made some progress today - Karmann Ghia

[SuperBuickGuy]

I have a feeling I need a bigger garage .....


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where's the pickup truck? :stirpot:

 

[phantomjock]

where's the pickup truck? :stirpot:

Maybe, under the tree out front, with 4 flat tires...:stirpot::stirpot:

Seriously,
I have the same problem. [And, I get to park the Jeep down the street!]
Cheers - Jim

 

[MYBAD79]

Oil leak seems to be fixed, engine ran for 30 minutes, no leak, not a drop

These pushrod tubes are "stock look" windage style in stainless .... Shiny ...

While I had the engine out I removed the clutch and checked crankshaft endplay: .030".... Wear limit is .006" .... So there is a engine rebuild in my future but I've heard of engines running with way more endplay than this so I'll wait and see....it's going to be ok for another 2-3000 miles I hope....

Anyways..... No leaks, going to get up early and go over to the tag office and get it registered..... Might be driving tomorrow.....

 

[phantomjock]

That looks real sharp. No need for the heat (so to speak) shrouds to duct forward in FL.
Come to think of it - mine came off in the winter of 68, in North Dakota! Didn't work in minus 20 anyway.

Cheers - Jim

 

[TimAT]

Here is a VW story--- you'll like this one..

[ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k0s9144hn5I[/ame]

 

[MYBAD79]

I finally got it registered.... Got a plate, got the antique registration, got another leak on the rear wheel cylinders, battery won't charge because the generator is dead but other than that it's fun driving it !!!



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[denpo]

Bravissimo!
My SO is watching over my shoulder and asked me to say bravo too (this is no small feat, I don't get that much )

 

[MYBAD79]

Bravissimo!
My SO is watching over my shoulder and asked me to say bravo too (this is no small feat, I don't get that much )

Thanks a lot to both of you !!! It is awesome to finally drive it - you'll experience the same soon when you get your Vette on the road

 

[mrvette]

I finally got it registered.... Got a plate, got the antique registration, got another leak on the rear wheel cylinders, battery won't charge because the generator is dead but other than that it's fun driving it !!!



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How in hell you get antique tags?? did you have one from long ago?? they dropped the antique tag gig here some years ago, but I still have mine on the vette, I didn't think they allowed reactivation of the tags.....




and YES the car looks superb.....GREAT JOB MAN!!!! wish my paint job looked even 1/2 as good....

 

[SuperBuickGuy]

Great job on that car, looks flawless!

 

[MYBAD79]

How in hell you get antique tags?? did you have one from long ago?? they dropped the antique tag gig here some years ago, but I still have mine on the vette, I didn't think they allowed reactivation of the tags.....




and YES the car looks superb.....GREAT JOB MAN!!!! wish my paint job looked even 1/2 as good....

Went to the local tag office.... They asked me "do you want antique plates?" .... I said sure, why not..... It's a lot cheaper than adding a regular tag, I paid just shy of $400 to get my Mustang registered, title transferred, FL.'new wheel' fee and such BS..... This Ghia was $65.30 since I already had the title in my name.....

 

[MYBAD79]

Great job on that car, looks flawless!

Thanks

There are a few imperfections but from 10' distance it looks perfect ..... It's just like my '79, it's not meant to be a show car or a trailer queen. I plan on driving it ....

 

[010752]

How in hell you get antique tags?? did you have one from long ago?? they dropped the antique tag gig here some years ago, but I still have mine on the vette, I didn't think they allowed reactivation of the tags.....




and YES the car looks superb.....GREAT JOB MAN!!!! wish my paint job looked even 1/2 as good....

Went to the local tag office.... They asked me "do you want antique plates?" .... I said sure, why not..... It's a lot cheaper than adding a regular tag, I paid just shy of $400 to get my Mustang registered, title transferred, FL.'new wheel' fee and such BS..... This Ghia was $65.30 since I already had the title in my name.....

Save your old plates from sold cars and there won't be any "new wheel fee"

 

[GoVetteGo]

Looks great! Congrats on getting it tagged!

Sure brings back high school memories bumming around in a friends Ghia on the weekends!!

 

[MYBAD79]

Another update: started on my alternator conversion. With a small carburetor spacer it will fit. It is tight but it fits.


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Nice chrome kit, it is Empi which is pretty much the lowest quality stuff money can buy but so far it all looks pretty good, can't say it's a bad kit but don't know until it runs......

With this style fuel pump there's plenty clearance. It's a pump that I got on Amazon for $30, it has enough meat to tap the inlet/outlet for NPT and it is smaller than the stock pump.
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At the carb it is much tighter, need either a spacer or get the Dremel out.... Spacer seems much easier....


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The chrome sure looks nice

 

[MYBAD79]

Live and learn.....

I ground some material off the alternator and got it to fit. Bolted the carb to the intake, no more interference until I realized the throttle linkage wouldn't move anymore because the acc pump linkage hit the alternator..... So I ground the China chrome for no reason.....ordered a 7mm carb spacer, test fitted today, seems to do the trick..... Too bad that now I have to cut the inside sheetmetal of the decklid because the decklid is crushing the air filter.....
What really annoys me is that a year ago I welded a patch into the opening that was there..... Guess now I know why it was there and going to cut my weld patch out again.....

Hope to get it out on the road Sunday.....

 

[mrvette]

Live and learn.....

I ground some material off the alternator and got it to fit. Bolted the carb to the intake, no more interference until I realized the throttle linkage wouldn't move anymore because the acc pump linkage hit the alternator..... So I ground the China chrome for no reason.....ordered a 7mm carb spacer, test fitted today, seems to do the trick..... Too bad that now I have to cut the inside sheetmetal of the decklid because the decklid is crushing the air filter.....
What really annoys me is that a year ago I welded a patch into the opening that was there..... Guess now I know why it was there and going to cut my weld patch out again.....

Hope to get it out on the road Sunday.....

Better off in bed, weather ****** anyway.....:club:

 

[MYBAD79]

Now that it finally stopped raining I drove the VW a few miles, about 15 miles .... No major issues.... Alternator is now charging, brakes are not all that great but I think that's just how they are, it's all new parts so I guess that's about as good as 1968 non assist brakes are .... Other than that it's really fun to drive. Still have to fix a few things like lights, brake lights, seat belts etc..... :drink:


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[SuperBuickGuy]

you did an excellent job on that car :beer:

 

[bobs77vet]

your project came out beautiful. nice work and its time to enjoy it!!!

 

[MYBAD79]

Thanks guys, I can't believe I bought this Ghia in 2007. It took me almost 7 years and several changes of direction to get here.... Your progress on the MG is much faster and that Fiat turbo is probably on the road soon too.... Lol....

I admit: I am at a point thinking about the next project..... I have so many C3 parts that I only need a frame to build a rolling chassis, then a diff, then a engine, a T56 ..... Hmmmmmm

Thank god I don't have space for another car !!!!!!

:smash::smash:

 

[bobs77vet]

Thank god I don't have space for another car !!!!!!

:smash::smash:

what the hell kind of comment is that?????

any way I remember seeing your car in primer in a photo and I guess I lost track of your build, any way your 6 yr odyssey made for good reading this afternoon, you do nice work and it came out great. I was looking at the photos of you pulling the engine and your cradle looked just like a motorcycle jack.

 

[SuperBuickGuy]

Thanks guys, I can't believe I bought this Ghia in 2007. It took me almost 7 years and several changes of direction to get here.... Your progress on the MG is much faster and that Fiat turbo is probably on the road soon too.... Lol....

I admit: I am at a point thinking about the next project..... I have so many C3 parts that I only need a frame to build a rolling chassis, then a diff, then a engine, a T56 ..... Hmmmmmm

Thank god I don't have space for another car !!!!!!

:smash::smash:

A sane comment like that could get you banned

The Fiat has been in progress for 3 years, and I'm not even to the middle point yet.... fact is, tonight, I looked at the car - then decided it was too cold, wet, and a cold wind was blowing up my shorts so I went back relaxing in the house.

 

[MYBAD79]

Finally installed seatbelts and got the car aligned, it really is a lot of fun to drive this tiny car .... Here it is next to a van .... Lol


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:lol:

 

[denpo]

I see your first stop was the gas station.
Wise choice

Congratulations.

 

[MYBAD79]

Thanks

Looks like even the trashcan is taller than my VW

 

[bobs77vet]

well if i put the MGA coupe next to the VW i bet they would look normal....the VW is a good looking car

 

[denpo]

Thanks

Looks like even the trashcan is taller than my VW

Fixed :smash:

 

[GoVetteGo]

Thanks

Looks like even the trashcan is taller than my VW

Fixed :smash:

Hell!! There goes the gas mileage!!! :thumbs:

 

[SuperBuickGuy]

Thanks

Looks like even the trashcan is taller than my VW

Fixed :smash:

Hell!! There goes the gas mileage!!! :thumbs:

lol