Getting ready to save another VW

dan macmillan · Posted: Sun Aug 23, 2009 7:17 pm Post subject: Getting ready to save another VW

Hi there, Dan here.
Some of you know me from the Late model Beetle, Bay window bus, Thing and Dunebuggy forums. Well after building 3 street legal buggies, restoring a 74 Thing and a 78 Westy, making my own 76 Double Cab and restoring/modifying my 74 Beetle, I finally got my hands on a 69 Ghia. Got it delivered to my door for $700.00 Canadian.

Now the process begins again.
Here is what my payment got me.

Image may have been reduced in size. Click image to view fullscreen.

Drivers floor, rocker and heater channel completely rotten. Lower fenders, deck lid bottom edge and rear bumper rotten. Will need all new brakes including lines and hoses. I have not started the engine yet but it is free to turn and has good compression. As a bonus the heat exchangers and tubes are not rotten, as well all electrical works. Odometer is showing 20k and change.
_________________
Licensed Automotive Service Technician
Licensed Truck and Coach Technician
Licensed Heavy Duty Equipment Technician
CFC/HCFC/HFC A/C handling and installation license
Alignment specialist
66 Modified Manx,68 Kyote,74 Thing,74 Beetle, 76 Transporter,75 self made Double Cab,65 Meyers Manx,78Westy,68 Ghia, 79 Bradley GT2
Current projects:
Built for others:69 Manx Clone

Gary · Posted: Sun Aug 23, 2009 7:19 pm Post subject:

Nice Ghia, Dan. Welcome to the fold, and thanks for not cutting up something that is "too rusty".
_________________
West Virginia State Board of Education v. Barnette, 319 U.S. 624 (1943)

dan macmillan · Posted: Sun Aug 23, 2009 7:30 pm Post subject:

What is too rusty? Up here this thing is in mint condition for an unrestored 69. Floors gone = surface rust. Rust can always be cut out and replaced. AHH if only I could start with a southern US car. Back to reality. I am looking forward to saving another one. My only problem is my fleet is getting too big for my yard. Good thing I have great neighbors.

Question. I have been looking at pictures of 69's to determine If the bumpers I have are correct. Some have a front bumper without the overriders while the rear have them. Are mine just on backwards?
Thanks
Dan
_________________
Licensed Automotive Service Technician
Licensed Truck and Coach Technician
Licensed Heavy Duty Equipment Technician
CFC/HCFC/HFC A/C handling and installation license
Alignment specialist
66 Modified Manx,68 Kyote,74 Thing,74 Beetle, 76 Transporter,75 self made Double Cab,65 Meyers Manx,78Westy,68 Ghia, 79 Bradley GT2
Current projects:
Built for others:69 Manx Clone

Gary · Posted: Sun Aug 23, 2009 7:44 pm Post subject:

Should have the over riders and the towel bars. Check out the gallery and you'll see.

Also, there's a link for a Ghia FAQ several people helped compile. I need to update it, but it should help you with a lot of general questions.
_________________
West Virginia State Board of Education v. Barnette, 319 U.S. 624 (1943)

dan macmillan · Posted: Mon Aug 24, 2009 11:17 am Post subject:

Well today I went out to see just how bad things were. Installed a temporary fuel line to a remote tank, reconnected the starter wire under the rear seat and cleaned the points. It runs like a brand new engine. Pulled the fuel tank and drained the 12 year old crap. Next was to pressure wash the entire car, found a few more weak spots but also found that the engine is painted gold.
What engine rebuilders used gold paint on the case?
_________________
Licensed Automotive Service Technician
Licensed Truck and Coach Technician
Licensed Heavy Duty Equipment Technician
CFC/HCFC/HFC A/C handling and installation license
Alignment specialist
66 Modified Manx,68 Kyote,74 Thing,74 Beetle, 76 Transporter,75 self made Double Cab,65 Meyers Manx,78Westy,68 Ghia, 79 Bradley GT2
Current projects:
Built for others:69 Manx Clone

gimpy60 · Posted: Mon Aug 24, 2009 12:48 pm Post subject:

Stole it, I will be in touch with the RCMP asap.
_________________
How the hell ya spost ta fix it, ya don't even know how it works boy

SkrapMetal · Posted: Mon Aug 24, 2009 1:06 pm Post subject:

borninabus · Posted: Mon Aug 24, 2009 2:41 pm Post subject:

my GEX engine had a gold case. i had to rebuild it cuz it had like 1/4" of endplay. nothing was reusable in the new engine.
_________________
88 Van WBX, A/T - 13 JSW TDI 6M/T - 2012 Touareg TDI Sport

SkrapMetal · Posted: Mon Aug 24, 2009 3:49 pm Post subject:

Bart Dunn · Posted: Mon Aug 24, 2009 4:36 pm Post subject:

dan macmillan · Posted: Tue Aug 25, 2009 4:26 am Post subject:

I have heard all the stories about GEX and experienced some of it first hand, but unfortunately it was after I purchased a T4 from CIP1. When I went to install it for a customer one of the exh studs pulled out of the case with very minimal torque. I called them to get authorization to make the repair. They {the owner} were very rude and said that that engine was not paid for by CIP. As a result my warranty was null and void. One call to CIP with the story and they honoured the full warranty.
From what Chris at CIP said GEX was pissed that they lost a bid on a shipment of engines to CIP and that the engine was definitely paid for. It turns out the engine was sitting on the shelf for 5 years so maybe it is one of there better units.
They authorized me to make the repair. That engine has been A1 so far. I have since removed it from the customers Bus {bought the bus} and installed it in my Westy.

This Ghia has been parked for 12 years {not run for 10 years} and the engine showed signs of being in there for a long time, light oil and lots of dust coated the engine. If it is a Gex it is probably from the 70,s or 80's. This car has a trailer hitch so it must be put together well to run as nice as it does.
_________________
Licensed Automotive Service Technician
Licensed Truck and Coach Technician
Licensed Heavy Duty Equipment Technician
CFC/HCFC/HFC A/C handling and installation license
Alignment specialist
66 Modified Manx,68 Kyote,74 Thing,74 Beetle, 76 Transporter,75 self made Double Cab,65 Meyers Manx,78Westy,68 Ghia, 79 Bradley GT2
Current projects:
Built for others:69 Manx Clone

70 140 · Posted: Tue Aug 25, 2009 5:29 am Post subject:

cool looking project for an Ontario car. Where in the province did it come from? It seems the northern cars are always a little less rusty.

That hitch is interesting. Is it just bolted to the bumper, or is it tied back to the frame horns or torsion tube?

dan macmillan · Posted: Tue Aug 25, 2009 11:21 am Post subject:

70 140 · Posted: Tue Aug 25, 2009 6:59 pm Post subject:

I see it has a dual port engine. Some VW factory replacement engine and cases were gold colored, but that might just have been the packing coating. Nice to see no one ditched the oil bath air filter, with the warm air intake hooked up really makes these cars run well.

Still has the passenger mat and foot-rest. The foot rest is usually long gone.

Still has the 69 rear reflectors, those usually dissapeared too.

Other then the year, and the rust, it looks like my 70 when I bought it in Toronto.... dirty, and covered in multiple red resprays. Yuck.

dan macmillan · Posted: Fri Jun 25, 2010 6:22 am Post subject:

dan macmillan · Posted: Sun Jun 27, 2010 8:46 pm Post subject:

Still some minor work to do before paint. Originally from New Hampshire. Major rust. Entire floor and all lower panels all the way around.
Entire brake and fuel systems, some electrical etc

Still lots of dust inside to be cleaned out.

_________________
Licensed Automotive Service Technician
Licensed Truck and Coach Technician
Licensed Heavy Duty Equipment Technician
CFC/HCFC/HFC A/C handling and installation license
Alignment specialist
66 Modified Manx,68 Kyote,74 Thing,74 Beetle, 76 Transporter,75 self made Double Cab,65 Meyers Manx,78Westy,68 Ghia, 79 Bradley GT2
Current projects:
Built for others:69 Manx Clone

dan macmillan · Posted: Sat Jul 24, 2010 6:52 pm Post subject:

98% finished.

Here are some pics of how bad the rust was.

I took these pictures today. It rained a bit.

_________________
Licensed Automotive Service Technician
Licensed Truck and Coach Technician
Licensed Heavy Duty Equipment Technician
CFC/HCFC/HFC A/C handling and installation license
Alignment specialist
66 Modified Manx,68 Kyote,74 Thing,74 Beetle, 76 Transporter,75 self made Double Cab,65 Meyers Manx,78Westy,68 Ghia, 79 Bradley GT2
Current projects:
Built for others:69 Manx Clone

Altema · Posted: Sun Jul 25, 2010 7:36 am Post subject:

THAT was rusty, but looking good now! I can see why you want to show off that engine, it would be cool to have an acrylic decklid.

Two questions about it's previous state: Was that an AC or aux heater under the dash in the old pics. And I was curious about the trailer hitch (not that it was a good unit), did you have a photo? I was planning on making a non-invasive one for my Ghia that bolted up to the frame horns and bumper mounts for a very small streamlined trailer.

Paul

dan macmillan · Posted: Sun Jul 25, 2010 11:28 am Post subject:

Altema · Posted: Mon Jul 26, 2010 12:08 am Post subject:


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