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Mountain man Samba Member
Joined: February 19, 2011 Posts: 37 Location: Sevierville, Tennessee
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Posted: Mon May 08, 2017 8:01 am Post subject: Re: "What did you do with your Thing today"? |
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Put new tires and wheels on her. Pricey up worth it. |
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Technut27 Samba Member
Joined: May 18, 2015 Posts: 97 Location: Cleveland
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Posted: Mon May 08, 2017 7:42 pm Post subject: Re: "What did you do with your Thing today"? |
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Those tires are great! Maybe something tough like that next time for mine.
I changed the oil on my 73 over the weekend. It barely moved last year because of a new baby but this summer I plan on having a lot of fun with it. Also cleaned the air cleaner, new fuel filter, and some misc odds and ends that made for a good Friday. I swear the top has soaked up half a bottle of armor-all and could still take more.
Found a mystery toggle switch under the left side of the dash, time to look closer at the wiring diagram. It was painted over when the car was rebuilt 20ish years ago and many of the wires are orange now as well so tracing that is going to be interesting.
Brakes are next, all the parts are collected I just need another free weekend to do them. The belt in the 8-Track broke so that has to come out now for a good cleaning and rebuild, now that I have done before. I admire the skill and knowledge of the users on this site, I'm a computer engineer by day and this car is a great adventure into something new for me. |
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Dan Scully Samba Member
Joined: February 12, 2013 Posts: 15 Location: So Cal
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Posted: Tue May 09, 2017 11:08 pm Post subject: Re: "What did you do with your Thing today"? |
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Well I do live in the High Desert.
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911pickup Samba Member
Joined: March 06, 2004 Posts: 625 Location: Near Goats on the Roof
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Posted: Wed May 10, 2017 6:17 am Post subject: Re: "What did you do with your Thing today"? |
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While the engine was out (had the tranny rebuilt) I decided to add a MST serpentine belt system. The theremostat for the shroud's flaps was missing, so I decided to pull the shroud to see what else needed work.
I ended up replacing the old loovers/flaps with a newer set I had and put everything back together. With everything back on the engine I gave the fan a spin to make sure it wasn't rubbing on anything.
I didn't expect it to rub, as it wasn't rubbing before I took the shroud off and I had left the generator and fan bolted in place.
I was wrong. The damn fan was now rubbing somewhere on the shroud.
So, the shroud is now off again and this time I've also separated the generator/fan to find out where it's rubbing.
One of these times I'm going to to a job/repair and everything is going to go as planned, with no problems.
Fat chance that will ever happen |
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74superTN Samba Member
Joined: April 01, 2007 Posts: 675 Location: Port Saint Lucie, FL
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Posted: Wed May 24, 2017 8:35 am Post subject: Re: "What did you do with your Thing today"? |
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Got a 2'' narrowed and adjustable bug beam installed
Took her to the European Experience show here in Savannah
_________________ 73 Thing
80 Vanagon Westy |
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911pickup Samba Member
Joined: March 06, 2004 Posts: 625 Location: Near Goats on the Roof
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Posted: Fri May 26, 2017 3:29 pm Post subject: Re: "What did you do with your Thing today"? |
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Tranny and engine are back in. Installed a MST serpentine belt system and my old Mallory Unilite distributor. Just waiting for the new, shorter clutch cable. I also splurged and bought a new exhaust system from Vintage Speed.
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Dan Scully Samba Member
Joined: February 12, 2013 Posts: 15 Location: So Cal
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Posted: Wed Jul 05, 2017 10:32 pm Post subject: Re: "What did you do with your Thing today"? |
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Put some carpet in the back to keep the dog from sliding around.
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oasis Samba Member
Joined: December 12, 2002 Posts: 2168
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Posted: Fri Jul 07, 2017 5:41 am Post subject: Re: "What did you do with your Thing today"? |
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I drove my Thing for the first time this summer thanks to family events of all sorts. I modified my ad to include the Bimini top and highback seats, but I will install one or both next good weather break I get, and I may just keep Thing. It sure was fun buzzing around with it again. _________________ Now: 2003 New Beetle Turbo S / 1990 Single Cab Transporter / 2014 Tiguan R-Line 4motion / 2013 Tiguan S / 2002 Golf GLS TDI
Past: 1974 Thing Acapulco / 2009 Eos Komfort / 1997 Jetta GT / 2002 Cabrio GLX / 2002 Passat GLS / 1971 Super Beetle / 1993 EuroVan MV Westfalia / 1981 Pickup LX / 1985 Vanagon / 1986 Jetta GLI |
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oasis Samba Member
Joined: December 12, 2002 Posts: 2168
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Posted: Wed Aug 23, 2017 5:29 pm Post subject: Re: "What did you do with your Thing today"? |
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I put it back into storage after driving it all week. I took the Samba ad for it down.
Funny, the ad generated no genuine interest ... but just driving around, I received two more, "Hey, do you want to sell it," requests. The first guy I gave my usual, "No," but I took the second guy's info on a smoothie napkin.
Most of all, I realized i was put-off-ish with both of these guys and others in the recent past because I really don't want to sell Thing. (I had been lying to myself and thinking I just wasn't in the mood to negotiate or I didn't want to fool around with someone who just wanted to low-ball me. Truth is no price has yet been mentioned by me or any inquirer.) _________________ Now: 2003 New Beetle Turbo S / 1990 Single Cab Transporter / 2014 Tiguan R-Line 4motion / 2013 Tiguan S / 2002 Golf GLS TDI
Past: 1974 Thing Acapulco / 2009 Eos Komfort / 1997 Jetta GT / 2002 Cabrio GLX / 2002 Passat GLS / 1971 Super Beetle / 1993 EuroVan MV Westfalia / 1981 Pickup LX / 1985 Vanagon / 1986 Jetta GLI |
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63ziggy Samba Member
Joined: June 19, 2005 Posts: 1100 Location: The Woodlands, Texas
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Posted: Thu Aug 24, 2017 1:33 pm Post subject: Re: "What did you do with your Thing today"? |
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What did I do today? Officially started last week. She had been acting up, dying at red lights, hot start issues for ever that we learned to work around.
gave in, took her to local European repair shop. Great great guy that has run it for years. Did some work on a buddy's vert few years ago. extremely knowledgeable and great to talk cars with etc. so I turned it over to the "experts" despite my son's objections.
We just picked her up today. I did not drive her but my son did. He gave it his blessing. Said ran great, pulled strong, idled well. We did a hot start test when we got home. fired up first crank. prior would take 4-5 w/o touching the pedal or would be even longer.
while in shop, we swapped out for SVDA distributor vs mechanical. so far my son seeing improvement in performance.
with all this great news, we parked her in the garage for safe keeping.
Category 3 Hurricane heading to TX. Hopefully far south of us to avoid winds etc. Sounds like we maybe flooding away though if forecasters are correct. fingers crossed.
Ready for fall show season now. |
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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: Sun Sep 03, 2017 6:50 am Post subject: Re: "What did you do with your Thing today"? |
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Well the rains have finally stopped from Hurricane Harvey and sun has broke. Crazy weather. Crazy devastation.
Excellent opportunity for car nuts to get out to local cruise night taking donations for JJ Watt Flood relief.
So we hit the show with my youngest who is now 15. Thing ran crazy. Great acceleration, smooth. Definitely made for great cruise out evening night.
couple pics from event. got a kick out of "what" parked next to me. Kind of like a Thing, you got to love it or hate it. So ugly only a mother could love. A Metropolitan Nash decked in Boston Red Sox decor. I met the owner. Really interesting story about the car. Google it if get bored.
enough said. Great to get out in our Thing.
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kenj06 Samba Member
Joined: November 28, 2011 Posts: 198 Location: Ohio
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Posted: Sun Sep 03, 2017 2:32 pm Post subject: Re: "What did you do with your Thing today"? |
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Got back from my first long trip to visit some old neighbors in Michigan. Friday night I threw out the idea of taking the Thing to the wife. Surprised she agreed, 350 miles round trip, 8 hrs total seat time. Stopped about 1/2 way through the trip to stretch the legs since the seats aren't the most supportive. It ran great, even on the highway legs. Definitely wouldn't take it on the highway during rush hour though. When the speed limit is 70 and I'm trying to hold 60 uphill, it gets a little sketchy. Love the secondary roads, stretches of 55mph with a little break now and then going through small towns... Now that I know it'll run longer trips reliably, I'm looking forward to travelling to some VW shows. Tomorrow will be spent cleaning it up. |
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doublecanister Samba Member
Joined: September 23, 2008 Posts: 1184 Location: Richmond, Va
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Posted: Mon Sep 04, 2017 9:58 am Post subject: Re: "What did you do with your Thing today"? |
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Finally got to take the Thing out for a cruise Sunday, it's been right dern hot here in Va. It did ok, bogged out on me taking a left turn though, kinda like the 009 flat spot type bog, not sure what's up there, maybe the gas was getting old.
Smoked a bit on first start up like it was running very rich, but it had been sitting. Later on the day it seemed to run fine.
Probably time for a tune up.
Had a bunch of folks wave at me, almost to the point of getting annoying.
Did see a nice Karman Ghia while out but that was the only AC-VW I saw that day.
T _________________ ****************************************
2020 - Mustang Eco Boost [High Performance]
1973 - Thing
1966 - Mustang GT- Fastback
1951 - Ford F1 pickup Flathead V8 |
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scudders Samba Member
Joined: March 07, 2002 Posts: 13
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Posted: Thu Sep 07, 2017 1:26 pm Post subject: Re: "What did you do with your Thing today"? |
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anybody know when they made a 73 thing 4 lug ,? was this a American car ? _________________ www.scuddersperformance.com |
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63ziggy Samba Member
Joined: June 19, 2005 Posts: 1100 Location: The Woodlands, Texas
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Posted: Thu Sep 07, 2017 2:06 pm Post subject: Re: "What did you do with your Thing today"? |
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The only 4-lug versions I am aware were conversions with Beetle front ends and rear drums. |
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Joe 20 Samba Member
Joined: August 27, 2005 Posts: 655 Location: Ohio
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Posted: Mon Sep 25, 2017 7:51 pm Post subject: Re: "What did you do with your Thing today"? |
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Took "The Toy" out today...beautiful day...top down, windshield down...what fun!!! |
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Technut27 Samba Member
Joined: May 18, 2015 Posts: 97 Location: Cleveland
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Posted: Wed Oct 18, 2017 8:55 pm Post subject: Re: "What did you do with your Thing today"? |
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Finally getting around to a brake job, I'm a first timer and never done one before so it was a slow start but finished the front end by dinner time. Also replaced a broken spedo cable so I'll be able to tell how fast I'm driving for the first time ever.
Big surprise of the day was a mess of wires shoved up in the dash that are all cut off. My best guess at the moment is that long ago someone had some accessories that were removed but the wiring was not completely pulled. The best part is they were present when the car was painted an unknown number of years ago so all the wires are orange so tracing them is going to be just awesome. Oh and the fuse block is not attached to anything, its just sort of floating there in the cavity, that's pretty cool.
Spent some time tracking a mystery toggle switch tucked up under the dash as well but it got too dark.
Oops of the day? I fed the spedo cable behind the dash panels into the glove box to have a nice angle while feeding it to avoid kinking it. That was great but now the radio doesn't turn on, must have knocked something loose. That was due to come out anyway to repair the 8-track this winter, everything else works fine so not a biggie. |
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dhp60 Samba Member
Joined: May 22, 2005 Posts: 99
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Posted: Wed Oct 18, 2017 9:17 pm Post subject: Re: "What did you do with your Thing today"? |
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switched out column to early and shaved dash. put a beetle locking ignition under dash to start it up and headlight switch under dash. got interior done and stripped old black and red paint job off to the og color. |
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Dan Scully Samba Member
Joined: February 12, 2013 Posts: 15 Location: So Cal
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Posted: Tue Oct 24, 2017 9:54 pm Post subject: Re: "What did you do with your Thing today"? |
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Lights , Getting rid of the big ass lights. using early bus lights for tail and brake and late bus backups as turn signals. Might add some small leds for backups .
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