Phoebe - After 10+ years the Resto begins!

Angus Dowrie · Posted: Wed Apr 15, 2015 3:59 am Post subject:

I would have liked to keep the original colour, my general rule has been to keep as much of the original car as possible. But I just don't like the pearl white......I'm not making many changes but that is one of them.

Rust repair is mostly done, then there is the straightening of accident damage at the front end. ......and then paint.

Acid dipping......prepare to be shocked when it comes out! There is always more rust than you expect.

They do have a dash pad, I can send you a photo of mine, it is the original. Just opposite hand to yours

Sahall · Posted: Wed Apr 15, 2015 11:01 am Post subject:

Thanks for posting this thread, car looks to be coming along nice, very thorough. That's a cool dog too haha.

Angus Dowrie · Posted: Fri Apr 17, 2015 1:11 pm Post subject:

Thanks sahall, it's getting there! Finnegan the dog is looking a lot older now than in that photo. He's almost 14 and I'm not sure he'll be around to guard Phoebe when she comes home.

Image may have been reduced in size. Click image to view fullscreen.

Here's the drivers side sill exposed. There was a small bit of rust outside in at the front which has been cut out, rest has been wire wheeled. Will be blasted and primed before the outer sill is put back on. There are some minor repairs to the wiring tube to be done before it gets put back in (runs down the drivers/right side of car). My new RHD wiring harness turned up during the week.

The repair panels have Been pretty good, but they have all required some tweaking on the curvatures to truly blend in with the car.

Rear shot of the same sill. There is actually no rust now left in the car.

Angus Dowrie · Posted: Sun Apr 19, 2015 2:29 am Post subject:

sputnick60 · Posted: Sun Apr 19, 2015 5:23 am Post subject:

Angus tell me how you get on with the wiring loom. I think you used the same guy in Victoria.

I had a hell-uv-a-time with getting mine right. I had to send it back a couple of times with dimensions that he still got wrong. I ended up splicing certain wires to get them right. I re-crimped nearly all of it despite instructions to leave it all unterminated and with extra length.

I should have made my own. I hope yours goes better.

Nicholas
_________________
'66 Karmann Ghia Cabriolet...
'65 Porsche 356C Coupe...
2005 Mecedes Benz C180 Kompressor Estate
Stop dead photo links! Post your photos to The Samba Gallery!

Angus Dowrie · Posted: Mon Apr 20, 2015 2:40 am Post subject:

I don't like the sound of that!

Haven't compared the original one to the new one yet, may just have to do that.

Thanks for the heads-up.

Angus Dowrie · Posted: Thu Apr 23, 2015 3:44 am Post subject:

Drivers/right side sill, the wiring tube needed a bit of attention before being replaced.

Full side shot showing the wiring tube before the outer sill panel is installed.

That is all the rust removed and replaced, straightening the front damage will be last.

Angus Dowrie · Posted: Sun Apr 26, 2015 11:02 pm Post subject:

Outer drivers/right side sill in place. Last piece behind the door had to be cut as the new panel was slightly warped. They have required some massaging to fit, but I'm grateful they are available at all!

Last piece of rust panel replacement, then it's just straightening out the front.

Angus Dowrie · Posted: Thu Apr 30, 2015 10:26 pm Post subject:

Last piece of sheet metal in place!

Angus Dowrie · Posted: Sat May 09, 2015 3:18 am Post subject:

Phoebe is now in primer up to the windscreen!

Angus Dowrie · Posted: Fri May 29, 2015 2:41 am Post subject:

Haven't posted in a while, but things have been happening. Been looking for another front clip to get a better result than straightening out the original. There aren't many Ghias in australia, so odds were low. In the last week came across a couple so should be OK.

In my car this side panel is quite bent, where it was pushed back. This is the potential donor clip.

You can see in some of my photos earlier in the post where these side panels and where they meet the fuel tank hole are quite buckled. It would be very difficult to beat the wrinkles out to match the lines as they left the factory.

Floor pan is to be painted next week, and front beam and gearbox installed to have a rolling pan. This will allow the body to go back on for final fitment checks before paint!

CSP front disc kit is ordered, and Michelin 165R15 tyres will be showing up next week, to be mounted on 15x5 BRM wheels.

VeeDubWolf · Posted: Fri May 29, 2015 3:16 am Post subject:

Looking real good man! Cool

_________________
Two Bugs-
'70 rust-bucket sunroof sedan
'69 PO hack-job special
-Plus a wide assortment of various parts'n'junk

tisius · Posted: Mon Jun 01, 2015 1:18 am Post subject:

good progress, keep going strong like that!
_________________
drive it like you just robbed the bank
you don't have to be crazy to be into VW's, but it sure helps!!
.... if it ain't dutch, it ain't much!

Angus Dowrie · Posted: Thu Jun 04, 2015 3:23 am Post subject:

Thanks for the encouragement!

Here is the floor pan seams getting epoxy primer prior to the seam sealer being applied. Paint will be going on to the pan in the next week.

I'm using a different front clip to the one pictured above. Found another in better shape and a bit closer. Mid 62 build, very close to my October 62 build car.

Dropped tyres and wheels off to get mounted and balanced, 5" BRMs with Michelin 165R15 tyres.

jpjohns · Posted: Thu Jun 04, 2015 6:05 am Post subject:

Damn I need to get a welder! Looks great so far.
_________________
-Jared

"Scrapyards are for quitters" - Beetlenut (a Samba member)

sputnick60 · Posted: Thu Jun 04, 2015 8:38 am Post subject:

How good is that!! Cool

Nicholas
_________________
'66 Karmann Ghia Cabriolet...
'65 Porsche 356C Coupe...
2005 Mecedes Benz C180 Kompressor Estate
Stop dead photo links! Post your photos to The Samba Gallery!

CiderGuy · Posted: Thu Jun 04, 2015 9:35 am Post subject:

I am looking at the picture and wondering how big is the garage that you're
In is ? It looks huge.
_________________
----------------------
Cars Currently Owned:

1970 Karmann Ghia Coupe
1973 Karmann Ghia Coupe - Project car for sale
1970 Karmann Ghia Convertible (Body off restoration)

Timing is everything

Angus Dowrie · Posted: Thu Jun 04, 2015 5:54 pm Post subject:

Certainly not my garage. I live in a Victorian-era Terrace House with one 8m x 5m car-port! Having a car-port at all is unusual in a Terrace.

I am not doing the welding/painting myself, its being done by Barry Thompson of Split Decision Restorations. This is his workshop, probably a good 10m x 25-30m + office etc. I only have the ghia, there are a few other cars in the background of some shots, they are other customers cars.

Angus Dowrie · Posted: Sat Jun 06, 2015 7:49 pm Post subject:

An example of the compromises we make along the way to control budget. You can see in the photo above some denting on the rear of the tunnel where someone has been pretty rough with a jack.

Being underneath and purely cosmetic, that has just been smoothed over with some bog/filler in the deepest dents. With satin black paint it will barely be noticeable. Photo below shows it as it will be painted. It was quite a large piece to cut out, Panelbeat and reweld back in, would have been a few hours work.

Angus Dowrie · Posted: Tue Jun 09, 2015 1:24 am Post subject:

After seam sealing, floor pan has been painted. Bottom is in satin black, top floor sections are in a sound-deadening paint. Not a smooth finish but won't be visible under the carpet/mats.


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Phoebe - After 10+ years the Resto begins!
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