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My Thing wheels project
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Stock Steve
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PostPosted: Fri Oct 22, 2021 6:59 am    Post subject: My Thing wheels project Reply with quote

It's been a while in process, with many stops & starts, and bumps in the road, in the initial wheels acquisition phase. I had decided that I wanted to do up a set of real Type 181 Thing wheels, as my head's really into 14" wheels these days. It took three different sellers to get to the point where I had accumulated a decent (not great) six pieces to begin the refinishing process with...

The first picture of eight pieces was from early September 2021, and I still wasn't happy. I decided to get rid of three of rustiest (coincidentally, I am selling them to someone today, 10/22/2021, at a price WAY below what I paid for them--"live and learn" when you buy stuff more or less sight unseen...). The second picture shows the three that I had been advertising cheap, and which are going to a new owner today...

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The third picture is the group of six that I actually went to sandblasting & powdercoating with, mid-September 2021. You'll note that the one at the upper left looks really good--it was an already sandblasted example that I bought a single of--not cheap by any means, but I wanted that sixth one to be safe. The fourth picture is a close-up of that one...

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And there you have it... Next installment will be how I picked them up from a very reputable local powdercoating place that also did the sandblasting...
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Stock Steve
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Stock Steve
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PostPosted: Fri Oct 22, 2021 7:18 am    Post subject: Re: My Thing wheels project Reply with quote

Here's a good Samba reference for what the markings on real Thing rims look (so you don't get mixed up with Bus wheels--it has happened to the best of us--'nuff said):

https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=649447&highlight=markings+on+rim
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Stock Steve
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el_safari
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PostPosted: Sun Oct 24, 2021 11:51 am    Post subject: Re: My Thing wheels project Reply with quote

Hi
Here in Europe most thing rims need normally to be used with tube.
But there is also Lemmertz thing rims with two humps for tubeless use. Cool
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Stock Steve
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PostPosted: Mon Oct 25, 2021 6:12 am    Post subject: Re: My Thing wheels project Reply with quote

I chose "RAL4006 - Traffic Purple," which is a Prismatic Powders color (https://www.prismaticpowders.com/shop/powder-coating-colors/RAL-4006/ral-4006), based on reviewing the chips that my favorite local powdercoating place had on display in their lobby ("American Dry Stripping and Powder Coating - Shoreline Division," located in North Branford, CT--formerly known as "Shoreline Coatings LLC"). It is very striking and has a nice gloss finish. Don't laugh--they're gonna look great on the car! Ha ha!

The powdercoating place allowed me to review the six wheels in "as-sandblasted" condition, so that I could see how good or bad they looked, before deciding if I wanted to get all six done--they looked surprisingly good, so I went with all six. These images are from the day I picked up the finished coated wheels, September 10th, 2021.

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

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Stock Steve
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Last edited by Stock Steve on Tue Oct 26, 2021 10:24 pm; edited 2 times in total
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Stock Steve
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Joined: April 10, 2005
Posts: 1963
Location: My Left Nutmeg State
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PostPosted: Mon Oct 25, 2021 6:13 am    Post subject: Re: My Thing wheels project Reply with quote

el_safari wrote:
Hi
Here in Europe most thing rims need normally to be used with tube.
But there is also Lemmertz thing rims with two humps for tubeless use. Cool


Thanks for the heads up about that, el safari. I do have tires on mine now, and they do seem to be holding air ok.
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Stock Steve
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Stock Steve
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PostPosted: Tue Oct 26, 2021 10:32 pm    Post subject: Re: My Thing wheels project Reply with quote

Tires are Vitours, basically the whitewall version of the RWLs that I put on my former Diamond Racing wheels (ref: https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=755725&highlight=), size is 195/70R14, and were purchased on ebay from Performance Plus Tires, https://www.performanceplustire.com/

My favorite local garage mounted up the tires for me, Stony Creek Auto Service of Branford, CT--they are adults and always do a great job with things such as refinished wheels. I opted for no balancing to start--I usually like to drive a set of wheels & tires (I am a low impact vintage VW driver) before deciding to go ahead with balancing. These pictures were from October 15th, 2021.

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Stock Steve
Shoreline Antique Auto Connection
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Stock Steve
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PostPosted: Fri Oct 29, 2021 12:03 pm    Post subject: Re: My Thing wheels project Reply with quote

Just a quick shot (was a little dark and I attempted to lighten it up a bit--resultant image is a little grainy) to show a comparison of what's currently on the car, with the new Thing wheels & tires. Currently on the '60 are repro Pre-A wheels, 16x3.25, with "Deka" 5.25x16 knobby truck tires (glad I bought them when I did--they are like $300 or so each now from Coker), and also spun aluminum brake drum covers from CB Performance (I never installed hub cap clips on those wheels, which came thru w/o them).

Hope to get the car out and do a wheels & tires switch-over this weekend... Maybe try out a couple of different hub cap options also...

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Stock Steve
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Stock Steve
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PostPosted: Mon Nov 01, 2021 8:56 am    Post subject: Re: My Thing wheels project Reply with quote

Barely had time to bolt the wheels onto my car and try to get out to a car show in Guilford yesterday (Sunday, 10/31/2021)--which was just ending as I arrived (I was instructed to park in the handicap space by a show volunteer, by the way--I definitely do respect those spaces)... Still need to scrub blueing off of the whitewalls, adjust the tire pressures, and then get on to some hubcap experimentation. But for now, on this quickie shakedown run, I am happy with how they look and how they roll... I stopped down at Stony Creek Village for a couple of pictures after leaving the Guilford car show also.

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Stock Steve
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Stock Steve
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PostPosted: Thu Nov 04, 2021 1:30 pm    Post subject: Re: My Thing wheels project Reply with quote

Finally got around to scrubbing the whitewalls, adjusting the tire pressures, and then popping on the new repro "flying cogwheel" caps that I bought from one of the "hot" California parts houses--I was able to purchase them with this nice shiny white finish--not bad looking and not too expensive. More photos to come from some shakedown driving/photo-opping later that same day, when I get the chance... These two shots are from 11/1/2021.

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Stock Steve
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Mike Fisher
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PostPosted: Fri Nov 05, 2021 1:48 pm    Post subject: Re: My Thing wheels project Reply with quote

They do look good with the hubcaps! Cool
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Stock Steve
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PostPosted: Sun Nov 07, 2021 7:20 am    Post subject: Re: My Thing wheels project Reply with quote

Mike Fisher wrote:
They do look good with the hubcaps! Cool


Thanks Mike! More pictures coming, when I can get the chance!
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Stock Steve
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NJ John
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PostPosted: Sun Nov 07, 2021 2:57 pm    Post subject: Re: My Thing wheels project Reply with quote

Patiently waiting for your next tire/wheel choice.
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Stock Steve
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PostPosted: Sun Nov 07, 2021 11:14 pm    Post subject: Re: My Thing wheels project Reply with quote

NJ John wrote:
Patiently waiting for your next tire/wheel choice.


You know me too well! Ha ha!
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Stock Steve
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Stock Steve
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PostPosted: Wed Nov 10, 2021 10:44 am    Post subject: Re: My Thing wheels project Reply with quote

Some super-nice lighting conditions at Stony Creek Village on Monday evening, November 1st, 2021.

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A short drive over to the boat launching area in Guilford after that produced a more muted effect, as the sun was a lot lower.

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I also drove the Bug in our town's Veterans Day Parade, which took place this past Sunday, November 7th, in Branford, CT. Will follow up with a couple of shots next chance I get.
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Stock Steve
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PostPosted: Wed Nov 17, 2021 10:10 am    Post subject: Re: My Thing wheels project Reply with quote

Drove the '60 Bug in the Branford, CT Veterans Day Parade, which took place on Sunday, November 7th, 2021. Not really "wheel" shots this time, but they're visible at least somewhat. Sorry no "action" shots here--just a few from pre-parade staging in front of Town Hall, and then one quick one at the conclusion of the parade. Samba member Moogie32 rode with her sister in her sister's Miata, and I had our puppy with me in the Bug. Felt great to be able to help pay tribute to our country's veterans.

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I put a set of 3/8" spacers behind the wheels at all four corners of the car this past Monday--wanted to see if I could get a bit more of a "wide track" look. I also bought slightly longer-than-stock lug bolts to go with them. Will follow up with a picture or two next chance I get.
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Stock Steve
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PostPosted: Tue Nov 23, 2021 8:52 am    Post subject: Re: My Thing wheels project Reply with quote

I installed four 3/8" thick spacers behind the wheels, with some appropriately longer lug bolts, for a little bit of a "wider track" look. Found the spacers on Amazon, although I think I bought the last available pair, after having bought the first pair (for a total of four--one for each wheel): https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00M25UOUC/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1 ... You can probably find similar w/o too much trouble. I don't recall who I bought the longer lug bolts from, most likely either J-Bugs or CIP-1...

EDIT: I bought the bolts from JBUGS--they are part number 9565, and are described as "Set of 5 chrome lug bolts with VW ball seat. Lug bolts have 12mm x 1.5mm long 20mm length threading and a 22mm head. When installing always check your vehicles clearance." Ref: https://www.jbugs.com/product/9565.html

It's subtle but I still like it. First photo is from the day I installed them, Monday, November 15th, 2021, and the second and third photos are from driving the car, as-equipped, out to a seasonal fundraising event in front of the Branford, CT town hall, this past Saturday, November 20th, 2021. Another local old car buddy also showed up with his '81 Trans Am.

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Stock Steve
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Stock Steve
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PostPosted: Tue Nov 30, 2021 9:41 am    Post subject: Re: My Thing wheels project Reply with quote

Drove my Bug out to the local high school, which was the staging location for the town's "Christmas Tree Lighting Parade," Saturday evening, November 27th, 2021. They wanted the antique cars staged in the proper location by 5:30pm, in preparation for a 6:30pm parade step off (the parade is only maybe one or two tenths of a mile in length, from the high school to the town green). I decided to shoot for getting there for 5:00pm, so that I could get a spot to park and take some pictures of any & all of the antique cars that might show up to participate in the parade. Eventually several cool old cars arrived very close to 5:30pm. I had a good time hanging out and talking with car owners, taking some pictures, etc., and then booked home (I just wasn't up for the commitment of actually driving in the parade this year). This picture was from right about 5:00pm when I got there. I am not a fan of the shorter daylight hours of the winter season--gets dark way too early! Too many tail gaters too, for driving around in the dark with 6v headlights and tail lights...

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Stock Steve
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Your source for old school metal tire valve caps: http://www.thesamba.com/vw/classifieds/detail.php?id=1416217
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