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AmandaCB
Samba Member
Joined: February 06, 2024
Posts: 35
Location: Corpus Christi, Tx
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 Posted: Fri Mar 01, 2024 3:57 pm Post subject: Re: 1973 Ghia coupe one owner barn find project |
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Slow but steady progress. Just wish my husband didn't have to work so much OT but somebody's gotta make the diesel.
Took out the steering column, sanded it down and gave it a fresh spray.
Dropped the front end and husband is tackling the "take apart and put back together". I've sanded as much of the pedal assembly as I can until we figure out how to get the damned pin out of the clutch pedal. Hopefully then I can put it in the sandblaster cabinet, spray and get it back together.
Tires were a minimum of 24 years old (still had paper on them from Sears) and tried as we might we couldn't get the crusty ass rubber off ourselves. Had to take to a tire shop, so husband will blast the wheels at work hopefully tonight before I repaint them.
Ordered a new key (from someone on here in fact) and bought this 3D printed keychain (my son tried to find the print file but couldn't). The silver part spins and you had a choice of colors for a fairly decent price. Looks chewed up but it's just how it photographed. After I purchased I got a message from the seller saying he'd received a cease and desist from VW so mine was the last one he could advertise lol
I loved my ZL1s but the superchargers were rather wasted on the traffic and lack of open roads here. I traded in my 2018 on a 2022 Countryman S so I've already gotten accustomed to a slower cruising speed lol Here's hoping we can get more things accomplished soon!
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Amanda
1973 Ghia coupe one owner barn find
2022 Countryman S
Previous toys:
2015 ZL1 - ran 165mph standing mile @ Texas Mile
2018 ZL1 - ran 175mph standing mile @ Texas Mile |
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AmandaCB
Samba Member
Joined: February 06, 2024
Posts: 35
Location: Corpus Christi, Tx
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| Posted: Sun Mar 17, 2024 11:04 am Post subject: Re: 1973 Ghia coupe one owner barn find project |
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Husband decided we would remove and rebuild the front end. Here's before and afters painted all pretty.
We reinstalled it yesterday but I haven't taken pictures of that yet.
While he did that I took apart the pedal assembly, cleaned, sandblasted, painted and put it back together. I hate cross shaft pins!!!! It's not perfect but it's done.
I didn't post my wheels here. Husband sandblasted them at work (our home cabinet isn't large enough), then I primed, wet sanded, painted with VHT silver paint (thanks Rome) and a crap ton of clear. We swapped the wonky edged one with the spare and haven't tackled that repair just yet. Got tires Friday to replace the 20 year old ones lol
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Amanda
1973 Ghia coupe one owner barn find
2022 Countryman S
Previous toys:
2015 ZL1 - ran 165mph standing mile @ Texas Mile
2018 ZL1 - ran 175mph standing mile @ Texas Mile |
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Marcdeb
Samba Member
Joined: May 22, 2019
Posts: 3254
Location: Vermont
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AmandaCB
Samba Member
Joined: February 06, 2024
Posts: 35
Location: Corpus Christi, Tx
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| Posted: Wed Apr 03, 2024 12:05 pm Post subject: Re: 1973 Ghia coupe one owner barn find project |
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Well it wasn't how we figured we'd progress when starting this project but if you're gonna do it, do it right.
Latest update, removed the engine.
Then I removed all the body bolts and my husband made a body dolly. Took myself, my husband, and my son but we got the body off and the pan out.
There ended up being a floor pan repair towards the back of the driver's side that was really hard to do with the body on, so hopefully this will make this faster and smoother. Plus we can do the rear end rebuild without the confines of the body. Truly going to be a new car once we're done lol
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Amanda
1973 Ghia coupe one owner barn find
2022 Countryman S
Previous toys:
2015 ZL1 - ran 165mph standing mile @ Texas Mile
2018 ZL1 - ran 175mph standing mile @ Texas Mile |
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Marcdeb
Samba Member
Joined: May 22, 2019
Posts: 3254
Location: Vermont
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| Posted: Wed Apr 03, 2024 12:10 pm Post subject: Re: 1973 Ghia coupe one owner barn find project |
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You don't fool around! That's a lot of progress in such a short time. But I think you're doing the right thing. You'll get a much better result in the end.
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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 |
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jamesbee
Samba Member
Joined: March 24, 2024
Posts: 5
Location: OR
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| Posted: Wed Apr 03, 2024 2:29 pm Post subject: Re: 1973 Ghia coupe one owner barn find project |
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| Nice project, you're moving quick! I'll be following along, I have a 74 I'm starting on. |
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AmandaCB
Samba Member
Joined: February 06, 2024
Posts: 35
Location: Corpus Christi, Tx
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| Posted: Thu Apr 04, 2024 10:43 am Post subject: Re: 1973 Ghia coupe one owner barn find project |
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I feel like it's going incredibly slow! I try to do as much as I can that doesn't require my husband's help but sometimes it's just not a one person job. I've been helping him restore and build cars for 20 years. Everything from Tri 5's to Z06 and ZR1. This is just the first one that's been MY car, so I'm incredibly impatient lol
Power washed the pan and rear end today in preparation to move it into the garage. Easier for him to weld in there, and at the same time we'll start the rear end rebuild. I plan to remove the rest of the trim and interior from the body in the next few days, too. Thanks for following along - I'm learning as I go!
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Amanda
1973 Ghia coupe one owner barn find
2022 Countryman S
Previous toys:
2015 ZL1 - ran 165mph standing mile @ Texas Mile
2018 ZL1 - ran 175mph standing mile @ Texas Mile |
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jeffrey8164
Samba Member
Joined: January 06, 2018
Posts: 4168
Location: Georgia
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| Posted: Thu Apr 04, 2024 5:09 pm Post subject: Re: 1973 Ghia coupe one owner barn find project |
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| AmandaCB wrote: |
I feel like it's going incredibly slow! I try to do as much as I can that doesn't require my husband's help but sometimes it's just not a one person job. I've been helping him restore and build cars for 20 years. Everything from Tri 5's to Z06 and ZR1. This is just the first one that's been MY car, so I'm incredibly impatient lol
Power washed the pan and rear end today in preparation to move it into the garage. Easier for him to weld in there, and at the same time we'll start the rear end rebuild. I plan to remove the rest of the trim and interior from the body in the next few days, too. Thanks for following along - I'm learning as I go! |
Nice to see a kindred spirit.
When I got my Ghia I was just going to clean it up and get it running. It was in similar condition to yours with just a little rust on the pan behind the drivers seat.
One thing lead to another and the next thing I know I pulled the body off the pan too.
It’s definitely worth the effort. You’ll know that car inside and out.
Then you can be like me and wonder how in the world does this or that stop working because you’ve touched it and verified it.
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Volkswagen!
Turning owners into mechanics since 1938.
“Let he that is without oil throw the first rod”
(Compression 8.7:1) |
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AmandaCB
Samba Member
Joined: February 06, 2024
Posts: 35
Location: Corpus Christi, Tx
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| Posted: Fri Apr 19, 2024 9:03 pm Post subject: Re: 1973 Ghia coupe one owner barn find project |
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Husband was finally able to get enough time off to cut out the sections of floor pan in preparation for repair.
And now the Ghia is finally in the garage for the first time since we brought it home! Okay, half of it anyway! Alongside my husband’s 1967 Camaro. Tomorrow….welding 🔥🤞🏼
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Amanda
1973 Ghia coupe one owner barn find
2022 Countryman S
Previous toys:
2015 ZL1 - ran 165mph standing mile @ Texas Mile
2018 ZL1 - ran 175mph standing mile @ Texas Mile |
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WestyMeg
Samba Member
Joined: July 22, 2014
Posts: 45
Location: New Hampshire
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| Posted: Sat Apr 20, 2024 11:36 am Post subject: Re: 1973 Ghia coupe one owner barn find project |
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Beautiful work! I'm also of the mind; if you're going to do it, do it right. 
My 68 coupe is my first air cooled engine car, and also the oldest car I've owned. Mine is in nice shape, mostly restored already, but I'm excited to dig in and start tinkering. It of course needs all the usual maintenance work, and I just discovered on the ride home from winter storage that I need new front wheel bearings. I could do just the driver's side since the other seems fine, but why do just one side? Do it once, do it right!
Can't wait to see your progress! Good luck!
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Why is the rum gone?!
1968 Karmann Ghia-some fancy white
1985 Westfalia-some crap brown
1971 Opel GT-hubby's first car
1974 914-mostly rust colored
2007 Cayman S-Sapphire Blue (so pretty!) |
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AmandaCB
Samba Member
Joined: February 06, 2024
Posts: 35
Location: Corpus Christi, Tx
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| Posted: Wed Jun 19, 2024 9:15 am Post subject: Re: 1973 Ghia coupe one owner barn find project |
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Husband finished up the underside welding of the pan and we removed the front and rear suspensions. Then I got a crash course in canister sandblasting, which is satisfying but awful when it's 95 degrees and 80% humidity.
Me in husband's old Nomex, face mask, face shield, but before I realized I needed gloves lol
post sandblasting
one coat of POR-15, I've since added two more coats but the photo is the same.
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Amanda
1973 Ghia coupe one owner barn find
2022 Countryman S
Previous toys:
2015 ZL1 - ran 165mph standing mile @ Texas Mile
2018 ZL1 - ran 175mph standing mile @ Texas Mile |
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Rome
Samba Member
Joined: June 02, 2004
Posts: 10604
Location: Pearl River, NY
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| Posted: Wed Jun 19, 2024 3:46 pm Post subject: Re: 1973 Ghia coupe one owner barn find project |
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Very nice work by your husband with the fitting and welding of the pan patches, and by you with the sandblasting!
The passenger side rear corner of the pan (left side in the inverted photo) has a small upwards dent. You can pop it down to level it once you have the pan upright again by tapping/banging the corner with a 2 x 4" board held vertically. Or if you keep the pan inverted for additional paint coats, roll a floor jack under the pan corner, cut a 2 x 4 board to appropriate height, balance the board onto the jack pad, and raise the jack so that the other end of the board pops that dent upwards. |
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AmandaCB
Samba Member
Joined: February 06, 2024
Posts: 35
Location: Corpus Christi, Tx
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| Posted: Wed Jun 19, 2024 9:04 pm Post subject: Re: 1973 Ghia coupe one owner barn find project |
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| Rome wrote: |
Very nice work by your husband with the fitting and welding of the pan patches, and by you with the sandblasting!
The passenger side rear corner of the pan (left side in the inverted photo) has a small upwards dent. You can pop it down to level it once you have the pan upright again by tapping/banging the corner with a 2 x 4" board held vertically. Or if you keep the pan inverted for additional paint coats, roll a floor jack under the pan corner, cut a 2 x 4 board to appropriate height, balance the board onto the jack pad, and raise the jack so that the other end of the board pops that dent upwards. |
I knew someone would notice the dent in the passenger side! lol I’m guessing PO missed the sweet spot trying to jack it up but no worries - we plan to bang it out before too much longer. Thanks for the method advice 
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Amanda
1973 Ghia coupe one owner barn find
2022 Countryman S
Previous toys:
2015 ZL1 - ran 165mph standing mile @ Texas Mile
2018 ZL1 - ran 175mph standing mile @ Texas Mile |
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AmandaCB
Samba Member
Joined: February 06, 2024
Posts: 35
Location: Corpus Christi, Tx
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| Posted: Sat Jun 29, 2024 2:16 pm Post subject: Re: 1973 Ghia coupe one owner barn find project |
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Finished up the POR-15 on the floor pan and applied the Killmat.
Hoping to get the rear suspension painted and reassembled before my husband's job starts a turnaround.
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Amanda
1973 Ghia coupe one owner barn find
2022 Countryman S
Previous toys:
2015 ZL1 - ran 165mph standing mile @ Texas Mile
2018 ZL1 - ran 175mph standing mile @ Texas Mile |
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mg50
Samba Member
Joined: August 30, 2022
Posts: 750
Location: Southeast
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AmandaCB
Samba Member
Joined: February 06, 2024
Posts: 35
Location: Corpus Christi, Tx
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| Posted: Wed Aug 07, 2024 3:36 pm Post subject: Re: 1973 Ghia coupe one owner barn find project |
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Floor pan is DONE! All new brake lines, new reservoir, new clutch and accelerator lines, new heater lines, installed short shifter, e brake, transmission is resealed, painted and mounted. Bled the brakes, everything works as it should.
Next up is engine.
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Amanda
1973 Ghia coupe one owner barn find
2022 Countryman S
Previous toys:
2015 ZL1 - ran 165mph standing mile @ Texas Mile
2018 ZL1 - ran 175mph standing mile @ Texas Mile |
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AmandaCB
Samba Member
Joined: February 06, 2024
Posts: 35
Location: Corpus Christi, Tx
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| Posted: Fri Aug 09, 2024 9:37 am Post subject: Re: 1973 Ghia coupe one owner barn find project |
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Rolls and stops beautifully. EBrake holds.
And then there's me sitting on the completed pan because why not lol
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Amanda
1973 Ghia coupe one owner barn find
2022 Countryman S
Previous toys:
2015 ZL1 - ran 165mph standing mile @ Texas Mile
2018 ZL1 - ran 175mph standing mile @ Texas Mile |
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SCG9860
Samba Member
Joined: April 10, 2022
Posts: 68
Location: Lakeside, Ca.
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| Posted: Fri Aug 09, 2024 12:33 pm Post subject: Re: 1973 Ghia coupe one owner barn find project |
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| It looks great. You're doing a beautiful job! |
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Rob Combs
Samba Member
Joined: December 30, 2020
Posts: 602
Location: South Bay LA, California
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| Posted: Wed Aug 21, 2024 3:23 pm Post subject: Re: 1973 Ghia coupe one owner barn find project |
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Great work on the pan & chassis!
Engine is up next? Do yourself a big favor and pop on over to the engine/high performance section of these forums to check out how some of those guys are building these engines. There are some REALLY good builders over there that have volunteered hard-earned information and experience to the rest of us through these forums. Even if you're doing a stock rebuild it's worth checking out.
You have what appears to be all of the period-correct/original parts that really do make a difference in the way it runs. It was mentioned above, but I'll say it again please do not toss these parts. They're getting much harder to find and work much better than most of the aftermarket "performance" parts out there. There are a few ways to make these engines much better through careful rebuilding, and a lot of ways to make them far worse.
There are also a couple of clever ways to modify some of the original parts that will noticeably help performance and keep it looking stock if you so desire and have the patience to do it right.
Good luck! Based on your work so far can't wait to see how the engine goes. |
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AmandaCB
Samba Member
Joined: February 06, 2024
Posts: 35
Location: Corpus Christi, Tx
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| Posted: Mon Aug 11, 2025 10:40 am Post subject: Re: 1973 Ghia coupe one owner barn find project |
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Well my husband and I purchased a tire and automotive shop so the Ghia has been put on the back burner for a bit. We finally got some time and energy to do a little of the body work this weekend with a gas filler delete.
My other pictures wouldn't upload for some reason but you get the idea.
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Amanda
1973 Ghia coupe one owner barn find
2022 Countryman S
Previous toys:
2015 ZL1 - ran 165mph standing mile @ Texas Mile
2018 ZL1 - ran 175mph standing mile @ Texas Mile |
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