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My 181 project pics
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GI Joe
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PostPosted: Sat May 23, 2015 2:50 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

That Francis harness looks awesome! Very nice setup...

Seems to fit quite well in that slot too....
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KAmes
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PostPosted: Sat May 23, 2015 4:22 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

63ziggy wrote:
looking real nice


Thanks! I've realized I'm getting into the fun part now, putting it back together, nothing is very hard and the results are satisfying. I spent the winter accumulating parts while my neighbor picked away at the finish & paint work here and there in his spare time. He's really good at what he does and worth the wait. Now that I have the car back in my garage I'm opening boxes, It's like Christmas.


Last edited by KAmes on Sat May 23, 2015 4:57 pm; edited 2 times in total
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KAmes
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PostPosted: Sat May 23, 2015 4:46 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

GI Joe wrote:
That Francis harness looks awesome! Very nice setup...

Seems to fit quite well in that slot too....


I spent a whole evening, longer than I should have, holding the fuse box this way and that trying to figure the best place to put it. Too high and it starts to interfere with the switches, too low and the dash panel doesn't hinge open correctly. I think I've got the sweet spot now, And I'm past the puzzle of how to mount it, I'll post another pic when it's fully secured.
My brother is a muscle car guy, he's used the Ron Francis kits before and really likes them, and I figured I'm starting from scratch with the split bus column and turn signal switch also. I spent some time this morning sitting with the turn signal switch and my ohm meter figuring out how it works and how to apply it to what I'm doing. I'm actually really digging this part.
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KAmes
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PostPosted: Mon May 25, 2015 3:44 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Here's the fuse box mounted in the final position.
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I wrapped the exposed wires with self fusing rubber tape. I like how it turned out, and the stuff is tough. Look at that paint run! There was bound to be one somewhere. The cover for the brake hoses is at the powdercoater.
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Heres the other end in the engine bay. Yes my afternoon was tedious.
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My future!

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KAmes
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PostPosted: Sat May 30, 2015 6:03 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

I rewelded the heater exhaust pipe at the correct angle and installed. The exhaust gasket and clamp was difficult to get right, but it's on. There are gaps around the wheel well grommet, no doubt due to the new pipe being a slightly different diameter. I'll probably seal it with silicone from inside the wheel well.
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Installed a new wolfsburg west gas tank, put gas in it and test fired the heater. It seems to work really well, thanks Marty! I left it overnight before installing the vent hoses. The garage really stunk of gas the next morning, so if you smell gas, check your vent hoses. The metal vent lines under the car were rusted out, I replaced the one by the master cylinder with a piece of brake line, it currently terminates in the right wheel well like original. I'll put the rest on if I need to, I may just leave it like it is.
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Solomon Grundy
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PostPosted: Sat May 30, 2015 7:18 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

That looks great!
I need to take out my tired BN4 and get in over to Marty this summer.
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KAmes
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PostPosted: Wed Jun 10, 2015 7:09 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

I've been working on the wiring for the last week. With the Ron Francis fuse panel, beetle switches and thing mechanicals it's pretty much make it up as I go. I don't mind though, because now I understand how everything works and why. One thing I did was wire the tail lights for two bulb separate turn signal, but I also wired for one bulb trailer lights straight out of the turn signal switch, no converter needed. Another challenge was converting the positive voltage separate left/right dash turn indicators provided by the fuse panel to the single light negative voltage needed. I used diodes to isolate left/right and an extra relay to trigger the negative signal. It makes the turn signals click really loud. I'm using a wiper switch with a fresh air knob on it to represent my heater switch.
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Made possible with aspirin.
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KAmes
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PostPosted: Wed Jun 10, 2015 7:22 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

I installed a TTS stainless dual exhaust, it has a nice mellow sound without being too quiet. Removing the obnoxious Empi tri-mil clone also allows room for my Thing Shop receiver hitch and tube bumper. The bumper comes with a wide tab welded on for the hitch, it all bolted together easy peasy.
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GK.Thing
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PostPosted: Wed Jun 10, 2015 3:36 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

DUDE !!!! That is awesome . I have to say I am a fan of what your doing.

Its kubellicious
Keep Up the great work
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HUGO bOSS
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PostPosted: Wed Jun 10, 2015 3:47 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Great job! Fantastic project!
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KAmes
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PostPosted: Wed Jun 10, 2015 4:07 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

GK.Thing wrote:
Its kubellicious

Very Happy
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KAmes
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PostPosted: Thu Jun 18, 2015 9:55 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

New drive axles.
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Installed.
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Another coat of paint on the floor.
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Stuck my ratty old seat back in to test the steering wheel position, it seems pretty good. I might remove an inch or so off the rear of the seat frame part of the seat track, to allow it to slide back a bit farther. I ordered new upholstery from the thing shop yesterday.
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Floor mats. I'll probably order replacements for those footpads, they're in bad shape where the screws go. Still thinking about a center console.
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KAmes
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PostPosted: Sat Jun 20, 2015 7:57 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Got the right front fender on and the Thing Shop bumper.
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Thing Shop skid plate, integrates with the bumper.
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I've been experimenting with how to fold the top. If I just push it back like a regular convertible top it pinches the fabric and bunches up the window on the roll bar. If I pull it completely loose off the back of the car like the Thing Shop video, the antenna is in the way and when by myself I can't seem to avoid dragging it all over the ground. My favorite method is to leave it attached at the rear of the car, take loose the sides, fold the frame back, then pull the resulting loop of top that goes from the frame header to the rear of the car up on top of the roll bar, then fold it three times. It doesn't crease the window and I keep it off the ground. The vertical strap in the picture is holding the antenna down to keep the garage door from hitting it.
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mondshine
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PostPosted: Tue Jun 23, 2015 6:17 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

To fold the top, you could use the Thing Shop method:


Link


or do it per the owners manual:

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Good luck, Mondshine
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KAmes
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PostPosted: Tue Jun 23, 2015 7:13 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

I had not seen the owners manual. The owners manual method is interesting to me, that's similar to what I was doing but not the same. That method would not require pulling the top "inside out" off the header like I was doing. I'll try it, thanks for posting it.
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mondshine
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PostPosted: Tue Jun 23, 2015 7:16 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Check this link:
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/archives/manuals/73thing.php
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KAmes
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PostPosted: Tue Jun 23, 2015 7:47 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Mondshine, thanks for the link. Well, it's out of the garage and moving under it's own power. I put new shocks on it the other day. It badly needs new tie rods, I'll order those today. Still messing with the carbs trying to get it right, the donut gasket on the left j tube is popping pretty loud, needs wheels and tires, and I don't have a reverse light yet. It got me to work though! Very Happy
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mondshine
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PostPosted: Tue Jun 23, 2015 10:52 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Keep going!

I want to see that car in Dayton a month from now!

Good luck, Mondshine
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GI Joe
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PostPosted: Tue Jun 23, 2015 1:14 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

KAmes wrote:

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Looking good!! I've run Bobtail a few times, slinging the propane!! Wink

Thing looks Great!

Black, tan, or chrome wheels would look Great! (Of course, chrome won't work with the Mil theme...)
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http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=4...p;start=60
'71 Beetle RPU
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?p=8080337#8080337
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KAmes
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PostPosted: Tue Jun 23, 2015 2:54 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

GI Joe wrote:
KAmes wrote:

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Looking good!! I've run Bobtail a few times, slinging the propane!! Wink

Thing looks Great!

Black, tan, or chrome wheels would look Great! (Of course, chrome won't work with the Mil theme...)


I keep finding myself looking at the BRMs because of the black. The other idea in the running is powdercoat the stock wheels black and put the hubcaps back on, but actually they're not in great shape, dinged around the edges etc. So BRMs are winning at the moment. I'm third generation in the propane business, my grandfather started in 1947? I think, that was fuel oil, propane came in 1956. Dad still works in the office, he turned 77 yesterday.
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