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Legacy Samba Member
Joined: October 26, 2008 Posts: 219 Location: Charlotte Hall, MD
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Posted: Thu May 25, 2023 8:50 am Post subject: Re: 1969 Karmann Ghia Auto Stick Restoration |
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John Moxon wrote: |
Congratulations! Very well deserved...you see it's not just the Samba regulars who appreciate your restoration. |
Thanks for the kind words.
Yea, lots of older folks looked at it in detail and we heard stories of when there was one in their family. Younger folks not so much, not sure they even knew Karmann Ghia's existed in the past.
We live in Southern Maryland and I don't think there is more that a very few KGs in the whole area. _________________ 1969 Karmann Ghia Auto Stick Restoration: https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=730829&highlight=
1932 Ford 3 Window Coup: https://photos.app.goo.gl/8UuVu7gOl9IG58Aj2 |
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John Moxon Samba Moderator
Joined: March 07, 2004 Posts: 13957 Location: Southampton U.K.
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Legacy Samba Member
Joined: October 26, 2008 Posts: 219 Location: Charlotte Hall, MD
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Legacy Samba Member
Joined: October 26, 2008 Posts: 219 Location: Charlotte Hall, MD
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Posted: Fri Apr 14, 2023 4:29 am Post subject: Re: 1969 Karmann Ghia Auto Stick Restoration |
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Again I just want to say thanks to everyone for the very kind comments.
When I started this restoration, I had very little experience making and welding patch panels, so it was a learning experience that gave me lots of satisfaction.
My advice to anyone who is considering undertaking a restoration project is don’t be afraid to try. If you make a mistake, as I did many times, just try again until you are satisfied with the outcome. And read all the great threads on TheSamba,com and watch lots of You Tube videos. _________________ 1969 Karmann Ghia Auto Stick Restoration: https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=730829&highlight=
1932 Ford 3 Window Coup: https://photos.app.goo.gl/8UuVu7gOl9IG58Aj2 |
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kiwighia68 Samba Member
Joined: October 20, 2013 Posts: 2876 Location: Auckland, New Zealand
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Posted: Thu Apr 13, 2023 5:00 pm Post subject: Re: 1969 Karmann Ghia Auto Stick Restoration |
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As someone who has gone through a similar from-the-ground-up restoration as you, all I can say is that you have done a fantastic job. A tribute to your love for your wife.
I doff my hat to you, Sir. Well done.
Chris M _________________ Festina lente - hasten slowly
1968 Ghia named Emiko
Resto completed Dec 2015 |
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kingkarmann Samba Member
Joined: November 05, 2003 Posts: 4114
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Posted: Tue Apr 11, 2023 7:39 am Post subject: Re: 1969 Karmann Ghia Auto Stick Restoration |
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Beautiful result!
I hope your prepared for your new found stardom _________________ "Depression is a malfunction of the instrument we use to determine reality.”
Mike Gerson
What is your "Bespoke Reality"? |
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Legacy Samba Member
Joined: October 26, 2008 Posts: 219 Location: Charlotte Hall, MD
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Braukuche Samba Member
Joined: September 03, 2004 Posts: 11005
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Posted: Mon Apr 10, 2023 4:32 pm Post subject: Re: 1969 Karmann Ghia Auto Stick Restoration |
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Well done! _________________ 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 |
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John Moxon Samba Moderator
Joined: March 07, 2004 Posts: 13957 Location: Southampton U.K.
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Marcdeb Samba Member
Joined: May 22, 2019 Posts: 3035 Location: Vermont
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Legacy Samba Member
Joined: October 26, 2008 Posts: 219 Location: Charlotte Hall, MD
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Legacy Samba Member
Joined: October 26, 2008 Posts: 219 Location: Charlotte Hall, MD
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Posted: Tue Jan 24, 2023 3:29 pm Post subject: Re: 1969 Karmann Ghia Auto Stick Restoration |
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Continued installing the various exterior pieces.
Installed the door window exterior scrapers. Also installed the side trim. Had to use a reamer to clean the paint in the trim clips mounting holes, otherwise the trim clips wouldn’t fit into the holes.
Disassembled the original jack, cleaned all the various parts, painted the parts that had originally been painted, and mounted the jack in the trunk.
Spent some time trying to organize the wiring birds nest behind the dashboard. Was a real mess but got it somewhat better organized. The hazard relay wasn’t working. Was going to install a universal hazard relay but decided to break open the case of the original VW hazard relay. Discovered a trace on the circuit board had a break in it. Soldered in a wire to bridge the gap and complete the circuit. Works fine now plus keeping the car as original as possible is a good thing from my perspective.
While playing with the wiring decided to install a lights-on warning buzzer to prevent the lights from being inadvertently left on. Now if the lights are left on after the engine is shut off the buzzer will sound to remind the driver to turn off the lights.
After finishing with all the wiring related work installed the trunk liner and carpeting. The carboard liner that came with the car had a lot of tears, etc. Used Gorilla tape to repair it than contact cement to attach the trunk rug. Also used some rare earth magnetics to hold the sides of the liner against the trunk sides since the liner sides were pretty floppy and would not stay upright.
_________________ 1969 Karmann Ghia Auto Stick Restoration: https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=730829&highlight=
1932 Ford 3 Window Coup: https://photos.app.goo.gl/8UuVu7gOl9IG58Aj2 |
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Legacy Samba Member
Joined: October 26, 2008 Posts: 219 Location: Charlotte Hall, MD
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Posted: Sat Jan 07, 2023 3:51 pm Post subject: Re: 1969 Karmann Ghia Auto Stick Restoration |
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Spent some time putting bits and pieces on the nose of the car. Installed the headlights, turn signals, fresh air vents, and horns.
I have to say it would have been much more difficult installing these items if it wasn’t for all the great tips and tricks I found in various posts on TheSamba.
Headlight ring gaskets went on fairly easy thanks to Era Vulgaris’ suggestion to use blue painter’s tape to hold the gasket in place until the headlight chrome ring is installed. Worked great. Only thing I did different was after installing the chrome ring I sprayed the blue tape with window cleaner to make it easier to remove the tape from the gasket and fender.
Struggled for a couple of hours trying to get the horns into the rubber boot until I did some research on TheSamba.
• I tried the suggestion made by VWLIMO to install the bolt on the back of the horn, then put the horn inside the boot thru the oval opening, clamp the horn bolt into a vice and grab the boot with both hands and pull the boot evenly over the back of the horn. Took me less that 15 minutes to get both horns installed in the boot.
• I then followed russelltatedotcom suggestions to tape the horns to the boot so they don’t move, put wire inside the lip of the oval boot opening and install the boot in the front opening by pulling the wire to bring the lip of the boot to the exterior of the oval opening. The wire trick is basically the same as when installing the windshield or rear glass.
Overall, it took me about an hour from the time I clamped the horns in the vice to the time the boot was mounted in the oval opening. _________________ 1969 Karmann Ghia Auto Stick Restoration: https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=730829&highlight=
1932 Ford 3 Window Coup: https://photos.app.goo.gl/8UuVu7gOl9IG58Aj2 |
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Legacy Samba Member
Joined: October 26, 2008 Posts: 219 Location: Charlotte Hall, MD
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Posted: Sun Jan 01, 2023 4:00 pm Post subject: Re: 1969 Karmann Ghia Auto Stick Restoration |
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Finished the buffing process of the car. I used the 3M three step process.
First step was applying rubbing compound using a wool pad in a buffing machine. Next I applied machine polish using a foam pad in a DA polishing machine. Final step was to hand apply the 3M hand glaze. I’m sure there are other ways to buff and polish a new paint job, but this process worked good for me.
Below are sume pictures after the buffing process was completed. Overall I’m pretty satisfied with how the paint job came out. The important thing is my wife gave it a “thumbs up” and since this is her car I guess it passed her test --- Happy Wife, Happy Life.
Started putting exterior parts back on. Will spend the next few winter months getting the car done so my wife and I can do some summer cruising in her restored car. _________________ 1969 Karmann Ghia Auto Stick Restoration: https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=730829&highlight=
1932 Ford 3 Window Coup: https://photos.app.goo.gl/8UuVu7gOl9IG58Aj2 |
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bhartwell59 Samba Member
Joined: December 28, 2014 Posts: 792 Location: dallas, tx
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Posted: Mon Dec 26, 2022 7:59 am Post subject: Re: 1969 Karmann Ghia Auto Stick Restoration |
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It'll be a lot of work, but worth it! _________________ '74 Zambezi green Ghia vert, autostick, 101k
'87 Jeep Wrangler, 4.2, 330k |
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Legacy Samba Member
Joined: October 26, 2008 Posts: 219 Location: Charlotte Hall, MD
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Posted: Tue Dec 20, 2022 3:22 pm Post subject: Re: 1969 Karmann Ghia Auto Stick Restoration |
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Like Redlabel6 said, it amazing what the buffing will do for it.
Here is a side by side comparison of 3000 grit wet sanded on one side and step one of buffing (3M rubbing compound using a wool pad on a rotary buffer machine).
Can’t wait to get the whole car done with the 3M three step process (rubbing compound, machine polish, hand glaze) _________________ 1969 Karmann Ghia Auto Stick Restoration: https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=730829&highlight=
1932 Ford 3 Window Coup: https://photos.app.goo.gl/8UuVu7gOl9IG58Aj2 |
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Legacy Samba Member
Joined: October 26, 2008 Posts: 219 Location: Charlotte Hall, MD
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Redlabel6 Samba Member
Joined: October 17, 2016 Posts: 383 Location: Minnesota
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Marcdeb Samba Member
Joined: May 22, 2019 Posts: 3035 Location: Vermont
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Posted: Wed Dec 14, 2022 6:54 pm Post subject: Re: 1969 Karmann Ghia Auto Stick Restoration |
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Nice that you have decent weather for working. Wish i could say the same. Looking forward to seeing the progress on the paint. Hang in there with the knee recovery. It's slow at first, but time will help. _________________ 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 |
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Legacy Samba Member
Joined: October 26, 2008 Posts: 219 Location: Charlotte Hall, MD
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Posted: Wed Dec 14, 2022 3:36 pm Post subject: Re: 1969 Karmann Ghia Auto Stick Restoration |
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As I mentioned in my last post I was lucky enough to be able to paint the car before my knee replacement surgery. Well, I had the surgery and am now doing physical therapy to try to get some mobility back. While moving around is slow and standing for any length of time is difficult, I have been able to get started with the cut and buff process, which is kinda my mental therapy.
Up to this point I have completed the wet sanding of the paint to remove orange peel and nibs. I’m not a professional painter so naturally I had to spend a fair amount of time wet sanding. I first did wet sanding with 800 grit sandpaper, followed by wet sanding with 1500 grit sandpaper, and lastly wet sanding with 3000 grit sandpaper. Below are some pictures of the sanding result.
Next I’ll be getting into the buffing process (compound, polish, glaze) to bring back the gloss that was eliminated by the wet sanding. _________________ 1969 Karmann Ghia Auto Stick Restoration: https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=730829&highlight=
1932 Ford 3 Window Coup: https://photos.app.goo.gl/8UuVu7gOl9IG58Aj2 |
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