It's a Thing come true!

[sjhotz]

Skipped new shocks. All I have are extra GR2's, gotta sell them all and buy some Koni's.

Installed a MGL Avionics Stratomaster Maxi Single E1 (Universal Engine Monitor) that was unused from my Bus engine swap. Got RPM, Oil Temp, and Oil Pressure all working, thinking about adding CHT but don't know if I want the added worry (heh). Relocated Radio to glove so no more banged knees too! Progress continues!
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BAY PRIDE!

74 Thing
72 Bay Window Westy TinTop

[sjhotz]

Got her back on the road this week and ran into a small problem... no brake lights DOH!

I added a Pertronix, new plugs, new resistance plug wires, restored a Optima Blue Top and replaced the dead leisure battery with it. Chased down 3 exhaust leaks and decided to re-gasket the whole muffler (beetle exhaust, hope to upgrade to a better one soon) Fixed Stereo & re-routed speaker wires (sounds amazing again and I can hear it over the now quieter exhaust!).

So I was cruising around town really enjoying myself when a kind fellow driver pulled up next to me, complimented the "Thing" then advised me i had no brake lights.

I checked all fuses, all show power at top and bottom of box except for the 3rd and 4th (left to right facing fusebox), replaced the 2 suspect fuses,no change. Had my roommate stand on the brake with the engine running while i tested all three tabs on each brake switch with a test light, no power at all to switches it seems.

I'm stumped, shouldn't at least 1 tab on the brake switches show incoming power from the fuse box even if they are defective?

5 Hours later after a good meal and some rest...

OK! I'm officially an idiot! How are any of the 3 tabs gonna have power if the plug is pulled off, derp! Man I must be going senile! Re-tested each socket and one spot per socket is getting power when brake pedal is pushed down so hopefully it's just switches, cheap and easy!

-sjhotz

Update! Yup switches! Brake lights working again!

Today I assembled a general preparedness kit for daily driving... tool kit (in ammo box), 2 quarts of oil, 2 cans fix a flat, pry bar, tow strap, spare properly mounted in trunk, few other things all locked in trunk for safety. Doing rear shocks tomorrow AM!
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BAY PRIDE!

74 Thing
72 Bay Window Westy TinTop

[sjhotz]

Think i'm gonna swap the General Grabber AT2's to my bus and get some smaller diameter tires that match stock, see how that affects temps before I start messing with oil coolers and such. Now to find stock diameter with decent tread... grrr!
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BAY PRIDE!

74 Thing
72 Bay Window Westy TinTop

[sjhotz]

Question gang, took the Thing to Havasu "Buses By The Bridge" last weekend (bus engine hasn't arrived yet so I had to get there somehow), noticed that if I tried to above 60 - 65 or if I was forced to climb a long hill the oil temp's would start to climb over 220, city driving usually results in the 180 range. I recently purchased a laser thermometer (no idea how accurate they are), and both the gauge and the thermometer agreed each time. Using same gauge head temps at base (near spark plugs) was from 180 to 240 depending on ambient temps & long acceleration. I'm running the stock oil cooler and have been considering pulling the engine and adding a berg full flow filter and remote oil cooler, my concern is am I just slapping a band aid on a bigger issue, or is 240 no biggie?
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BAY PRIDE!

74 Thing
72 Bay Window Westy TinTop

[saddlesore1]

POR15 and marine clean is the way to go. Make sure you wear gloves and protect what is under the car from dripping. You will wear the POR15 for a month or so and what ever drips expect your grand kids to see it.
I run a single 44. I have a dual 40's on my 356 and it is easy to adjust but I do find that if one jet get clogged it is way easier to find and fix on my Thing with a single 44 then with the dual 40's on the 356. As for power. I cannot tell the difference. It is all about the Chokes and jets that make them run the same.
Good luck. It looks like a great so far.

[sjhotz]

[sjhotz]

That's beautiful! Ya, I have the POR 15 & Marine Clean, just waiting on better weather to do the pans.
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BAY PRIDE!

74 Thing
72 Bay Window Westy TinTop

[It's a play thing]

POR-15 worked great on our pan. Just make sure you follow the instructions, including the prep.

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It's not the size of your shop, it's what comes out of it that counts.

I've been playing with my thing ever since I got it...

[Bashr52]

[It's a play thing]

I will be using a pair of 44 idf's and I have a air/fuel meter for tuning, which works great. thanks for the information on the cam.
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It's not the size of your shop, it's what comes out of it that counts.

I've been playing with my thing ever since I got it...

[sjhotz]

Ya the Cam is a dream, it just wants to keep on going, the rich idle continues to be a problem (fuel smell), and mileage is in the 12's so I'm thinking about switching to some dual 40's I have verses the Weber progressive i'm currently using, simply to take advantage of the available power, and hopefully reduce the richness (and because I have them), but my mechanic is actually re-jetting the Weber this morning so we'll see. I pick her up tonight. I'll update after a weekend of driving.
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BAY PRIDE!

74 Thing
72 Bay Window Westy TinTop

[It's a play thing]

So over sounds like you like the cam ? I have one I am about to put in my Thing and wanted some feed back.
_________________
It's not the size of your shop, it's what comes out of it that counts.

I've been playing with my thing ever since I got it...

[sjhotz]

Update Time!

So far no issues with tire size and over heating. Found out the bumper was bent on the passenger side, straightened with my Dad's press (thank god my father is an engineer!) and am noticing a lot less rubbing.

Gonna try removing the fender next and re-position it (assuming there is play). If that doesn't work I may try a come to and a tree, or simply give it a few good whacks with the tire removed and a properly cushioned sledge and block surface!

There are serious layers of gunk and dirt on this bad boy, I've done a power wash but she is begging to shine, any tricks to quick cleaning through 15 years of dirt or is it just elbow grease?
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BAY PRIDE!

74 Thing
72 Bay Window Westy TinTop

[crofty]

[sjhotz]

More weirdness, swapped driver side tires and whamo! No wobble or vibration! Something about a gift horse and a mouth... anyway off I went happy as a clam!

What a perfect weekend up in Refugio CA it was, she ran great up the coast, idling nicely after she heated up. Was able to to cruise along at 65mph no problem with pedal to spare.

Kind of astonished at how much power she had at the high end and torque at the low end.

I was able to climb freeway hills with no issue (appropriately downshifting to 3rd when necessary, usually when traffic ahead of me slowed down going uphill, not because she was lugging and needed to be in 3rd), and she was easily capable of going faster then 75 but I was very uncomfortable with the handling at that point so I kept her under 70.

I took a stab at my first off-road trek over Refugio Road (goes from coastal campground east to Solvang CA via a very steep road paved on the coastal side and dirt on the inland side, unpaved side consists of rock, sand, gravel, and hard pack sand, steep at some points ( 6% - 8% grade mayby?) with a fair number of tight steep switchbacks. Going down was easy, simply stay in first, pick a safe line (if possible) and brake when necessary (avoiding dragging the brakes), very similar to my Bay. Going up was another matter entirely! Keep in mind I have NEVER climbed a dirt road before (except in my Bay on much tamer roads) and was learning as I went.

Things went well at first, long steep straight steady climb, rock, sand, and loose gravel mixed, kept her in 1st and watched RPM's as I climbed. 1st switchback no problem, had enough power from straight climb, and just powered through it. Next 2 switchbacks she proved herself by saving a novice... I had foolishly let off the gas a bit in caution as I was looking ahead and was not going fast enough (or so I thought) when a very steep switchback presented itself, I had an "oh shit" moment, then stepped on the gas knowing from previous experience I was looking at lugging, a stall and being stuck sliding backwards, I trusted in my car my engine and mechanic... wow! I was easily around 1000 RPM to begin, the clutch held (thank you Kennedy 1700lb!), the Torque kicked in and the tires stuck (General Grabbers, boy did they!)! That happened once more due to my stupidity, again she just chugged through it without even shrugging. What a blast that was, I can't wait to go try her in the desert now.

For those of you familiar with both the Thing's off-road capabilities (stock), and possibly Refugio Road near Solvang CA, what do you think? Was my experience typical? Do most Things have that torque range and i'm just late to the party? Was that road (assuming you are familiar with it) indicative in any way of how she will do elsewhere in the CA desert and Mountains (Mohave, Kern Plateau, etc...). Any and all opinions and input are welcome, after all without you all i'd never have made it this far!

Some Pics:

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BAY PRIDE!

74 Thing
72 Bay Window Westy TinTop

[kubelmann]

Here is Colorado it cost $25 to have a vintage steel rim straightened and trued.... OR there are a dozone or so ads here for Thing wheels for sale:
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/classifieds/search.php?...ton=Search

[sjhotz]

All is going well except for a sudden surprise! Bent front rim (right), went to get her aligned and correct a slight wobble to find out one of my rims is bent. Called around and cant even find stock rims in LA, crap and i had a trip planned tomorrow!
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BAY PRIDE!

74 Thing
72 Bay Window Westy TinTop

[caseydenise]

No other feeling like cruising a Thing, congrats!
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Central Jersey Volkswagen Society - President

[sjhotz]

She is home and running great! Cruising along nicely on the freeway and surface streets. She is still a bit sluggish but more power than I expected considering the oversize tires. I'll be doing the shocks tomorrow morning and then correcting some bad wiring before cruising her around anywhere I can think of. Want to push her through the heat of the day and make sure all is well before I head out on any trips. So far though she sounds and runs the best she ever has, nice even power band, shorter pedal acceleration length between shift changes than i'd like but i'm heavy footed and i'm probably just getting used to a 1776 T1 coming from a 2L T4 FI in a gutted bus. That Kennedy clutch is a monster! I haven't stalled yet but it was close a few times LOL! Felt like a teenager again, wind in my hair people smiling a paying compliments on my cool jeep (according to one well intention-ed well wisher!), it really was a nice drive home, almost forgot what a joy driving could under the right circumstances.

I want to thank everyone here on Samba, I truly am grateful for the help and support. I share my roadjoy with you all!

Pics and Video to follow shortly!
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BAY PRIDE!

74 Thing
72 Bay Window Westy TinTop

[sjhotz]

Thanks for the support Manoa, im picking her back up today i hope, will report back with picks asap.

Side question about suspension, I ordered new KYB GR2 shocks 343143 for the the front, and 343144 for the rear, my local shop had Excel G's with the part number 343144 and told me that KYB was replacing the GR2's with Excel G's. My concern is the Excel G looks like a dinky little shock, shorter and thinner then the front shocks (the actual GR2's for the front seem much beefier). Should i look elsewhere for the rear shocks? Anyone have any insight on the part number KYB oddity or am I having smoke blown up my you know what? 8P

Welp, I called up KYB, they are indeed phasing out GR2's for Excel G which supposedly has the same compressed and extended lengths as well as specs, I will install them tonight if i get her back, tomorrow if not, and report back on my findings.
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BAY PRIDE!

74 Thing
72 Bay Window Westy TinTop