The K_R_A_K_E_N_N : a 70 Ghia Convertible reinterpreted

[John Moxon]

[Evil_Fiz]

[Evil_Fiz]

Well... I got Crackin on the K_R_A_K_E_N_N today. The car has Bondo in the passenger rear quarter so I took the grinder with a cup shaped wire brush to it and uncovered the following.

Bondo and Paint removal - 2Hrs. 30Min.

It looks like there has been some inaprpriate touching on this Ghias hiney in the past.

The metal is mostly rust free but is rippled nad deformed. I suspect I will either have to invest in a stud welder and puller or cut the panel out, shape it, then weld it back in.

The fender lip is in good shape but has some deformation. Hammer and dolly?

This is the only rust damage in this area so far.

Rear bumper forward mount hole. This does not look like a German circle. Even with Common Core math that isn't even close to round. I Will need to investigate corrective options.

Bond OH-NO. It is about 3/8 to 7/16 thick at this point.

Please provide suggestions on how to address the above detailed issues.

We're all in this together,
Emil
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“…It's not just about what's interesting. It's also about what's helpful, and it's helpful even if it helps just one other guy working on a Ghia.”
kiwighia68

See my build on TheSamba at:
The K_R_A_K_E_N_N : a 70 Ghia Convertible reinterpreted

[c21darrel]

[CiderGuy]

The bondo on the 70 convertible I am working on is as thick, maybe even thicker then what I see on your car. The car has also been repainted at least twice.

I was still able to remove the bondo and paint on most of a front fender and about 60% of the nose using one of these abrasive wheels from HF in about an hour.

http://www.harborfreight.com/4-12-in-polycarbide-abrasive-wheel-60571.html
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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

[Evil_Fiz]

Removal of wiring harness and electrical components from the Engine room:
3 Hrs

I can't see the task of installing the wiring harness being an easy or efficient one Unless the guy on the assembly line installing the wiring harness had 8' flexible gangles for arms. It took me three hours to remove the tar boards, the voltage regulator, and the engine room wiring harness all the way back to the cabin area. I managed to get it out in one piece with only minor abrasions to the loom.

The PO began the process of labeling the front compartment wires. I need to photo-document the wiring an finish the removal of the harness.

Progress is progress even when it is slow.
We're all in this together
_________________
“…It's not just about what's interesting. It's also about what's helpful, and it's helpful even if it helps just one other guy working on a Ghia.”
kiwighia68

See my build on TheSamba at:
The K_R_A_K_E_N_N : a 70 Ghia Convertible reinterpreted

[Evil_Fiz]

Finished removal of wiring harness, dash electricals and windshield defroster components.
4 Hrs.

Just a few minor items to go and the body will be free of incidentals. While finishing up the removal of the wiring I did notice that I DO in fact have minor nose damage. It looks like it was pounded out semi-successfully and minor if any Bondo was used on the outside. it looks like GAB-FAB may have a new customer.

Center of damage lit from both sides to highlight metal distotion

Top and bottom of damaged area.

I know this barely qualifies as damge compared to some other nose damage I have seen. Expert opinions are wanted as to the best course of action for reparing the damage. Can this be done without the nose repair tool?

Thanks,
We’re all in this together…
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“…It's not just about what's interesting. It's also about what's helpful, and it's helpful even if it helps just one other guy working on a Ghia.”
kiwighia68

See my build on TheSamba at:
The K_R_A_K_E_N_N : a 70 Ghia Convertible reinterpreted

[easy e]

I bought the nose tool & I'm a little ways off from using it.
I'm anxious to hear a report on it's usefulness & see some real time pics of what it can do. You're a man to get crackin'... so I think it'd be in good hands.

If you take good care of it & pay shipping both ways (~$11 total)... I can send it to you for temporary use (less than a month). If that sounds ok... shoot me a PM.
e
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aka: Evan
Spreadsheet for Bus RPM, based on gearing & tire size (Excel format)
Searchable, click-navigable 1958 Bus Parts List

[1960bus]

The nose tool should that no problem but you will probably need a normal hammer and dolly to the side.
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Dan

1958 Ghia Vert
1960 RHD Deluxe Microbus
1966 RHD Devon Kombi

[bobnorman]

[HolyRoller]

I see you used a wooden piece to brace the body. If you have a minute, could you post a couple pictures of the inside area on the door latch side. I see it is easy enough to use the hinges on one side, but what is holding the other side of the body to the wooden 2x4?

Thank you!
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'62 Type 34 Ghia - Major project (sold!)

'71 Type 14 Ghia - Slightly less major project

'67 Type 14 Ghia - Drive-able project (sold!)

[Evil_Fiz]

[HolyRoller]

That is an excellent explanation sir. I commend you.

My rockers are pretty poor. I will need some kind of hinge or plate on the "strike plate"

I don't want the body moving at all once I have it off the pan.

Again, thanks for the explanation. Very helpful.
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'62 Type 34 Ghia - Major project (sold!)

'71 Type 14 Ghia - Slightly less major project

'67 Type 14 Ghia - Drive-able project (sold!)

[Evil_Fiz]

[Evil_Fiz]

Not directly Ghia related but it had to be done. Took a week and a half.
My garage was a mess of "14 Yr. old boy's room" proportions and completely uninspiring. I raided the stack of 2x6's at mom's house, bought 3 sheets of 1/2' OSB, or as I like to cal "outside board," and built some shelves to store all the crap that inevitably ends up in the garage. I also relocated my toolbox from just inside the left side of the garage door to the back wall. Now I have room to work, a small counter-top to place tools while I work, and most importantly tunes. I re-purposed my old home theater system which has been stored in the garage since I moved into this house in March 2012. Here are before and after pics.

Before

After

My apologies for hijacking my own thread. Back on track now.

We're all in this together...
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“…It's not just about what's interesting. It's also about what's helpful, and it's helpful even if it helps just one other guy working on a Ghia.”
kiwighia68

See my build on TheSamba at:
The K_R_A_K_E_N_N : a 70 Ghia Convertible reinterpreted

[kiwighia68]

Making space to work on a Ghia is such a good motivator, isn't it? And you told your wife you were doing it for her?

Irma la Deuce? Great movie. I must watch it again.
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Festina lente - hasten slowly
1968 Ghia named Emiko
Resto completed Dec 2015

[sputnick60]

[Evil_Fiz]

I used 4 dimensional lumber which allows the Ghia to remain in place 20 Min. in the future and floats one Cm. above the 3rd. dimension. The problem is that I have misplaced my Tesseract so the Ghia is out of reach at the moment
_________________
“…It's not just about what's interesting. It's also about what's helpful, and it's helpful even if it helps just one other guy working on a Ghia.”
kiwighia68

See my build on TheSamba at:
The K_R_A_K_E_N_N : a 70 Ghia Convertible reinterpreted

[CiderGuy]

I ended up buying a 14 x 26 shed/garage to make room in our 3 car garage to get my Ghia in and have addition room to actually work on it. The back of two bays in our garage has work benches and larger tools, which wouldn't allow for much storage. Hell the garage even has a second floor attic, filled with "stuff".
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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

[bobnorman]