Thing with Subaru Engine

[asagodowns]

I am in the market for a Thing and have found a 73 with a subaru engine (locally).....price seems right, however I prefer one with a VW engine....anyone out there had any experience with this setup, I have not seen or driven the vehicle personally, just looking at pics now....I am more of a stock person...is it possible to put a VW engine back in after a conversion like this has been done? Any thoughts or opinions are appreciated.
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74 Orange Thing
82 Diesel Caddy

[Buckly]

I, myself would steer clear of a thing with suby engine. Of course a look would help, but how was it fit in? was the body cut for the conversion? is it the stock tranns with adapter, or a whole new set up? Where did they put the radiator and how did they plumb the hoses? was the body modified for the cool system?
I'm into my thing for its og condition and stock simplicity. I don't mind high proformance mods to the og set up, but a whole different engine sounds like a can of worms.
Good luck.
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Cool runnins,
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Bucky

[Buckly]

Have you checked this one out?
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/classifieds/detail.php?id=139784
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Cool runnins,
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Bucky

[mattt]

If you do happen to go look at the Thing with Subie, Id be interested in what you see(pics would be great). Im planning a late model Subie engine in my Thing. Is this an older Subie engine(EA series, or EJ series), or a newer gen engine? If its newer, and you want to buy the car and convert it back to VW, Id be interested in buying whatever Subie conversion parts, radiator, engine, etc. Thanks.

[Holmen]

Unfortunately I have no experience with watercooled engines in a thing------- but personally I would jump at the opportunity to get one with a Subaru in it. It should be a rocketship on wheels. I like the concept of amazing performance in a standard looking car. I have 120 bhp in the back of mine and could never go back to the original setup...

Lars
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63 1500 notch, brown
65 1500S notch, baltic blue
68 1600L square, lotos white, type 4
59 Type1

[kubelmann]

I would love to see pictures of the conversion. One of our RoMTOC club members who lives in Michigan has a buggy with a 3100 Chevy motor and uses a pair of Rabbit radiators for cooling. He is currently puttinga 3100 into his Thing and has a nice set up going. K-mann

[bljones]

if you want one with a VW engine, buy one with a VW engine. i have no problem with hybrids... as long as i build it myself. adopting someone's half-built project usually means that you have to spend a ton of time and money re-engineering the work that has already been done. generally speaking, if someone is getting rid of it, they're getting rid of it for a reason.

I learned this the hard way. a lazer 917 kit with a 500 ci. caddy el dorado drivetrain stuffed into the back end sounded like a good idea, but....
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OG JHC
Author of Original Rant #1
"It stingd itself to dead... now that is control on you"

2%

[asagodowns]

Thanks for all of the advice, I will go look at it this week and take lots of pics!!
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74 Orange Thing
82 Diesel Caddy

[Foxx]

one other "thing" to remember,.. it still might be worth it to get and put it back to normal again,knowing myself how hard it is to find things in the south let alone one with a good body.
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Frank
OG JHC
59 panel




Sarcasm is the body's natural defense against stupidity. i seem to use a lot.

[nthang]

Finding a way to make the thing go faster is a worthy goal. Things should have had 100 hp engines to start with. I would also like to see pics of the conversion. I'd sure miss the sound to the Type 1 on steroids, though.
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NTHANG, LLC

[asagodowns]

Couple of pics in gallery.
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74 Orange Thing
82 Diesel Caddy