Ghia help in The Long Beach, Ca Area

[RideSallyRide]

Hey guys, I'm new the Fourm and can't search anything properly. Can you guys recommend a shop to me around the Long Beach, Ca (90807) or give me the link if there is a listing of shops in my area. The best I did was a Google search and went to the first 3 hits and was impressed at the knowledge and services provided, but reviews say otherwise on all of them.

Background: the shop I have been going to for the last 4 years have been great, but now it seems my Ghia breaks down more frequently and longer due to financial and time restraints. The car is my daily driver.

PS I am not mechanically inclined and work nonstop with kids and a wife who thinks I should just sell.

[lhwood]

All the things you describe are normal for a car that 40+ years old. If ,those things that you describe (MC, Rear drums,Alternator and starter) are not things that were replaced by you in the four years that you owned the car it is easy to assume that they have never been replaced before and that they are in fact some of the most reliable parts the auto industry has ever known as they waited 40+ years to wear / break!

the crux of the matter is....you own an old car that needs attention to bring to a "daily driver" status and also, a car that will need constant maintenance. Just the nature of the beast.

don't sell it, you'll be sorry if you do.

Buy a Bentley for your car, get some tools, and start with small things that you can do yourself, graduate when experience permits.

Best of Luck

[63 vwnotch]

maybe you should honestly consider selling as you have a family and can use a more practical car, I say this only because you don't work on it yourself and shops tend to take advantage of people like that, bread and butter..
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BUS WANTED: 13 window BUS any year considered..

[sactojesse]

^
Agreed.

To the OP, you should either learn how to do more of the ongoing maintenance and repairs yourself or sell the car to someone who is willing to do so. Paying a mechanic $100/hour will make you poor in a hurry.
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1966 Karmann-Ghia convertible

[c21darrel]

Pretty much agree with all the above. Last time I used a ghia as a daily...well that was a long time ago. The point is it worked but I spent M-F driving and maintenance at least a couple weekends a month. They are not maintenance free cars. In lieu of the Bentley I would recommend Muirs Idiot Book. Much much easier for a novice to understand and use. Using it I pulled my motor the 4th day of VW ownership with a small ratchet kit, a bottle jack and several of my dads standard tools. Keep the ghia and find a beater Honda or Toyota for a daily.
Im not in the LB area but im pretty sure there are several shops for you that are fairly local. I have never taken my car to a shop to work on so I cant recommend anyone directly. Shops I know of and strictly from word of mouth... I would call Dutchers Speed Shop in Bellflower, Bill and Steves in Downey, they are a parts shop but could probably give you a recc. Russ at Old Speed in Paramount.
In the ghia forum responses require a pic of your ghia. You already have several responses...

http://www.thesamba.com/vw/classifieds/search.php?...ton=Search
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GhiaBuild
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1967 DC build
https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=693583&highlight=67+dc
Stop dead photo links! Post your photos to The Samba Gallery!

[Starbucket]

Try
Jacks Auto Repair. 428-4968
Westcoast VW Repair. 438-6156
YELP gives them both 41/2 stars (out of 5) for old VW work.

[RideSallyRide]

Thanks for the wisdom and feedback. Will definitely get some proper tools and start doing the maintenance myself.

[63 vwnotch]

[swavananda]

[NOVA Airhead]

An old car is not for everyone.

Unless you do a complete body off restoration with everything replaced to new you will have at least some problems from time to time. It may not start, it could break down, etc.

If you want a car that runs and is as dependable as a new car you either need to buy a new one or rebuild what you have to new.
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Ghia Owner Emeritus

[rockerarm]

[J1]