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Do these come in a non-doghouse variety? I have a shroud with no heater ducts that does not have a doghouse opening on the back.

Yes, I believe `73 was the only year they were doghouse.

<edit> I had that backwards....`73 was the one with no freshair outlets, but as a DP engine it still had a doghouse cooler. It's the non-fresh 40HP c1962 that has the bumps on the side but no outlets.

Not that Im aware of. All US Things had doghouse cooling for sure.

Maybe earlier European or Mexican 181s had no dog house, but I dont know that with any certainty.

If you have a shroud with no heater ducts and its not a doghouse shroud, then its simply a 61-62 Beetle shroud. Exhaust heat exchangers weren't introduced until 63, so the shrouds didn't have heater ducts.

I agree with Bruce that the shroud is a pre fresh air 40. You can test by putting a 71 later fan into it. Should be too wide if its a 40 horse shroud. Best of luck. Bob Ingman

The quick way I use to determine an early non ducted shroud from the special thing shroud is the thing shroud has an indent or recess on the front at the top, maybe for clearance for the 34PICT carb. The early bug ones are just flat.
Kurt

Also some industrial VW motors had no air ducts and no doghouse style oilcooler.

Cheers Dom

The 1973 Type 181 (Thing) was the only year for the late model fan shroud wigh Dog House and no fresh air vents. That's why they are rare.

Glenn that might be true in the USA, but my thing is a 75 with a doghouse and no fresh air ducts. Most military versions had no air ducts and a gas heater to improve road clearance. These cars had two exhausts on either side of the cylinder head. VW mad "no heater duct" Doghouse shrouds at least until 79. They are common on Things in Europe.

Cheers Dom

Dom thats good to know for those of us here in the uS. We all just assumed that 73 was the only year because 73 was the only year here of the later shrouds to have no ducts. They are expensive to buy here now. You could do well to find them and set up trades for items you need from us in the US. Best luck. Bob Ingman

Thanks Bob, I have not looked at prices around here but I certanly will. Who knows, maybe its something worth to look at.

Cheers Dom

Current price here is $175-200 USD Bob

Well I def. will look into this matter...
By the way I like the style of your Thing as well.

Cheers

I cut the ports off of a regular dog house, welded in plates and ground it flat and in all appearances it looks like a '73 dog house.

Of course I would never try to pass a welded one off as authentic, but it is a good clone.

Gary

Blocking off the ducts in the stock shroud can be done, but to do it correctly and boost your airflow both the airfoils that lead to the fresh air cavities need to be removed. Doing this on two different stock systems showed 10% better cooling!

All 73 Thing shrouds were doghouse.