is this Thing worth it?

GhiaRacing · Post by **GhiaRacing** » Thu Aug 01, 2002 9:06 pm

Hi
I met a guy who has a 74 Thing for sale. He want $1000 flat.
He says that both front fenders, fuel line, tires need to be replaced. Also the interior needs to be redone.
With everything else being good is this worth the trouble? I would be able to replace everything but the fenders myself.
But I heard that thing fenders cost $400 each!
I have always want a Thing, but would it be better to pay more to get a daily driver? Thanks, J

Bob Ingman · Post by **Bob Ingman** » Fri Aug 02, 2002 10:19 am

That is very cheap for a Thing. As far as fenders are concerned they are metal and can be repaired . Pound them out ! For $400 you could get fiberglass prerunner fenders from SO Cal Imports. They are good.
The Thing is worth more than that in parts . Chances are youll never find one this cheap again so if you want one get it. Used fenders are common and easy to find also.Good luck. Bob Ingman

[This message has been edited by Bob Ingman (edited 08-02-2002).]

LB181 · Post by **LB181** » Fri Aug 02, 2002 1:44 pm

I agree with Bob. If you can fix everything else or you are willing to learn, you could make a really nice Thing. $1000 is a good price and like Bob said, the fiberglass ones are pretty nice. And replacing it is no problem because they are just bolted on.

GhiaRacing · Post by **GhiaRacing** » Fri Aug 02, 2002 6:02 pm

I have restored a Bug and Ghia. Customized another Ghia. But I have only seen some cancerous Things on the street. Never a clean one.
Do you guys mostly prefer Stock or Customizing them? Is there a major Thing site out there that I can check pics on? Might as well get some ideas while I try to scrap up some money. I have always kind of wanted one for Off roading.. Or...? J

bljones · Post by **bljones** » Fri Aug 02, 2002 7:43 pm

for pics, check out the gallery at www.type181registry.com . I have a pair of front fenders that are usable for sale, if you decide to pick up this project- i agree with the others- at a grand, the beast is definitely a good deal.

Bob Ingman · Post by **Bob Ingman** » Fri Aug 02, 2002 7:50 pm

There seems to be two trends emerging right now with Things. Niether is stock(spelled bucks). One is the off-road or prerunner featuring raised stance oversized tires tubular bumpers ect. The other is the lowrider. This is the custom look with slammed stance ,chopped top ,custom paint ect. Take your pick and save this Thing. Its going up in value. Good luck. Bob Ingman

LB181 · Post by **LB181** » Fri Aug 02, 2002 8:08 pm

Custom is looks a lot better than stock in my opinion. I like the offroad style Thing the most. It is how the Thing really should have been built in the first place. Maybe one of the reasons why the Thing was not that successful is they made it more capable offroad than the bug but not enough. With some modifications you can have a very capable rig. Even with a stock Thing you can have a lot of fun. You have experience suping up ghias and bugs, the lowered ones look good too. I just think pretty much anything is better than stock. Whether you go for the prerunner look or the lowered look, they both look cooler than stock.

jasonb · Post by **jasonb** » Fri Aug 02, 2002 9:46 pm

I owned a Thing a couple of years ago. There awsome. If you can get one for $1000 then jump on it.

As far as customizing or restoring; I say, customize now because resto parts for the Thing are $$. Just don't do any cutting on the body. We're all just a previous owner to someone else eventually, you don't want to be that PO that made a VW unrestorable by hacking the body. Anything that you do to bumpers, suspension, engine, etc is reverseable.

GhiaRacing · Post by **GhiaRacing** » Sun Aug 04, 2002 11:22 pm

I have seen some good lowered and chopped Things out there, but I wouldn?t even know where to start. I also have something against body mods, filling in emblem holes are okay. Hacking away at a car... hmmm.

I think off roading would be the way for me to go. The thing in question would be perfect for it: It needs fenders, new tires, probably needs suspension work, has a roll cage, but the owner says that a hard top Probably wont fit on it (Should this concern me?), and a vert top will fit snug if no one steals it. I'll probably give it more power... or torque. Did Things have a towing capacity back then? When I first saw a thing I though it would have a bigger motor than usual.

I have noticed that there are very little Thing, Acapulco, and Safari sites out there. The ones that I do find are 3-year-old classifieds.

What are the costs to making a Thing a decent off roader? Will the stock suspension be enough?
Here I am asking questions when I haven't seen the car. I know that I'll be probe that car real well when I do. Is there a special section that I should look for rust that other VW don?t have?
Thanks everyone, J

LB181 · Post by **LB181** » Mon Aug 05, 2002 12:36 am

If you like the offroad look, that Thing would be a good candidate for it considering all the stuff that needs replacing. In regards to the roll cage not being able to fit a hardtop, many people (including me) have the same situation where the main hoop is taller than the windshield. Unless you really want a hardtop that is not a problem, us So. Cal guys get nice weather all year long so a convertible is great. You are right about the fact that the Thing looks like it needs more power. Unfortunately the VW engineers did not think so. The Thing weighs quite a bit more than a bug and same powerplant. Some guys like Bob and lots of magazine cars have switched to Type IV engines to solve the problem. I am saving up for mine now. Sucks about the lack of updated websites. Seems like 3 years ago was the popular time for Thing websites. Hope that deal turns out good for you.

Bob Ingman · Post by **Bob Ingman** » Mon Aug 05, 2002 9:53 am

Do you like Baja Bugs? I just look at my Thing as being my Baja. Do to it what you would do to a bug. The front end is already better set up from the factory than a bug. The transaxle final drive is also of a lower ratio. You just need a little power.
Get the hardtop if it fits or not. They are worth probably $500 to those who like them. Personally I dont care for them. I like being a convertable.Good luck. Bob Ingman

GhiaRacing · Post by **GhiaRacing** » Mon Aug 05, 2002 9:18 pm

I have been looking at the engine and Type IV forums reading on how everyone is tossing out their upright for a T IV.
Bob & LB181: You both seem to love them compared to the stock T1. But are they really much better than a 2000-2300cc T1? I had a 2300 with the 911 fan in my old Ghia and I hauled! Though it didn?t do so well in the high desert.
My real question is 181 related; does the T IV give the needed torque for a Thing? I couldn't imagine a 1600 thing T1 hauling more than a motorcycle and my luggage at 60mph. Or am I just being an Ass?
Truthfully I have yet to crack a T IV case. Is there much difference?

Type IV engines are in:
69-74 VW 411/412
70-76 Porsche 914 (but not the 6 cyl.)
72-79 VW Transporter (Bus)
76 Porsche 912E 2.0
80-83 VW Vanagon 2.0

Porsche Type IV Engine Models
The 1.7 was available from 70-73
The 1.8 was available from 74-76
The 2.0 was available from 73-76
The 2.0 flat six was available from 70-72

Fuel injection: the Type 4 and 914 in '70, and the Beetle and Transporter in '75.
(all this from the Type 4um)

I called Mr. $1k Thing today and he looked at the car this weekend and told me that the engine might have sludge for oil now so I may have to take it apart, hence the T IV engine questions.
So I am weighing my options, I have the biggest U Pick Parts here in SoCal a mile away so I might check it out tomorrow. I just want to make sure that I have my info above correct. I read in one post that Ghias came with T IV in 70-74!!!? umm, no. So you can see why I have questions.
So, for my off road Thing, is Type IV the way to go? Will the flat six fit in the thing? How much should I spend for a used, beat engine? Pros and Cons of switching?

Thanks! J

One more question, if I do find a cheap engine should I take out the Trans also? How much would you pay?
Should I look for the beefier bus or porsche? J
------------------
Wanted:
-Beige Upholstery for 68 Ghia (front & back)

[This message has been edited by GhiaRacing (edited 08-05-2002).]

LB181 · Post by **LB181** » Tue Aug 06, 2002 7:32 am

Bob is an expert on this topic. I've talked to him a little bit as my Type IV swap is being planned right now. I can't wait, I'm just waiting to sell my Camaro so I'll have money for the conversion. However I have had experience with both engines in their correct cars. My Thing has a 1600 with a Weber Progressive. I used to live in Nor Cal for college and I would drive up to the mountains to go offroading with my cousin. Up the steep grades, the 1600 is a dog. I had to get in the slow lane while everyone passed me up. (only myself in the car, not towing anything) I also had a type IV powered camperbus. (73). I loved the engine in that even though the bus is way too heavy. It would smoothly power the bus on the highway at freeway speeds. I figure I can have the best of both worlds, better handling, offroad capability and some needed torque. As for getting the engine, What I did was find a beat camperbus in a towing yard. It run but needed a rebuild bad. I was just a dumb kid and when I saw a crap camper with dual carbs, I knew I had to have it.

So I got mine for $200 and rebuilt the engine. When I have cruised the junkyards down here, I usually see 70s buses more than bugs. As for the reliability issue, the type IV is a newer design, its 1700cc, 1800cc, 2000cc stock. A bored out type I can be reliable but I like the fact that it is not overbored beyond how it was engineered to be. Parts are kind of expensive but once you are done, you have a nice, reliable engine.

LB181 · Post by **LB181** » Tue Aug 06, 2002 7:37 am

You know, 70s buses are not really popular right now. If you want to do a bus tranny swap and engine swap, you may want to look for an ugly bus. You probably have carbs, distributors, etc. sitting around at home but it may be nice to get all the accessories or even a good running engine, tranny from someone selling the whole car. Just a thought.

Thingguy · Post by **Thingguy** » Tue Aug 06, 2002 4:04 pm

If your looking for a Bus tranny I have one here in Kansas City MO. It came out of a buddy's 75 Bus that his wife ran the engine out of oil in. It is a good transaxle if this link works it will show you a pic of it. Everything you see comes with it. $250.00
Scott [email protected] http://www.picturelist.com/auctions/sho ... edium).JPG