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Kenbob Samba Member
Joined: March 21, 2019 Posts: 1
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Posted: Thu Mar 21, 2019 9:44 am Post subject: Re: Surprising the wife with a Thing |
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I love your story! Other than retiring from the Marines, it's mine exactly. Wife always loved the Thing since a friend had one in high school (early '80s). I've been looking for one for over 10 years. Almost bought one then but didn't, then again about 4 years ago. After she had a bad health scare 2 years ago, decided the time was right. Beautiful yellow 1974 Thing showing up on the transport today all the way from Maine to Texas. No surprise though, she went with me 2 weeks ago to look at it. |
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uglymug Samba Member
Joined: October 02, 2014 Posts: 48 Location: Phila
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Posted: Tue Sep 18, 2018 11:15 am Post subject: Re: Surprising the wife with a Thing |
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Hey, props for getting it running decent before showing it to her. Most of us b-stards bring home sick and lost puppies hoping our wives will accept them into their hearts like we do, and only then realize we married a realist!
Nice reaction. Get her some aviation goggles for riding with the windshield down. _________________ "Think about this; think about how stupid the average person is, and then realize that half of 'em are stupider than that." - George Carlin
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1974 Pumpkin Orange Thing "the Pumpkin"
1973 Marina Blue Super Beetle Project "Blooper" |
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Davii Samba Member
Joined: August 05, 2018 Posts: 15 Location: New Orleans
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Posted: Sun Sep 16, 2018 5:08 pm Post subject: Re: Surprising the wife with a Thing |
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74 Thing wrote: |
Great reaction by the wife. My experience has been a little bit different. They really like it at the beginning, but then begin to complain it is cold in the winter and too hot in the summer.
I suggested earlier to drop the engine to go through it and take care of the issues. You have two choices-drop it and turn it back to stock or drop it and convert to dual carbs.
For the stock engine your will need a carb (Solex 34 Pict 3 get a used one in the classified for about 150 https://www.thesamba.com/vw/classifieds/detail.php?id=2208055), stock manifold center section (50), distributor (150 https://www.thesamba.com/vw/classifieds/detail.php?id=2067689), air cleaner elbow hoses and bracket (100 to 150) http://www.thingparts.com/search.php?search_query=air+cleaner&x=0&y=0
If you go to dual carbs you will have to drop the engine too to remove the fan shroud and the manifold sections then reinstall and install the dual carbs.
For your oil leak it can be a number of things-your breather is not working correctly or blow by, the pulley does not have good oil return threads, the case is wallowed out. First I would look at your breather system, then pull the crank pulley and inspect the threads, and as a last resort convert to a bolt in sand seal pulley. |
You certainly did suggest that, and I will, but I needed to get the surprise done so I can have it in my garage where I can work on it at my leisure rather than having to do it once a week when the wife thought I was working on a different car, etc. |
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74 Thing Samba Member
Joined: September 02, 2004 Posts: 7390
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Posted: Sun Sep 16, 2018 10:50 am Post subject: Re: Surprising the wife with a Thing |
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Great reaction by the wife. My experience has been a little bit different. They really like it at the beginning, but then begin to complain it is cold in the winter and too hot in the summer.
I suggested earlier to drop the engine to go through it and take care of the issues. You have two choices-drop it and turn it back to stock or drop it and convert to dual carbs.
For the stock engine your will need a carb (Solex 34 Pict 3 get a used one in the classified for about 150 https://www.thesamba.com/vw/classifieds/detail.php?id=2208055), stock manifold center section (50), distributor (150 https://www.thesamba.com/vw/classifieds/detail.php?id=2067689), air cleaner elbow hoses and bracket (100 to 150) http://www.thingparts.com/search.php?search_query=air+cleaner&x=0&y=0
If you go to dual carbs you will have to drop the engine too to remove the fan shroud and the manifold sections then reinstall and install the dual carbs.
For your oil leak it can be a number of things-your breather is not working correctly or blow by, the pulley does not have good oil return threads, the case is wallowed out. First I would look at your breather system, then pull the crank pulley and inspect the threads, and as a last resort convert to a bolt in sand seal pulley. |
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EverettB Administrator
Joined: April 11, 2000 Posts: 69809 Location: Phoenix Metro
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Davii Samba Member
Joined: August 05, 2018 Posts: 15 Location: New Orleans
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Posted: Sat Sep 15, 2018 10:04 pm Post subject: Re: Surprising the wife with a Thing |
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Davii Samba Member
Joined: August 05, 2018 Posts: 15 Location: New Orleans
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Posted: Sat Sep 15, 2018 4:34 pm Post subject: Re: Surprising the wife with a Thing |
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The surprise is going to happen tonight. I have the Thing staged a block away at a buddy's house. The in-laws are coming over and we're going to have dinner. So, when the father in law and I go grab dinner we're going to return with the food and the Thing.
I'll post video.
So, driving it from the shop to my neighborhood I noticed it has an oil leak when accelerating coming from behind the pulley. Is there a crank seal there?
I've read it could be because I have an aftermarket carb and right now no air cleaner. Possible?
The carb isn't working too well anyhow so I'm looking to get a new carb and if it'll help the leak I'll order the stock air cleaner. I tried to put a small chrome one on it but I can't get it to fit.
Any advice would be greatly appreciated. It'll be in my garage now so I can work on it anytime. |
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KAmes Samba Member
Joined: February 16, 2014 Posts: 876 Location: Illinois
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Posted: Thu Sep 06, 2018 6:32 pm Post subject: Re: Surprising the wife with a Thing |
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I like my Maxi 2 filter pump. Simple, easy to install. One of two types to match your cam gear so you need to remove your old oil pump and look first. They say they conflict with some exhausts, depends on what you have. Probably wouldn't get along with the original rear engine rock guard either, if you still have yours. This is the extent of my experience though. VW motors seem to last about as long as their contemporaries, so maybe not that necessary?
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Davii Samba Member
Joined: August 05, 2018 Posts: 15 Location: New Orleans
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Posted: Thu Sep 06, 2018 3:01 pm Post subject: Re: Surprising the wife with a Thing |
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I found a few threads on here about putting a regular oil filter kit on fhree car. What is everyone's thoughts? It seems a filter would do a better job than the mesh screen would. |
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Davii Samba Member
Joined: August 05, 2018 Posts: 15 Location: New Orleans
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Posted: Wed Sep 05, 2018 8:50 am Post subject: Re: Surprising the wife with a Thing |
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74 Thing wrote: |
Thanks for sharing that video-it made my morning! |
Wait until the 22nd! I'm going to give it to her at a BBQ he at the house she's planning for all her friends on the 22nd. She's going to love it and be completely surprised! |
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74 Thing Samba Member
Joined: September 02, 2004 Posts: 7390
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Posted: Wed Sep 05, 2018 7:10 am Post subject: Re: Surprising the wife with a Thing |
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Thanks for sharing that video-it made my morning! |
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KAmes Samba Member
Joined: February 16, 2014 Posts: 876 Location: Illinois
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Posted: Tue Sep 04, 2018 1:11 pm Post subject: Re: Surprising the wife with a Thing |
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That's fabulous! Congratulations, enjoy. |
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Davii Samba Member
Joined: August 05, 2018 Posts: 15 Location: New Orleans
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Posted: Tue Sep 04, 2018 12:11 pm Post subject: Re: Surprising the wife with a Thing |
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Davii Samba Member
Joined: August 05, 2018 Posts: 15 Location: New Orleans
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Posted: Mon Sep 03, 2018 1:23 pm Post subject: Re: Surprising the wife with a Thing |
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I have the missing tins on order, I think. Is there a nice graphical representation somewhere to help you identify what's what and what you're missing?
So, brakes are done. All new fuel system (kept the bugspray for now), and had it running. Took it for a ride, ran great, very happy.
The wife is planning on having a BBQ the 22nd and having all her friends over. Knowing it runs and drives I'm just finish up the cleanup, get some missing parts, etc and surprise her with it in a couple weeks!
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74 Thing Samba Member
Joined: September 02, 2004 Posts: 7390
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Posted: Thu Aug 30, 2018 6:29 am Post subject: Re: Surprising the wife with a Thing |
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Pull the engine and go though it or at least go through the fan shroud/tin and clean it up and get the missing tin and take a look at the clutch/throwout bearing and exhaust etc... and clean and replace what is needed. Probably a good time for new tune up parts as well
Dual carb kits usually come with air cleaners and will perform better and provide better gas mileage.
If you go back to stock you are missing the stock oil air bath cleaner and elbow as well as the stock distributor so that will add to your cost. A rebuilt Solex carb is better than the new Bocar carbs IMO. You can check out sites like thingparts.com to see if they have what you need. |
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Bashr52 Samba Member
Joined: July 16, 2006 Posts: 5666 Location: On an island in VA
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Posted: Thu Aug 30, 2018 4:43 am Post subject: Re: Surprising the wife with a Thing |
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Davii wrote: |
Bashr52 wrote: |
Davii wrote: |
74 Thing wrote: |
Post a photo of the engine compartment. |
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Yup, that's a generator with what looks like a bugspray carb? |
That’s what the prior owner said, a bug spray. I am looking at ordering the stock carb from Jbugs as it’s cheaper than a rebuild kit plus the work.
Thoughts? |
Kads, Ict's, baby dells, 36 Dells, or 40 IDF |
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Davii Samba Member
Joined: August 05, 2018 Posts: 15 Location: New Orleans
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Posted: Wed Aug 29, 2018 2:03 pm Post subject: Re: Surprising the wife with a Thing |
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Bashr52 wrote: |
Davii wrote: |
74 Thing wrote: |
Post a photo of the engine compartment. |
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Yup, that's a generator with what looks like a bugspray carb? |
That’s what the prior owner said, a bug spray. I am looking at ordering the stock carb from Jbugs as it’s cheaper than a rebuild kit plus the work.
Thoughts? |
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Bashr52 Samba Member
Joined: July 16, 2006 Posts: 5666 Location: On an island in VA
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Posted: Wed Aug 29, 2018 4:54 am Post subject: Re: Surprising the wife with a Thing |
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Davii wrote: |
74 Thing wrote: |
Post a photo of the engine compartment. |
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Yup, that's a generator with what looks like a bugspray carb? |
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Davii Samba Member
Joined: August 05, 2018 Posts: 15 Location: New Orleans
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Posted: Tue Aug 28, 2018 8:53 pm Post subject: Re: Surprising the wife with a Thing |
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74 Thing wrote: |
Post a photo of the engine compartment. |
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RWK Samba Member
Joined: June 24, 2009 Posts: 1348 Location: S.W. MI
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Posted: Tue Aug 28, 2018 4:20 am Post subject: Re: Surprising the wife with a Thing |
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"Should" be a generator if stock. _________________ 73 Type 181
63 Type 113
63 Type 261- 428 071
62 Type 241-378 025 178 530 |
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