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Trylon
Samba Member
Joined: August 16, 2019
Posts: 4853
Location: Connecticut
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 Posted: Mon Mar 27, 2023 10:46 am Post subject: Re: '59 Karmann Ghia fever |
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Ok, steering stuff back on loosely. Had a few moments where I was attempting to put the tie rod in in reverse. I knew about the opposite threads but thought I had it the right way. Much easier when it is.
So got the wheels better aligned:
Any comments on the steering box and such?
I was surprised that the steering column did not engage very much of the coupler. It’s enough to get the bolt through across the flat spot though.
_________________
1973 Porsche 914 2.0
1959 Volkswagen Karmann Ghia
1979 Volkswagen Rabbit
1973 Volkswagen Bus
1970 MGB-GT
1962 Oldsmobile Jetfire
More tomfoolery on
The Karmann Ghia Fever YouTube Channel! |
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PeteSC
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Joined: January 26, 2011
Posts: 881
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| Posted: Mon Mar 27, 2023 12:56 pm Post subject: Re: '59 Karmann Ghia fever |
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| Trylon wrote: |
Any comments on the steering box and such?
I was surprised that the steering column did not engage very much of the coupler. It’s enough to get the bolt through across the flat spot though.
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In the process of removing your old steering box I wonder if you've inadvertantly pushed the steering shaft up. The steering wheel bushing fits pretty snug into the column so if it popped out it wouldn't necissarily fall back into place haphazardly, you'd have to lift and center it. Peek in the car and see if your steering wheel now sits proud of the turn swtich.
Last edited by PeteSC on Tue Mar 28, 2023 5:22 am; edited 1 time in total |
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Trylon
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Joined: August 16, 2019
Posts: 4853
Location: Connecticut
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| Posted: Mon Mar 27, 2023 4:15 pm Post subject: Re: '59 Karmann Ghia fever |
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Thanks Pete! Will check tomorrow.
_________________
1973 Porsche 914 2.0
1959 Volkswagen Karmann Ghia
1979 Volkswagen Rabbit
1973 Volkswagen Bus
1970 MGB-GT
1962 Oldsmobile Jetfire
More tomfoolery on
The Karmann Ghia Fever YouTube Channel! |
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Trylon
Samba Member
Joined: August 16, 2019
Posts: 4853
Location: Connecticut
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| Posted: Tue Mar 28, 2023 3:05 pm Post subject: Re: '59 Karmann Ghia fever |
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So it seems there are torque values for much of this:
I assume Pitman arm and drop arm are one and the same.
_________________
1973 Porsche 914 2.0
1959 Volkswagen Karmann Ghia
1979 Volkswagen Rabbit
1973 Volkswagen Bus
1970 MGB-GT
1962 Oldsmobile Jetfire
More tomfoolery on
The Karmann Ghia Fever YouTube Channel! |
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Trylon
Samba Member
Joined: August 16, 2019
Posts: 4853
Location: Connecticut
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| Posted: Wed Mar 29, 2023 12:11 pm Post subject: Re: '59 Karmann Ghia fever |
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Ok, so why do I think this falls under the category of which Mr. Happy was speaking when he said “Check everything!”
PO’d again?
Can that partial thing be right?!
How should it look?
_________________
1973 Porsche 914 2.0
1959 Volkswagen Karmann Ghia
1979 Volkswagen Rabbit
1973 Volkswagen Bus
1970 MGB-GT
1962 Oldsmobile Jetfire
More tomfoolery on
The Karmann Ghia Fever YouTube Channel! |
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TDCTDI
Samba Advocatus Diaboli
Joined: August 31, 2013
Posts: 12861
Location: North Carolina
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| Posted: Wed Mar 29, 2023 1:41 pm Post subject: Re: '59 Karmann Ghia fever |
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| Trylon wrote: |
PO’d again?
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Nope, this is entirely your fuck up. 
What happened was that the steering shaft got pushed up when you were installing the steering box.
Loosen the clamp at the end of the shaft (this bolt is usually not a fully threaded bolt like the one that is in your car. The larger shank engages against the flat to keep the splines from receiving all of the twisting force), to the coupler, and then (GENTLY, so you don’t crack the steering wheel) push the steering wheel down towards the column.
Once it’s back in place, tighten the clamp at the coupler back up.
_________________
Everybody born before 1975 has a story, good, bad, or indifferent, about a VW.
GOFUNDYOURSELF, quit asking everyone to do it for you!
An air cooled VW will make you a hoarder.
Do something, anything, to your project every day, and you will eventually complete it. |
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Trylon
Samba Member
Joined: August 16, 2019
Posts: 4853
Location: Connecticut
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| Posted: Wed Mar 29, 2023 2:16 pm Post subject: Re: '59 Karmann Ghia fever |
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| TDCTDI wrote: |
| Trylon wrote: |
PO’d again?
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Nope, this is entirely your fuck up.
What happened was that the steering shaft got pushed up when you were installing the steering box.
Loosen the clamp at the end of the shaft (this bolt is usually not a fully threaded bolt like the one that is in your car. The larger shank engages against the flat to keep the splines from receiving all of the twisting force), to the coupler, and then (GENTLY, so you don’t crack the steering wheel) push the steering wheel down towards the column.
Once it’s back in place, tighten the clamp at the coupler back up. |
Yay! Happy to take the blame on this as long as I don’t have to hunt some odd unobtainium!
So, let me find the appropriate long shanked bolt as well!
Thanks TD!
_________________
1973 Porsche 914 2.0
1959 Volkswagen Karmann Ghia
1979 Volkswagen Rabbit
1973 Volkswagen Bus
1970 MGB-GT
1962 Oldsmobile Jetfire
More tomfoolery on
The Karmann Ghia Fever YouTube Channel! |
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TDCTDI
Samba Advocatus Diaboli
Joined: August 31, 2013
Posts: 12861
Location: North Carolina
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| Posted: Wed Mar 29, 2023 2:20 pm Post subject: Re: '59 Karmann Ghia fever |
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Remove the bolt securing the coupler to the steering box so you can match it.
_________________
Everybody born before 1975 has a story, good, bad, or indifferent, about a VW.
GOFUNDYOURSELF, quit asking everyone to do it for you!
An air cooled VW will make you a hoarder.
Do something, anything, to your project every day, and you will eventually complete it. |
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Trylon
Samba Member
Joined: August 16, 2019
Posts: 4853
Location: Connecticut
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| Posted: Wed Mar 29, 2023 2:34 pm Post subject: Re: '59 Karmann Ghia fever |
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| TDCTDI wrote: |
| Remove the bolt securing the coupler to the steering box so you can match it. |
Will do!
_________________
1973 Porsche 914 2.0
1959 Volkswagen Karmann Ghia
1979 Volkswagen Rabbit
1973 Volkswagen Bus
1970 MGB-GT
1962 Oldsmobile Jetfire
More tomfoolery on
The Karmann Ghia Fever YouTube Channel! |
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Trylon
Samba Member
Joined: August 16, 2019
Posts: 4853
Location: Connecticut
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| Posted: Fri Mar 31, 2023 3:55 pm Post subject: Re: '59 Karmann Ghia fever |
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Pulled the cover off the steering wheel in preparation of centering it.
Looks like we are missing a couple of those white plugs. Or is it just held in place with the two?
Could not find right size metric bolt with shaft so got closest standard one and cut it down to length. Got the steering wheel down onto the splines, had to use a rubber mallet to gently coax it down the last quarter inch.
Hooked up battery and tested horn— beep! Looks like I got the grounding right.
Tighten stuff down tomorrow and get gas tank in and hooked up. Not looking forward to fitting a cotter pin to hold the new valve to lever that controls it.
If there is a trick, love to know it!
_________________
1973 Porsche 914 2.0
1959 Volkswagen Karmann Ghia
1979 Volkswagen Rabbit
1973 Volkswagen Bus
1970 MGB-GT
1962 Oldsmobile Jetfire
More tomfoolery on
The Karmann Ghia Fever YouTube Channel! |
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Trylon
Samba Member
Joined: August 16, 2019
Posts: 4853
Location: Connecticut
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| Posted: Sat Apr 01, 2023 6:23 pm Post subject: Re: '59 Karmann Ghia fever |
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Steering all tightened and torqued.
Slop no longer present.
Gas tank and tap tomorrow.
Fill steering box.
Wheels on.
Bleed brakes.
Change oil.
Road test!
_________________
1973 Porsche 914 2.0
1959 Volkswagen Karmann Ghia
1979 Volkswagen Rabbit
1973 Volkswagen Bus
1970 MGB-GT
1962 Oldsmobile Jetfire
More tomfoolery on
The Karmann Ghia Fever YouTube Channel! |
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kingkarmann
Samba Member
Joined: November 05, 2003
Posts: 4114
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| Posted: Sun Apr 02, 2023 6:09 am Post subject: Re: '59 Karmann Ghia fever |
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Glad everything is coming back together in time for the 2023 season 
We had an engineer at the plant. We called him "Dr. Torque."
He led training classes for associates explaining why proper torque was an absolute necessity in any sort of manufacturing environment.
Dr. Torque was absolutely obsessed with the subject.
It evidently rubbed off as I find myself constantly rechecking the torque of my shoelaces.
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"Depression is a malfunction of the instrument we use to determine reality.”
Mike Gerson
What is your "Bespoke Reality"? |
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Trylon
Samba Member
Joined: August 16, 2019
Posts: 4853
Location: Connecticut
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| Posted: Sun Apr 02, 2023 6:21 am Post subject: Re: '59 Karmann Ghia fever |
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| kingkarmann wrote: |
Glad everything is coming back together in time for the 2023 season
We had an engineer at the plant. We called him "Dr. Torque."
He led training classes for associates explaining why proper torque was an absolute necessity in any sort of manufacturing environment.
Dr. Torque was absolutely obsessed with the subject.
It evidently rubbed off as I find myself constantly rechecking the torque of my shoelaces. |
Thanks for the well wishes King!
It is edifying to see how well this car works when it has its correct parts properly installed. I can only imagine how sweetly it ran originally given how responsive it seems to be to even my novice care.
_________________
1973 Porsche 914 2.0
1959 Volkswagen Karmann Ghia
1979 Volkswagen Rabbit
1973 Volkswagen Bus
1970 MGB-GT
1962 Oldsmobile Jetfire
More tomfoolery on
The Karmann Ghia Fever YouTube Channel! |
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Marcdeb
Samba Member
Joined: May 22, 2019
Posts: 3036
Location: Vermont
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Trylon
Samba Member
Joined: August 16, 2019
Posts: 4853
Location: Connecticut
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| Posted: Sun Apr 02, 2023 4:41 pm Post subject: Re: '59 Karmann Ghia fever |
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| Marcdeb wrote: |
| One more job off the list. You've accomplished so many improvements. Im looking forward to hearing about your first drive of the season. |
Thanks Marc! When are we ever going to meet up?
_________________
1973 Porsche 914 2.0
1959 Volkswagen Karmann Ghia
1979 Volkswagen Rabbit
1973 Volkswagen Bus
1970 MGB-GT
1962 Oldsmobile Jetfire
More tomfoolery on
The Karmann Ghia Fever YouTube Channel! |
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Trylon
Samba Member
Joined: August 16, 2019
Posts: 4853
Location: Connecticut
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| Posted: Sun Apr 02, 2023 4:47 pm Post subject: Re: '59 Karmann Ghia fever |
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Gas tank in and connected:
Cotter pin was a pain but with the right tool and patience I think I bent it enough so that it will not fall out.
Surprisingly, the steering box is already full of oil. Guess it proves those seals are holding.
Bleed brakes tomorrow, would like to keep the wheels off the front for easier access, will lower the front end in case that make a difference.
_________________
1973 Porsche 914 2.0
1959 Volkswagen Karmann Ghia
1979 Volkswagen Rabbit
1973 Volkswagen Bus
1970 MGB-GT
1962 Oldsmobile Jetfire
More tomfoolery on
The Karmann Ghia Fever YouTube Channel! |
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Marcdeb
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Joined: May 22, 2019
Posts: 3036
Location: Vermont
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TDCTDI
Samba Advocatus Diaboli
Joined: August 31, 2013
Posts: 12861
Location: North Carolina
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| Posted: Sun Apr 02, 2023 6:05 pm Post subject: Re: '59 Karmann Ghia fever |
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Your ground strap should connect the lower yoke to the upper yoke.
_________________
Everybody born before 1975 has a story, good, bad, or indifferent, about a VW.
GOFUNDYOURSELF, quit asking everyone to do it for you!
An air cooled VW will make you a hoarder.
Do something, anything, to your project every day, and you will eventually complete it. |
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| Back to top |
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Trylon
Samba Member
Joined: August 16, 2019
Posts: 4853
Location: Connecticut
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| Posted: Sun Apr 02, 2023 6:06 pm Post subject: Re: '59 Karmann Ghia fever |
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| TDCTDI wrote: |
Your ground strap should connect the lower yoke to the upper yoke. |
Think that’s a optical illusion TD. Horn works.
_________________
1973 Porsche 914 2.0
1959 Volkswagen Karmann Ghia
1979 Volkswagen Rabbit
1973 Volkswagen Bus
1970 MGB-GT
1962 Oldsmobile Jetfire
More tomfoolery on
The Karmann Ghia Fever YouTube Channel! |
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| Back to top |
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TDCTDI
Samba Advocatus Diaboli
Joined: August 31, 2013
Posts: 12861
Location: North Carolina
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| Posted: Sun Apr 02, 2023 6:11 pm Post subject: Re: '59 Karmann Ghia fever |
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_________________
Everybody born before 1975 has a story, good, bad, or indifferent, about a VW.
GOFUNDYOURSELF, quit asking everyone to do it for you!
An air cooled VW will make you a hoarder.
Do something, anything, to your project every day, and you will eventually complete it. |
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| Back to top |
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