Shannon's 73 Thing

vwrabbitjunkie · Posted: Sat Mar 30, 2013 9:53 pm Post subject:

Lookin good. Tan engines seems to be the it thing this year. Mines been tan since 08 though Smile

Image may have been reduced in size. Click image to view fullscreen.

_________________
You either love the utilitarian approach the VW engineers had in the earlier days, or you don't. If you don't. . . buy a Honda.

swhitcomb · Posted: Sun Mar 31, 2013 10:13 am Post subject:

Ok, here are some pics:

Stock battery retainer back in place.

Gearshift and pedals powder coated to match her new theme.

I have the correct blue house for the brake reservoir. Just haven't put it in yet. This is how it came when we bought it.

Finally all back together and ready to ride.

1st ride she made me drive.

Then she took it out.

It's amazing how well the top fits when you read the directions.

I noticed on our test drive that the speedo cable had pulled out when I lifted the body. Fixed that, the fact that there were no washers in the clutch bowden tube, the spring that keeps the accelerator pedal down, and a few other things while it was apart. Should be more enjoyable to drive now.
_________________
My 71 Ghia Been in my family since 1980
My Patina 66
My 74 Ghia
07 Boxster

swhitcomb · Posted: Tue Apr 02, 2013 9:11 am Post subject:

This was last year. Hopefully she'll have even more fun in it now.

I love seeing her smile, especially in a VW.

She took it off roading that day too.

_________________
My 71 Ghia Been in my family since 1980
My Patina 66
My 74 Ghia
07 Boxster

swhitcomb · Posted: Mon Apr 08, 2013 5:47 am Post subject:

Painted her Thing this weekend.

Saturday morning

Sunday night

It's not perfect by any means. She was tired of it being several shades of dull red. This is close to the color she wanted. $3.47 a can. Took just over 6 cans. In a few years I'll do all the body work and put some real paint on it.
_________________
My 71 Ghia Been in my family since 1980
My Patina 66
My 74 Ghia
07 Boxster

Vwrascal · Posted: Mon Apr 08, 2013 6:48 am Post subject:

swhitcomb · Posted: Mon Apr 08, 2013 6:54 am Post subject:

The 3 panels in beige, the part connected to the body in teal.
_________________
My 71 Ghia Been in my family since 1980
My Patina 66
My 74 Ghia
07 Boxster

GodJockey · Posted: Mon Apr 08, 2013 7:54 pm Post subject:

What spray paint did you use?

My engine build has eaten up my budget this year, so like you I'm just looking for one solid color.

swhitcomb · Posted: Tue Apr 09, 2013 2:14 am Post subject:

Rustoleum Painters Touch. The color is called Gloss Seaside.

It went on really smooth. I did some prep, but not a ton of it. Feathered and primed any chips or bubbles. Wiped it with acetone. Removed all the rubber, and taped a few things off. I left the fender welting on, since I had planned on replacing it anyway, and didnt feel like trying to remove it and finding that I broke a bolt or spun a nut loosening the fenders. Not yet anyway. That'll come later when I put some real paint on it.
_________________
My 71 Ghia Been in my family since 1980
My Patina 66
My 74 Ghia
07 Boxster

NOVA Airhead · Posted: Tue Apr 09, 2013 5:55 am Post subject:

swhitcomb · Posted: Tue Apr 09, 2013 6:11 am Post subject:

That's exactly what I was trying to avoid. Now it's one color and she's happy. Only took one weekend. Not even a full weekend at that.

Mike, didn't you paint your Thing with tractor paint? It was your Thing that lead to her owning this one. Smile

_________________
My 71 Ghia Been in my family since 1980
My Patina 66
My 74 Ghia
07 Boxster

NOVA Airhead · Posted: Tue Apr 09, 2013 6:22 am Post subject:

Yep. John Deere Yellow rattle cans. Its pretty much an exact match to the original yellow. It came out better than I expected.

The added benefit is its easy and cheap to touch up chips, etc. that I seem to get on the fenders from off road driving.
_________________
Ghia Owner Emeritus

too_many_projects · Posted: Tue Apr 09, 2013 7:17 am Post subject:

O like it, Any plans to change the exhaust?

swhitcomb · Posted: Tue Apr 09, 2013 7:21 am Post subject:

Yes. I bought a new Thing hot dog style muffler Novemeber of 2011. It's still in the box in my basement. The trans mounts are shot. Need to change them 1st so it doesn't hit the bumper when it vibrates.
_________________
My 71 Ghia Been in my family since 1980
My Patina 66
My 74 Ghia
07 Boxster

GI Joe · Posted: Tue Apr 09, 2013 12:55 pm Post subject:

Ron Domeck · Posted: Tue Apr 09, 2013 2:56 pm Post subject:

We had this topic before on the battery mount. This is correct for a 73 and most 74's had the bolt at the front of the battery with a flat style hold down.

GI Joe · Posted: Tue Apr 09, 2013 6:09 pm Post subject:

swhitcomb · Posted: Sun Jun 23, 2013 7:44 pm Post subject:

Got the wipers back together.

Powder coated the front nose emblem to match too.

_________________
My 71 Ghia Been in my family since 1980
My Patina 66
My 74 Ghia
07 Boxster

JayC · Posted: Mon Jun 24, 2013 7:59 am Post subject:

Looks good!

Just curious - did you powder coat the windshield wipers? When I was looking at mine, they appears to have a plastic piece held on by a rivet. I ended up painting rather than power coating because I was afraid the plastic would melt. Of course, I could have just been too nervous Smile

jay

swhitcomb · Posted: Mon Jun 24, 2013 8:09 am Post subject:

They are powder coated. No plastic on these. There was some plastic parts on the connecting rod that were removable, but none in the arm themselves. I did remove the springs so the heat didn't ruin the tension (although they probably would've been fine.)
_________________
My 71 Ghia Been in my family since 1980
My Patina 66
My 74 Ghia
07 Boxster

swhitcomb · Posted: Fri Apr 10, 2015 12:29 pm Post subject:

I was just re-reading this thread and I left something out in my last reply. To make wipers cheaper and easier to find, I cut the hook off some bug wipers and tack welded them to the end. Now it takes cheap autozone Jeep/Bug wipers rather then expensive Thing wipers.
_________________
My 71 Ghia Been in my family since 1980
My Patina 66
My 74 Ghia
07 Boxster


Hello! Log in or Register \| Help \| Donate \| Buy Shirts	See all banner ads \| Advertise on TheSamba.com

Shannon's 73 Thing
Page: Previous 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 Next

	Forum Index -> Thing/Type 181	All times are Mountain Standard Time/Pacific Daylight Savings Time Page: Previous 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 Next
Page 5 of 7