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F4u5T Aircooled Idiot
Joined: April 11, 2009 Posts: 533 Location: Bristol,VA
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Posted: Sat Apr 25, 2009 7:24 pm Post subject: Hello Everyone, got my first Ghia today! |
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Hey Everyone,
I bought my first Ghia today! Ive wanted one since I was 14 - restoring a 71 super beetle ( my first car) now 17 years later I have somehow found the opportunity buy one. the body is perfect, very little rust! the problem is someone cut the roof off! Still I couldnt pass it up @ $800
Ive found some pretty good lookin "roadsters" , I think I may keep it this way and finish it, but Im worried about "flex" in the chassis.
What should I do
Any suggestions?
Last edited by F4u5T on Wed Jun 03, 2009 4:29 am; edited 1 time in total |
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karmann57 Samba Member
Joined: October 22, 2004 Posts: 705 Location: Airdrie, Alberta
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Posted: Sat Apr 25, 2009 7:57 pm Post subject: |
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You either need to replace the roof or put in new rockers with the extra convertible support rail.
Pics would be nice too. |
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rzepko6194 Samba Member
Joined: January 30, 2005 Posts: 829
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Posted: Sat Apr 25, 2009 8:15 pm Post subject: |
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a vert is fine, if you reinforce the chassis but what are you going to do for a top? Probably not an issue if you live in Arizona but there's no guarantee you won't get caught in the rain in most other places. |
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F4u5T Aircooled Idiot
Joined: April 11, 2009 Posts: 533 Location: Bristol,VA
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Posted: Sat Apr 25, 2009 8:16 pm Post subject: |
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karmann57 Samba Member
Joined: October 22, 2004 Posts: 705 Location: Airdrie, Alberta
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Posted: Sat Apr 25, 2009 8:21 pm Post subject: |
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Are the doors welded shut?
If it's as solid as you say I would just replace the roof, probably less work than replacing both rockers and the value of the car will be higher in the long run. |
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F4u5T Aircooled Idiot
Joined: April 11, 2009 Posts: 533 Location: Bristol,VA
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Posted: Sat Apr 25, 2009 8:21 pm Post subject: |
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I dont care about rain..
I actually bought another Ghia with this one with a good top for parts, that I could put the top back on it with.
Im not sure I want to anymore though. I dont need a daily driver and it would be a easy project to finish as a vert |
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F4u5T Aircooled Idiot
Joined: April 11, 2009 Posts: 533 Location: Bristol,VA
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Posted: Sat Apr 25, 2009 8:24 pm Post subject: |
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Yeah, they are welded shut. Guy said he did it to keep the body together when he replaced the floor pans. |
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1badghia Samba Member
Joined: April 12, 2009 Posts: 195
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Posted: Sat Apr 25, 2009 8:51 pm Post subject: |
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looks to be a really good starting point for what could be a super nice ride.....my opinion,"which to most means nothing more than....say a bug on the windshield" bat anyway,if you want a vert i would say find one,as i would think that by the time you replaced the rockers with the rite ones smoothed out those seems,and got it to look rite the $$$ you would have in it would have bought a regular vert body....fix what you have,then find a vert.....thats just my thoughts.....dont mean i'm rite,its jsut what i think.
NOW that being said if you do forge on with your plan by all means keep us updated,we all have some help to contribute....i for one will support you eather way |
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swhitcomb Samba Member
Joined: November 05, 2003 Posts: 5673 Location: Inwood WV
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Posted: Sat Apr 25, 2009 9:01 pm Post subject: |
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There is a roof section for sale off of a 70 or 71 coupe in the classifieds. _________________ My 71 Ghia Been in my family since 1980
My Patina 66
My 74 Ghia
07 Boxster |
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Lair Samba Member
Joined: January 20, 2009 Posts: 859 Location: The Monkey Ranch
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Posted: Sat Apr 25, 2009 9:04 pm Post subject: |
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I looked at that car on a recent trip through SC. It's a shame that it got hacked, because it looks like it was a really solid car. The seller was asking $2200 or some ridiculous price when I saw it.
Did you get the donor car also? _________________ '65 Deluxe bus long term project |
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F4u5T Aircooled Idiot
Joined: April 11, 2009 Posts: 533 Location: Bristol,VA
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Posted: Sat Apr 25, 2009 9:09 pm Post subject: |
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going tomorrow to pick em up, ill either take the donor or cut the roof off and leave the rest. |
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MRRAGPICKER Samba Member
Joined: October 04, 2007 Posts: 423 Location: CHARLESTON W.VA.
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Posted: Sun Apr 26, 2009 4:31 pm Post subject: Re: Hello Everyone, got my first Ghia today! |
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F4u5T wrote: |
I think I may keep it this way and finish it, but Im worried about "flex" in the chassis.
What should I do
Any suggestions? |
Try talking the the guys at ReVolks. They say that they have a way to stiffen a Ghia without using the rockers. They were going to make a video of it to sell, but haven't done so yet. |
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F4u5T Aircooled Idiot
Joined: April 11, 2009 Posts: 533 Location: Bristol,VA
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Posted: Sun Apr 26, 2009 7:57 pm Post subject: |
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k, its done
left the donor, she was dead - somebody needs to bury her.
Got a good deal, and the body is SOLID.
Gonna keep it as it is, I can correct the "flex" with some steel - no prob
Thanks for the referral
I'll be at Circle yer Wagens next weekend and
I have ALOT of parts that I dont think Im gonna need (rear pop out windows, side windows, great dash pad,etc ) let me know if you need something |
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Lair Samba Member
Joined: January 20, 2009 Posts: 859 Location: The Monkey Ranch
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Posted: Mon Apr 27, 2009 3:09 pm Post subject: |
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Can't say that I blame you for leaving the donor behind. I remember thinking it was a POS. _________________ '65 Deluxe bus long term project |
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F4u5T Aircooled Idiot
Joined: April 11, 2009 Posts: 533 Location: Bristol,VA
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Posted: Mon Apr 27, 2009 5:54 pm Post subject: |
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Dude, I been stripping it down - about to go to sandblast. This thing is in great shape!
I absolutely love the thing, I waited 17 years to buy one - now that I have I dont care so much about the roof, Though I will have to weld some reinforcements on the frame but hey I bought it to have fun with, thats what im gonna do |
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Lee. Samba Animal Controller
Joined: December 22, 2003 Posts: 3079 Location: Denver, CO
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Posted: Mon Apr 27, 2009 6:50 pm Post subject: |
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The door gap looks pretty straight with it welded shut. It might sense to keep it that way until you get the new roof welded back on. _________________ www.DenverWildlifeControl.com |
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F4u5T Aircooled Idiot
Joined: April 11, 2009 Posts: 533 Location: Bristol,VA
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Posted: Mon Apr 27, 2009 7:00 pm Post subject: |
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yeah, about that - it wont be happening. Im keepin it chopped.
I decided I like it the way it is, I can fix the "flex". More steel- no big deal |
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gregmporter Samba Member
Joined: July 21, 2008 Posts: 531 Location: Colorado
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Posted: Mon Apr 27, 2009 7:27 pm Post subject: |
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Since the car is chopped, I'd recommend this... Don't worry about the "correct" stiffeners for a vert. Just cut out the heater channels (not the outer skin just the inner heater section) and replace it with square tube (14ga or so). Weld it to the rear wheel well, the support 1/2 way between the well and b-pillar and all the way up to the a pillar and fender well support. You should also run a brace from the wheel well to about 2/3 of the way up the b-pillar to keep it in place.
Guys will tell you that there are "correct" pieces of sheet metal to use for this etc. If you make the new main supports strong and stiff, you won't have to worry at all. You'll probably add about 50 lbs to the car, NBD...
If you need pics or further detail, just let me know.
Good luck. _________________ You Tube Channel w/vids of the car's progress
http://www.youtube.com/user/gregmporter
1974 Karmann Ghia Cabriolet
1964 356C Coupe (in progress) |
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snookerdude Samba Member
Joined: June 30, 2004 Posts: 914 Location: central florida
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Posted: Mon Apr 27, 2009 9:25 pm Post subject: can't resist |
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just drill a 3/8" hole in each rocker and pop in a viagra....seal it back up. |
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Lair Samba Member
Joined: January 20, 2009 Posts: 859 Location: The Monkey Ranch
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Posted: Tue Apr 28, 2009 7:46 am Post subject: |
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F4u5T wrote: |
yeah, about that - it wont be happening. Im keepin it chopped.
I decided I like it the way it is, I can fix the "flex". More steel- no big deal |
I have a bunch of convertible body parts - including the windshield frame and rear top mount structure.
Let me know if you need anything. _________________ '65 Deluxe bus long term project |
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