O Ghia's Restoration Journey

[Vladiiiii]

Wow, such a difference between what was advertised and what ended up in the garage It's such a shame to have to completely restore it, especially considering the price

Even with those surprises, I bet the metal underneath isn't as bad as mine, so there's hope after all! If no newspaper material or bonded-over riveted rusty panels are found underneath the paint layers, then it's half bad

Maybe I missed this detail in all these pages, but will it keep the same color? And by the way, the dash is truly superb. I know it's all about taste, but this modification seems (to me) much nicer than what the normal VW originality police might accept Gives the car a truly early 60's style.

Keep up the work!
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Vlad's 72 Ghia (Once in a Lifetime Restoration topic)
https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?p=9237746#9237746

[Marcdeb]

[John Moxon]

[Marcdeb]

[John Moxon]

Well sad to say Richard has been seen to be very economical with the truth with this Ghia. To say Karmann would find time on an assembly line to accommodate the wishes of a customer to add a couple of extra gauges including the senders from the engine compartment and the modification to the stock wiring loom would seem pure fantasy. It would probably have been more believable if he had said the modifications were made by the supplying dealership before delivery. Whatever the truth it's a moot point as you're happy with the looks and not interested in changing it back to stock.
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John.
Judson Supercharger Information on The Samba
My 1958 Shorrock Supercharged Karmann Ghia
Stop dead photo links! Post your photos to The Samba Gallery!

[Marcdeb]

Finally some updates. Bill has had a rough winter health wise. Nothing life threatening, but between not feeling his best and the cold and snow in Vermont, the car is not as far along as we thought it might be by now. The warmer weather and longer days is encouraging and progress is happening again. With the Covid-19 Corona Virus, many of us are stuck at home with more time on our hands so I'm glad I have this project to keep me busy. In the mean time, I've spent many hours researching the convertible top installation and I am ready to start on that as soon as the car is back in my garage. It will be my first convertible top installation ever but after all the research I've done, and all the great documentation from other members here, I'm confident that I will be able to pull off a decent job.

The pair of 1970 doors I picked up in Massachusetts are in very nice condition. Bill has the Drivers side door all prepped. The strip of metal that holds the window scraper seal had 3 inches of rust damage at the forward end. A new piece of metal has been welded in place. The door has been test fitted on the car and the fit is good. There was a few very small low spots in the door skin which were leveled and the door now has been sprayed with etching primer.

I actually like that these doors have the lock button at the rear top of the doors. It will go better with the earlier look of the dash. The other door will get prepped once the car has been turned around but from what we can see, it is in even better condition than the first door.

Bill called this week with a new surprise he uncovered while stripping the paint from the Drivers side front fender. The area above the head light has several small rust through areas. Fortunately, it is not too serious. I've seen much much worse in other builds. He will be cutting out the damaged area and welding in some metal.

I've been searching for some new kick panels for the rear seat which were removed by the PO. I think I finally have located a pair in decent shape. hopefully they will ship this week.

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Marc
68 Karmann Ghia Cabrio Autostick
71 Karmann Ghia Cabrio

Previously Owned:
2011 VW EOS Hard Top Conv
2008 Saab 9-3 2.0T Conv
2003 Saab 9-3 SE Conv
2001 Saab 9-3 Conv
1998 BMW 3 Series Conv
1997 Saab 900 Conv
1997 Mazda Miata

68 Ghia Vert Survivor with 22,350 miles: https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=768107&highlight=
71 Ghia Vert Restoration: https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=726710&postorder=asc

[Trylon]

Nice to see progress on your dream, Marc!
Sorry that the Ghost of Previous Owners is still haunting you though.
Can’t imagine what would be found if his other masterpiece was stripped down to the metal. Shudder to think.
_________________
1973 Porsche 914 2.0
1959 Volkswagen Karmann Ghia
1979 Volkswagen Rabbit
1973 Volkswagen Bus
1970 MGB-GT
1962 Oldsmobile Jetfire

More tomfoolery on
The Karmann Ghia Fever YouTube Channel!

[Marcdeb]

[Marcdeb]

I could use some advice please.

I have a headlight bucket with some rust damage at the top. I realize I could get a new repro but it's not bad enough for that. We are considering a few options.

1. the top of the fender has some rust that will be cut out and new metal welded in. If the hole is made a large enough, the top of the headlight bucket could be repaired without removing it from the fender. Not my first choice.

2. Remove the headlight bucket. Repair the top of the bucket with new metal and reinstall.

3. Leave the bucket in place. Grind away the rusted area of the bucket and weld a patch over it.

First photo is looking up at the inside top of the headlight bucket There was a piece of "Duct Tape" on the inside of the bucket to cover the damage. The rust was treated with rust converter. Then painted and the "Duct Tape" placed over the hole, which I peeled off today. There doesn't seem to be any new rust going on.

Second photo is the rusted area on the top of the fender.

Any suggestions on to best deal with this?

_________________
Marc
68 Karmann Ghia Cabrio Autostick
71 Karmann Ghia Cabrio

Previously Owned:
2011 VW EOS Hard Top Conv
2008 Saab 9-3 2.0T Conv
2003 Saab 9-3 SE Conv
2001 Saab 9-3 Conv
1998 BMW 3 Series Conv
1997 Saab 900 Conv
1997 Mazda Miata

68 Ghia Vert Survivor with 22,350 miles: https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=768107&highlight=
71 Ghia Vert Restoration: https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=726710&postorder=asc

[Marcdeb]

Warmer weather and an end to mud season has finally arrived and I can get up to the body shop without getting stuck in the mud. Bill is working his way around the car stripping the 5 layers of paint and and repairing any rust or body damage he finds. So far it's been only minor issues. The rust over the LS Headlight and on the top side of the head light bucket has been replaced with new metal.

We were curious if there would be similar rust damage over the RS head light so Bill stripped that area and found no rust. However at some point in the past, under several coats of yellow paint, 3 small holes were drilled to pull a dent. Other than not welding the holes, the work was very well done with only minimal filler. Bill welded the holes.

The rear seat kick panels were missing on this car. Removed by the PO. After months of searching, I finally located a very clean set from NWGhiaGuy in Washington state. For being 50 years old, these are in great condition. Being "Cut" out of a parts car, there was excess metal attached along the top and sides which were easily removed. Perfect fit in the car.

I was able to remove the trunk seal but the left over gobs of adhesive had proven to be quite difficult to remove. When I called 3M to ask if they could recommend a product that would soften the adhesive, I was told it's permanent! No advice offered. After many searches, I generated a list of possibilities. Carb and choke Cleaner gave the best results. It dissolved the adhesive rather quickly but it also softened the paint so not a good option if you need to save the paint under the adhesive. Not a concern here though. I was using a wooden scraper to remove the softened adhesive, but then went to just wiping it off with paper towels, which did not damage the paint.

_________________
Marc
68 Karmann Ghia Cabrio Autostick
71 Karmann Ghia Cabrio

Previously Owned:
2011 VW EOS Hard Top Conv
2008 Saab 9-3 2.0T Conv
2003 Saab 9-3 SE Conv
2001 Saab 9-3 Conv
1998 BMW 3 Series Conv
1997 Saab 900 Conv
1997 Mazda Miata

68 Ghia Vert Survivor with 22,350 miles: https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=768107&highlight=
71 Ghia Vert Restoration: https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=726710&postorder=asc

[jeffrey8164]

Wow! You can find paper towels?
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Volkswagen!
Turning owners into mechanics since 1938.

“Let he that is without oil throw the first rod”
(Compression 8.7:1)

[Marcdeb]

[Trylon]

Good to see your car making its way slowly to the road!
Hope we do meet up as we planned some shining morning!
_________________
1973 Porsche 914 2.0
1959 Volkswagen Karmann Ghia
1979 Volkswagen Rabbit
1973 Volkswagen Bus
1970 MGB-GT
1962 Oldsmobile Jetfire

More tomfoolery on
The Karmann Ghia Fever YouTube Channel!

[Onceler]

Looks like mud season is about to begin for Bill
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1972 Karmann Ghia

[Marcdeb]

[Marcdeb]

[Trylon]

[Trylon]

[Marcdeb]

[Onceler]