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I was wondering if any of you with type IV engines and stock cooling could give me any ideas on your alternator setup. I will be using the stock cooling rather than going upright. So I have a stock externally regulated alternator that came on my bus. Do those of you that have done the swap wire in the stock regulator or have you changed the alternator to an internally regulated one. Just looking at my options, thanks for your help.
Corey

Corey, I have a type IV engine installed in my Thing. I didn't do the install so I can't really answer your question but I see your in Long Beach. I'm in Alhambra which is near east LA. Your more than welcome to come by and see how the install was done.

Eric

Corey when I installed my engine I simply used the same (firewall mounted) external regulator as was used in the bus. Its complete as is. Just need to hook the blue wire to your alter light. Very simple that even a confessed wiring idiot was able to do it without outside advise or assistance. If you need a more detailed description say so and I will talk about colors more specificly but for now its enough to know that whatever is attached from alt to reg now is what you take to the other car. They plug together there just as they do now. Cheers. Bob Ingman

Thanks Eric and Bob. I'll have to check out your car sometime Eric. Once Thing is running maybe we could get together as I work out in Los Angeles. Bob, I'll use the stock regulator as you did. I was just wondering if there were any other options out there as I left the regulator on the bus when I took my engine. Oops. I heard of someone using a chevy alternator on their type IV but I can't find any info. I am no wiring genius either so I guess I will try and figure out how to add the bus regulator to my wiring. Finally got the engine mounted yesterday. I have no body lift so I am on my way to a Baja THING. I have to figure out the wiring, install the carbs, and figure out how to brace this thing and I will be ready to roll.

LB try to get the regulator or another like it. I like to leave regulators attached to alt wiring when pulling engines. All I had to do was hook up my blue wire in the engine bay. Keep questions coming. Bob Ingman

Bob, Just running this wiring situation by you. I have been cosulting my many manuals to find out what I need. You know how that goes looking at Bug manuals, and Bus manuals to find out how to wire your THing. Anyway, there is a thick red wire coming from the alternator as well as three wires in a 3 prong connector going to the regulator. On the three prong connector there is a blue wire spliced in. I believe this is the idiot light? The large red wire from the alternator should connect to the starter where the battery is connected. This seems to make sense. Just double checking myself. Thanks for your help.
Corey

LB everything you said is correct. Cheers. Bob Ingman

Finally got the Type IV engine crammed into the Thing. Been planning, and saying I was going to get around to it for years. Looks pretty awesome and sounds great also. Now before I do anymore tuning on it, I need to figure out the engine support method I want to use. I could make something similar to a baja bug cage and tie the support into it, but with the stock exhaust, I would have to route the tubes under it cutting down my ground clearance a lot. All I know is that the engine must have a rear support. So next step is to figure out my exhaust/ support options then this Thing will finally be running.
Corey

LB what I did was to use the mustache bar off the T-4 engine and mount that to hand fabbed pieces coming from the bumper mounts after additional metal was added. Bob

Bob, I did not think about that. I am planning on a new bumper but I could tie the support into the stock bumper mount. That is a good idea. I see why everyone says that you must have the engine mount in, Much more torque and weight than the stock engine. Taking the engine out of this Thing is awesome. Got one of those ATV jacks and slides right out of the THing, no jacking up the car. Now for the exhuast, still something to think about.

Run the stock exhaust for awhile. I`m changing mine soon. I`ll give you the one I`m using now. Solid header and single quiet muffler. Be looking for a set of 411/412 heater boxes to use as j-tubes. Or if you need heat keep the bus heater boxes . My header will fit that too. Cheers. Bob Ingman

Thanks Bob, You're a good guy. For now I will use the stock exhuast as you suggested. I have a similar header setup and a glasspack type muffler. I should check with Fat Performance as I read that they have an exhaust for the offroad race engines. Probably too expensive. I wish someone made a cheap set of J-tubes like the bug with a baja bug type exhaust for clearance. Would make things much easier. Just another thing to work out.
Corey

LB I am familiar with the FAT Performance T-4 stock cooling Off-road exhaust system. It is a T-Pee type and very poor fitting. My coucin pulled exhaust studs installing one. You would need to lose your engine cover as well to use it, which is not a bad thing in itself. I like the one i have because it sits up high unlike the bus header I used before it. Cheers. Bob