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Sat Mar 11, 2006 4:55 pm

I have looked and seached the web as well as samba and I am having a hell of a time finding a place that shows photo's or how to's on a bucket switch-a-rew. I want to put the early bettle lights in my ghia to give it that laid back look. I have seen a few photos finished and I really like the results. Can anyone point me to a place that gives before, during and after photo's. Any help would be nice. Thanks

Sat Mar 11, 2006 4:58 pm

How about a 356 Porsche front on a Ghia?

Sat Mar 11, 2006 5:00 pm

That Gorsche is pretty sweet Glenn.

Sat Mar 11, 2006 7:17 pm

Here's one,

Sat Mar 11, 2006 7:54 pm

fifty-five wrote: That Gorsche is pretty sweet Glenn.

I thought so. That's why i downloaded the picture. The 356 front looks pretty natural on the Ghia.

Sat Mar 11, 2006 8:07 pm

There's a beautiful example in either the Reader's Rides or Paint/Body. I can't find it, but it's a youngster (under 18) who is building it with his dad. It's a beaut even with no paint on the body.

Sat Mar 11, 2006 8:15 pm

Glenn wrote: How about a 356 Porsche front on a Ghia?
WHAT A SWEET RIDE!!

Sat Mar 11, 2006 8:20 pm

lonotch wrote: Here's one,

This is what I am talking about. Now, I am just trying to figure out how to get it done. I have the holes cut and I am having a heck of a time trying to figure out what to do next. Did you lay a flat piece in there or did you have to shrink the fender a little? I am really hoping for some photos of this in progress. Thanks :?

Sat Mar 11, 2006 8:53 pm

all you need are the tools you see on the driveway. The duct-tape is most of it :)

Sat Mar 11, 2006 10:52 pm

Icy, is this the one you were thinking of? My son and I are doing it, but my son is 21.

link72837
at one time I had a article on how I did the conversion on a web page, but it seems to be gone now. I can e-mail you some pictures and explanation on the process. I did it differently than most, my lights push in from the rear. not screw on like the beatle does with a bezel.

here is a link to an earlier post on the conversion
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=150016&postdays=0&postorder=asc&start=0

and this is a link to the article in the readers rides that I think Icy was reffering to

http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=78539&postdays=0&postorder=asc&start=0

Sun Mar 12, 2006 5:49 am

custom ghia wrote: Icy, is this the one you were thinking of? My son and I are doing it, but my son is 21.

link72837
at one time I had a article on how I did the conversion on a web page, but it seems to be gone now. I can e-mail you some pictures and explanation on the process. I did it differently than most, my lights push in from the rear. not screw on like the beatle does with a bezel.

here is a link to an earlier post on the conversion
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=150016&postdays=0&postorder=asc&start=0

and this is a link to the article in the readers rides that I think Icy was reffering to

http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=78539&postdays=0&postorder=asc&start=0

Thank you, thank you, thank you!!! This is exactly what I was looking for. My appologies about your son's age, but I could have sworn he was younger. That car has come a long way. Both you and your son qualify as artists, IMHO.

Sun Mar 12, 2006 7:20 am

I added some "in progress" pics of my Ghia to the gallery. Just keep in mind most all the work we did was fixing the PO's screw ups. It was a mess under the paint/bondo. Ok, it still is a mess... but it works.

We used the whole bug bucket, since the car actually gets driven in the weather. Also used the top part of the bug fender under the bucket on the Ghia to help round out the front. That way you don't have to cut back so far and the lines are much more clean.

Sun Mar 12, 2006 7:25 pm

Well I went ahead today and gave it a shot! It is turning out pretty good. I am not finished but here is where I am at so far.
to see all the photo's go here
http://www.craftnut.com/light.html

Mon Mar 13, 2006 10:06 am

Do the Beetle tail light conversion next.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v136/TeamEvil/Panel%20Truck/52f972fb.jpg

Easy Peasy, they look like they belong there as much as the headlight do, and you save a bundle on genuine replacement Ghia tail light lenses . . .

Mon Mar 13, 2006 10:16 am

TC/TeamEvil wrote: Do the Beetle tail light conversion next.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v136/TeamEvil/Panel%20Truck/52f972fb.jpg

Easy Peasy, they look like they belong there as much as the headlight do, and you save a bundle on genuine replacement Ghia tail light lenses . . .

no offense but that looks nasty to me... the headlight conversion is o.k. but the tails look weird

Mon Mar 13, 2006 10:20 am

The headlight conversions can sometimes look ok. The Porsche front end looks clean, but IMO the Beetle taillights are really Ugly!. If it cost you are going for might as well duct tape some round trailer lights on the fender. They would look about as good.

-Craig

Tue Mar 14, 2006 10:11 am

Ouch! You boys are so cruel . . . You really don't think that the Beetle tails are kinda cool in a Henry J kinda way? Maybe for a Gasser/nostalgia style drag car? Come on . . . look again.

Do it for me.

Even "rats" need slant backs.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v136/TeamEvil/Panel%20Truck/0a1b228e.jpg

Tue Mar 14, 2006 10:14 am

TC/TeamEvil wrote: Ouch! You boys are so cruel . . . You really don't think that the Beetle tails are kinda cool in a Henry J kinda way? Maybe for a Gasser/nostalgia style drag car? Come on . . . look again.

Do it for me.

Ugly.

Tue Mar 14, 2006 10:18 am

Ouch! You boys are so cruel . . . You really don't think that the Beetle tails are kinda cool in a Henry J kinda way? Maybe for a Gasser/nostalgia style drag car? Come on . . . look again.

Do it for me.

Tue Mar 14, 2006 3:16 pm

this is the best looking set of early headlights Ive ever seen
installed in a Ghia. At least 3 out 4 Ghia's with the early
conversion dont get it right. Either the headlights are slanted
to far back or to far forward, or the headlight rings dont meet
up perfectly with the top of the fenders and it looks like the
headlight is too small and there is extra flat space above it.

Ive seen this car in person and it is truly awesome!!!