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sam_w Samba Member
Joined: March 07, 2002 Posts: 1479 Location: Petaluma, CA
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Posted: Sun Jun 19, 2016 4:58 pm Post subject: Just got another Thing, 74 new -- bushings or rebuilt beam? |
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I just got myself a Thing to put my 15" auxiliary gas can into! or at least that is what my daughter Clara says.
It is a pretty unmolested 74 car, that was towed behind a motor home for years, and the previous owner wanted a Thing. No rust anywhere.
It is not perfect but can be made so very easily. Wheel shake at 50 MPH, the odometer is fixed, i.e. does not work, and the speedometer light doesn't come on when you turn on the headlights.
There is a clocking from one of the CV joints, but I can live with that.
I had to take the spare tyre from my 63 single cab, a wide 5, like the parts manual, and use it instead of the wrong 15" spare.
The wiper motor blows fuses but I have a new motor, working motor, to install.
It drives beautifully, not like my off-road beastie, and will be a great run-around car.
At the shows in LA I managed to get a genuine VWoA roof rack to go on my hardtop, so they may go on the 73.4.
_________________ 63 singlecab
73 thingster
74 Thing
Last edited by sam_w on Sun Jun 26, 2016 9:27 am; edited 1 time in total |
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liken127 Samba Member
Joined: June 27, 2013 Posts: 102 Location: Upland Ca.
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Posted: Sun Jun 19, 2016 5:46 pm Post subject: Re: Just got another Thing, 74 |
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Looks great! like the shifter! Is that a Hurst? was the price right? |
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Al Capulco Samba Member
Joined: October 31, 2005 Posts: 532 Location: Northridge, CA.
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Posted: Sun Jun 19, 2016 5:49 pm Post subject: Re: Just got another Thing, 74 |
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Congrats on a very clean '74. |
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GI Joe Samba Member
Joined: April 28, 2005 Posts: 2012 Location: Athens, TN
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Angus II Samba Member
Joined: June 01, 2016 Posts: 708 Location: Mammoth Lakes Ca. 93546
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Posted: Sun Jun 19, 2016 6:35 pm Post subject: Re: Just got another Thing, 74 |
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Hello, Nice, clean looking, Thing you found there.... Congrats...
Yes, It sure looks like a "Hurst shifter" to me... But, that leads me to my question. The instrument gauge has a warning light for ATF....
So, was it an automatic trans at first???? And , switched over to a 4-speed for the ease of towing???
Just wondering.... I don't know, that's why I asked the question...
Education please..... Thanks and again nice find. |
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GI Joe Samba Member
Joined: April 28, 2005 Posts: 2012 Location: Athens, TN
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Posted: Sun Jun 19, 2016 6:42 pm Post subject: Re: Just got another Thing, 74 |
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Angus,
It's a later beetle speedo... It also has the rear window defrost indicator, as well as the ATf....
I have the same style speedo in Our Thing... I know it was from a beetle.....
Obviously those indicated miles aren't acurate, indicated miles wouldn't be right with a towed vehicle anyway(unless it was trailered, but most are flat towed).. I'm sure the seller disclosed this during the sale.... _________________ '74 Thing, "Our Thing"....
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
www.NLEOMF.com
Respect, Honor, Remember
Last edited by GI Joe on Sun Jun 19, 2016 7:00 pm; edited 1 time in total |
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KAmes Samba Member
Joined: February 16, 2014 Posts: 877 Location: Illinois
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Posted: Sun Jun 19, 2016 6:51 pm Post subject: Re: Just got another Thing, 74 |
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Cool! Is that the gas can I've heard about in the tire? |
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sam_w Samba Member
Joined: March 07, 2002 Posts: 1479 Location: Petaluma, CA
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Posted: Sun Jun 19, 2016 9:21 pm Post subject: Re: Just got another Thing, 74 |
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Yes that is a 15," gas can _________________ 63 singlecab
73 thingster
74 Thing |
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sam_w Samba Member
Joined: March 07, 2002 Posts: 1479 Location: Petaluma, CA
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Posted: Sun Jun 19, 2016 10:22 pm Post subject: Re: Just got another Thing, 74 |
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I do have a spare Thing speedometer, going to check if the odometer works and will switch it.
BTW I have already run out of gas as the gauge read 1/4 full and it ran dry, took 10.3 gallons. _________________ 63 singlecab
73 thingster
74 Thing |
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GI Joe Samba Member
Joined: April 28, 2005 Posts: 2012 Location: Athens, TN
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sam_w Samba Member
Joined: March 07, 2002 Posts: 1479 Location: Petaluma, CA
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Posted: Mon Jun 20, 2016 5:52 am Post subject: Re: Just got another Thing, 74 |
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For you Kubeltreffen Thingers.
I went to a Kubeltreffen in Kentucky and someone ran out of gas, there were lots of spare gas cans in the spare tyres, and not a one had any gas. If you have a spare gas can, fill it up! _________________ 63 singlecab
73 thingster
74 Thing |
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carsdlt Samba Member
Joined: May 02, 2012 Posts: 317 Location: So. OC, Calif.
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Posted: Wed Jun 22, 2016 9:21 pm Post subject: Re: Just got another Thing, 74 |
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Yes...fill it up-but then empty it into your tank once a month & refill. Gasoline is not like wine...it doesn't age well _________________ Thanx, DLT
'73 181 stock 1600 - "Dr. Bombay"
"If it works, don't fix it....let it break on its own." |
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sam_w Samba Member
Joined: March 07, 2002 Posts: 1479 Location: Petaluma, CA
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Posted: Thu Jun 23, 2016 6:51 am Post subject: Re: Just got another Thing, 74 |
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I am not sure, but. I thought the problem was condensation, and that gas in the tank will deteriorate over time, but thought a sealed can was OK. _________________ 63 singlecab
73 thingster
74 Thing |
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sam_w Samba Member
Joined: March 07, 2002 Posts: 1479 Location: Petaluma, CA
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Posted: Fri Jun 24, 2016 5:37 pm Post subject: Re: Just got another Thing, 74 |
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Well, I now know more about this 74 Thing.
The inner bushing on the top of the beam is shot on one side.
Are the bearings and bushings the same as a beetle?
The Thing was towed behind an RV and has a complicated tow bracket. It is welded onto the front beam! maybe welding damaged the phenolic inner bushing?
Do you really need to ream the inner bushings?
So just replacing the beam needs cutting away the tow attachment, Pictures to follow.
The balljoints have no real sleeves so need to be replaced.
The bearing at the top of the steering column is shot, how easy to replace this bearing?
Sorry about the rotated pics
I need to replace the 1/10th gear in the speedometer, but I have another one in my stash, hope the Odometer works.
Need a 12V output, need to look on thesamba.
The spare was a 15" bug wheel, I have replaced it with the 15" spare from my 63 singlecab, need a wide 5 15" wheel, to have spares for both vehicles.
This may appear picky, but I realise that if it was perfect I would have paid a lot more. Just don't want to pay the cost of a totally rebuilt front beam!
_________________ 63 singlecab
73 thingster
74 Thing
Last edited by sam_w on Fri Jun 24, 2016 6:38 pm; edited 1 time in total |
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mondshine Samba Member
Joined: October 27, 2006 Posts: 2770 Location: The World's Motor Capital
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sam_w Samba Member
Joined: March 07, 2002 Posts: 1479 Location: Petaluma, CA
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Posted: Sun Jun 26, 2016 9:25 am Post subject: Re: Just got another Thing, 74 |
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I need to fix the inner bushings on the beam.
Are they metal or phenolic, and do you really need a reamer? _________________ 63 singlecab
73 thingster
74 Thing |
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Rev. Scott Samba Member
Joined: June 04, 2006 Posts: 770 Location: Philo, Ca.
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Posted: Mon Jun 27, 2016 6:40 pm Post subject: Re: Just got another Thing, 74 new -- bushings or rebuilt beam? |
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My wheel shimmy was fixed with a new stabilizer. Looks like you could use a good refresher all the same. _________________ "I haven't seen one of those since I was shootin' at 'em!" |
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Bashr52 Samba Member
Joined: July 16, 2006 Posts: 5666 Location: On an island in VA
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Posted: Tue Jun 28, 2016 4:24 am Post subject: Re: Just got another Thing, 74 new -- bushings or rebuilt beam? |
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If it's just the rubber at the outside of the beam that is an easy fix. If the needle bearing itself is shot inside the tube, you could always convert to Urethane inserts. |
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sam_w Samba Member
Joined: March 07, 2002 Posts: 1479 Location: Petaluma, CA
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Posted: Tue Jun 28, 2016 6:01 am Post subject: Re: Just got another Thing, 74 new -- bushings or rebuilt beam? |
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Thanks, I am still trying to decide _________________ 63 singlecab
73 thingster
74 Thing |
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Ron Domeck Samba Member
Joined: August 05, 2007 Posts: 1466 Location: louisville Ky
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Posted: Tue Jun 28, 2016 6:38 am Post subject: Re: Just got another Thing, 74 new -- bushings or rebuilt beam? |
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I had the red urethane in one of my cars and years later they turned to powder. Replaced with rubber. |
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