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Tue Aug 16, 2011 7:16 am

Yeah, I got a set of those at first, but didn't like the size ratio of the light to size of bump on fender. I'm OCD on things like that. I'll be selling the little lights when I get things all sorted and I know what is excess from this resto.
What's your thoughts on colors/"theme"??

Tue Aug 16, 2011 7:31 am

Really nice job. I was scared when I saw that first picture.

Tue Aug 16, 2011 11:46 am

GI Joe wrote: Yeah, I got a set of those at first, but didn't like the size ratio of the light to size of bump on fender. I'm OCD on things like that. I'll be selling the little lights when I get things all sorted and I know what is excess from this resto.
What's your thoughts on colors/"theme"??
Joe,
I might end up shaving the bumps on the fenders to make the little signals a bit more proportionate (I've got that OCD thing going too :lol: ). As far as a color or "theme" I really like the Outlaw 356 build by KCW. I know some may cringe at a lowered, non-stock colored 181, but I figure this car was basically brought back from the dead, why not play with it. :D
Here is the Outlaw 356 in Dove Blue:

I have a new set of Mooneyes Speed Master wheels, so the plan is to lower it a bit in the rear and go with the Dove Blue paint and a black top. I guess it will be an Outlaw 181. 8)

Tue Aug 16, 2011 11:53 am

caseydenise wrote: Really nice job. I was scared when I saw that first picture.

I sure had second thoughts when I got it in the shop for the first time. :shock:

Tue Aug 16, 2011 6:05 pm

Very cool! I love the "subdued" look, with basic primary color and simple trim.
Go Outlaw 181!!!

Mon Sep 19, 2011 5:23 pm

Time for the real work to begin. :wink:

Thu Jan 03, 2013 1:53 pm

Time to dust of the old thread with an update. 8)

The pan work is complete. The battery tray was toast and a lot of other pinholes found after having the pan sand blasted. I ended up using Herculiner to coat both sides and it turned out great! I have ordered a wide 5 rear disc brake kit that should be here any day so that I can install the rebuilt type 1, pro street trans with freeway flyer gears, the brakes, axles and beam to make it a roller again. I also have a new master cylinder and brake lines all around. It should be clean enough to eat off of. :lol:

With the body, the passenger side rear quarter was bad enough that I had to source a OEM replacement, which turned out to be from a 73. So now I have a set of vents for the passenger side and a gaping hole for a hamster cheek on the diver's side. :roll: The dilemma was do I cut the 73 vents or source another panel with vents for the driver's side. I always liked the look of 73 over the 74, so I was able to find some driver side vents from a yard in Texas that I am going to plug in.

More pictures to follow, but for inspiration, I asked Hellnbak to work some of his magic on a model of my car. Here is what he came up with =D>

Thu Jan 03, 2013 5:28 pm

Man that is awesome!! What a gift to be able to see your vision ahead of time! That could save a costly mistake, or give a chance to take an ideas even further!!
I LOVE that color!!!

Thu Jan 03, 2013 7:12 pm

I remember lusting after a Dove Blue Beetle in the neighborhood when I was A teen, my first Beetle in 74 was a 71 in the lighter blue, followed by a 73 Metallic Blue Sports Bug. Dove Blue in a Thing Would Be nice, and I have never seen another one.

Mon Jul 08, 2013 5:14 pm

So we finally resume with a little progress! I decided to go with water blasting instead of sand or soda or chemical dipping to remove the rust. Here is where we started:

Water blasting does include some glass media, but the lack of heat prevents any warpage of the metal

Turning the Thing on its side revealed a left over treat from the factory that was previously locked in the channel above the deck lid

And the end result: :D

Mon Jul 08, 2013 7:33 pm

Mon Jul 08, 2013 8:59 pm

Here is the dustless blaster we used: http://dustlessblasting.com/new2013/

Overall I am very happy with the results. They use a rust inhibitor in the mix and the rinse that gives you 72 hours to prime it. Cost wise for the whole body, all of the fenders, doors, decklid, hood and bumper ran me $600. The quotes I got for regular sandblasting were around $800; soda blasting was $1,400 and chemical dipping was $1,800. :roll: The price was even better taking into account the dude came to my buddy's shop and cleaned up the media afterwards. :D

On to the body work! 8)

Wed Jul 17, 2013 10:48 am

Now a "wannabe" 73 :lol:

Tue Oct 01, 2013 5:57 pm

Well all of the sheet metal is sorted on the body. Just doing the prep for paint now. I pulled the vin tag off of the front clip to replace it with the original tag from the crunched clip and I forgot how hammered it was. :cry:

Turns out the old clip was ahead on the assembly line 277 spots in front of the new clip. :lol: So the question is there anyone out there that can reproduce the original tag?

Wed Oct 02, 2013 10:04 am

No luck on reproducing the vin plate. From the research I have done, it is illegal in CA. :(

Mon Mar 03, 2014 2:41 pm

As my car sits primed and almost ready for paint (it's getting there :wink: ) I was offered a deal on very straight and complete 73. I ran it by the wife as a father/son project for our soon to be 16 year old and got the green light. 8)

Can you tell when it was last registered? The "totally 80's" paint job should give it away with the last tag from 1987.

It sat outside for a long time without a top and was full of leaves and other debris when it was found. The battery tray, both rockers at the rear drain hole, one spot on a fender and a little bit of rust in the windshield are the only problems. The rest of the body is straight. The plan for this car is quick work on the few body issues, back to the original Sunshine Yellow L-11E 82174 paint, a set of Method wheels and a mild lift to run a set of 29s. And then maybe this summer back to work on the lowered Thing. :lol:

Mon Apr 07, 2014 5:16 pm

The off road Thing is coming along. Body work is 95% done. I picked up a set of fenders from Brian Coats Fabrication in Huntington Beach. I'm going to add a set of stock headlight buckets and run stock lights with the headlight rings instead of the Bugpack lights. The quality of the fenders is outstanding!

I like the 2" raise and lack of turn signal bumps:

Mon Apr 07, 2014 11:04 pm

Working on the buckets tonight, I'm wondering if the pen markings are original? Made on the 20th of August, 1973?

Tue Apr 08, 2014 9:49 am

I have found these markings o a few. Also found the same type under the gas tank on the fire wall panel on the right side.

Tue Apr 08, 2014 10:42 am

Had the same markings in mine...

I debated on trying to keep them when I was doing the restoration, but decided in the long run that saving the fender was more important :)