My 74 Body Off Restoration

[hobie16]

Nice! I like your rotisserie.
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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

[63ziggy]

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.

[63ziggy]

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"

[madster]

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1966 BEETLE @ 1973 THING

[Heiferman]

Beautiful!
Great job.
Thanks for not leaving us hangin'.
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- 1973 Thing, some LandCruisers and an old Ambulance