1971 VW Karmann Ghia Coupe runs in my blood

[bruehoyt]

Update since last post:

The radio blockout was redone. The new one has a volt meter/USB charger where the volume control would be. My daughter (who is the primary driver) painted the sky on it.

added pass side stock convertible mirror

My daughter TWICE backed into things breaking each tail lense. I had spares and put them on.

aligned teh front deck lid.

Heater connected to driver's side rear and run under seat to footwell (I blocked off original footwell when replacing outer sheet metal because inner was holy and I decided not worth repairing. (pass heat already was good)

New points, condenser, cap, plugs and air filter. Oil changed. carb, valves and timing set.

repaired one tire leak.

replaced brake light switch.

Reattacted driver's window to lift channel when it came apart.

Replaced pass side door handle after latch button broke. (I transferred old lock cylinder)

Replaced ignition switch.


Clock and Rear window defrost stil not looked at yet.
Seats still need reupholstered
Transmission still needs rebuilt (I have no intention of doing so as long as it doesn't get worse.)

Here is a Pic of My Daughter and Friend Dec 2019

[bruehoyt]

Some photos from 2020 (I'll need to take some photos soon to show updates listed in last post)

[bruehoyt]

some more pics from Spring 2020

[c21darrel]

Girl Dad for the win.
_________________
GhiaBuild
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=481184
1967 DC build
https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=693583&highlight=67+dc
Stop dead photo links! Post your photos to The Samba Gallery!

[bruehoyt]

[bruehoyt]

My last post said you started having problems when I got cold. The cold and the problems were not related. I knew they weren't.

It would backfire and had very low power. I checked the plugs, timing, fuel mixture and valve clearance. I had just done these things before the car started having issues. It was user error. I did not set the valves correctly. It is mine 50th time doing valve adjustment. I had just checked my brain at the door and messed up. In March not corrected the problem that I created in november.

Prior to the user error
I knew it had clogged carburetor passages. This has been an issue since receiving the car. I had a new one on my shelf a new solex carb and a carb rebuild kit. I could have chosen either one. But I waited a year to actually do it.

Besides putting the new carburetor on and correctly setting the valves, I adjusted the rear shoes and bled the brakes. It had brakes before, but the pedal was very low.

A month after I got the thing working right, my brother-in-law texted to ask if he could buy it. I love the car and would love to keep it, but I have a bus and a convertible as well. Only being able to put one car in the garage and then having five or six cars in my driveway was not ideal. He offered me more than it was worth, so I sold it to him for what it was actually worth.

It looks incredible from 10 feet away and drives just fine around town and short trips on the highway. But it has some Bondo and rust and has a transmission issue in high gear and tired cylinders and heads.

If the problems I just mentioned were corrected it would be every bit worth $6500. I know what issues it has and I wouldn't do that to a stranger let alone a relative. It is well worth what he paid for it though.

I had fun putting it together. My daughter loved using it as her first car. It is the one she learned to drive on and then as a daily driver for a year. We actually put 4,000 miles on this in less than 2 years time. I don't know how often you guys drive your cars, but I don't think I've seen a year that I have hit a thousand in my bus.
_________________
Current VW's:

71 Westfalia https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=633955

74 Super Beetle Convertible Sun Bug https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=748008

Past VW's:
71 Karmann Ghia Autostick. 17-21. https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=727596
70 Karmann Ghia driven 00-03, 67 Karmann Ghia 91-97, 74 Karmann Ghia 92-94, 71 Karmann Ghia 87-92, 74 Super Beetle 86-87, 71 Karmann Ghia 85-86 (my avatar)

[bruehoyt]

Here is the engine after I puttee new carb on. I had been using aftermarket air cleaner and oil breather because of the carb issue and the stock filter had a break in it.

But with the new carb, I wanted to return the stock air cleaner. The stock cleaner is designed to supply the correct temperature and volume of air to the carb.

I wish the PO had not replaced the vacuum distributor with 009. The solex pict performs better with vacuum.
_________________
Current VW's:

71 Westfalia https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=633955

74 Super Beetle Convertible Sun Bug https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=748008

Past VW's:
71 Karmann Ghia Autostick. 17-21. https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=727596
70 Karmann Ghia driven 00-03, 67 Karmann Ghia 91-97, 74 Karmann Ghia 92-94, 71 Karmann Ghia 87-92, 74 Super Beetle 86-87, 71 Karmann Ghia 85-86 (my avatar)

[bruehoyt]

After I agreed to sell it, before he picked it up, I found tiger boots were cracked on the passenger side.

I ordered new boots and put them on in what may be the messiest method possible.

The CV joints made not sound and upon inspection they checked out fine.

That Said I would still not simply replace boots again.

Boots are $10 to $i5 each plus shipping. And 2 messy hours to pull the axle and replace the boots.

A whole new axle with shipping is $100. With less than an hour to swap the axles.

Considering time and hassle it is cheaper to swap the axle - and you don't need to worry about whether the old CV joint is good or not.
_________________
Current VW's:

71 Westfalia https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=633955

74 Super Beetle Convertible Sun Bug https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=748008

Past VW's:
71 Karmann Ghia Autostick. 17-21. https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=727596
70 Karmann Ghia driven 00-03, 67 Karmann Ghia 91-97, 74 Karmann Ghia 92-94, 71 Karmann Ghia 87-92, 74 Super Beetle 86-87, 71 Karmann Ghia 85-86 (my avatar)

[bruehoyt]

Last day photo shoot.
There are 100 photos of this day. I picked a few to show the different angles of the car and its family.

_________________
Current VW's:

71 Westfalia https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=633955

74 Super Beetle Convertible Sun Bug https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=748008

Past VW's:
71 Karmann Ghia Autostick. 17-21. https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=727596
70 Karmann Ghia driven 00-03, 67 Karmann Ghia 91-97, 74 Karmann Ghia 92-94, 71 Karmann Ghia 87-92, 74 Super Beetle 86-87, 71 Karmann Ghia 85-86 (my avatar)

[bruehoyt]

I mentioned this was the car my daughter learned to drive in.

She took me for a final cruise.

This is a rare photo of the Ghia in the garage. My dad's 49 Mercury and my Convertible were in it over the winter. Then the vert was under a double cover while I finished work on my dad's car. Then the vert got the garage.

_________________
Current VW's:

71 Westfalia https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=633955

74 Super Beetle Convertible Sun Bug https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=748008

Past VW's:
71 Karmann Ghia Autostick. 17-21. https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=727596
70 Karmann Ghia driven 00-03, 67 Karmann Ghia 91-97, 74 Karmann Ghia 92-94, 71 Karmann Ghia 87-92, 74 Super Beetle 86-87, 71 Karmann Ghia 85-86 (my avatar)

[chrismredsox1]

I kind of know the feeling - I have a really nice '65 Ghia I'm considering selling- too many cars, not enough garage space and just don't drive it enough. It's great that you got to take a final cruise in it with your daughter and that it's going to a family member. Will your daughter drive the convertible?

[bruehoyt]

[bruehoyt]

As I said I sold this car to my Brother in Law.

Before I did I finished more items on the to do list.

Front trunk closes and sits correctly. done a while ago, but I forgot to cross it off.
Installed new stock carburetor.
USB ports and volt meter added.

after agreeing to sell it I did the following:
Rear axle boots cracked and I replaced them.
a tire leak repaired, a dash light replaced
brake shoes adjusted
oil changed

I will get to see it in a couple weeks at the COVVC volksfest
_________________
Current VW's:

71 Westfalia https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=633955

74 Super Beetle Convertible Sun Bug https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=748008

Past VW's:
71 Karmann Ghia Autostick. 17-21. https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=727596
70 Karmann Ghia driven 00-03, 67 Karmann Ghia 91-97, 74 Karmann Ghia 92-94, 71 Karmann Ghia 87-92, 74 Super Beetle 86-87, 71 Karmann Ghia 85-86 (my avatar)