TheSamba.com :: View topic - Driver Project

Fri Feb 06, 2015 7:04 pm

Well should I just leave it be? I certainly don't want to over tighten it, and I really don't want extra play, I suppose I can pull on the pulley to feel how much is there.

Fri Feb 06, 2015 8:25 pm

here it is installed, don't know where I want to put the Vw logo.

I wanted to seam all of the carpet, but a local place would have charged around 1 dollar per foot (perimeter of course) so that would have been quite pricey. and that was just the very basic. so with just doing a mat or a few pieces I can justify that, but how should I do it, like a lighter or darker shade or leather ?? like vw did? And should I maybe make the logo a different color?

Also something I noticed today, in the previous pics there were bits of white everywhere. I think that was just me crawling around and some dust from the bottom, most of it was cleaned off today and looks better.

Mon Feb 09, 2015 3:06 pm

Just sent the carpet templates down to land o lakes FL, So no longer available.

I like the DIY attitude 8) totally worth it.

Thu Feb 12, 2015 3:06 pm

Any progress zodiac? Paint?

Thu Feb 12, 2015 3:38 pm

Progress is slow mate, spent most of my time today trying to fix my lower dash pad, got tired of it and used Liquid nail to hold it for temperary.

Yesterday I worked on trying to get the fenders straight, still need to work on them. Bought some cheap DA paper and it kept flying off, so I spent most of the time cleaning it, should be ready for some more sanding tomorrow, I've been using the sanding block for the most part. I need to just spend all day out there!

Thu Feb 12, 2015 6:45 pm

I bet it is pretty good weather down there in florida. Here we are getting a strong northern wind that is making things pretty chilly :? .

A few days back I tried to fix my lower dash pad with some super glue and it fell off in seconds after pushing hard for a few mins.... Later I tried a screw and all that did was make a hole with a screw in it :? . I am going to try getting a massive washer and see what happens.

Good luck with the body work and post that up too. There are DIY people out there just waiting!

I love how you are making a daily driver ghia! I am not sure how many are out there, but it seems like there are not many.

Lastly, you said you like the lowered look, try some drop spindles with a bit smaller tires and just leave the back stock. I did that to my ghia and it has about 3 inches of beam clearance (with people in the car) and I do not scrape (at speed) over speed bumps.

Fri Feb 13, 2015 3:11 am

Oh it's been nice! - in the mid 60s, but it's also been dropping - were getting a cold front from the north also. The weather here changes so much I don't quite know what season it is, unlike those poor folks up north.

Yeah I'll post pics of the progress,I've just been neglecting to take them for somereason. I thought about bolt and washer - but I just hate drilling holes in my car :?

There certainly aren't a lot of ghias driving around - I've yet to see one 'in the wild' since buying mine, and I don't recall seeing any prior - but might not remember.

As for dropping - that would be a possibility in the far future - when I can build it right - and have a diffrent driver. With me driving the thing I don't want to deal with the hassle of lowering it, replacing tires, or anything else "un necessary " you know? Plus I don't like to creep over train tracks and those steep speed bumps :wink: my car is so high I could probably drive over the curbs if I needed to :lol:

Fri Feb 13, 2015 9:37 am

lol, ghias have the same platform as the vw bug so it will (might) be equal in off road ability :lol: .

I did some getto speaker job with a piece of wood in the quarters and I had to drill some holes in it. I never knew how much I did not want to drill the holes 'till I actually got there.

That will be a cool DD when you get it all done. It will be the coolest car on the lot (haha get it?)

Fri Feb 13, 2015 11:47 am

Bloku wrote: lol, ghias have the same platform as the vw bug so it will (might) be equal in off road ability :lol:

Other than the longer over hangs......there a beast off road, just like the bug. I had a beat-to-hell Ghia 20 years ago that we built into a "stadium" style off-roader. It was a blast to drive sitting that low in the body.

Fri Feb 13, 2015 12:02 pm

Quote: I tried to fix my lower dash pad with some super glue and it fell off in seconds after pushing hard for a few mins.... Later I tried a screw and all that did was make a hole with a screw in it Confused . I am going to try getting a massive washer and see what happens.
Bloku, you should post up your issues before you try a hack fix (superglue). There are some smart guys in the ghia forum that can help you with fixes that will work.
It will also help others, we all have the same types of probs. Good luck :)

And as long as were giving weather reports...gonna be close to 90* in socal today.

Fri Feb 13, 2015 12:45 pm

c21darrel wrote: Quote: I tried to fix my lower dash pad with some super glue and it fell off in seconds after pushing hard for a few mins.... Later I tried a screw and all that did was make a hole with a screw in it Confused . I am going to try getting a massive washer and see what happens.
Bloku, you should post up your issues before you try a hack fix (superglue). There are some smart guys in the ghia forum that can help you with fixes that will work.
It will also help others, we all have the same types of probs. Good luck :)

And as long as were giving weather reports...gonna be close to 90* in socal today.

How would you fix it Darrel? Mine doesn't sag anymore - but there is a slight gap that drives me just as crazy. I've been trying to think of a better solution, but don't know of many.

Too hot in Cali :wink: I hate working in that heat.

Fri Feb 13, 2015 1:14 pm

Quote: How would you fix it Darrel?
Hey! I said there were some smart guys here, never said I was one of them :oops:
Post up pics, you know I dont own a fat chick :wink:

Its only February, doesn't get hot here til the summer 8)
In the summer I will be begging you guys to send me water.

Fri Feb 13, 2015 1:56 pm

oh true, how could I forget! And you don't simply own a fat chick - They kinda own you :wink:

here's a picture of the knee pad

And here are some lovely pics of the nose, I don't even feel like messing with that mess.

Fri Feb 13, 2015 2:07 pm

And here are some pics of the fender replacement ( passenger side)

Going to just have to buy new/ better condition front clip eventually, oh boy!

Fri Feb 13, 2015 2:44 pm

I believe those under dash kneepad thingys are soposed to attach with nylon bolts and nuts like the top pads. no? Are there existing holes? I'd put it back like original, use some type of flathead screw and washer/nut mimicking og set up.

I've seen worse noses look great after some work. May not be the first place to start practicing tho. That fender doesnt even look welded. Gonna be a problem in the future fo sho. In my crystal ball, I see a welder purchase coming 8)

Fri Feb 13, 2015 4:09 pm

c21darrel wrote: I believe those under dash kneepad thingys are soposed to attach with nylon bolts and nuts like the top pads. no? Are there existing holes? I'd put it back like original, use some type of flathead screw and washer/nut mimicking og set up.

I've seen worse noses look great after some work. May not be the first place to start practicing tho. That fender doesnt even look welded. Gonna be a problem in the future fo sho. In my crystal ball, I see a welder purchase coming 8)

Yeah little nylon bolts, I don't think the whole goes completely through the pad - but it wouldn't take much to poke one through. That's probably what I will wind up doing - just a pain due to the placement of the hole - I think it's right at the front of the glovebox some where - and the pad is flaking on the top.

that fender isn't welded, just held with rivets :? both fenders will need replacing eventually anyways. We have a welder - but I don't have the funds for those pricy Ghia fenders right now.

Sat Feb 14, 2015 4:19 pm

well I worked on the car most of the day today, block sanded the whole car with 60 grit, i'll probably go over it with 120 tomorrow and make sure its all nice and smooth- uncovered some small dents on the body and filled them up. The decklid however is wavy as hell, the Engine has had a fire at one point in its life. so I filled the rust holes at the bottom, and I will just wind up replacing it in the future - going to roll it like it is for now.

after I hit it with 120 I'll probably use up my rattle cans to make it one color - and funner to look at.

Here's a picture i'm not really proud of, i'm sculpting the fender line back out of bondo. it's coming along okay, and once painted shouldn't ever notice - in a few years I plan on doing it right , maybe even just a whole body drop depending on how it underneath all of the filler

after working on it, I hot-rodded around the neighbor hood. It might look piss poor - but it sure does run like a Volkswagen.

Wed Feb 18, 2015 9:26 am

Time to take the 40 minute drive to pensacola - a see primer in my future :D let's all hope the ghia makes it in one piece down the interstate :?

I'm planning on saturday - should be dry and 70 degrees, after that it will be cold, and wet for a bit.

Woo!!

Wed Feb 18, 2015 10:41 am

Made it in one piece!! It was windy as hell on the bridge and I was getting blown all over the rode - my mom used to tell me About when she drove on the same bridge in her beetle, and how it would be all over the place. Scary stuff.

But the strangest thing happened - a small piece of paper flew out of my defrost vents - and got stuck, I noticed it while driving and it was white - with little dot pattern on it. But it had numbers printed Aswell, I was only able to read - 14, and possibly a 3 but I couldn't tell. So maybe vin numbers? Or the type 14 and then paint code? I couldn't pull it out because I was having to use two hands, and then decided to pull it when I got home - but while the paper slipped my mind I rolled down the window and it might have flown out :? Can't find it.. Really wish I grabbed it so I could at least inspect it or take a pic

Anyways - anyone here know what I'm talking about?

Wed Feb 18, 2015 11:00 am

I think this is the same paper

Guess it could have been a part number? Looked like a pretty bold print, don't see any numbers on it or anything, so I remain puzzled.