68 Regatta Blue Karmann Ghia Vert 22,350 Original Miles

[Marcdeb]

[Marcdeb]

After dropping the engine, I found this small part sitting in grease and gunk at the base of the fan shroud, on the front side. Any idea what it is??

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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]

It’s the plug for the LPG port on 34 PICT carbs. Those damn things fall out all the time.
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Go Reds! Smash state!

Retirement is here!
1956 Ghia
1959 SO-23 Westfalia
1960 double cab
1960 Baja Bug
1963 stretched double cab
1962 Golde sunroof Ghia
1963 356 B coupe
1963 Notchback
1967 21 window less rusty now

[Trylon]

Pretty sweet to have a VW guy handy Marc!
Do you rent him out?
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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!

[Marcdeb]

[Marcdeb]

[Marcdeb]

When we pulled the engine out last week, I wasn't crazy about the 12 point bolts holding the torque converter on the Engine. I got them off ok but they look like they could easily strip out. At some point, VW went to 6 point bolts so I would prefer to replace them with the 6 point bolts. I actually found two in my pile of miscellaneous hardware. I would like to buy 2 more if any one has some they are not going to need. Here's the two I have.

_________________
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

[Marcdeb]

Back in July I wanted to adjust the door strikers to eliminate a minor rattle in both doors, but I had not been able to
loosen the screws on the door strikers. I even used my old Impact Driver which has always worked for me over the years.
After numerous hard hammer blows, I decided to leave it and move on rather than do any damage.

Last night I thought about trying my new SKIL driver. Just needed to dig around and find a large phillips head. This is not a
heavy duty tool by an means but it did the job in seconds. I like using my old tools but I really have been impressed with these
brushless SKIL power tools.

_________________
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]

Nice!
Thanks for the idea
_________________
"Depression is a malfunction of the instrument we use to determine reality.”

Mike Gerson

What is your "Bespoke Reality"?

[Marcdeb]

[Marcdeb]

I was doing odds and ends on both cars yesterday and happened to be kneeling down up close to the drivers seat. Both front seats have damage on the seams closest to the tunnel. Otherwise, they are in great shape.

The dealer I bought the car from had photographs in the ad with the seats not repaired, but when the car arrived a few weeks later, the dealer had obviously attempted a crappy repair with some sort of vinyl goop that looked terrible. After getting in and out of the car a few times, the junk goop they used just cracked open right away. I assumed the seat vinyl under the goop was torn, but as I looked at the seat up close yesterday, I noticed that the vinyl looks to be fine, just stitching had let go and it needs to be re-stitched. I was able to peel some of the goop away where it's thick, but where it's thinner might not peel so easily if at all? I'm hoping maybe with some warming, it might all peel off?

I hope the material hasn't been ruined? This is a dealer that deals in only vintage cars like BMW's Mercedes, Jags, etc. How stupid can people be? This dealer also threw out the original owners manual and a pile of service records for my car. I only know that because I spoke to the PO as well as the guy who handed the car over to the dealer. they sent all sorts of records with the car.
_________________
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]

Looks like you and I will be tackling similar winter projects.
I think with much patience that you could make a successful repair.
You "seam" have the skillset
_________________
"Depression is a malfunction of the instrument we use to determine reality.”

Mike Gerson

What is your "Bespoke Reality"?

[Marcdeb]

Progress is slow, but it feels good to be one step further along. I'm replacing the rear main seal due to oil leaking. I had been contemplating buying a new electric impact wrench to remove the gland nut I have a Great Neck electric that I've had for many years. I use it primarily for lug nuts, but it only has a rating of 200 ft lbs and the gland nut is higher than that. Decided I should at least try it before buying another tool that I might not need again. Sure enough, the gland nut came off in seconds. The Bentley says the torque should be 217, but I've seen others say it should be around 280 ft lbs? Glad to save the money. The flex plate turned out to be a bit stubborn but after a few hours of soaking with PB Blaster, it came off. Of course, now I find out the flex plate needs an O-ring as does the flywheel on a 4 speed Didn't know that so back to waiting on parts. In the meantime I can clean up this mess and have it ready.

From the looks of the mess, I'd say the old seal is certainly bad.

_________________
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]

Great progress!
Looks like the process went fairly smooth.

I recall using a 3/4" breaker bar with a 4 foot extension pipe.
A piece of 5 foot angle iron was bolted to the flywheel to keep everything stable.
Somehow I managed to avoid the ER
_________________
"Depression is a malfunction of the instrument we use to determine reality.”

Mike Gerson

What is your "Bespoke Reality"?

[Marcdeb]

[mouse action]

Marc, you are fearless.

[Marcdeb]

[borninabus]

came across your thread and am really enjoying it
as a person who clocked over 100k miles in a ghia (auto-stick), it's so great to see someone else really just driving and enjoying theirs--and especially such a nice example!

good on you for getting the engine out. i'm sure you will find all the seals to be rock hard and in dire need of replacement. i pulled some OG oil cooler seals off a 68 bus and can say that once you have them in your hand, you will wonder why you ever contemplated leaving them!

the pushrod tube seals will require head removal to replace, unfortunately. if it was my decision to make, i probably wouldn't even look at the heads for fear of getting sucked into a rabbit hole. just do the seals. stretch the OG tubes back out (seams up) and slap those heads right back where they came from!

i've installed many of those engine compartment seals and yes, they are not exactly the same as OG, but they're good seals. my 71 had the K style seal as yours does. you should think twice about the "generic" fuel cap. i believe they have been dealer installed as some sort of emissions "fix". i have seen other 68-71s with the exact same cap including mine.

nice ride, again
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88 Van WBX, A/T - 13 JSW TDI 6M/T - 2012 Touareg TDI Sport

[Marcdeb]

[3foldfolly]

Would be a good time to replace the torque converter seal with the engine removed. Torque converter bushing is probably fine considering the low mileage on the car..