake light was coming on when stepping on the brakes during the trip home. As it got darker, noticed the generator light would also come on. After pulling in the driveway, my daughter said the brake lights weren't working. Will need to check into that soon as I'm planning on a longer trip next weekend.
All in all an awesome Thing day!

Tue Sep 14, 2021 6:22 am

Bought one .....bring home next Monday...

Wed Sep 15, 2021 4:36 am

bought a yellow 73....

Sat Sep 18, 2021 2:00 pm

took a ride over the bridge and along the coast

Tue Sep 28, 2021 12:05 pm

More progress! Right side fenders are on - once have the Thing driveable I’ll take to body shop to have painted silver to match.
Still T O N S left to do. Not sure I’ll make the deadline I set of my Dad’s birthday 11/19 😢 to have it on the road
Anyone in McKinney, TX? Sure could use help with wiring harnesses this weekend!
First two are of my Dad and how the Thing looked in his pole barn before trailer it to Texas. Rest are progress made recently. Most current is get the Thing Shop fiberglass fenders on - once get it driving will take to a body shop to have them painted silver to match silver on the body.

Tue Oct 05, 2021 10:13 am

While piecing the Thing together I could not locate in the manuals info on install of the three metal panels in the dash for speedometer, etc. Then found a photo showing how the ones to left and right of the speedo hinge down - light bulb moment. Found the hinges and went to work. Getting the bolts & screws at the top made no sense seeing as the nut is not attached. So, after having purchased a rivnut gun over a year ago, finally found use for it. Off to local Ace Hardware, they have the best selection of metric SS bolts and such by far. Found these knurled knob bolts, very happy with the look! On left can see one of the rivnuts installed.

Tue Nov 23, 2021 11:12 am

I finally got to install my 6ft blazecut in the THING.

I got some 3/4in rubber coated clamps, few 25lb magnets, (all from Home Depot) along with the screws, nuts, washers and used some gorilla duct tape
on the magnets to keep from scratching the paint, trimmed the excess tape with a razor and along with 2 existing bolts
mounted the blazecut right outta the box to the engine lid.

The heavy tape did reduce the magnet's pull a little but they hold pretty good. I slammed the door with my iphone recording inside the engine bay and they held firm.
Plan b: I found some 90lb mag daddy magnets online that should work better if I had to swap em' out.

I rotated the assembly so with the lid open, with myself standing I can see the gauge on it easily.

The Gauge: In afterthought I may could remove that 1 magnet and use the 2nd bolt to the license plate as a alternate mount point but we'll see how she goes.

Fire wise, I picked that location since that's the area of ignition with a recent Thinger's unfortunate accident and it seemed
to be the simplest install location. No drilling required.

Clearance wise (inside the engine bay) I have about a hand's width from the blaze cut to the Engine with the lid shut.

I'd read about way too many fires this year so figured it's worth it.
From talking with a few folks about how fun this stuff was to bend I wondered if it could be mounted right outta the box in the coil shape.

Looks like it can. :D

T

Wed Jan 05, 2022 7:16 pm

looked at it on the lift....l did an oil change and i dont think it was ever changed there was a ton of sludge on the drain plate the valve covers had sludge in them and the air cleaner bowl had an inch in the bottom and the oil filter screen was loaded....waiting on some new gaskets.... might add a pint of Kerosene in the oil and turn it over (with coil wire unplugged) and try to clean some out...drove it around about a week or two never overheated when i did the dip stick tough test....what a nightmare

Fri Jun 24, 2022 11:28 am

Paint day! Put the new color on it today. Finally can start reassembly. 😎

Fri Jun 24, 2022 2:08 pm

Nice! You must be excited looks great!

Sat Jul 09, 2022 7:49 pm

More done this week. Dreading installing the new windshield.

Sun Jul 10, 2022 6:43 am

fastmc25 wrote: More done this week. Dreading installing the new windshield.

It's a piece of cake.
Find a large flat working surface. I used the top cover on my Hot Tub.
Laydown some padding. Moving blanket works well.
Install rubber seal around glass
Insert windshield with seal into upper frame as far as possible without using force.
Bring in lower frame to mate with upper frame.
May have to guide seal into channel a bit
Using a couple of ratchet straps, slowly and evenly bring the upper and lower frame together until the holes line up.

You can use corn starch (dry method) or soapy water (wet method) as a lubricate if you wish but I didn't need it.

Resist any urges to pound on the edges of glass or frame.

Good luck

Fri Jul 15, 2022 1:34 pm

Easiest windshield I’ve ever installed. No lube or straps. Slipped in nice and tight.

Now that was done I installed the bikini. And mirrors 😎

I’m still waiting for my door handle seals to arrive 😳

Fri Jul 15, 2022 11:58 pm

Looking good!

Where is the top from?

How does it install on the windshield frame?

Sat Jul 16, 2022 4:01 am

Thanks. Its from The Thing Shop. It attaches using stock top latches. Very solid mount

Sat Jul 16, 2022 6:21 am

fastmc25 wrote: Thanks. Its from The Thing Shop. It attaches using stock top latches. Very solid mount

Thanks!

Tue Aug 02, 2022 9:06 pm

Drove it for the first time since 2005. Some small jobs left to do but felt good to drive her after so long.

Sun Aug 07, 2022 8:35 am

Attended 2022 "Stassenfest" car show in Jasper, Indiana. Overwhelmingly a display of American Iron. Wall to wall Corvettes, Mustangs, Jeeps and Pickup trucks. We were only 1 of 2 German based vehicles there.

Sun Aug 28, 2022 1:58 pm

Finished getting all the electrical sorted and functioning. Also installed the Thing emblem