| Author |
Message |
sam_w
Samba Member
Joined: March 07, 2002
Posts: 1479
Location: Petaluma, CA
|
 Posted: Sun Jun 19, 2016 4:58 pm Post subject: Just got another Thing, 74 new -- bushings or rebuilt beam? |
 |
|
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 |
|
| Back to top |
|
 |
liken127
Samba Member
Joined: June 27, 2013
Posts: 102
Location: Upland Ca.
|
| Posted: Sun Jun 19, 2016 5:46 pm Post subject: Re: Just got another Thing, 74 |
|
|
| Looks great! like the shifter! Is that a Hurst? was the price right? |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Al Capulco
Samba Member
Joined: October 31, 2005
Posts: 532
Location: Northridge, CA.
|
| Posted: Sun Jun 19, 2016 5:49 pm Post subject: Re: Just got another Thing, 74 |
|
|
| Congrats on a very clean '74. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
GI Joe
Samba Member
Joined: April 28, 2005
Posts: 2012
Location: Athens, TN
|
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Angus II
Samba Member
Joined: June 01, 2016
Posts: 707
Location: Mammoth Lakes Ca. 93546
|
| Posted: Sun Jun 19, 2016 6:35 pm Post subject: Re: Just got another Thing, 74 |
|
|
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. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
GI Joe
Samba Member
Joined: April 28, 2005
Posts: 2012
Location: Athens, TN
|
| Posted: Sun Jun 19, 2016 6:42 pm Post subject: Re: Just got another Thing, 74 |
|
|
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 |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
KAmes
Samba Member
Joined: February 16, 2014
Posts: 876
Location: Illinois
|
| Posted: Sun Jun 19, 2016 6:51 pm Post subject: Re: Just got another Thing, 74 |
|
|
| Cool! Is that the gas can I've heard about in the tire? |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
sam_w
Samba Member
Joined: March 07, 2002
Posts: 1479
Location: Petaluma, CA
|
| Posted: Sun Jun 19, 2016 9:21 pm Post subject: Re: Just got another Thing, 74 |
|
|
Yes that is a 15," gas can
_________________
63 singlecab
73 thingster
74 Thing |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
sam_w
Samba Member
Joined: March 07, 2002
Posts: 1479
Location: Petaluma, CA
|
| Posted: Sun Jun 19, 2016 10:22 pm Post subject: Re: Just got another Thing, 74 |
|
|
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 |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
GI Joe
Samba Member
Joined: April 28, 2005
Posts: 2012
Location: Athens, TN
|
|
| Back to top |
|
|
sam_w
Samba Member
Joined: March 07, 2002
Posts: 1479
Location: Petaluma, CA
|
| Posted: Mon Jun 20, 2016 5:52 am Post subject: Re: Just got another Thing, 74 |
|
|
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 |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
carsdlt
Samba Member
Joined: May 02, 2012
Posts: 317
Location: So. OC, Calif.
|
| Posted: Wed Jun 22, 2016 9:21 pm Post subject: Re: Just got another Thing, 74 |
|
|
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." |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
sam_w
Samba Member
Joined: March 07, 2002
Posts: 1479
Location: Petaluma, CA
|
| Posted: Thu Jun 23, 2016 6:51 am Post subject: Re: Just got another Thing, 74 |
|
|
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 |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
sam_w
Samba Member
Joined: March 07, 2002
Posts: 1479
Location: Petaluma, CA
|
| Posted: Fri Jun 24, 2016 5:37 pm Post subject: Re: Just got another Thing, 74 |
|
|
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 |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
mondshine
Samba Member
Joined: October 27, 2006
Posts: 2769
Location: The World's Motor Capital
|
|
| Back to top |
|
|
sam_w
Samba Member
Joined: March 07, 2002
Posts: 1479
Location: Petaluma, CA
|
| Posted: Sun Jun 26, 2016 9:25 am Post subject: Re: Just got another Thing, 74 |
|
|
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 |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Rev. Scott
Samba Member
Joined: June 04, 2006
Posts: 770
Location: Philo, Ca.
|
| Posted: Mon Jun 27, 2016 6:40 pm Post subject: Re: Just got another Thing, 74 new -- bushings or rebuilt beam? |
|
|
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!" |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Bashr52
Samba Member
Joined: July 16, 2006
Posts: 5666
Location: On an island in VA
|
| Posted: Tue Jun 28, 2016 4:24 am Post subject: Re: Just got another Thing, 74 new -- bushings or rebuilt beam? |
|
|
| 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. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
sam_w
Samba Member
Joined: March 07, 2002
Posts: 1479
Location: Petaluma, CA
|
| Posted: Tue Jun 28, 2016 6:01 am Post subject: Re: Just got another Thing, 74 new -- bushings or rebuilt beam? |
|
|
Thanks, I am still trying to decide
_________________
63 singlecab
73 thingster
74 Thing |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Ron Domeck
Samba Member
Joined: August 05, 2007
Posts: 1466
Location: louisville Ky
|
| Posted: Tue Jun 28, 2016 6:38 am Post subject: Re: Just got another Thing, 74 new -- bushings or rebuilt beam? |
|
|
| I had the red urethane in one of my cars and years later they turned to powder. Replaced with rubber. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
|
