My 181 - Kubel - Trekker - Thing

[Tom Bishop]

Well the Kubel got to george and back (on a trailer). She was there last year and the smug MC with the car parade commented that the last time he saw something like this was in the Huisgenoot when PW went hunting. Ha Ha HA (Ignorramous). It was there that I decided this car would be back with in a year, in excellent condition. It was. OK with out front seats and some wiring.

Nice to meet you Bugger your bug is cool. Never got to look underneath. Whats with time and these shows.
Pine, Thanks for the little yellow 'Dingetjie'. Sorry never got to chat with you, first you got interruped then me.

Thanks to Dirk and HR helping me get the 181 on the trailer on Sunday morning and HR again comming through to my shop on Sunday evening.

Vader, The bear is not square?

Hope to see you all there again next year.

[Barry]

Tom - it was good to see it - thanks for taking the time to show me some of the details too!!
That really is one detailed and neat restoration! Well done

Barry

[Muderick]

Tom Bishop, Barry, Bugger, Dutch Diver, Fig and Vader, nice meeting and seeing all you guys!

Here's to George 2010!

See you there!

[Tom Bishop]

Here are the only pics I captured of George.
Leaving Home


Meeting at Engen False Bay.




This was Friday afternoon.
I took it to compare the ground clearance to the 181 and 3

[Tom Bishop]

Yesterday I got the gauges all sorted out. Next to sort out is the rest of the steering columns wires.

[Bugger]

Hy Tom Seing the THING in real life you have really put alot of effort in to this Project and the Quality is also good

[Tom Bishop]

Now I have started with the wiring of the Emergency, Head light switches and fuse box. This is not the original places for these switches but I feel it looks cleaner with both switches on the one side and the gauges are in the way on the right side.



The fuse box is is also not original. The Kubel should have a 10 fuse, fuse box but I have chosen a 12 fuse version. I had to cut a bit of metal to get this one fitted but is was not much.

This wiring job is a cross between Golf and Beetle. All the wiring is from a Golf. This means the wires are newer, not 30+ years old and the main reason is you cannot find a good Beetle looms. The Golf Column has also made me go this route.



The two wiring diagrams. The one one the left = Beetle. Right = Golf.
The Beelte one is a conventional diagram. It is simpler to understand if you are new to wiring but is very cluttered and small making it complicated. The new Golf one is a bit more difficult to learn how to read the diagram but once you understand it you will see that it is far simpler to read because it is spread over 8 pages and the pages listing all the component gives the exact location to find the part you are looking for. The wire colours are clearly labeled with their diameter.



Getting started



Emergency Switch Done.



Now Figuring out the light switch. The main differance between the Beetle and Golf column is the golf does not have a Dim / Bright relay. The Electriciy travels dirrectly through the lever.

[Tom Bishop]

Got the Head light switch connected and all the column switches connected. The dash is now finished.



Now Busy sorting out the main loom to the back.

[Dutch_Diver]

Excellent news, well done Tom!

[Tom Bishop]

Man!!!! this site is addictive. Came into my shop at 8:30 to work on the Kubel’s loom. Had to fire up my computer to look at my notes and those little blocks warning you about new mails arriving started popping up.

Well now its 10:15. Got to unsubscribe from posts again or nothing will get done. Got to get this Thing build.

Its taking me over. Bad site. Bad Evil Site.

Right Im gone.

going

Cheers

[dubster]

tom now that its al restored...its time to pimp it and pop that scuby motor in there?something like this................



just kidding the kubel/trekker/thing looks awesome well done

[Ron&Gill]

I saw the TV program where they built "Shrekker", there's not a whole lot of trekker left in there...

[dubster]

yep it the guys from beetle crisis...it must burn the eye's of the purists...but you gotta admit it ooks mean and it has the vooomaaa to go with it...

[Tom Bishop]

I want to pull my things wires but am missing one


Hi Guys (can you hear the sweet voice as Tom is looking for something)

I am looking for part of a wiring loom from a Bay or David Kramer version. I need the part that runs from the front fuse box / ignition key to the rear tail lights. In particular I am looking for the Black Red wire that runs from the ignition switch to the starter’s solenoid. It is a thick wire, 4 > 6 mm depending on the model.

Please, I need this wire to complete my 181’s loom.

Thanks

[Tom Bishop]

After putting in good hours to get the Kubel done for George, I have done no work on it from then until now. Its not been through lack of trying but when a paying client need my assistance, the Kubel need to take a back seat.

This Last Saturday I got a day where I could put in a good days work and finished the main wiring loom to the back.



All the wires running to the back accounted for.


Strapping the wires neatly. If the wires get shrunk with no order, you end up with a thicker loom.


Engine part all sorted


Getting the middle covered.


Back loom finally done. All the wires are now neatly shrunk into a single loom running to the back. All additional wires for speakers and gauges are now in the same loom. In the kubel the loom to the back runs externally alongside the tunnel so I wanted all the wires in the one loom.


Would you believe the the distance from the front fuse box the the rear tail light is 5.5m

Next to make up is the front loom.