Engine to body seals?

[dsoucie]

I have a 64 Ghia convertible. A previous owner had changed the engine from 1200 to I believe a 1600. I'm no mechanic, so I have no idea if it is an actual 1600 or what it came out of.
It needs new engine to body seals. They are in rough shape and there is some gaps. My question is what kind do I look for? Do I search for seals for a 64 Karmann Ghia or 1600 engine? How do I know what is going to fit?

Thanks.

[Braukuche]

[SandHamwich]

They are all the same, generally speaking. Most parts suppliers have model year ranges listed in the parts description. Your car will use the same seals regardless of engine size, as long as it’s a type-1 based engine. Consider replacing both seals (firewall and rear apron area) while the engine is out.

Also a good idea to check the transmission shaft seal and replace or refurbish the throw out bearing and associated parts while the engine is out.

Almost a year ago I purchase my Ghia and removed the engine to replace these seals. One thing leads to another as they say...now I’m building a completely new engine.

You may end up finding more necessary repairs than you expected.

[Rome]

Hello, fellow '64 Ghia owner! The '64 originally utilized the "early" style seal, with a cross-section shaped like a "K". Both of the K's side "leg" flaps are flat, with the upper flap seating above the engine tin, and the lower flap going beneath the tin. You press the tin into the gap, then work the upper flap up using a plastic wedge tool so that it sits above the tin. Spray inside the gap between the flaps with WD-40 so that the friction of the rubber is reduced and you can work it into position with the wedge tool easier. I also have a 1600 engine in mine and the seal fits fine.

Getting the old seal out, unless you already have it out, is a chore. The channel in which the vertical part of the seal ("K") sits needs to be clean and have no bits of old rubber in either the upper or lower retaining channel which would block the new seal.

Ghia seals were the same as for the ones for Beetle "for the corresponding years". The engine seal style changed to a sideways "Z" for the '67 model year to speed up the engine to body mounting phase at the production line. That style will also work for your 1600 engine but the seal is wrong for the body.

I just checked your gallery and remember when you posted one of your photos in the "Ghia faces" thread. Your Ghia is very similar to mine, which is L87 Pearl White and originally came with a black roof. I replaced my roof with an NOS brown '67 style back in '86, which has a slightly larger rear window size and style than what the '64 originally had.

Is your 1600 engine a single or dual port? If you don't know the difference, you can take a good shot of the engine (turn the flash ON even if the car is outside to illuminate the darker areas) and post into your gallery. The DP has nicely curved, cast aluminum ends that slip onto the intake manifold. Those ends attach to the heads, and are separate from the steel metal pipe of the manifold itself. A SP engine does not have those cast end pieces, so that the steel manifold pipe continues outward and bends down to fasten to the head.

[dsoucie]

Thanks for the replies to my question on the seals. I will pick up some seals etc. for the next time the engine has to come out. I'm not mechanically inclined in any way so it will have to be someone else doing it for me. I'm sure there will be other things found as well...

[bnam]

If you have a 1600 engine, I suggest the later seal. The upper flap of the K will overlap the warm air hoses on the 1600 as they are a bit further back than on the 1200. Minor issue.

I used the later on my 65 which has a 1600DP.
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1971 1302LS Convertible (RHD) owned since '74
Click to view image
1965 Karmann Ghia Coupe - under restoration
1966 Fiat 1500 Cabrio (with 1600 Twin cam)
1952 Citroen TA 11BL