68 Regatta Blue Karmann Ghia Vert 22,350 Original Miles

[Marcdeb]

[Marcdeb]

I've been working on documenting the condition of the car as well as trying to gather as much of it's history as I can. I've asked the Dealer,
"Frazier Motorcar Company" near Nashville TN if he could put me in touch with the previous owner in New Mexico, but that hasn't happened yet.

So far I know that the last owner has owned the car since at least 1997 when it was registered in Southampton NY. That registration ran out
in 1999 and the car has never been registered since. Rortunately, a Shell Service station oil change sticker is offering a little bit of history.

It was serviced at Clover ... Shell in Norwalk CT on 6/6/77 and on that date, this 9 year old KG only had 11,963 miles on it. On the same sticker,
someone scribbled over that service information and wrote in another oil change on 4/7/78 with mileage of 12,812. No other stickers on the car
except possibly one under the first but I don't want to damage the top sticker to find out. At the time of the last registration, the PO lived in
Southampton NY which is at the very eastern end of Long Island. 20 years earlier, the 1977 oil change in Norwalk CT is over 2 hours away. Not likely
but I guess there might be a small chance that the PO goes back as far as 1977 but I wouldn't be surprised if there are at least 2 previous owners.

The sticker was pretty difficult for my eyes to make out the writing but once I photographed it and put it on the computer, it was much easier to read.
_________________
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]

Seems that that station is still there!

_________________
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]

[Trylon]

The key is the address is Main and Glover. There’s a Shell station on that corner in Norwalk.
_________________
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]

Not to change subject but:

I just noticed that the new generator on Regatta is installed 90 degrees CCW. I'll correct that, but I'm noticing that this seems to be a common mistake. Why does it make a difference? Can it cause problems?

Might this have anything to do with why the Generator light has been coming on? So far the generator light has only come on when I put the headlights on. It does not seem to happen when I turn on only the parking lights? I've put about 25miles on the car and the generator light has never come on unless I use headlights.
_________________
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]

If you recall, I had the wrong backing plate and that tilted the VR about 45 degrees. Not sure I have seen 90 though.

Does the generator light stay on even as you rev up the engine with the headlights on?
_________________
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]

[Braukuche]

Sounds like a bad regulator.
If you have a volt meter put it on the battery and rev the engine and see what you get, should be over 13 volts, see if it drops with the headlights on. Check output of the generator at the terminal to make sure it’s not the generator.
_________________
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

[Marcdeb]

[Braukuche]

[Marcdeb]

[Braukuche]

There’s a vent of sorts on the backing plate that is supposed to be aimed down. Likely it’s not with that orientation.
You might get by just removing the four screws and the clamp and just turning the whole assembly fan, generator backing plate and all.
_________________
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

[LVGhia72]

Congratulations Marc on the new Ghia. Been away from the Samba for close to a month. Things certainly change, have to catch up on all the happenings.

Who has the fever worst? You or Trylon?

Enjoy.

Steve

[Marcdeb]

[c21darrel]

[Rome]

Probably the most difficult action for rotating the generator backing plate together with the gen is INSTALLING the lower 2 backing plate bolts. Removing them is tedious enough since the front of the intake manifold blocks direct access with a socket. Use a box-end wrench; most bolts there have a 10 mm hex head. If a PO used a slotted screw such as the engine tin screws, the only way to loosen them would be small needle-nose vice grips. Remove the air cleaner and carburetor to have more access room for the left lower bolt (disconnect the battery before any work!).

The attachment bolts are quite short. Once you have both of the bottom bolts out, check its thread length with one of the two top bolts. If there is a thread length difference, use the shorter one for the bottom. Thread length is only approx. 8 mm. along with a thin wavy lockwasher.

Now for the installation of the lower bolts- I doubt you can grip the bolt head with your fingertips simply because of the lack of space. So- hold the bolt end level with a small round magnet "pick-up tool" so that the thread end is aimed into the fan shroud hole. Try to rotate the bolt CW ever so slightly so that the thread grips the hole's threads. Once it grips, carefully continue threading the bolt by hand using the sides of your 2nd and middle fingertips so that you make sure the bolt is not cross-threading. Final tightening is with the box-end wrench. Torque is only 5 ft lb.

Once you have the gen rotated correctly and the 4 small bolts reasonably tight, remove the fan belt and spin the gen pulley. You want to make sure the fan face is not rubbing along the inside of the fan shroud. Chances are it'll be OK because the engine did not make a "screeching" noise before. Once you have confirmed no rubbing, install the gen strap. My preference is to have the bolt head facing up (nut comes up from bottom), so that any rain water does not collect on the nut to bolt thread joint if you'd put the nut facing upwards.

[Marcdeb]

c21darrel
Rome

Thank you both for all that information. It is very helpful.
_________________
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]

Learning some interesting facts about the 1968 Cabriolet. It's commonly known that the big redesign of the convertible top came in 69.5 with the new frame, new windshield frame, glass rear window, and the cable attachment at the rear. Gone were the wood parts around the body for attaching the back of the material, but I did not know that the rear cable attaching design started with the 68 cabriolet. The back wooden bows attached to the body are gone in 68 and the metal lip and cable design shows up ahead of the rest of the modification in 69.5. For the most part the top looks pretty much like a 67 or older.

Here's some pictures of my Cabriolet top. The outside material is vinyl and looks newer then the headliner, which looks original.

I noticed that the front trim piece that covers the front wooden bow is covered in material very similar to the headliner except it's not perforated. Might this be original from the factory? I thought they were just plastic?

Does this imprint on the rear plastic window window help date the top?

_________________
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

[moogie32]