58' Ghia. Piece by piece questions

[rich caramadre]

Burman, Thank you for the detailed info. It looks like my car has the original headliner. unfortunately it's only 3/4 there. It's missing the first row from the windshield to the first bow.

[rich caramadre]

Next up, what are these aluminum pieces?

[Burman]

Those parts don´t belong to a 58 Ghia I´m afraid.

[rich caramadre]

That's why I could not figure out where they went. ha!

[otahuhu]

They are from a westy camper, if looking to re-home them I could use them, you can pm me if interested.

[rich caramadre]

Should the rear view mirror have long or short spindles for a 58'? I know there is a thread about it but I can't find it.

[John Moxon]

[Trylon]

[rich caramadre]

thank you john. I know the plastic visors are near impossible to find. So if I found to correct mirror it may sit naked. Would different visors fit? maybe even oval era beetle dark plastic ones?

About the dome light. Is it 58' Ghia specific?

[John Moxon]

[rich caramadre]

Next up, Nose badge. For a 58' Which is correct? Plain aluminum or blue enamel? If Aluminum, are they specific to 58'? If so what is different than later years.

[John Moxon]

[Loren]

The nose badge is chrome plated steel with a satin finish around the VW logo. The aluminum two piece badge was used on the 60 model year Ghia throughout production. As far as I know VW never made an aluminum version of this badge, though there might be a reproduction available in aluminum???

[rich caramadre]

I'm gathering pieces for my front turn signals. Do the 58' and earlier style use the same rubber gasket ( body to housing) as the oval beetle bullets?

[Loren]

Yes, they use the same gaskets as bug and bus bullet lights.

[rich caramadre]

I separated the body from the chassis. Time to work on the floor pans. I'm not sure if I can save them. I'm guessing if do replace them I'm not going to find any with the correct stamping. It seams the pans available have the curved stamping under the front foot area and do not have the correct ledge in the rear.(photo attached)

[otahuhu]

https://www.thesamba.com/vw/classifieds/detail.php?id=2161642 These are not perfect as there are some differences to the lowlight pressings but they are a much better option than the black ones.

Useful thread here with some reviews... https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=706778&highlight=pan

[rich caramadre]

I've been working on the chassis. Had to replace the rear sections. Then blasted, metal prepped, master series silver primer, then top coated with master series AG111. I tracked down the correct pitman arm and swaybar and a 59' front beam. Now I need to locate a working steering box. Small steps but it's progress.

[obus]

Just checked out your work. Nice Ghia and nice work! Pan turned out sweet! I hear you about piecing together your Ghia. I have to do the same with my 60 and i have never owned a Ghia before. A slew of seals and parts to figure out.

Continued luck with it going forward
_________________
July 1959 Mango Standard Bus aka Obus L346 L347 https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=256592&highlight=
June 1973 Pumpkin Orange Thing aka Othing L30H
https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=711775&highlight=
1960 Paprika Red Karmann Ghia Convertible aka Schatze L452 built 5/20/60
https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=...highlight=
66 21 window bus built 8/31/65 https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=777273

[Rome]

That was a good compromise with the cut-down patch panels, so that in the rear you could keep the original inner corners with their "finger" reinforcing indents.

The '70 Ghia pan I have on my '64 Cabrio has developed rot breaks in the pans under the front seats in the nearly 40 years I've owned the car. If I ever get around to fixing them, I'll probably use your cutting/fitting technique.