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Duck58 Samba Member
Joined: October 10, 2010 Posts: 43 Location: North East England
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Posted: Sat Jan 03, 2015 2:07 pm Post subject: Californian 71 project, now in the UK |
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Been on here a few years but not been much of a poster, a little intro;
My previous 58 Bug, owned for 13 years the first 2 being spent doing a full pans, channels etc resto. Very low and lots of fun however ended up as more of a cal looker.
Eventually ended up as a fuel injected 2110 that I lost interest in and sold earlier this year. After a brief spell with something watercooled I found myself looking at Ghias and T3's, both of which I've had a long interest in.
Ideally it would be something very original, I did come very close to an imported Notch back but sold before I got there. Few ghia's seemed to be coming up but had been watching a 71 at the other end if the country coming down in price. A round trip of 670 miles to see it confirmed it was for me so delivered a week later
1971 Californian import originally supplied by Guy Gardner in Fresno, mainly original paint, never welded, one key fits all etc.
This isn't going to be a resto, just preserve what's there. It will be getting the lowered and narrowed treatment but nothing that isn't reversible.
Thanks
Mark |
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Duck58 Samba Member
Joined: October 10, 2010 Posts: 43 Location: North East England
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Posted: Sat Jan 03, 2015 2:19 pm Post subject: |
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First job today, fit new door wedge and re align door. Didn't come out half bad.
Second was fit the original plate.........not essential I know but fancied seeing what it looked like with the Circle Porsche frame I've had for a while. May sell this however if I can find an original Guy Gardner frame.
One problem I do have at the minute is the carb icing and over fuelling to the point where it drops a cylinder, further investigation required.
I've also started prepping it for a MOT that it requires before it can be registered in the UK, managed to pick up a sealed beam rhd headlight yesterday (from a Mini so nice and cheap) so will be trial fitting tomorrow.
Mark |
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Duck58 Samba Member
Joined: October 10, 2010 Posts: 43 Location: North East England
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Posted: Thu Jan 29, 2015 8:05 am Post subject: |
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Well, not much of update.
Headlights swapped for rhd sealed beam units & new lenses to make the mot a little easier (ambers will be going straight back on though when on the road)
I'm am at present half way through a 3 week stint in Southern China with work so before I left the UK the ghia was left with a friend to give it a good check over and mot. Needs a little brake work (expected) but now it is running a little better it looks as though the crank oil seal has let go......
Ah well.
Mark |
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Andy Wellie Samba Member
Joined: October 28, 2014 Posts: 34 Location: London
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Posted: Thu Jan 29, 2015 9:25 am Post subject: |
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Did the mini light go in easy enough. Just bringing a ghia back from CA myself and was wondering about what needs to be done to get it road legal in Uk. Any advice most welcome. |
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c21darrel Samba Member
Joined: January 22, 2009 Posts: 8206 Location: San Dimas
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Duck58 Samba Member
Joined: October 10, 2010 Posts: 43 Location: North East England
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Posted: Thu Jan 29, 2015 4:21 pm Post subject: |
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Andy Wellie wrote: |
Did the mini light go in easy enough. Just bringing a ghia back from CA myself and was wondering about what needs to be done to get it road legal in Uk. Any advice most welcome. |
Yeah, straight in, will look for the part number and post it here later.
Could have gone for the H4 bulb conversion lights but look too modern for me so stuck with the sealed beams.
What year are you bringing in? Front side lights have given me the most figuring out to do but was pretty simple in the end after buying the clear lenses.
Mark |
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Duck58 Samba Member
Joined: October 10, 2010 Posts: 43 Location: North East England
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Posted: Thu Jan 29, 2015 4:24 pm Post subject: |
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c21darrel wrote: |
Can you guys run California plates in UK? I see them a lot.
As far as your icing issue, 1st thing is to check to see that your heat risers are clear.
Andy, are you online shopping for mini headlights? |
A few companies make the California style plates, not 100% legal however........ |
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Duck58 Samba Member
Joined: October 10, 2010 Posts: 43 Location: North East England
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Andy Wellie Samba Member
Joined: October 28, 2014 Posts: 34 Location: London
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Posted: Thu Jan 29, 2015 7:26 pm Post subject: |
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Andy, are you online shopping for mini headlights?
Not yet Darrel but just thinking ahead. Already seeing the £ and $ signs flashing up !!!! |
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Andy Wellie Samba Member
Joined: October 28, 2014 Posts: 34 Location: London
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Posted: Thu Jan 29, 2015 7:29 pm Post subject: |
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Duck58 wrote: |
Andy Wellie wrote: |
Did the mini light go in easy enough. Just bringing a ghia back from CA myself and was wondering about what needs to be done to get it road legal in Uk. Any advice most welcome. |
Yeah, straight in, will look for the part number and post it here later.
Could have gone for the H4 bulb conversion lights but look too modern for me so stuck with the sealed beams.
What year are you bringing in? Front side lights have given me the most figuring out to do but was pretty simple in the end after buying the clear lenses.
Mark |
Bringing in a 69 coupe, still here in LA at the mo but planning for shipping and so on already!! The fun is just beginning!!! |
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Duck58 Samba Member
Joined: October 10, 2010 Posts: 43 Location: North East England
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Posted: Sat Jan 31, 2015 8:01 am Post subject: |
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Andy Wellie wrote: |
Duck58 wrote: |
Andy Wellie wrote: |
Did the mini light go in easy enough. Just bringing a ghia back from CA myself and was wondering about what needs to be done to get it road legal in Uk. Any advice most welcome. |
Yeah, straight in, will look for the part number and post it here later.
Could have gone for the H4 bulb conversion lights but look too modern for me so stuck with the sealed beams.
What year are you bringing in? Front side lights have given me the most figuring out to do but was pretty simple in the end after buying the clear lenses.
Mark |
Bringing in a 69 coupe, still here in LA at the mo but planning for shipping and so on already!! The fun is just beginning!!! |
About to go through the registering process so will help where I can, when I find it will send you the link to the pack from DVLA.
Mark |
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Andy Wellie Samba Member
Joined: October 28, 2014 Posts: 34 Location: London
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Posted: Sat Jan 31, 2015 11:39 am Post subject: |
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Thanks Mark.
Did you bring it over from US. If so who did you use to ship? Was it straightforward enough? |
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Duck58 Samba Member
Joined: October 10, 2010 Posts: 43 Location: North East England
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Posted: Sun Feb 01, 2015 3:06 am Post subject: |
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Andy Wellie wrote: |
Thanks Mark.
Did you bring it over from US. If so who did you use to ship? Was it straightforward enough? |
Afraid not, I bought it from a guy that had imported it and registered it on NOVA (notification of vehicle arrival) so the import duty was already paid. |
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John Moxon Samba Moderator
Joined: March 07, 2004 Posts: 13943 Location: Southampton U.K.
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Duck58 Samba Member
Joined: October 10, 2010 Posts: 43 Location: North East England
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Posted: Thu Mar 05, 2015 5:58 am Post subject: |
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Well, not much of an update again but working abroad eats into valuable play time.
A few late, cold nights saw new discs, wheel bearings, pads and calipers up front, new rear wheel cylinders and muffler (one of the pre heat tubes was toast on the original).
Also ended up replacing the carb as it had a pict30/31 reproduction fitted that refused to be set up and was pouring fuel down its neck. A decent original pict 34 fitted and things are a lot better and also managed my first drive!
Result of all the above? A fresh mot. Now to send all the pack off to the dvla to get it registered.
Had a little play on Ghia Generator, wonder if I can get it this low....... |
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John Moxon Samba Moderator
Joined: March 07, 2004 Posts: 13943 Location: Southampton U.K.
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Duck58 Samba Member
Joined: October 10, 2010 Posts: 43 Location: North East England
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Posted: Thu Mar 05, 2015 6:58 am Post subject: |
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John Moxon wrote: |
Duck58 wrote: |
Had a little play on Ghia Generator, wonder if I can get it this low....... |
What and drive it too...doesn't seem likely on UK roads. |
My old bug used to hit cats eyes with the front valance on the A1.......
The ghia is too good to do it to but it will be coming down a bit, the limiting factor maybe the air con radiator as it's below the level of the front beam.
Definitely won't be damaging that (even if it doesn't work). |
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Duck58 Samba Member
Joined: October 10, 2010 Posts: 43 Location: North East England
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Posted: Sun Mar 29, 2015 2:38 am Post subject: |
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A nice delivery from DVLA yesterday. |
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Duck58 Samba Member
Joined: October 10, 2010 Posts: 43 Location: North East England
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Posted: Sat Apr 18, 2015 9:27 pm Post subject: |
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A good polish & some new parts fitted, taper tip tail pipes & new side trim kit however there's a story to that.....
This is how a Ghia parts specialist in Germany chose to ship the side trim, in a box 2" inches shorter than the longest piece of trim
Took a lot of straightening but turned out well in the end, I have complained to the company but yet to receive a reply.... |
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DorianL Samba Member
Joined: June 06, 2013 Posts: 717 Location: Belgium
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Posted: Sun Apr 19, 2015 1:43 am Post subject: |
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That's just insane!!!!! |
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