Hello! Log in or Register   |  Help  |  Donate  |  Buy Shirts See all banner ads | Advertise on TheSamba.com  
TheSamba.com
 
65 convertible Ghia body on 74 convertible Ghia chassis?
Forum Index -> Ghia Share: Facebook Twitter
Reply to topic
Print View
Quick sort: Show newest posts on top | Show oldest posts on top View previous topic :: View next topic  
Author Message
[email protected]
Samba Member


Joined: April 02, 2021
Posts: 2
Location: AL
brucetmcleod@gmail.com is offline 

PostPosted: Fri Apr 02, 2021 10:33 am    Post subject: 65 convertible Ghia body on 74 convertible Ghia chassis? Reply with quote

I've got a 65 convertible that's in great condition, and I have a 74 convertible that has a great chassis. Can the 65 body fit on the 74 chassis without too much modification?
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Classifieds Feedback
Canghia
Samba Member


Joined: June 27, 2017
Posts: 70
Location: Toronto Ontario
Canghia is offline 

PostPosted: Fri Apr 02, 2021 11:37 am    Post subject: Re: 65 convertible Ghia body on 74 convertible Ghia chassis? Reply with quote

I had a similar issue. But mine was only a year or two. I had a 69 chassis and got a good 70/71 body. I had no issues swapping the body onto the pan. In the case of a 74 you have a different bumper set up in the front and I believe the rear bumper mounts are different in the rear, gas tank filler, vents at your feet would be different, wiring. Its not like trying to put a 69 vert poor on a 74 or vice versa. Im sure someone here has done it.
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Gallery Classifieds Feedback
[email protected]
Samba Member


Joined: April 02, 2021
Posts: 2
Location: AL
brucetmcleod@gmail.com is offline 

PostPosted: Fri Apr 02, 2021 12:02 pm    Post subject: Re: 65 convertible Ghia body on 74 convertible Ghia chassis? Reply with quote

Thanks so much for the response! Those are good points about the bumpers and all. The 65 is stored in a garage 3 hours away so I can't crawl under it to compare the mounting with the 74 that's in my garage. That's the main reason I have the question.
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Classifieds Feedback
rbsurfguy
Samba Member


Joined: August 10, 2008
Posts: 1757
Location: Fairfax, Northern Virginia Formerly Huntington Beach, SoCal
rbsurfguy is offline 

PostPosted: Fri Apr 02, 2021 1:22 pm    Post subject: Re: 65 convertible Ghia body on 74 convertible Ghia chassis? Reply with quote

You will also most likely have to register it as a 74 since they go by the number on the pan tunnel. But at least you'll have all the cool look of a 65 with the upgraded running gear of the 74, ball joint front end, IRS rear, etc. But I am sure there will be a few other mods you may need to make. Will be nice to see your work if you go for it. Be sure to post pics.
Jeff
_________________
1971 Ghia convertible (Body off rebuild)
2019 VW Atlas 4Motion
2012 Passat-Sold


See my build on The Samba at:
Jeff's 71 Vert Restoration/Reassembly http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=6...highlight=
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail Gallery Classifieds Feedback
Braukuche
Samba Member


Joined: September 03, 2004
Posts: 10965

Braukuche is offline 

PostPosted: Fri Apr 02, 2021 7:53 pm    Post subject: Re: 65 convertible Ghia body on 74 convertible Ghia chassis? Reply with quote

Doing that swap will destroy the value. Early Ghia convertibles are valuable and worth doing right, including having the pans replaced.
_________________
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
1973 Ghia convertible
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Gallery Classifieds Feedback
Rome
Samba Member


Joined: June 02, 2004
Posts: 9601
Location: Pearl River, NY
Rome is offline 

PostPosted: Fri Apr 02, 2021 9:22 pm    Post subject: Re: 65 convertible Ghia body on 74 convertible Ghia chassis? Reply with quote

Quote:
Can the 65 body fit on the 74 chassis without too much modification?
Yes. The most involved modification is to cut and slightly raise the body mount in each rear wheelwell approx. 2" because the IRS' pan has a higher casting for the mount's bolt threads. This raising can be done in a few ways. Here's a good photo of the mount on a '63 Beetle (Ghia is same) which has been raised for mounting on an IRS pan (dnielsen gallery). But since the mount carries a significant portion of the body which cantilevers out rearwards, it needs to be securely welded to the body in the new position. There should also be an approx. 1/4" thick rubber spacer between the underside of the mount and the pan, missing here.
Image may have been reduced in size. Click image to view fullscreen.

One of the only other modifications will be to replace the plastic single-chamber brake fluid reservoir with one that has 2 chambers, because the IRS' master cylinder is a dual-circuit.

After doing this body swap, your Ghia will look like a '67 due to the wider rear track, the flat hubcaps, no side reflectors (started with the 1968 model year) and the 4-bolt wheels that have the larger cooling slots.
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Gallery Classifieds Feedback
Era Vulgaris
Samba Member


Joined: August 22, 2012
Posts: 1662
Location: Raleigh, NC
Era Vulgaris is offline 

PostPosted: Sat Apr 03, 2021 10:25 am    Post subject: Re: 65 convertible Ghia body on 74 convertible Ghia chassis? Reply with quote

Since you have to take the body off anyway, just replace the floorpans. As mentioned you'll have to modify the rear mounts to put the 65 on a 74 pan, so you have metal work and welding to do in either case. Replace the floorpans, put the body back on, and you won't have ruined the car's value.
_________________
Currently own:
66 Karmann Ghia, L390 Gulf Blue, under construction, here: www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=760505&highlight=
99 Mazda MX-5 10AE, Sapphire Blue Mica, 6 speed, LSD

Previously owned:
98 Porsche Boxster, silver, 2.5L -- 67 Karmann Ghia, Black, 1500sp -- 98 BMW Z3, Atlanta Blue Metallic, 2.8L I6 -- 75 Porsche 914, Laguna Blue, 2270cc -- 72 Porsche 914, Signal Orange, 1.7 FI -- 74 Karmann Ghia, Black, 1600dp -- 74 Triumph TR6 with O.D., sapphire blue
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Visit poster's website Gallery Classifieds Feedback
Display posts from previous:   
Reply to topic    Forum Index -> Ghia All times are Mountain Standard Time/Pacific Daylight Savings Time
Page 1 of 1

 
Jump to:  
You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum
You cannot vote in polls in this forum

About | Help! | Advertise | Donate | Premium Membership | Privacy/Terms of Use | Contact Us | Site Map
Copyright © 1996-2023, Everett Barnes. All Rights Reserved.
Not affiliated with or sponsored by Volkswagen of America | Forum powered by phpBB
Links to eBay or other vendor sites may be affiliate links where the site receives compensation.