71 Project

[scross8305]

Ok, im getting more and more depressed with all the new suprises that the ghia is putting forward. First glance the body is good. Now I am seeing more and more damage. My dad evidently hit a post and that did alot of damage that was not seen at the time. Here are some pics and the aftermath that it has caused over the last 38 years.

please tell me i can fix this. I am replacing the quarter but that will not cover all the damage. The side seems a little twisted based on the pics. I cant see any twist but the pics dont lie.

link to more
http://s44.photobucket.com/albums/f26/scross8305/Ghia/
_________________
71 Saturn Yellow coupe. Currently undergoing reconstructive surgery.

[swhitcomb]

I'd love to see more pics, more of an overall shot. Then I could recommend a course of action.

Don't worry, I have my Dad's 71 he's had for the last 30 years, and have been running into all kinds of surprises and improperly fixed things. You're not alone.
_________________
My 71 Ghia Been in my family since 1980
My Patina 66
My 74 Ghia
07 Boxster

[scross8305]

if you dont see what you like in the link, let me know and I can always take more pics, Im good at that.

Wife says to post the little helper as well.
_________________
71 Saturn Yellow coupe. Currently undergoing reconstructive surgery.

[swhitcomb]

Very cute!
_________________
My 71 Ghia Been in my family since 1980
My Patina 66
My 74 Ghia
07 Boxster

[swhitcomb]

Ok, and I hate to suggest it, but that fender, and the inner fender on that side need to be replaced.

That image there says it all.

http://www.type-14.com/body/BMGHIA.pdf

Download that, and in one of the last chapters it actually details quite well how to do it. The hardest part if finding good replacements. I've seen a few in the classifieds.

You'll never get that back to the right shape, and all those holes have compromised it's strength.
_________________
My 71 Ghia Been in my family since 1980
My Patina 66
My 74 Ghia
07 Boxster

[scross8305]

I figured I would have to replace the whole quarter. I wasnt planning on the inner but I see what you mean. Time to start looking for a doner. Anyone have one to put up?
_________________
71 Saturn Yellow coupe. Currently undergoing reconstructive surgery.

[gheezerghia]

I'd find another car and transplant what's still good from the original to the new car.

[swhitcomb]

How's the work progressing? I know it can be daunting at times, just take it a little bit at a time. Honestly, I'd have an experienced body man tackle that fender replacement if I were you. Trust me, I know from experience.
_________________
My 71 Ghia Been in my family since 1980
My Patina 66
My 74 Ghia
07 Boxster

[scross8305]

been a little sick, but Im going to try and start to sand blast the body this weekend and finish cutting the other floor pan out. I have been looking for a donor but its a little hard to find a good one with quarters intact. I should see decent progress this weekend as long as the weather holds up.
_________________
71 Saturn Yellow coupe. Currently undergoing reconstructive surgery.

[todmeg]

scross where do you live? i have a rear 71 clip in my garage. any where near new jersey?

[gheezerghia]

I wouldn't blast that thing I'd put it out of it's misery. You will always have rust in that car. Keep the good parts on it and put them on a better car. You will be throwing away money.

[scross8305]

In TN, i think i found a 69 to use to transplant some stuff on to. It looks pretty good and there are alot of parts. Still have to think about it.
_________________
71 Saturn Yellow coupe. Currently undergoing reconstructive surgery.

[swhitcomb]

I wouldn't part it out. It's gonna cost more than It's worth to fix it yes. But, this car has emotional value to you and your family. I also have a 71 that was my dad's and has a 30 year history to my family. Fix it, and you'll be glad you did. If done properly, it won't rust anymore than it would have when it was new.
_________________
My 71 Ghia Been in my family since 1980
My Patina 66
My 74 Ghia
07 Boxster

[NOVA Airhead]

There has been much worse in this forum. I think its fixable.

I don't see why that inner fender needs replacement. It looks like surface rust to me in that photo.
_________________
Ghia Owner Emeritus

[swhitcomb]

The inner fender is pretty badly bent. Easier to replace then fix.
_________________
My 71 Ghia Been in my family since 1980
My Patina 66
My 74 Ghia
07 Boxster

[scross8305]

I figure I can sand it all down myself and have a much better idea of what is going on. get a couple bags of sand, a huge tarp and have at it for a few hours, that way i can see what all needs to be replaced and start to look for parts that I cant easily buy. I think its fixable, I also think it might be cheaper to get a donor than to buy all new metal. But I think all new metal would be the best way to avoid any future rust. Ill post some pics of the blasting after I get to it this weekend.
_________________
71 Saturn Yellow coupe. Currently undergoing reconstructive surgery.

[werka]

If you use sand you will risk warping panels further. Use walnut shells or something soft - baking soda.

I had one mistake ghia blasted a long time ago, and it just peed out sand. I would clean things up, and the car would sit untouched for a bit, and more sand would appear. It is very difficult to get it all cleaned up.

[scross8305]

its all a matter of how long you hold the sand in one spot. I am well aware of the warping action it can cause. There is a shop in town that would do it all with dry ice. I just covered most of it in airplane so hopefully i will be able to scrap most of it off. Since the car was repainted it seems they primered and then painted so the airplane is having some issues. Im going to do the rear panel first and see how bad it is.
_________________
71 Saturn Yellow coupe. Currently undergoing reconstructive surgery.

[swhitcomb]

I'm not aware that new metal is available for either of those areas. The inner fender is sorta available, they sell 3/4s of it. The outer fender I think might have gone NLA a long time ago. However, find one on the west coast someone is parting, and see if they'll cut it for you. Ship it through greyhound and it won't cost a fortune. Get one that is as big and as complete as you can afford to have shipped. Better to have them cut too much then not enough. May be a little tough to find, and take a while, that fender is a 70 and 71 only part. Same as the rear bumper. But take your time. There's no hurry.

If you find you want a VW to drive in the mean time, just shop around a little. When I was restoring my since sold 74 Ghia, I missed having a VW to drive. So I bought the Super for $500. Threw the recently rebuilt Ghia's engine in it, even though the Super was running when I bought it, and had bolt in reliability.

Just take your time and enjoy having a piece of your families history. It will be worth it when you're done. And I'm sure, just like me, you'll be scared to drive it.
_________________
My 71 Ghia Been in my family since 1980
My Patina 66
My 74 Ghia
07 Boxster

[72Ghia]

Thats a project for sure & obviously needs plenty of attention. From the pics I would have probably looked around before getting too involved with it but......
If it has a value other than "book" & you can afford to spend time on it maybe it can't hurt to blast it down to metal to see what you would be working with. If anything it would be a "guilt calming" piece of mind knowing you atleast tried Most anything can be fixed if you want to bad enough. I've been dumping hours and hours into a 72 fatchick that I know will never be recovered if it was to be sold. It is a hobby so I try not to block out those thoughts & treat it as an early model lowlight Ive posted this before but again ...If I could do it again, it would have involved shopping around for another 72 first before diving head first into the restoration. Anyhow its no turning back now, since it's over the hill as far as major body repairs go. Goodluck with whatever you decide.
_________________
Bill

WTB- Billet center caps with Wolfsburg logo

72 Ghia Vert project
Bodywork http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=303542&highlight=
Re-assembly: http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?p=4762737#4762737

72 Beetle Weekend Driver, restored in the 90's
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=353424

www.airsuckers.com