Bob - Pancake T4 Cooling

alsehendo · Post by **alsehendo** » Sun Mar 28, 2004 6:56 pm

Bob would I have to lift the body or drasticly alter the engine compartment to use stock cooling if I put a T4 bus engine i Thing?

Did you cut out the lower rear section of the body on yours.

Any advise or tips would be appreciated, thinking about the change. I have built several T4s todate so that part is no problem.

MASSIVE TYPE IV · Post by **MASSIVE TYPE IV** » Sun Mar 28, 2004 7:14 pm

I have installed TIVs into 181s before with the stock cooling arrangement...Get a sawzall and go to work! You'll ruin your car .......

Bob Ingman · Post by **Bob Ingman** » Thu Apr 15, 2004 3:14 pm

I don`t think ruin is an accurate description. I did have to clearance the body slightly but it is easily reversible. In relationship to the other body mods I have made it is very minor. There is a photo here on the thing gallery showing the rear of the car and the cut required. Best of luck. Bob Ingman

alsehendo · Post by **alsehendo** » Fri Apr 16, 2004 12:59 am

Bob can you post the exact link showing body mod you made, I can't find it. Is it in the Samba pics somewhere?

Bob Ingman · Post by **Bob Ingman** » Fri Apr 16, 2004 10:43 am

I reposted the links here on the Show Your Thing (Gallery) thread.
The second and third link show the rear of the car. Best of luck. Bob Ingman

Bob Ingman · Post by **Bob Ingman** » Mon Apr 19, 2004 9:24 am

alsehendo also take a look on the T-4 forum at the thread "muffler help". It is showing a photo of the rear of his T-4 pancake powered Thing with no visable cutting involved. best of luck. Bob Ingman

Bob Ingman · Post by **Bob Ingman** » Tue Apr 20, 2004 11:36 am

alsehendo after looking at Erics thing with the pancake and no body cut I have to determine that my body required alteration as a result of the T-2 transaxle which is longer. Looks as if leaving the stock T-1 trans in place is what allowed the pancake to fit behind the rear valance. I have seen this before and wondered how it was done but think I now know.
On a related note I see Eric has used a set of external fasteners which tells me the inner panel is missing. That is where the body lift comes into play. I did not have to remove the internal latch because of the lift.
So I would say that if you do not want the lift for any other reason do not do it just to get engine clearance. You can get by with a set of latches.
On the other hand a lift is basic to off-road prepping. A chassis lift gives you ground clearance. A body lift gives you fender clearance. How much of each do you need? Thats what it boils down to. Best of luck. Bob Ingman

alsehendo · Post by **alsehendo** » Mon Apr 26, 2004 1:11 am

Who's body lift kit did you use? Do you know someone that curently sells one for Thing or is it the same as a Bug body lift kits? I know they were once available exclusivly for Thing but I do not know anyone who would currently have them. The shop mentioned on this forum I think has the chassis lifts only corect me if I'm wrong.

I may spend money on a body lift kit instead of forking out for upright conversion because this would also enable me to run larger tires. The aluminum panels I asume you used to fill in between pan and body--they look sharp!

Body lift would also be incentive to do body of restoration even though this Thing has no rust in rocker area or on pan. I asume the body must be removed and kit placed between it and pan. What other problems did you have to solve, like stering column, shift and cluch linkage, or other things. If you could just list the things you modified this would help me look for solutions on the web and in books.

My tranny may not be in too great of shape it slips out in 1st gear once in a while if I don't put a little pressure on shifter when starting out, and it will howl some in reverse. What axles and CVs are you running with the bus tranny. Did you use a 4,5,or 6 Rib? What axles and CVs are you running with the bus tranny.

I know were a good 6 Rib is for cheep. Do you know if they can be used in a bus to bug conversion like the 4 and 5 Ribs can. Can a standard Bus to Bug conversion even be done on a Thing.

Looks like from your picks you just removed some of body low on the back of the Thing below the lid because of the longer tranny--is this not so. This would be expectable to me for I could cut it out and welded it back easily if need be.

I have an old domain name ladypatriots.info were my VW picks are. If you ever want anything posted in format similar to my mine email them to alsehendo34@hotmail.com and I'll add a button on the home page to point to your picks.

Bob Ingman · Post by **Bob Ingman** » Mon Apr 26, 2004 8:22 am

alsehendo I am getting ready to go to another island to visit the doctor. Will be gone for a day. Rather than let your questions go unanswered I will for now refere you to page three and the thread by nathan "Panasonic Welder". There I have given a run down that will answer most of your questions and allow you time to formulate some new ones as well. I will address the questions more closely tomorrow. Best of luck. Bob Ingman

alsehendo · Post by **alsehendo** » Tue Apr 27, 2004 1:27 pm

Refine more precise questions 1-2 words or yes/no plenty for each if posible.

1. Lift kit, do you know someone that currently sells one for Thing or is it the same as a Bug body lift kits?

2. List of things altered when lifting body I already know some any other?
--Steering rabbit or universal on stock thing exctra.
--Clutch cable mods
--Shifter linkage mods

3. If you had a choice would you use a 3,4,5,or 6-rib buss tranny.

4. Looks like from bob?s pics he just removed some of body low on the back of the Thing below the lid because of the longer tranny and T4 --is this not so. Yes? No ? I know about horn mods.

Bus tranny, stock Thing CVs and axles, and Barrett Enterprises installation kit will get me the parts I need to install T II tranny in Thing Yes No?

Thanks, Steve

Bob Ingman · Post by **Bob Ingman** » Tue Apr 27, 2004 1:58 pm

Steve I`ll answer your questions in the order you asked them.
1. Up Yer Bug is the only one I know of offering body lift kits for the Thing
2.The steering does need to be altered w/universal joints or cowl hole elongated to accomodate different angle of column. Shifter does not change. I built new seat mount brackets to raise the seat back to proper height with the body. Thought I would need to extend shifter but it was OK as is.
3. This question has a lot of variables( engine size and power band,type of driving, rear tire size etc) so I am going to give general guidelines.
If you have tall rear tires and plan to off-road much then the three rib is well suited. If you have gobs of power or plan to drive highway a lot then the 6-rib is best. For general all purpose trans the 5-rib (pyramid) is an excellent compromise between the two.
4. Yes the body was trimmed just a bit due to longer trans length combined with the cooling shroud dimensions.
5. Yes all of the items you listed are what you will need. As the post to Dunc implied you can get that kit now from Suspensions Unlimited since Barrett Enterprises is defunct. Keep the brain working. Planning is what saves headaches later. Best of luck. Bob Ingman

alsehendo · Post by **alsehendo** » Wed Apr 28, 2004 2:04 am

Thanks for letting me bounce this stuff of you

Will probably use 6 riib I know were one is cheep and in great shape.
Will have to convert it to conventional nose and shift however.