TheSamba.com :: View topic - 1969 ghia project: Beginning to end progress report

Thu May 05, 2011 7:27 am

Rome wrote: You really lucked out with what appears to be a very straight, never hit and unrusted body- a California bonus! The very first shot shows the correct nose "prow" shape; and among your last body shots, you have no rust under the battery- remarkable, unless it has been well fixed at the body shop.

Do you want to tell us what your body color will be, or will you surprise us with a "just painted" body photo?

What's your plan for a speedometer, since you filled in the original mounting hole?

Although I have not yet looked at your link to the dual carbs, I also saw your gel-cell battery located on the chassis where it is on Beetles. Will you relocate the battery to that location to keep the engine compartment looking "cleaner"? If you do, that's a wise move for dual carb clearance.

Well colorwise I will be keeping a secret for now........although it won't be the original color it came with the car! As for the battery, my idea was to relocate it yes......don't know how to do it yet but I think its easy enough!
I figured someone was going to ask me about the speedo....well, the original speedo hole was to large for the VDO viewline onyx speedo so that pic was pre hole cutting to fit the new speedo....size is 3- 3/8" I believe!

As for the body, let me just put it this way......I searched over 6 months before I bought this ghia....I wanted nothing less then a perfect body to begin with.....mainly because I am (like many others) on a budget and I figured that if I started with a banged up body I would have to pay a lot more for my bodywork! I finally found what I was looking for in Yuba city 3.5 hrs from home! The PO (or several PO's prior) had repainted the car 7 times!!!! At least that's what my body shop guy told me....he found original blue, yellow and grey when he started to strip the body!!!!
On a completely separate note - anyone out there who needs parts for their ghia let me know! I have a lot of parts I'm not going to use and I'm sure others would be more than happy to take them off my hands!!! All I ask is a small donation to hlep out my project! PM me with what u need an offer and I will let u know if I have it.....from front axle to brakes (both front and rear) interior parts, exterior parts.....let me know....

Tue May 10, 2011 10:12 pm

Here are some pics of my 45 DRLA's I got some time ago.
I have since restored them but this is the "before" pic of the carbs....
I knw it was a bit premature to buy them since i dont even have an engine yet (that i want to use) but it was a deal I couldnt pass on!

Anyway, more pics and fun times are soon to come!!!

I am going to Bug-O-Rama sac in a few weeks. Anyone from the North bay (Santa Rosa area) going?? If so PM me - Im always looking for new friends to meet there....
DC

Wed May 11, 2011 10:50 pm

Great Job!
you've got to be getting pretty psyched.
Keep up the great work - and thanks for including us in the journey.

Thu May 12, 2011 9:45 pm

Thanks!!! Its been a hell of a journey, but Im not finished yet!!!
Here are some pics i took of some accessories, chrome and electrical that I am ready to install (when the body gets back that is!!)

Fri May 13, 2011 10:01 am

Excellent thread and great documenting! Thank you for sharing.

A suggestion on the sound deadener..there is aluminum tape used for duct work that is great for using where the edges of the deadener meet to fully seal out the heat/cold and noise. http://www.homedepot.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet...=100030120
Please take lots more pics (especially when you put the mud panels in!) I may not make it to Sac but i am up in Fort Bragg and am also doing up my 69 ghia..lots of potential but not enough money..so i am still sanding away on mine. Glad to see another Nor Cal ghia on its way to being on the road.

Sat May 14, 2011 12:37 pm

It will be interesting to see how the Ghia looks with the talbot mirrors. I bought a pair for mine, but haven't decided if I will use them. Window tint laws in Oregon require a right hand mirror, and I'm not sure if I will like the look of two standard ones. Great thread!

Sat May 14, 2011 1:53 pm

Davcriv wrote: Thanks!!! Its been a hell of a journey, but Im not finished yet!!!
Here are some pics i took of some accessories, chrome and electrical that I am ready to install (when the body gets back that is!!)

Your project is looking sweet, looking forward to seeing it at the shows in the near future!

On my Ghia - the black Baby Turbo mirrors have gone away that I've been using since the mid-80s being replaced by a set of a set of German (green dot) Talbot Square mirrors:

Mocking up the Talbot Squares:

This is what they look like installed:

Sat May 14, 2011 4:04 pm

Thank you for the photos and another option. I did not intend to hijack this thread, so will start a new one.

Sat May 14, 2011 5:37 pm

Impressive work & planning ! Well documented too. That is going to be one nicest Ghias out there. Looking forward to seeing more progress !

Mon May 16, 2011 5:49 pm

Hey Banzai,
Very nice mirrors - I was seriously considering some talbots but I didnt have the heart to spend money on those bad boys!!

You lucked out for sure!!

Quote: Impressive work & planning ! Well documented too. That is going to be one nicest Ghias out there. Looking forward to seeing more progress !

72ghia - I have been following your thread for some time - believe it or not I took inspiration from your thread as well as CLKWRKS thread so its cool to hear from the person I was aspiring too!!!

Quote: Excellent thread and great documenting! Thank you for sharing.

A suggestion on the sound deadener..there is aluminum tape used for duct work that is great for using where the edges of the deadener meet to fully seal out the heat/cold and noise. http://www.homedepot.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet...=100030120
Please take lots more pics (especially when you put the mud panels in!) I may not make it to Sac but i am up in Fort Bragg and am also doing up my 69 ghia..lots of potential but not enough money..so i am still sanding away on mine. Glad to see another Nor Cal ghia on its way to being on the road.

I will look into that stuff this weekend. Never thought about it but i think it would work well in areas the quick roof wont!
Thanks for the tip......
DC

Mon May 16, 2011 6:51 pm

Thats great to know. I enjoyed watching the videos you posted,... wife did too.
Amazing job on the chassis.

Mon May 16, 2011 7:24 pm

Thats great to know. I enjoyed watching the videos you posted,... wife did too.
Amazing job on the chassis.

Tue May 17, 2011 3:09 pm

Your car looks great. Keep up the great work!

Back to your Volvo brake fluid resevoir. That is a nice touch and I may have to try that. I used a single piston bus master cylinder on an early ghia one time as it has the resevoir that screws into the top. I never had problem filling it. Just use a squeeze bottle with a short hose if you can't get up there with the can.

Sun Sep 11, 2011 4:17 pm

Hello Sambonians,
Well, its been awhile but alot has happened......I purchased all my parts (well about 95%) to finish my restoration and I purchased all my parts too build up my new 2054cc.

The most exciting thing however...I FINALLY GOT THE CAR BACK FROM THE BODY SHOP.

The guy did an OK job.......some things i would have done different however this car will be a daily so Im not to stressed about it!!!!

Anyway, here are some pics of the beast right after being delivered!!

Sun Sep 11, 2011 4:53 pm

The car paint looks nice but it begs to be asked why he didn't just spray the inside the same color as the exterior?

Dave