68 Regatta Blue Karmann Ghia Vert 22,350 Original Miles

[iowegian]

We have a 3 piece hard shell J.C.Penney set that we occasionally strap atop the Beetle. My wife got it as a high school graduation gift from her parents in 1963.

[Marcdeb]

What to do??
Regatta has an early style, "K" shaped engine compartment seal and it's literally crumbling in pieces. Oddly, and fortunately, all the rest of the rubber is in excellent shape.

Yet these rubber seals are described as for up to 1966. The "S" style seal is said to be for 1967 and later and if the parts description is correct, should be on the car.
There's no doubt that this seal has never been replaced. Is the sales description wrong?
Or maybe the factory used up leftover seals?

My issue is I want to keep this car correct & original but it looks like I can't have it both ways!
If I reinstall an early seal, the purists who know better will say it's not original! If I install the newer seal, I will know I didn't keep it original!

Anyone else run into this with a 67 or 68?
_________________
Marc
68 Karmann Ghia Cabrio Autostick
71 Karmann Ghia Cabrio

Previously Owned:
2011 VW EOS Hard Top Conv
2008 Saab 9-3 2.0T Conv
2003 Saab 9-3 SE Conv
2001 Saab 9-3 Conv
1998 BMW 3 Series Conv
1997 Saab 900 Conv
1997 Mazda Miata

68 Ghia Vert Survivor with 22,350 miles: https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=768107&highlight=
71 Ghia Vert Restoration: https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=726710&postorder=asc

[Rome]

Hi, Marc. I checked some photos which I saved from a few sources of well-kept or low mileage original '67 and '68 Ghias. Those show that the '67 had the K style seal, but a few '68 have either style seal. Bill S' Castilian Yellow '67 Cabrio from Connecticut which he sold late last year on BaT has the K-style seal. Kingkarmann's '67 has the "K". From theSamba classifieds at the time- a dark green '68 AutoStick Ghia with 32,000 original miles which I saved from 2014 has the S style. A white '68 Ghia Coupe saved from 2016 which would be considered a very clean "survivor" had the K style...

So my suggestion is to replace your seal with a K style one. Need to pull the engine out to do that. But while you have the engine out...
- De-rust and repaint your rear engine tin with either semi-gloss or satin black
- Do same with your valve covers
- Rotate your generator 1/4 turn CW so that the wire terminals at the top point to "2:00"
- Apply a cleaner wax to the engine surround panels to bring out the blue paint gloss

But wait for late fall for that work; you want to enjoy the driving during this summer and early fall!

[Braukuche]

[Marcdeb]

[Marcdeb]

[kingkarmann]

Aircooled Artifacts (formerly Lane Russell)
https://aircooledartifacts.com/collections/all/products/1300-1600-pierburg-fuel-pump

Sophia has an "S" seal.
I think Joan's "K" seal is probably better.

_________________
"Depression is a malfunction of the instrument we use to determine reality.”

Mike Gerson

What is your "Bespoke Reality"?

[Marcdeb]

[Marcdeb]

I had seen at least 2 different ways that the engine compartment seal was held down in the channel at the ends, and at the lower corners but tonight I noticed that Regatta has another method.

My 71 has metal pins that stick up for holes in the rubber seal to fit over. Then a round plastic/metal cap gets pushed onto the pins to lock the seal down. I've also read about screws on some of the older cars but don't know which years. Regatta has white plastic rectangular clips with a forked pin that goes through the rubber seal and through a hole in the channel.

Another interesting little detail on Regatta is that the portion of the seal that lays in the bottom of the channel (at the ends) is trimmed at an angle. I wonder if this was done to help direct water flow to the outside of the channel rather than under the rubber seal?? Wonder if anyone's ever lost points at a car show for the ends not having an angled cut??

I removed the tarboard on the left side and interestingly, the paint didn't quite make it to the underside of the rear quarters. There's mostly only light grey primer on the back side of that area. Right side is the same way. Is this typical?
_________________
Marc
68 Karmann Ghia Cabrio Autostick
71 Karmann Ghia Cabrio

Previously Owned:
2011 VW EOS Hard Top Conv
2008 Saab 9-3 2.0T Conv
2003 Saab 9-3 SE Conv
2001 Saab 9-3 Conv
1998 BMW 3 Series Conv
1997 Saab 900 Conv
1997 Mazda Miata

68 Ghia Vert Survivor with 22,350 miles: https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=768107&highlight=
71 Ghia Vert Restoration: https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=726710&postorder=asc

[kingkarmann]

So many have been restored or otherwise "tampered" with. That mkes the minutia your highlighting on your unmolested original likely the first time any of us were aware.
This sort of documentation is gold AFAIC!
As the values increase more and more restorers are going to want and need these details
_________________
"Depression is a malfunction of the instrument we use to determine reality.”

Mike Gerson

What is your "Bespoke Reality"?

[Marcdeb]

[Marcdeb]

Another interesting detail. I was just informed that 68 type 1 was a one year only Generator with spade lugs instead of nut style connections. If true, means the original spade connectors were cut off! I suspect it's true as mine has had new connectors installed. Another project!!

_________________
Marc
68 Karmann Ghia Cabrio Autostick
71 Karmann Ghia Cabrio

Previously Owned:
2011 VW EOS Hard Top Conv
2008 Saab 9-3 2.0T Conv
2003 Saab 9-3 SE Conv
2001 Saab 9-3 Conv
1998 BMW 3 Series Conv
1997 Saab 900 Conv
1997 Mazda Miata

68 Ghia Vert Survivor with 22,350 miles: https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=768107&highlight=
71 Ghia Vert Restoration: https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=726710&postorder=asc

[Braukuche]

[sputnick60]

[Marcdeb]

[Marcdeb]

[hazetguy]

[Marcdeb]

[hazetguy]

"rare", in the grand scheme of things i'd say no. more like "uncommon". i see fewer of them at swaps than i used to.
over the decades when spade type gens failed, they got replaced with post type generators, as the spade type were no longer being offered as rebuilt units (and were certainly not produced new).
the only time they are "rare" is when you are looking for a correct date coded one for an accurate restoration project. that hunt can take a while.
_________________
thebucket: I invested in hoodride, now DBD won't return my call?
hazetguy: invested?
thebucket: Yeah Haze, its where people put money into a company in hopes of a return on their money

[kingkarmann]