Progress...

GhiaRacing · Post by **GhiaRacing** » Thu Aug 22, 2002 1:23 am

Well, for a while there I actually got some house work done!

Hi everyone, well the Thing is up and running. Unregistered and all!
I am going to have to take apart the steering box and such and clean it all up and grease it down. Runs decent around the block.
People on my block are wondering what the hell it is! I love it!

I will be getiing the the roll cage and wheels powder coated soon. Also, I will start working on the pans by Sept.
Website is almost done, for now. Guess what I have been doing at work!

Great seeing the Forums back up! Jeorge

------------------
68 Ghia
74 Thing

GhiaRacing · Post by **GhiaRacing** » Sun Sep 01, 2002 11:05 pm

Hi! Might as well keep my rants on one topic.

The pan is coming along fine, I wire brushed most of the major surface rust away. Kept a mild portion for the POR-15 that I will throw down soon.
I am looking for parts, or better a parts car. I got help finding one but it's in the N.E. and is going to be too much $ to ship here. I'll pass the info along to those who want it.
Till later, Jeorge

LB181 · Post by **LB181** » Mon Sep 02, 2002 6:55 pm

Keep on posting your progress. What parts are you looking for? It seems like you have a pretty complete car. Living in SoCal you have a lot of places for finding parts. Maybe someone has what you need.

GhiaRacing · Post by **GhiaRacing** » Mon Sep 02, 2002 11:55 pm

Hi LB181, Do you know something I don't know? I have been to every yard in and around L.A. and nothing. My only bite was a few overpriced dealers at Pomona.

A lot of the stuff I need is interchangable with a bug. That stuff is easy it's the stuff I haven't heard or read much about that gets me. ie; brakes, vert top, suspension parts. As always Spare body parts are good to have. If anyone has anything, or owns a junker in the area email me.

I am also trying to think of a domain name for myself, but I can't really think of one. This is all I need to put my cheapo site up. Anyone have any FREE and Un-prosecutable ideas?

Thanks, J

LB181 · Post by **LB181** » Tue Sep 03, 2002 4:02 pm

A good place to look for different parts dealers is HotVWS. You already know that but there is TCs old Vdub Home in Tujunga I believe. He can answer questions you have and I think he has used brake, suspension parts. If you still want to make your Thing an offroad car and want to replace the fenders with fiberglass, there is SoCal Imports in Long Beach. If you want interior stuff done like the windows, there is German Motorworks in Garden Grove. Obviously you can shop around for better prices, but there are a few places down here.

GhiaRacing · Post by **GhiaRacing** » Tue Sep 03, 2002 8:10 pm

Thanks for the shops. I'll check out TCs in Tujunga. I live a few minutes away anyhow.

? about the fenders. Would you recomend getting the fiberglass fenders? I have some on a bug once, leaned on one and it cracked. due to age though. Are they durable, or they for looks. I am going to put some fatter tires on it by the end of the year... Let me know, J

LB181 · Post by **LB181** » Tue Sep 03, 2002 9:06 pm

Yeah, thing specific parts are usually pretty expensive but TC is a good guy. I went up there when I was having my roll bar put in and he gave me some advice on how people do them. I didn't buy anything but he gave took time to answer my questions.

Bob Ingman · Post by **Bob Ingman** » Fri Sep 06, 2002 10:01 am

I`m not a real big advocate of fiberglass fenders because I feel they are seldom needed and naturally steel is much stronger, BUT of those available I like those from So Cal Imports.They were developed with the off-roader in mind. The others are wide but not tall and even with fat tires they look (in my opinion )stupid. Like a Baja with stock rear tires and wheels, if you know what I mean. Good luck. Glad to hear your project is coming along for you. Bob Ingman

GhiaRacing · Post by **GhiaRacing** » Fri Sep 06, 2002 3:58 pm

I read last night all the threads on Fibergalss fenders (theres a lot!) And it seemed that everyone who has them gets them for cosmetic purposes. I am going to use this car to get through the Angeles Forest (which is currently on fire) and through the high deserts. I think I will need something that can hold up.

I read you can re-enforce them with sheet metal, filler, undercoating, etc...

I guess I'll just have to see what kind of Wheels and tires I get for it first. CA laws say I can make my car whatever I want with no hassle. I even got it on Paper!
Monster Thing... 72inch wheels. Homemade 6.0 aircooled engine... Im kidding!!!

I have 2 replacement steel fenders. I just have to pound out 2 dings.

Bob, I have a question for you on the eBrake post let me know. J
LB181, do you have any pics of your beauty? Post the link!
Mine is currently too ugly and on bricks and stands to show but I hope it gets the core suspension and engine done by October. As always I will inform all those who are curious of my happenings. J

LB181 · Post by **LB181** » Mon Sep 09, 2002 8:04 pm

My "Beauty" far from it! I need to get working on mine again. Here's a good place for my Thing's story. Bought the Thing for $2500 5 years ago. Stock engine, ok paint, good soft top, etc. Drove it for a couple years and took it up to school at Cal State Chico. Thing meets dumb drunks in parking lot, small tear in back corner of top becomes a ripped top and a bent curtain. Got in a lot of offroading in Quincy, CA. Came home dirty and tired. Bought a 71 Camaro and got out all my speed ya-ya's. Rebuilt the Thing's engine in my bedroom. Now I am selling my camaro and back to the THING. I'll post a pic as soon as I get started.

GhiaRacing · Post by **GhiaRacing** » Mon Sep 09, 2002 10:16 pm

Rebuilt the engine in your bedroom.

I live in a duplex and the manager has a fit when I try to unscrew anything in this place! You might have a good idea there!

My Ghia Project was going full steam ahead till I found the Thing. (I still can't name it!) Now my pennies are going to straight to the Thing.
Speaking of my Ghia.
I had someone stealing/dismantling my Ghia 1 week ago. Had the glass, seat, and steering wheel all ready to go. He just got greedy and stayed too long. Called the cops and went out there. I was helping him remove the other seat when the cops came. They cuffed us both! They took him away and I showed them who I was and that I called and wanted to hold him there till they arrived. They looked as if they where going to give me that "You shouldn't be out here" speech. (at 6'2 250lbs, please!) I was fine, So was my car. He scratched my Sheib paint job though. He was deported.
Sorry to do it to the guy but no one messes with my car in the neighborhood I have lived 21 years in. The things that happen when you can't sleep at 3am.
Well, just thought I'd share. J

LB181 · Post by **LB181** » Tue Sep 10, 2002 8:09 am

Yeah, its not too fun with a engine stand in your way all the time but sometimes you've got nowhere else to build. That is a crazy story about the Ghia. What would be the worst is if some Deviant Thing owner ever messed with your stuff. Those doors are a quick steal and expensive. Thats cool the Thing is going good though. Did painting the floorboards come out well?

GhiaRacing · Post by **GhiaRacing** » Wed Sep 11, 2002 11:42 pm

Those Floorboards are in my nightmares. Wirebrush in one hand, sweat from my brow in the other.

I have a library of pics. I'll get some up here soon.

That is one thing that really scares me about the Thing, you can take the doors off in 5 seconds. Is there a way to secure them on? A lock or cable? Any ideas?
Thanks J

LB181 · Post by **LB181** » Thu Sep 12, 2002 4:12 pm

Hmm. Never thought about that one. A cable setup would probably be good. You could somehow connect it to the body and connect the cable inside the door. Yeah kind of scary though if someone really wanted your doors they would be gone. SO the floorboards were just a pain because of the rust removal? Did the paint finish up good?

GhiaRacing · Post by **GhiaRacing** » Fri Sep 13, 2002 11:53 pm

Hi
The floorboards are about done (long time huh?) It took longer than I expected.
I tried to get the floorboards grooves down to bare metal to make them deep enough to still be existant when the 1/4 inch line-x gets sprayed on it. I saw a truck bed with shallower grooves and it was beautiful. No worrys here! I chose Line'x because it's applied thinner and is more durable. I have the Por-15 primer on there now. I'll shoot it with a thin coat of paint so when they prep the surface they have something to grab on to.
I'll do the bottoms soon. They have a load of junk on now. After i por-15 it, should I put rubberized coating, tar, paint, bubble gum afterwords?

I went to Home Depot and got a strech of cable and master lock for $1.89 and tried to see if the door would attach to the body with 3 1/4 holes. It will. The back doors may be harder, but the front doors will be secure now. I might get thicker cable. I placed the lock in the door pockets so no one will be able to get at it. My fat arm barely fits in there.
The bad part is I now have six new holes in my car. But you can't notice it at all except for 3 inches of cable. Doors move freely too!

I added my recipts and so far have spent $90. Most of that was POR-15. Not bad, though I have had the car for 1 month...

LB181, when do you paln to get your Thing going? If you need help I can't tell you what to do, only what not too. Some stuff is too embarassing to write here...
J