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Living in the south east (Central Florida), I plan to drive my military 181 to the beach (Daytona) on the weekends. This trip will be about 45 miles one way. No doubt the newer endine will handle this with ease (prior German owner replaced it's older engine with a 1600 dual port). The original fan shroud was kept, along with all engine tin. I've heard that because of the "reduction gears", these 'Things" run a bit slower, and I'd be concerned with overheating issues.

Would an oil cooler be recommended? If so, what type, and where is a good spot to mount one?

I've been on the type 1 forum for a couple of years, and did not install one on my son's beetle. It did however have all the tin, including a working thermostat.

What do you experienced "Thing owners" recommend?

Without drilling out your case for a full flow oil set up, there is not a good way to add an external oil cooler. Your Thing with a dual port 1600 motor should not have colling troubles unless you are missing engine tin or have a bad tune- up. External oil coolers and full flow oil is typically for a bigger than stock motor. K-mann

Thanks. Since this is my first type 181, I wanted to make sure they did not have any overheating issues. I know they have a different doghouse shield, and that the type 1 guys liked to use them (no heater blower tubes).

By the way, what did the "Thing's" come with (engine size wise) in '73 and '74?

All US Things came from the factory with a 1600 cc DPH AM case wiht a 34 PICT 3 and a dual vaccum distributor. The 73 had a unique dog house shroud with no clean air hoses or heat exchangers and a gas heater. The 74 has a standard VW dog house shroud and a typical engine heat exchanger heating system and no gas heater. Some claim that the 74 ran cooler than the 73 becasue of the side muffs. This theory has never been proven wiht hard core data. If if it sin fact true isuspect it is becasue of the heat exchangers ratehr than the muffs. For years we would turn the heat on and open the windows when out VWs would heat up in summer. It seems obvisous that when you exchange heat the engine would in turn run cooler. K-mann

I'm guessing then that this German army type 181 had a comperable style engine to those imported to the U.S. in 1973; mine has a 1600, which I know was put in by the previous owner, as he complained that the older 1971 engine lacked power. This newer engine has the doghouse with no heater ducts, and it has a gas heater as well. My guess is that the mechanic that did the swap used the tin from the old engine and installed them on the newer 1600. As to dizzy, it has a single vacumn style setup, and I'm not sure (yet) as to the carb (it looked like the pic -3), but I'll check it when it arrives in port. It's on the way as I write.

It's coming with 4 extra doors, 4 extra front and rear fenders, one extra hood and windshield. When I'm through with what I need, I'll post the extras for sale.

We will not know until it arrives but your car originally had a swing axle trans and a single port head 1600. I forgot to mention that the 73 Thing also had a very unique engine tin rear apron that is very rare and 73 Thing specific.