Jeff's 71 Vert Restoration/Reassembly

[rbsurfguy]

Thanks again Emil, I am definitely open to trying anything. If it just gets too frustrating, I'll either forget it or just drop it for a while and revisit later! Great ideas all.
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1971 Ghia convertible (Body off rebuild)
2019 VW Atlas 4Motion
2012 Passat-Sold


See my build on The Samba at:
Jeff's 71 Vert Restoration/Reassembly http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=6...highlight=

[NoDents]

I know this is water under the bridge for you Jeff, but maybe a heads-up for anyone else starting a resto.....

When I pulled the old harness out of my 71 vert, I specifically tied a piece of stiff wire to the dome light line before pulling it out. I figured it would help in the future.
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No Dents

1963 Bug - Sold in 1980
1966 Karmann Ghia Convertible - Stolen in 1988
1971 Karmann Ghia Convertible, resto/mod COMPLETED 10/2020

[rbsurfguy]

[rbsurfguy]

I spent a few hours covering my dash with 3M DINOC Vinyl wrap wood look. I decided previously I didn't want to use the plastic cover commonly used and sold from vendors, though I have one, may sell later, and figuring out real wood laminate would really be difficult, what I really wanted, so decided on this product. Pattern is very consistent throughout and doesn't seem to distort when stretching around, at least not noticeably.

Went on fairly straight forward. Has sticky backing but not too much so you can lift off and readjust or work out small air bubbles with the soft squeegee. The main problem is that it is just a few inches short of the full width of the overall dash, so I will need to segment in a small piece on the ends.

Once I got it in place, I took my heat gun on low heat, and slowly worked around the material adjusting and fitting it better. When heated it becomes very pliable and you can go back over an area to make adjustments or work out air bubbles, which seem to be caused more when using the heat gun. After heating it, the area hardens really well almost like plastic. I think this is the same product they use on regular and custom upgrades to car interiors.

Once I finished getting everything in place, and my hands stopped shaking, I went for trimming the dash openings.

I have a few places to touch up and trim out, like the end corners, but overall, I think it looks good, and that's all that matters, right?

In looking at other dash photos, I can't figure out a consistent pattern for the hole just to the right of the speedo. Some pics show a lighter, some show nothing next to the windshield wiper knob. Is this just a place to mound any additional items like a lighter, or in today's world an accessory/USB point? Or is there a specific item that goes here? Just wondering.
Jeff
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_________________
1971 Ghia convertible (Body off rebuild)
2019 VW Atlas 4Motion
2012 Passat-Sold


See my build on The Samba at:
Jeff's 71 Vert Restoration/Reassembly http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=6...highlight=

[crocteau]

[rbsurfguy]

Thank you Sir. Yeah every picture I look at seems to be different, so I guess it was an extra location for whatever someone wanted, I'm thinking maybe I shouldn't have punched it through the dash, I guess I never had anything there but just forgot since I haven't seen it uncovered for so many years. Maybe I'll put in a lighter/accessory plug, or a USB port with cover if I can find something small enough, don't really want to ream it out any larger if I don't have to in order to fit another switch.

Open to ideas, hopefully nothing that involves too much wiring.....I still haven't finished the wire harness hook up, installing the gauges will help, but it still freaks me I'm going to do something wrong and it's still a bit confusing no matter how many diagrams I look at.
_________________
1971 Ghia convertible (Body off rebuild)
2019 VW Atlas 4Motion
2012 Passat-Sold


See my build on The Samba at:
Jeff's 71 Vert Restoration/Reassembly http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=6...highlight=

[NoDents]

[rbsurfguy]

I like it and I know a few guys that may have that exact item. Will reach into my secret squirrel connections to see what is available. Other ideas would be a smoke/oil dispenser, or perhaps a nail/tack dispenser for those that want to follow too close behind. Would love to have an auto grenade release button, but I could only get away with that when I was in Iraq, and probably wouldn't get away with it here!

Keep the ideas coming, nothing is too bizarre at this point!
Jeff
_________________
1971 Ghia convertible (Body off rebuild)
2019 VW Atlas 4Motion
2012 Passat-Sold


See my build on The Samba at:
Jeff's 71 Vert Restoration/Reassembly http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=6...highlight=

[crocteau]

[TRS63]

Good idea with the vinyl wrap, looks better as the plastic part I think!

Antoine
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Antoine
My 62 ragtop daily driver:
https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=728873
My 914 restoration&lightweight project :
https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?p=9698432#9698432
Resurrecting a 60 ghia : https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=713906
My 52 Standard Zwitter :
https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?p=10086685#10086685

[rbsurfguy]

Thanks Charlie, I'm still not sure what is meant by an Auxiliary heater, would that mean a gas heater like I've seen in some early VW's? I'll find something to put in that spot.

Thanks Antoine, it feels a lot more solid compared to the standard plastic cover sold by the vendors.
_________________
1971 Ghia convertible (Body off rebuild)
2019 VW Atlas 4Motion
2012 Passat-Sold


See my build on The Samba at:
Jeff's 71 Vert Restoration/Reassembly http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=6...highlight=

[rbsurfguy]

Hey dlud, you posted "I am in the process of applying the same material to my dash and I was wondering if I had to fill in the holes. I anticipated the same issue that you have: the 48" material width is slightly less than the width of the dash."

Obviously cut the length, top to bottom a little longer that the dash face. I think I cut mine 7", in order to fold over the top lip and roll under the bottom. You can go a little longer, but when you heat the material, it's pretty flexible. I started sticking it from the top down, but it might work better if you stick it to the face first, then work it up and over the top and bottom, heating it and using a spreader you can get from the same dealer, I think I got a medium soft or firm, it's yellow in color. However you decide to apply, when you heat the material, it becomes very stretchable and soft. If you can get someone to help you, extra hands, it would help a lot. Trying to hold tools, heat gun, spreader, and hold or stretch the material by yourself is kind of difficult.

The pattern I used didn't seem to distort at all, as long as you don't stretch it too much. I used the Birds Eye Maple Gloss Wood Vinyl. I think the Cherry Teak or the Walnut looks more like the original, but I wanted the Birds Eye. If you go with the Cherry or Walnut, check the pattern, because I think you will have to turn it sideways, as the pattern in the picture shows it running downward. If you went that way, you can buy a piece long enough, 5', which would stretch all the way across, but you'll have 4 feet, or 48" hanging down. Unless you intend to use the material in other places, it may be too much waste.

I bought my stuff from https://www.metrorestyling.com/Wood-Grain-Vinyl-Wrap-Film-s/1228.htm material and spreader. You can always call and ask them to confirm the pattern direction before you buy. I bought a bunch of samples before I bought a roll.

Keep me posted how it goes, or start your own build thread so everyone can watch and you can get advice directly to your own page.

Good Luck, Jeff
_________________
1971 Ghia convertible (Body off rebuild)
2019 VW Atlas 4Motion
2012 Passat-Sold


See my build on The Samba at:
Jeff's 71 Vert Restoration/Reassembly http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=6...highlight=

[dlud]

Thanks for the detailed explanation...very helpful, and for the source for the DiNoc. I'm about 80% through with my restoration. Keeping it pretty much stock although I did do a Subaru EJ25 conversion. Bodywork and paint is done, just finished rewiring and now installing the Subaru ecu and engine harness and morphing that onto the VW wiring. Once I finish that I'll move onto the interior which will include the DiNoc.
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[rbsurfguy]

No problem, hope it works out well for you. I have been working most of the day trying to work on the wiring under the dash, my brain is fried looking at the wiring schematic from the Bentley Manual!! But the wiring sheet from JBugs with the wiring harness I bought is very helpful and makes things much clearer.

Good luck on finishing up your build, I've hear about people putting the Subaru engine in, but never really seen one. WOuld love to see any pics of your Ghia, what year and type is it, Convertible or Sedan?

Jeff
_________________
1971 Ghia convertible (Body off rebuild)
2019 VW Atlas 4Motion
2012 Passat-Sold


See my build on The Samba at:
Jeff's 71 Vert Restoration/Reassembly http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=6...highlight=

[rbsurfguy]

UGGHHH! As I'm completing the install of the wiring harness, I've pretty much given up on trying to install the wires to the interior light and door contacts, not that I really need those. I CANNOT find a way to fish the wires down the windshield post. Something is obviously blocking the path and everything I have tried to run down the post stops somewhere along the way. Using the flexible electricians fishing line is the best item I've tried, but I think when it goes around the top left corner and down, maybe the angle gets misguided and it can't find the proper path. What I haven't tried is running down the passenger side post and reverse the wiring, if it's long enough. I really would only want to connect the interior light and not the door contacts. Perhaps I'll try that and see how it goes.
_________________
1971 Ghia convertible (Body off rebuild)
2019 VW Atlas 4Motion
2012 Passat-Sold


See my build on The Samba at:
Jeff's 71 Vert Restoration/Reassembly http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=6...highlight=

[Redlabel6]

Jeff, have you tried a piece of weed-eater string? melt the end a little so it doesn't snag. I used that getting the wires to my 3rd brake light.
You need the heavy duty stuff and have to warm it up to get it straight.
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1957 Oval Window Beetle
1973 Karmann Ghia Coupe
https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=666792&highlight=73+coupe

[rbsurfguy]

yeah I've tried everything. The best thing I found that is flexible and stiff enough is what electricians use to snake wiring through walls and ceilings. While it does provide much more control, it is also thick and firm enough to maneuver around most obstacles. I have a feeling there may have been some welding going on in the windshield frame area by someone that didn't contemplate they could cause an obstruction to the wiring that needs to go there. I think I'll try running down the passenger side post and if I can get it through, I will disconnect the door contact wires and just fish the light wire, or make my own, in order to connect it to the fuse panel, it's worth a try.
_________________
1971 Ghia convertible (Body off rebuild)
2019 VW Atlas 4Motion
2012 Passat-Sold


See my build on The Samba at:
Jeff's 71 Vert Restoration/Reassembly http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=6...highlight=

[c21darrel]

Have you tried a shopvac and light string? Suck it up.
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GhiaBuild
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=481184
1967 DC build
https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=693583&highlight=67+dc
Stop dead photo links! Post your photos to The Samba Gallery!

[rbsurfguy]

Yup tried that as well, couldn't get enough suction. I think you recommended that to me before, or if not you someone else. Frustrating! I'll try it again just in case I gave up too easily. This section of wiring is so insignificant compared to everything else I need to focus on. Besides, I never had a working dome light or door contacts in any air cooler I've owned, so won't even miss it. Besides, nowadays I can just buy some type of magnetic mounted LED light I can hide away under the dash should I need one.
_________________
1971 Ghia convertible (Body off rebuild)
2019 VW Atlas 4Motion
2012 Passat-Sold


See my build on The Samba at:
Jeff's 71 Vert Restoration/Reassembly http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=6...highlight=

[KGCoupe]

Worst case, you can always go with a battery powered motion activated interior light that's kept charged by a small solar panel.


... or run the wire down the outside of the A pillar and hide it beneath the headliner, similar to the way that some people run an extension cord beneath an area rug.