TheSamba.com :: View topic - Thanksgiving cranberry sauce and low light rotisserie Ghia

Sat Nov 24, 2007 7:02 pm

How woud you like yours done:

Authentic?
Mild Custom?
Rat Rod?

We had some fun putting the body back on the rotisserie to scrape off the north east undercoat and get ready to paint the bottom.

Storing the pan was easy against the wall, I found out that the tunnel was full of tranny oil, well not any more as it poured out into the wheel on the bottom.

Sat Nov 24, 2007 10:22 pm

Did you make that stand?
and where is it attached to? the bumper brackets?

Sun Nov 25, 2007 11:50 am

myinisjap wrote: Did you make that stand?
and where is it attached to? the bumper brackets?

Yes I just used the standard bumper mounts. However, inside the front nose a made a brace the fits between the bumper mounts for extra strength. I have some support between the doors to keep the body straight.

If your mounts are not in good condition you would need to replace these first. I have seen a front mount that reaches up underneath and attaches by the brake fluid reservoir for strength.

The pivots are simply some front spindles I got at the scrap yard. I just measured to find the rotational center of the car and it works fine. I can leave the mounts attached to the car (kink of like ugly bumpers) and then attach the rotesserie to it when needed.

There are 6 casters to move the car arount and two long latterals to keep the car from spreading. This was you can stand on one side of the body and not get tangled up by the braces.

I really wanted to use a caliper E-brake to fix the rotation of the body but simply use a bar with holes and bolts to secure the position.

Sun Nov 25, 2007 10:28 pm

I'm going to have to do something like that. Do you have mounts to put the pan on the rotisserie too? Seems like that should be easy enough as well.

Mon Nov 26, 2007 9:19 am

Wow, the cut out of the roof looks like a job well done! :D
I hope you be able to finish the car soon.

Regards,
Rinie

Mon Nov 26, 2007 9:41 am

noexit wrote: I'm going to have to do something like that. Do you have mounts to put the pan on the rotisserie too? Seems like that should be easy enough as well.

I never thought of doing mounts for the pan but that is a great suggestion.

Mon Nov 26, 2007 9:47 am

56GoldeGhia wrote: Wow, the cut out of the roof looks like a job well done! :D
I hope you be able to finish the car soon.

Regards,
Rinie

Thanks for the compliment. As life would have it, I am moving in about 6 months. So, I will have to pack up the Ghia and move again most likely storing it for a few more years. I want to get the under side and pan done before moving. I'm not sure if that is possible as I travel every week. I'd like to move and the get it painted. I've had the car for 15 years now (pretty scarry, but I've done all the work myself and had a dozen cars and some restoration in between). I am determined to finish it!

Mon Nov 26, 2007 10:02 am

Well, I have to be honest. My car is finished for 80% and all the parts are there to make it complete and I still can't find the time to finish it. I am maybe 3 months away from finishing it.
So I know what you mean Jeff, when you say you have the car for 15 years. It is sometimes difficult to find the time but at least the cars have a good home.

Mon Nov 26, 2007 9:25 pm

What is your goal for the car?

I am curious what your plans for the car are. I have three cars and have a blurry vision of what I want to do with all three.

Rich

Mon Nov 26, 2007 9:41 pm

JeffL wrote: How woud you like yours done:

Authentic?
Mild Custom?
Rat Rod?

Well I think I'll have mine done mild custom please but keep it toward the authentic side, Don't go Rat Rod on me! :D

Thu Nov 29, 2007 2:47 pm

Moving, Jeff? Ugh. My preference would be an authentic resto of the body (full trim; stock color) and interior, but with updated mechanicals like Porsche 356A or B brakes, 356 wheels and a somewhat stronger engine like a mild 1776 Kadron-carbed single port. Try to find some low Porsche Knecht air filters to adapt to the Kads, and paint the engine stock to make it look like "old speed". Also a '67 tranny for nicer highway cruising with that engine.

Have you welded in 3-point safety belt mounts for safety? Hmm?

Is that a stock, original front sway bar?!

Keep with it; looks like it'll be a grand car when done.

Roland from NY

Thu Nov 29, 2007 3:04 pm

Why would you need the pan on a rottisserie? Once you pull the transmission and beam off it will practically lay flat on the floor. Work on one side and flip it over...

Thu Nov 29, 2007 5:35 pm

70 140 wrote: Why would you need the pan on a rottisserie? Once you pull the transmission and beam off it will practically lay flat on the floor. Work on one side and flip it over...

Because I don't really like sitting on the cold concrete while working on my car.

Thu Nov 29, 2007 7:06 pm

58lolight wrote: What is your goal for the car?

I am curious what your plans for the car are. I have three cars and have a blurry vision of what I want to do with all three.

Rich

I plan to keep it stock accept for several accessories: Webasto Sunroof, 1956 dated 356 rims, Aero side mirror, Rometsch steering wheel, Petri full circle horn ring, 3/4 package tray, and Judson supercharger with scoop. I also have a 45 rpm record player that ties into the radio that I might mount. The car came from the dealership with an Automatic radio that has Volkswagen silk screened on the face. The car did have seat belts mounted too that I will reinstall (sorry not a 3 point mount suggested in another post :) ). The original wood slat would cover up the sunroof so I might not use it. I have a modern tach that was fitted into an early clock with an early speedo needle. If I can't ever come up with a real tach I will install it.

The car only had 65,000 miles when I got it from the original owner. I have the original keys and bill of sale.

Thu Nov 29, 2007 7:11 pm

Rome wrote: Moving, Jeff? Ugh. My preference would be an authentic resto of the body (full trim; stock color) and interior, but with updated mechanicals like Porsche 356A or B brakes, 356 wheels and a somewhat stronger engine like a mild 1776 Kadron-carbed single port. Try to find some low Porsche Knecht air filters to adapt to the Kads, and paint the engine stock to make it look like "old speed". Also a '67 tranny for nicer highway cruising with that engine.

Have you welded in 3-point safety belt mounts for safety? Hmm?

Is that a stock, original front sway bar?!

Keep with it; looks like it'll be a grand car when done.

Roland from NY

Yes the sway bar is original, what looks odd about it?

I do have original seat belts buy they are only two point mounted in the pan.

Thu Nov 29, 2007 7:50 pm

Jeff,

I am planning the same kind of resto for your old car if I can ever get the body nice enough.

Rich

Thu Nov 29, 2007 9:06 pm

58lolight wrote: Jeff,

I am planning the same kind of resto for your old car if I can ever get the body nice enough.

Rich

Keep plugging away at it, I just hope I get mine done before they take my license away due to old age.

Fri Nov 30, 2007 1:24 pm

"Yes the sway bar is original, what looks odd about it? "

Jeff, I'm only used to seeing the stock 'straight" swaybars on Beetles. I was not aware that the ones on early Ghias had those additional 2 bends in them at the two vertical centerposts of the axle beam.

Fri Nov 30, 2007 2:26 pm

noexit wrote: 70 140 wrote: Why would you need the pan on a rottisserie? Once you pull the transmission and beam off it will practically lay flat on the floor. Work on one side and flip it over...

Because I don't really like sitting on the cold concrete while working on my car.

Time for a heated slab.

Seriously though. Leaning the pan up against a wall or laying it on the floor are options you don't have with a body (which IMO is a good reason for a rotisserie) The wall or the floor will be a lot more stable, and again IMO, easier to work with.

Fri Nov 30, 2007 6:39 pm

my 58 ghia has that same front dimpled sway bar