Off road, bus trans?

MfromM · Posted: Fri Mar 11, 2005 2:46 pm Post subject: Off road, bus trans?

I'm going to beef up the wifes Thing for alittle more agressive off roading.
I'm thinking of using 29 or 30" tires. Bus trans sound good? If so I might start with a rebuilt KCR. Any thoughts on diffs?

Matt

TimGud · Posted: Sat Mar 12, 2005 7:08 pm Post subject:

Just use the one that's in it. The 181 transaxle will handle the larger tires just fine. The last owner of mine had 31" tires (?) ( I need to check those old tires to be sure about the size) on his for many years, and he drove it daily.

MfromM · Posted: Sun Mar 13, 2005 9:31 am Post subject:

Sounds good! Are the 181 trans any tuffer or lower geared than type 1?

thinghunter · Posted: Sun Mar 13, 2005 12:49 pm Post subject:

suntour · Posted: Sun Mar 13, 2005 4:45 pm Post subject:

You might want to check and see if you still have a Thing transmission. When they do crap out people often just slap a Bug transmission in there instead.
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MfromM · Posted: Mon Mar 14, 2005 6:00 am Post subject:

It's the original and I have another on the shelf,but thanks that's a good point!

mattt · Samba Member Joined: January 20, 2004 Posts: 1143

The Thing trans is geared slightly lower than a Bug trans, but its still a Type 1 trans, no stronger.

If you plan to play rough at all, Id have a few Type 1 trans ready to go. You will be breaking them often.

Change to a bus trans and it will be stronger, and you will break them way less often,,,,,although you will break those too.

Buckly · Posted: Sun Mar 20, 2005 9:23 pm Post subject:

I've heard, although I can't find where, that a thing trans is more like a bay window bus trans than any other. However, as of late someone tells me they are just type 1 trans. It seems like VW would have used a beefier trans in the 181 do to the fact that they were intended for military and utility use. I guess I'll have to search to get the answers.
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mattt · Samba Member Joined: January 20, 2004 Posts: 1143

VW....shoulda, coulda, woulda. The Thing should have also came with a T4 engine due to its weight.

See if you can find the info on Thing trans being like IRS bus trans. Every Thing trans Ive seen is a T1 case with different CV flanges, but I havent seen them all.
You may have seen a post by someone that said he had his 181 trans built with certain 091 parts that are the same in a T1 trans. I have an idea what post you read that lead you down that path.

Buckly · Posted: Mon Mar 21, 2005 9:05 am Post subject:

Oh yea, I found the thread. However, I did find the info leading me to see that the thing trans is just about the same animal as the T1 trans. I can see why someone would compare a bus trans to the thing, similar gearing, not exact. How close is t1 gearing to the thing?
Cool your jets, thanks for the correction.
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