Can you still buy a 3" lift kit for a Thing?

Turbo_Manx_Maniac · Post by **Turbo_Manx_Maniac** » Wed Sep 03, 2008 9:21 pm

Hi, I'm looking for a lift kit for a thing, are they still around?

If I find a kit for a Ghia, will that work?

MNAirHead · Post by **MNAirHead** » Thu Sep 04, 2008 9:27 am

A Ghia kit will work.

I'm unsure if the kits were really ever avaiable.

Offroading a Ghia?

Turbo_Manx_Maniac · Post by **Turbo_Manx_Maniac** » Thu Sep 04, 2008 9:03 pm

I've seen quite a few lifted Things, are they all hand built?

MNAirHead · Post by **MNAirHead** » Fri Sep 05, 2008 2:15 am

Chances are they are..

To "lift" a thing many times it's not necessary to put a lift kit on.. cut and twist on the suspension and taller tires will get you 5-6" total lift.

I have used some of the aftermarket lift kits.. they bite.

If you go back a few years, I believe Bob Ingman (archive moderator for 181) had a lifted thing to stuff his T4 into his Thing.

If it helps (and you're not in a hurry) I can trace the profile of the front/rear of a lift kit.

Timmy

Turbo_Manx_Maniac · Post by **Turbo_Manx_Maniac** » Fri Sep 05, 2008 2:23 pm

MNAirHead wrote:Chances are they are..

To "lift" a thing many times it's not necessary to put a lift kit on.. cut and twist on the suspension and taller tires will get you 5-6" total lift.

I have used some of the aftermarket lift kits.. they bite.

If you go back a few years, I believe Bob Ingman (archive moderator for 181) had a lifted thing to stuff his T4 into his Thing.

If it helps (and you're not in a hurry) I can trace the profile of the front/rear of a lift kit.

Timmy

Thanks, the profile of the front would be helpful, and I'm not in a rush of any kind. I was really just looking for the front part of the kit as that's the hardest to fab. I will be using 1.5 X 3 steel square stock most likely to make the lift kit. I will be connecting the roll bar, bumbers and suspension to this so I want a very strong base. I can do the fab, was just looking for a few parts to cheat with.

I have the cheapo lift kit on my Manx and it's junk, only 3 sides are closed and it offers little to no structural value.

This car will most likely have an a-arm front end and longer trailing arms, I'm staying away from a quickie lift. Nothing radical, but a good working 10-12" of travel will do nicely off road, and still look reasonable on the roads.

BTW, Timmy do you have a Thing?

MNAirHead · Post by **MNAirHead** » Fri Sep 05, 2008 2:31 pm

I have 2 lift kits sitting in dry storage... Due to the engineering of one of the bajas in process, I need to lift. .. would be more than willing to trace the profile for you.

Yes.. have a thing.. it's a yellow 73..... out of any of the dubs I own, it's probably my favorite to cruise in.. due to the passing of my dad, I haven't had time to start it this year.

I have some pretty cool remods to do on it... will have tall centerlines.. widened fenders.. new top.. basically all the ghetto stuff you can bolt to a thing.. have a few custom things to fab (cattle bars etc).

When most folks widen the track, they loose their bumpers.. I JUST received my pair of 1/4" plate bumerss back.. they look like the original (only about 40# heavier, straight... and 6" wider)

T.

.

MNAirHead · Post by **MNAirHead** » Fri Sep 05, 2008 2:40 pm

PM me if you want a tracing.

Tim

Turbo_Manx_Maniac · Post by **Turbo_Manx_Maniac** » Fri Sep 05, 2008 2:48 pm

Sounds like a fun project. You can never go wrong with Centerlines. I like the BTR's too. I'm curious about widening the bumpers, are you going to match the widened fenders? That's a different approach. Damn, 1/4", that a tough bumber!

I noticed that Chirco has some 4" wider fenders, I was planning on starting with them (or similar) and adding a few more inches to them to hide some 31x10.5's in the rear and stay legal.

I'll probably fab up some custom bumpers with a baja/off-road look to them. I'm not a big fan of the front of a Thing, but they look good to me with custom bumbers and skid pans.

I'm going to need a set of floorboards too, otherwise I'm pretty much rust free. Any good recommendations for floorboards?

MNAirHead · Post by **MNAirHead** » Fri Sep 05, 2008 2:58 pm

Yes.. will be tweeked in the next few years.

YEs.. widening the stock looking bumpers.. was an act of engineering to get the correct profile. Now you can not tell that these are not the OEM.. except wider.

I have a lead on fiberglass floors.. depending if this is street or offroad... as you're aware 181 pans are not cheap or free.

Timmy

Turbo_Manx_Maniac · Post by **Turbo_Manx_Maniac** » Fri Sep 05, 2008 4:21 pm

Never contemplated fiberglass floors. What are the benefits/drawbacks?

Seems they would be heavier at equivalent strength, and more of a problem to install. I would think rocks and stuff would crack them pretty quick? I'll be off-road most of the time.

My seat rails will be tied from the tunnel to the lift kit, I don't suppose I'll be tieing anything to the floor.

Wow, this is a pretty dead forum. Hope people don't mind but I'll be posting here like crazy. Hopefully it's not just the 2 of us.....

MNAirHead · Post by **MNAirHead** » Fri Sep 05, 2008 4:25 pm

Cost, weight and rust prevention..

They're "screwed" to your pan lip.

Tim

Kubelmann · Post by **Kubelmann** » Mon Sep 15, 2008 10:40 am

Check out Moore Parts at:

http://www.mooreparts.com/store/categor ... id-Plates/

They make a bug lift kit that might be adaptable for Things.

Mattt · Post by **Mattt** » Tue Sep 16, 2008 12:14 am

I'm assuming you are asking about body lift kits? No need to ghetto rig a bug one, there is still one being made for Things. It's made by Up Yer Bug out of Vista, CA. It's a small outfit run by Andy. I think he can be contacted thru the Manx club if you can't find him on your own.

Suspension mods are just like doing up the Manx. Occasionally, a used T Mag one will pop up in the classifieds. That's what I have on mine. There is a lot more forum traffic on the other site out there, and quite a few threads on building off road based Things. Good luck.

Kubelmann · Post by **Kubelmann** » Tue Sep 16, 2008 4:35 am

I am glad you chimed in Mattt. I was trying to remember the guy in Vista's name but it had not come up in so long... Thanks. Mattt has a very nice red lifted Thing.

MNAirHead · Post by **MNAirHead** » Tue Sep 16, 2008 6:39 am

I didn't know Up your bug was still in biz