Had some time for my '58 low light today

[Porschedave]

I have managed to get the window scrapers installed. I need to do the driver's side again as I am not really happy with the fit. But the passenger side went in much more cleanly. I installed the outer chrome strip as well. I think that it looks pretty good ... more small steps. It certainly is an odd system. I need to trim the rubber at the ends yet.

Dave
_________________
1977 911S
1958 Karmann Ghia build thread here: http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=571683
1965 Sunroof Notch build thread here: http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?p=5600139&highlight=#5600139

[Braukuche]

It's really clunky and seems tenuous, I thought it would all fall apart the first time I rolled my windows up and down, but so far., so good.
_________________
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

[Porschedave]

So, I re-did the driver's side window and it all fits and looks OK. And this came home today:

I need to install the tin and manifolds etc and then the builder will come back and start it and run it in. So far so good.

Dave
_________________
1977 911S
1958 Karmann Ghia build thread here: http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=571683
1965 Sunroof Notch build thread here: http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?p=5600139&highlight=#5600139

[Trylon]

[sputnick60]

Was that block water blasted? It looks as clean as a whistle. Nice work!
_________________
'66 Karmann Ghia Cabriolet...
'65 Porsche 356C Coupe...
2005 Mecedes Benz C180 Kompressor Estate
Stop dead photo links! Post your photos to The Samba Gallery!

[Braukuche]

Engine looks nice!
_________________
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

[Porschedave]

I built a jig to hold my front beam in a workable position.

I've rebuilt the king pins and the front brake assembly and am now trying to sort out the steering parts. I guess at some point in the near future I'll place the shell back on the pan. By the way, do you use silicon on the rubber seal when you re-assemble the shell and the pan or is the rubber seal alone good enough seal?

Dave
_________________
1977 911S
1958 Karmann Ghia build thread here: http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=571683
1965 Sunroof Notch build thread here: http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?p=5600139&highlight=#5600139

[Braukuche]

I’ve always just used the rubber seal.
Maybe where there are gaps where the sections abut they used seam sealer or putty back in the day.
_________________
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

[Porschedave]

Hi Braukuche

I have another question. I have completely assembled the front beam, and have realized there is a difference in the left-side tie rod.

The top is the original and the bottom the replacement from CIP. I'm not convinced that it will fit properly because one end needs to be re-oriented to match the orientation of the steering box. I see at Airhead they have an angled tie rod end so perhaps I need purchase that or maybe clean out and repack the original with new covers. Wha's your experience?

Dave
_________________
1977 911S
1958 Karmann Ghia build thread here: http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=571683
1965 Sunroof Notch build thread here: http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?p=5600139&highlight=#5600139

[Loren]

It depends on what front beam parts you have on your Ghia (over time the beam might have been replaced with a beetle beam or parts changed). Low light Ghias had specific front end parts on them that made them different from beetles. 56-57 Ghias had specific tie rods and sway bar, while the 58-59 Ghias had specific tie rods, sway bar and pitman arm. The tie rods (including the ball joints) are all straight. The beetle has a "bent" end on the short tie rod while the Ghia one is straight. The 58-59 Ghia pitman arm has a slight bend to it, while the beetle version is straight. Here are some images from low light parts books showing the specific parts:

56-57 Ghia:

58-59 Ghia:

Here is a beelte short tie rod on top and a low light Ghia tie rod on bottom:

The long tie rod is longer on a Ghia compared to the beetle counter part. The beetle tie rod is on top and the low light Ghia rod is on bottom:

Here you can see how much longer the Ghia tie rod is than the beetle one:

The 58-59 Ghia pitman arm looks like a beetle one from the top, but from the side you can see it has a bend in it:

Sorry to hi-jack the thread

Your 58 Ghia is looking great!!!

[Porschedave]

Hi Loren

Thanks for those comments - you didn't hijack the thread. My Ghia was built at the end of '58 and I have no idea what was original and what not. I just went out to look at the postman arm and it has a curve as you suggested so I think that it is original. The front beam is not in the car so I do not know the orientation for the steering box so it is not clear to me that the straight short tie rod fits. I'll know better when I actually start putting the whole car together. Looking at my picture, are you thinking that the short tie rod was not a ghia part?

Dave
_________________
1977 911S
1958 Karmann Ghia build thread here: http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=571683
1965 Sunroof Notch build thread here: http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?p=5600139&highlight=#5600139

[Loren]

I think your original tie rod is for a beetle. The new one looks correct. You might look at the clamp on your steering box to make sure the box is oriented correctly. The clamp that holds the steering box has a notch on either side to align the box correctly for beetle or Ghia, depending on which way you flip it. There is a lug on the beam to match the notch up to. Some clamps are stamped with a 13 and a 14 to designate which notch to use.

[Braukuche]

Hey Dave,
I’d listen to Loren on this. Mine is a 56 so it’s a different beast when it comes to the front end.
Dan
_________________
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

[Porschedave]

Hi Dan and Loren

When I bought the car I had thought that it was original albeit in lousy condition. The engine number matched what the factory installed and so on, However, the tranny was not the original - it's not a split case. And so maybe there were other changes made like with this tie rod. I'll have to look closely at things when I actually start to reassemble the car, like putting the shell on the pan etc.

Cheers

Dave
_________________
1977 911S
1958 Karmann Ghia build thread here: http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=571683
1965 Sunroof Notch build thread here: http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?p=5600139&highlight=#5600139

[Loren]

Looking good.

[djway3474]

[Porschedave]

Hi Folks

In this time of crisis, I hope all of you are well no matter where you live. This covid-19 crisis is certainly having a big impact on the world. But not on my ghia. I have a couple of updates.

First, recall that I asked about those small tabs that hold the door rubber inlace. Mine were brass. We live in an old house and I found an old switch plate made from brass, and so sacrificed it for the new pieces.

And then there is the headliner. I've read as many headliner threads as I could but even so it was much more of a challenge than I expected. I bought a headliner from TMI and it seems to come with lots of extra material. It was a challenge to get rid of wrinkles and puckers, especially in the corners. I've worked on it for about 3 days and now feel that it's acceptable. Mind you, I'll have to look at it again tomorrow but here's a couple of pics:

Thanks to Kevin, the aussie trimmer for his helpful advice and his instructions that are in the headliner sticky.

Dave
_________________
1977 911S
1958 Karmann Ghia build thread here: http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=571683
1965 Sunroof Notch build thread here: http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?p=5600139&highlight=#5600139

[calexican]

Coming together very nicely, Keep up the good work!

[Porschedave]

Hi Guys, especially you low light fellas

I think that I am OK with the headliner and am now looking at getting the window rubber and moldings in place. But I have some questions regarding these items and am hoping that you can help me ...

1. The 1958 ghia aluminum trim on the driver and passenger side seems to have been screwed and glued in. I see that in 1960 VW opted to use a rubber seal. Do you think it is OK to use that for mine? Here's a pic of mine, not glued in but no rubber and the second shows the trim with rubber. It seems to me that the rubber is a more elegant solution.

2. The quarter window rubber does not appear to cover the screws on the inside. Somehow I thought that they would be covered. Is this correct?

3. This is the window rubber for the front windows. Is it oriented such that the top side is the outside edge, the one that contacts the window?

4. The front edge of the quarter window has an aluminum piece on it. Is this simply glued in? One was missing on my car the the other side had no visible connection to the body. And there must be a piece of rubber where it connects to the door window I guess.

Thanks in advance everyone for your help.

Dave
_________________
1977 911S
1958 Karmann Ghia build thread here: http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=571683
1965 Sunroof Notch build thread here: http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?p=5600139&highlight=#5600139

[Loren]

Like you said above, the aluminum trim had a tar like glue sealing it to the body. This black goo did tend to ooze out a little, not a bad thing if you had a black Ghia You could use the rubber between the body and the aluminum trim as on 60 and later Ghias, but I wonder if it would effect the door glass adjustment??? Maybe it isn't thick enough to make a difference, I don't know, but something to think about.

Not the best shot, but here is a small shot of the quarter window seal on an original 59 Ghia:

It looks like the seal covers the screws and metal strip.

The chrome trim on the outside of the quarter window is held in place with small screws just like the trim on the top of the doors. Here is a video from Scott at KGPR showing how to install a low light quarter window:


Link