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Fri Dec 22, 2017 11:39 am

While in a vintage ghia...every modern car or truck...at night...on the 4 lane can be a white knuckler ride. I love that you take your ghia on these adventures. Its the getting there and back that is the adventure, not always the destination.
There isn't a bad song on Harvest! Would love to hear a double down with El Paso and some neil young!! Classic.

Fri Dec 22, 2017 1:17 pm

I love this car, and a very cool detail with the German fuel gauge! I hope to be able to make some fairly long haul drives once my basket case is up and running.

Calexican - Do you make it to the Texas Classic in Fredricksburg? I just moved to TX and plan to make my first trip out there this spring.

Sun Feb 18, 2018 2:58 pm

Howdy folks, it’s been a while....sorry I didn’t get back to you about the Friedricksberg show, no, I’ve never been to a VW show!!! I’ve always wanted to go to one but the timing has never been right.

I’ve been doing some posting over in the engine forum... I think maybe they have given up on me because I’m asking too many stupid questions. Lol! But it has been very interesting tearing down the stock 36... buying another complete one and tearing it down, but not the block... I should’ve but I thought I could get by and see what I got...well what I got was an an engine with a worn out rod bearing... so tear down 2.0

Really amazing design... I know we all love our cars designs, but when you get into the engine... those light shells, the case, with that heavy crank in the middle spinning around, it’s a wonder.... and most of it 60 years old!!!

I’m getting ready to go on tour soon, I’m hoping I’ll get this done before I leave...here are a few shots.
The original motor had a lot of endplay, and it was clattering something fierce on that last trip from Tucson... so I think that case may be ruined, unless it can be line bored... there was all this space at the main bearing. The third picture has the space, the fourth picture looks to be normal, that’s the case I’m using for the rebuild.

Sun Feb 18, 2018 7:35 pm

calexican wrote: ...I’m getting ready to go on tour soon,... ..And quite an extensive tour by the info carried by the Calexico website.... Alas no Sydney dates :(
Nicholas

Sun Feb 18, 2018 8:23 pm

sputnick60 wrote: calexican wrote: ...I’m getting ready to go on tour soon,... ..And quite an extensive tour by the info carried by the Calexico website.... Alas no Sydney dates :(
Nicholas

Alas, Sydney being but a short flight from Auckland.

Fri Apr 06, 2018 4:13 pm

Got back from tour and just jumped right in where I left off.
Left the heater boxes off and went for these j pipes. Fitting the bottom engine tin after the fact was a trick.

Fri Apr 06, 2018 4:15 pm

No smoke or rattles!! Sounds great, I’m happy. Much respect for all the engine builders out there. It’s a lot of work. Loved it though!

Fri Apr 06, 2018 4:19 pm

Engine looks nice in there !
You may want to consider some "industrial tins" over the j-tube under the head.
https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=...mp;start=0

Mon Apr 09, 2018 11:43 am

Thanks for the reply and link. That’s interesting, but I think I’m ok with the original tin here on the bottom. It was tough getting in but it all fits nice, protects the push rod tubes, and I think they shield the heat from the road off. Anyway, she is running better than ever, and quieter than ever, learned a lot doing this.

Mon Apr 09, 2018 10:33 pm

The Ghia looks great John. Was an absolute pleasure meeting you this weekend.

Tue Apr 10, 2018 7:54 am

You too DJ! I went to my first VW car show. El BugO in El PasO. It was a lot of fun, I didn’t get to stay very long, but I got to meet up with some really nice people and see some really cool cars and busses. Here are a few examples. This first one is DJ’s Beetle, I love the bare metal, thought of doing it to my Ghia.

A couple of very nice patina Ghia’s.

My neighbors bus with new owners parked right next to me, nice to see that beauty again.

Loved this 1950 Beetle.

Mexico represents!

This beauty came from Arizona.

Got to meet up with Mr. G, who does these amazing mods on busses and motors to keep things cool out here in the Southwest Heat. All in all a lot of fun next year I will try to plan ahead and stay for the whole show, lots of good Mexican food and really cool cars, loved it!!!

Tue Apr 10, 2018 8:31 am

Desert patina seems to be an inevitable result of the climate. :)

...just rust here. :(

Tue Apr 10, 2018 11:07 am

Concur, they all have that Tex/Mex flavor going on. The black/red one is faking it. :wink:

Tue Apr 10, 2018 12:38 pm

Starting in my Ghia today for next years show. 🙂

Tue Apr 10, 2018 1:14 pm

c21darrel wrote: Concur, they all have that Tex/Mex flavor going on. The black/red one is faking it. :wink:

True he was faking a little, but his car is on air!!! Very cool. ✊🏽

Fri Jun 22, 2018 2:47 pm

104 degrees today in El Paso...this pic says it all.

Fri Jun 22, 2018 11:47 pm

calexican wrote:

104 degrees today in El Paso...this pic says it all.

Love it...drove mine to a country pub yesterday a cool (for you) 73 degrees...sweltering for me. ;)

Thu Sep 06, 2018 10:05 am

Since I had everything I decided to build a second 36hp engine for a spare... why the hell not?? Back from the machine shop.

Thu Sep 06, 2018 11:27 am

calexican wrote: Since I had everything I decided to build a second 36hp engine for a spare... why the hell not?? Back from the machine shop.

Stock or "breathed upon" ;)

Fri Sep 07, 2018 3:01 pm

all stock John...going with what i know...much respect though for all the vintage speed enthusiasts out there. awesome.