Das Volks Vintage Volkswagen Gruppe

Transplannted from DVG on 9.9.2008 at 22:49 by DasVolks

73 Thing
« Thread Started on Sept 4, 2008, 19:19 »
SO I got this thing 2 summers ago. After years of searching for one. Paid 5 hund for her. I got rid of my manx style buggy for it bc i want something more practical, and METAL. My freind almost forced me not to bring it home, once we saw it.....She was found in NJ up north by a lake... hence the heavy rust issues going on.

The frame




Re: 73 Thing
« Reply #6 on Sept 4, 2008, 22:37 »
Heres another shot at pick up


Re: 73 Thing
« Reply #8 on Sept 4, 2008, 22:45 »
so... a few weeks went by with it. I bought new metal pans for it, welded them in and slapped the body back on it.

I grinded most of the heavy rust down and threw on some primer. I wanted to reall see what I had to work with and where this project was going.

Prior to the first winter I had her she had rec'd a new top. Its wasnt that hard to install, and it came out pretty good for a first timer. I ran 15 inch bug wheel in teh front with snow tires and stock 14 thing rims in the back with old 14 studdable snows. She looks good, and kinda mean but rode like crap. The tires were dryrotted to nuts so it was kinda scary to drive. She ran a holley bugspray for a while, but was having issues with it, so I tossed on my dual kads off my blown 1641 from the 65 bug. It was fun in the snow.


By raj332, shot with hp PhotoSmart 43x series at 2008-09-07


By raj332, shot with hp PhotoSmart 43x series at 2008-09-07


By raj332, shot with hp PhotoSmart 43x series at 2008-09-07

So before the thing went into its present paintjob, believe it or not, I did do some body work as time premitted. Front fenders for a thing are far and few bw.... and back in the old country ( massachusetts, not india) we used to make one from two.

The back 1/2 of the pass fender was wrecked. One of the parts things I bought had a bad front 1/2 of the same fender. So I mated them. I didnt go nuts with the feathering and sanding... but made it look decent.


By raj332, shot with hp PhotoSmart 43x series at 2008-09-07


By raj332, shot with hp PhotoSmart 43x series at 2008-09-07


By raj332, shot with hp PhotoSmart 43x series at 2008-09-07


By raj332, shot with hp PhotoSmart 43x series at 2008-09-07

Then in spring came the chromies and new 15 inch All terrain tires. The rims were free from a buddy so they would work until I found the Jackmans I wanted. Chrome didnt look right on the car... but I wanted 15 inch tires. Raised white letters in.... looks better. I want Mud Terrain tires, but they were very expensive in this size. So these will do for now...


By raj332, shot with hp PhotoSmart 43x series at 2008-09-07


By raj332, shot with hp PhotoSmart 43x series at 2008-09-07

Then I found a dude upstate with a parts thing... turns out he had the factory VW accessory 5 pt roll bar. It all bolts in and ties into the factory bolt holes. WHO'S YOU DADDY!


By raj332, shot with hp PhotoSmart 43x series at 2008-09-07


By raj332, shot with hp PhotoSmart 43x series at 2008-09-07

I needed a cheap paint job.... STAT. I didnt want paint paint bc I wanna beat the balls off this THING. I want to scratch, carry crap, spill my beer on it, and not have to worry.

I initially thought to do desert storm camo, but the white body panel inside wouldnt look right with the tanish exterior... so black, grey, lt. grey, and white worked = Artic camo.


By raj332, shot with hp PhotoSmart 43x series at 2008-09-07


By raj332, shot with hp PhotoSmart 43x series at 2008-09-07

This worked well, bc as I find better panels or feel like doing body work... i could... and still touch up the paint.


By raj332, shot with hp PhotoSmart 43x series at 2008-09-07


By raj332, shot with hp PhotoSmart 43x series at 2008-09-07

Somewhere along the lines.. I added the complete set of duck boards, my co pilot, and a beer...ugh... i mean coffee holder.
I had to change the fuel guage, and get all the signals, horn ,and hazards to work. Next up.. the GAS HATER!


By raj332, shot with Canon PowerShot SD850 IS at 2008-09-07


By raj332, shot with hp PhotoSmart 43x series at 2008-09-07

Then finally I for a set of real 15 inch wide 5 jackman wheels. I love black rims on here. I have teh OG jackman cetnercaps, but they are chrome.... so they will stay on the shelf.


By raj332, shot with Canon PowerShot SD850 IS at 2008-09-07


By raj332, shot with Canon PowerShot SD850 IS at 2008-09-07

This is how she sits today.

Raj you need to fix the link in this samba thread .

http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=297736

Why... ? It take them to the DVG home page.

It took me to the old forum not this one .

Mike said that he will only redirectly the link on Sat after he shuts the old one down. He's giving the other users of the forum a few days to comply with teh switch. Read you email goddammit!

Raj wrote:Mike said that he will only redirectly the link on Sat after he shuts the old one down. He's giving the other users of the forum a few days to comply with teh switch. Read you email goddammit!

All things being equal, I may make the move a bit earlier, as it is now, I moved Tim Stark (Stal20) Rob Stehle (UnberStehle) and Andrea Rasso (Polly) over this am.

The only ones yet to come, who are registered for the old forums are:
Greengoblin
h20cool
and
greasemonkey

I know one is Adam, I think one is that guy from queens(?) with the white fasty(?) and whos h20cool?

Im gonna be doing some repairs on the homepage and a couple small edits on the forums tonight when im dispatching. So (while you shouldnt notice any disruption on the site) I may move the boards over sooner seeing as "the gangs all here"

Raj when I do move the forums, Ill delete these posts so you can have your project thread back

I spoke to the greengoblin this afternoon on another topic, and reminded him to move over. FYI

Camping at Flanders 2008


By raj332 at 2008-09-22

Now covered with genuine Flanders soot.

raj
i like the complete concept.from what is was to how it look's today is a total thumbs up!!! keep it coming.

So peeled off the soft top today to ready the install of the hardtop for the winter.

Here she is topless.


By raj332, shot with Canon PowerShot SD850 IS at 2008-10-26

The thing come from the factory with holes that are placed to mate with the factory hardtop ( accessory from VW). They are covered with a plastic cap. After pulling the cap revelas the hole.


By raj332, shot with Canon PowerShot SD850 IS at 2008-10-26

They have never been threaded in there lifes so it was time to run a tap through them to clean them up. Good ole m8 x 1.25, ( aka ( fender bolts, floor pans etc)


By raj332 at 2008-10-26

I did some research on the top and picked a few dudes brains at etown. Turns out is a real deal VW top.


By raj332, shot with Canon PowerShot SD850 IS at 2008-10-26


Looks great installed.

By raj332, shot with Canon PowerShot SD850 IS at 2008-10-26



By raj332 at 2008-10-26

Raj,

That is a sweet look! Really dresses up your "THING"!!!

I helped carry it to the Thing Im important tooooo!

Raj, it looks sweet on there.

Mike,

Thanks for lending a hand. I appreciate it.

Raj,

Does your wife know Mike was playing with your Thing???