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Heiferman Samba Member

Joined: February 28, 2024 Posts: 205 Location: Georgia, USA
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Posted: Fri Oct 25, 2024 7:13 pm Post subject: Re: My 74 Body Off Restoration |
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Beautiful!
Great job.
Thanks for not leaving us hangin'. _________________ - 1973 Thing, some LandCruisers and an old Ambulance |
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madster Samba Member

Joined: November 01, 2006 Posts: 213 Location: Rio Grande Valley Texas
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Posted: Wed Oct 23, 2024 8:46 pm Post subject: Re: My 74 Body Off Restoration |
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 _________________ 1966 BEETLE @ 1973 THING |
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63ziggy Samba Member

Joined: June 19, 2005 Posts: 1100 Location: The Woodlands, Texas
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Posted: Mon Feb 11, 2019 1:58 pm Post subject: Re: My 74 Body Off Restoration |
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So few changes as I noted in "What did you do to your Thing today" blog. I pulled raised spindles and raised swing plates. I decided with smaller tires, would take some ride height away. gaps were crazy with tires and fender openings. took a few weekends but done with exception of alignment. took a couple shots at rear. doing it twice makes you a little more efficient as well. guess that's the positive side.
I did replace the 55 watt HID headlights with LED plug and play conversion. sweet easy install. nice kit by Aircooled net. No more glow of lights. now bright white.
little lower, more proportional. "Gotta get those rear hubcaps back on"
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63ziggy Samba Member

Joined: June 19, 2005 Posts: 1100 Location: The Woodlands, Texas
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Posted: Sun Dec 02, 2018 8:33 pm Post subject: Re: My 74 Body Off Restoration |
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Well thought I would update my project.
Believe it or not, I decided it was time to change a few things hoping to improve my overall ride, performance and handling of my/a Thing.
First major change, I opted after 8 years (minimal mileage) to replace the Goodyear Duratrac LT235/75R15 aggressive mud tires. I replaced them with Toyo Open Country P215/75R15 tires. They are an all-terrain tire somewhat tame in tread design. Big change, the tires themselves are 10lbs+ less per tire, narrower and 1" or so shorter. Also, LT vs P rated tires. When I originally put on the Goodyears, they were supposed to be P rated. Shop made mistake in ordering and I was too anxious to get the new tires on as part of the original build. Been driving ever since.
I changed shocks from KYB Gas-a-just to KYB GR2 shocks.
Yep, so far so good. You can tell I am not pushing big heavy, stiff sidewall Light Truck tires. She has a lot more pep in her step. I can feel more motor pull and she stops easier. I can feel a better ride as well without the stiff tires or stiff shocks. Took a little to get accustomed to the new look.
Thats my trade off. Before she was fun but a work out to drive let alone steer when barely moving. She is fun now with more zip in her step. I also have ended up with a Jeep as a daily driver so my Thing needs to be a Thing.
considering removing the raised spindles and spring plates. I still have a 3" body lift and can use that for adequate tire spacing with the 215 tires. That may be for another day.
Here's a couple pics.
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hobie16 Samba Member

Joined: July 26, 2013 Posts: 244 Location: Maui
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Posted: Sat Aug 18, 2018 2:12 pm Post subject: Re: My 74 Body Off Restoration |
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Nice! I like your rotisserie. _________________ Don't be fooled by appearances. In Hawaii, some of the most powerful people look like bums and stuntmen.
--- Matt King
If anything’s going to happen, it’s going to happen out there.
---Captain Ron |
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63ziggy Samba Member

Joined: June 19, 2005 Posts: 1100 Location: The Woodlands, Texas
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Posted: Fri Aug 17, 2018 7:52 pm Post subject: Re: My 74 Body Off Restoration |
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thought I would share a few pictures of one of the big projects that has been consuming past couple years (on top of my son's 914, there was an experimental aircraft build Zenith 750 with my oldest brother, another story another day).
my son started with a 1975 Porsche 914. we gutted it to a shell, built a rotisserie, replaced majority of floor pans, front and rear trunks, filled blinker fender holes, radio hole as well as some misc. blasted the complete car to bare metal(in the driveway in a tent), master series the complete car, car has been sealed in epoxy primer. sprayed color matched Raptor liner on complete bottom side. car has been sprayed in high build and sealers etc. final paint(single stage) is in steps, interior and trunks as well as engine bay, doors and hoods, next is main body hopefully this weekend. all hardware and brackets were stripped and re-plated. found a great shop in Dallas does by the pound. they came out beautiful. I wish I did my Thing parts.
all suspension components were stripped/blasted then powder coated. my son has been doing all the painting thus. some cussing and screaming and some redos. he is learning as he goes as so am I. Our Thing we had a friend of a friend spray it. This week into last night was a major milestone in the process. We got all suspension components reinstalled. The project is out of its cage and back on all 4 wheels after almost 2 years.
here's a handful of pics of the hundreds taken along the way.
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Bashr52 Samba Member

Joined: July 16, 2006 Posts: 5667 Location: On an island in VA
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Posted: Thu Aug 16, 2018 4:56 am Post subject: Re: My 74 Body Off Restoration |
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63ziggy wrote: |
yep, I was Bashr52.
got busy chasing other things as mentioned. Then thought would the addition of tube doors be toooo much Jeep like so i put on hold. That may really confuse the non-VW thing crowd. LOL
my son's project will wind down here mid-September (oldest is moving out of state and taking his toys with him). after the dust settles, maybe I will take another look at the project. One thing for sure, there is a nice breeze driving with the doors off. |
It seems a set like this would be pretty simple to do.
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63ziggy Samba Member

Joined: June 19, 2005 Posts: 1100 Location: The Woodlands, Texas
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Posted: Wed Aug 15, 2018 9:48 am Post subject: Re: My 74 Body Off Restoration |
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yep, I was Bashr52.
got busy chasing other things as mentioned. Then thought would the addition of tube doors be toooo much Jeep like so i put on hold. That may really confuse the non-VW thing crowd. LOL
my son's project will wind down here mid-September (oldest is moving out of state and taking his toys with him). after the dust settles, maybe I will take another look at the project. One thing for sure, there is a nice breeze driving with the doors off. |
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Bashr52 Samba Member

Joined: July 16, 2006 Posts: 5667 Location: On an island in VA
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Posted: Wed Aug 15, 2018 6:10 am Post subject: Re: My 74 Body Off Restoration |
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63ziggy wrote: |
Ok, wild hair project. will share more as get further down the road. sneak peek, I gathered some door hinges and latches from Mike Basso. They will be part of my next addition. maybe be a few weeks before get on it though. working on my brothers 47 Willys pu restoration these days as well.
cleaned off the excess metal around the hinges.
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Thinking Tubular doors? Saw a jeep cruising around with them the other day and thought they may be neat. |
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63ziggy Samba Member

Joined: June 19, 2005 Posts: 1100 Location: The Woodlands, Texas
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Posted: Tue Aug 14, 2018 7:07 pm Post subject: Re: My 74 Body Off Restoration |
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Well, I thought I would update my original build post. Still checking in somewhat regularly. No VW projects under way of my own. I have been busy helping my son with a 1975 Porsche 914 total restoration.
Back to my Thing. It's hard to believe it's been over 8 years since our Thing has been "completed", well road worthy, licensed, inspected and insured.
No big changes. Just trying enjoy her when we can. Random drives here and there. Sometimes se TX is just no fun cruising in the heat and humidity.
Hitting the shows has been tough with all life's events as well as kids growing up. We did participate in the local Nifty Fifty cruise night a couple times this summer herein the neighborhood. The other weekend there was a photographer shooting cars. He asked for permission to take a couple shots. Of course, yes to anyone who appreciates a VW. He sent the pics. Second Yes, he was getting word out on his business which I can appreciate.
I liked the way the photos came out even at night. Thought I would share.
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GI Joe Samba Member

Joined: April 28, 2005 Posts: 2013 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 11, 2016 8:08 pm Post subject: Re: My 74 Body Off Restoration |
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Ok, wild hair project. will share more as get further down the road. sneak peek, I gathered some door hinges and latches from Mike Basso. They will be part of my next addition. maybe be a few weeks before get on it though. working on my brothers 47 Willys pu restoration these days as well.
cleaned off the excess metal around the hinges.
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63ziggy Samba Member

Joined: June 19, 2005 Posts: 1100 Location: The Woodlands, Texas
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Posted: Sun Sep 11, 2016 8:04 pm Post subject: Re: My 74 Body Off Restoration |
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so thought I would drag up my old build thread. It's been dormant for some time.
Over a year ago, we drug home a 56 Oval project. formerly of my brother in laws for 7-8 years. we could not pass on the cost. a brand new Bernie bergmann monster engine and mated tranny.
we have been repairing sheetmetal and buying missing fenders etc. Here's a couple pics. However, as all good projects, we lost interest. she is going to a new home as we speak.
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63ziggy Samba Member

Joined: June 19, 2005 Posts: 1100 Location: The Woodlands, Texas
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Posted: Sun Apr 06, 2014 5:04 pm Post subject: |
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I finally got around to adding a front skid plate that I had wanted to do. I had originally welded captive nuts i the support tubes that connect to the beam.
I had local shop my brother had used in fabrication for his business. it is made of aluminum. really more show than go but i like it.
I thought the price was fair at $60 for material and shop labor for shaping. I got it installed this pm. It rolls with tubing under car and stops rt at pan. little polish for bling in order for future.
here is a before and after. (by the way, that is a 74 Beetle of my brothers in the pic. all scrach built body mods on original beetle. its fun to drive. stingers are plumbed from rear. sounds great.
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63ziggy Samba Member

Joined: June 19, 2005 Posts: 1100 Location: The Woodlands, Texas
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Posted: Mon Mar 17, 2014 7:57 pm Post subject: |
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Thanks Joe. appreciate
adds a little more room for those 235's now. once get new alignment, my days of modifying suspension on this one are done. promise. couple other tweaks to her I would like to do. more to come
I need to put some time now "breaking/bedding in" the new disk brakes. short drive yesterday, definitely like the difference. did not stomp them but did experience nose dive when hitting some what firmly. never had that with drums and large tires. I like the feel as well on new roller pedal assembly. that dual leg pedal is great. no flopping side to side. just straight precision pedal. |
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GI Joe Samba Member

Joined: April 28, 2005 Posts: 2013 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 Mar 16, 2014 7:32 pm Post subject: |
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got my 2' rear raised plates installed over weekend. I can say major pain learning indexing and how to take apart rear. never tackled before. learned a bunch. had to go into to it 3-4 times.
i had tried to preload some with the 2" plates. it was maxing cv angle and shock reach. abandoned and went back to original plan for 2" front and 2" rear. the plates retain stock ride without being on stops. that is a nice feature.
about project out after past 3 weekends in garage. couple loose ends to button up. also off to alignment shop
ps. outer bushing was not installed in cap when pic was taken in case anyone notices. nice new inner and outer spring plate bushings now.
couple pics.
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63ziggy Samba Member

Joined: June 19, 2005 Posts: 1100 Location: The Woodlands, Texas
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Posted: Sat Mar 15, 2014 5:09 pm Post subject: |
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Thanks GodJockey
sometimes we are a glutton for punishment. been in the garage all day messing with reindexing. not having any fun.
after full day, looks like I need to go back into it again, too tightly sprung. also found out my shocks are 1.5" too short.
fun times.
Thanks for comps
back to the shop |
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GodJockey Samba Member
Joined: April 03, 2007 Posts: 240 Location: Lehigh Valley, Pa
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Posted: Fri Mar 14, 2014 10:11 pm Post subject: |
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Ziggy, your Thing is one of my favorites. I chose to go lower not higher with mine, but when I see you're I second guess myself  |
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63ziggy Samba Member

Joined: June 19, 2005 Posts: 1100 Location: The Woodlands, Texas
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Posted: Tue Mar 11, 2014 8:53 am Post subject: |
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Joe, appreciate the compliment
Been hanging on collecting pieces for the past year. finally broke down and got busy. I like the ride height. urban street cruiser.
probably some illusion and some truth.
front bumper off and distorts visual some
definitely added 3/8" to each side with wheel spacers. i may be able to go down to 1/4 spacers. not that decreasing 1/4" worth expense or visual
the raised spindles definitely add to track due to modification. sliced vertically and stacked on additional stock. not like say Tweeds that are designed from get go.
i figured i could live with some widening as if recall, the original Thing rear was wider than front track by factory specs.
worse case, maybe add spacers in rear.
once back end is completed, i can roll it out and get full visual and full pic.
projects are never ending...............self realization |
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