TheSamba.com :: View topic

Mon Mar 15, 2010 2:11 pm

Gents, I need the help of our collective conscious! I did a little searching around and couldn’t find any answers so hopefully someone will be able to chime in…

The radio hole in my dash was badly damaged; first by the PO and then by the vandals who stole his radio. Currently the hole is warped, has been cut too large, and is rusted along the edges. Long story short: Does anyone make a replacement piece of sheet metal that I can cut and weld into my dash? Or will I be forced to find a “donor” part from a old car?

I found this in my HotVWs magazine:

http://www.fastfabonline.com/sheetmetal-10.html

However, the “’58 and On Dash Repair Section” was designed for the Beetle, and the makers couldn’t tell me with certainty if it would fit a Ghia’s dash. Does anyone know if this part would fit a Ghia? Pardon my ignorance.

Thanks!

Mon Mar 15, 2010 2:22 pm

No idea if the bug part will work. Dont know year of your ghia, but I have a whole 68 ghia dash in Socal inexpensive if ya want to go a diff route.

Mon Mar 15, 2010 2:30 pm

Oh yeah, sorry to mention it. It's an early '69.

How much do you want for that dash? PM if you prefer.

Mon Mar 15, 2010 8:22 pm

Can you just fab one out of some 18ga sheet? You are going to have to weld in a donor... I'd just make a patch and weld it in. You'll want to put something stiff and straight behind it while you weld to keep the warp out, but that shouldn't be too big of a deal.

Can you post a pic of the problem area?

Mon Mar 15, 2010 10:40 pm

Here's a pic from when I first got the car and still had the PO's "classy" steering wheel.

I thought about welding in sheet metal, but i figure if I'm going to be doing any welding, I might as well weld in a real VW section...

Tue Mar 16, 2010 10:28 am

Hey Guys,

We do make these for the Ghia now! take a look at it on our site www.fastfabonline.com

Tue Mar 16, 2010 2:09 pm

The Ghia part listed on the website says its only good for 56-65...I'm looking for a '69.

Tue Mar 16, 2010 3:59 pm

I think that is the same as the bug.

Tue Mar 16, 2010 8:14 pm

If I was doing a completely stock restoration, I would source the sheetmetal and patch it in, otherwise I would be looking in my scrap pile and welding in a patch and cutting a new hole for my head unit. A whole lot cheaper and less time sourcing parts for a car thats never headed to pebble beach.

Tue Mar 16, 2010 10:31 pm

sorry for the hi-jack ..... but does anyone make a radio delete plate for a '71 Ghia?

Thanks