made some progress today - Karmann Ghia

[MYBAD79]

Why not drop an LSx in there while your at it. Looks like your making good progress!

This would be a mid engine LSx. The engine will definitely not fit in the front. I guess you could mount the radiator and the tank in the front, the engine behind the two front seats ... hmmm...... I guess you could fit a F-body axle in there but the driveshaft would be somewhat short...
:devil:

Here's the stock 1.6L 50HP air cooled powerhouse:

 

[MYBAD79]

Ok. you passed, next time you come back to germany you can cut away all of the rust in the plum crazy coronet r/t

yeah, I'm getting really good at cutting away rust. :bomb:

 

[MYBAD79]

BTW, these are stock 1968 seats with real horse hair cushions:



Will be replaced with foam....

 

[Twin_Turbo]

Over here people pay good money to sleep on left hand cut moose nut sack hair or whatever they stuff in those Hästens mattresses You have a potential goldmine there

 

[MYBAD79]

It felt like it was right hand cut so I tossed it :quote:

Didn't take long to strip them down... I also cut the headrest and converted to lowbacks (1967 style)

 

[mrvette]

It felt like it was right hand cut so I tossed it :quote:

Didn't take long to strip them down... I also cut the headrest and converted to lowbacks (1967 style)

Need a aluminum V6 in there, gotta be something that works, pushout 240 hp or so....just gotta be a way.....no excuses, just DO IT man....

:devil::bump:

 

[Fuelie74]

Just use a transaxle out of a newer 5.3 impala. You would get independent rear suspention to boot.

 

[MYBAD79]

Nah... I dunno.... wouldn't be safe with the low back seats and a V6....LOL

:harhar::quote::trumpet:

 

[MYBAD79]

OK, here's this week's progress:


Rear half with two coats of Epoxy primer :



Urethane primer/surfacer:




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two coats light blue base :



First coat blue pearl:





Second coat blue pearl:




It's amazing how the color changes from light blue to medium blue. This is what it looks like when the camera flash hits the pearl:



Can't wait to get in outside in sunlight....

 

[SmokinBBC]

That's some pretty nice painting you've done there.:thumbs:

 

[kwplot34]

Looks very nice Karsten. I guess i better get to moving along a little faster,you are going to need the buffer back real soon.

 

[MYBAD79]

Take your time with the buffer, I wetsanded the front with 2000 grit and it buffs easy by hand...... so far so good.... I have a few spots with orange peel and might have to go down to 1000 grit in those areas....

 

[MYBAD79]

I wetsanded 1000, 1500, 2000 grit and then used a Mother's Powerball for paint - awesome, almost as good as a buffer... I used Turtle Wax rubbing compound and Maguires polish.


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still a lot of work left to do, inner fenders are still partly covered with undercoating, fuel line and brake lines need to be done.... and a lot more...

 

[kwplot34]

Ma Karsten that looks nice :amazed: how about you come out here and shoot my paint and clear for me :bounce:

 

[big2bird]

Ma Karsten that looks nice :amazed: how about you come out here and shoot my paint and clear for me :bounce:

Duh. He only does blue. Silly man.:bonkers:

 

[kwplot34]

Ma Karsten that looks nice :amazed: how about you come out here and shoot my paint and clear for me :bounce:

Duh. He only does blue. Silly man.:bonkers:

I will put some blue tinted goggles on him,he won't no the difference :thumbs:

 

[MYBAD79]

I can do YELLA too..... :smash:

 

[MYBAD79]

Ma Karsten that looks nice :amazed: how about you come out here and shoot my paint and clear for me :bounce:

KC area is a lil chilly this time of the year....

makes me wonder: how cold is it in your garage ??? Do you have a heater ??? If it's below 60F you shouldn't paint......

 

[big2bird]

Ma Karsten that looks nice :amazed: how about you come out here and shoot my paint and clear for me :bounce:

KC area is a lil chilly this time of the year....

makes me wonder: how cold is it in your garage ??? Do you have a heater ??? If it's below 60F you shouldn't paint......

There's your excuse Kevin. Keep sanding till you see frame.:goodnight:

 

[kwplot34]

Yip it's chilly around here,actually it's DAMM cold my garage is heated,and to make sure it stays at the temp i want with exhaust fans going i have a BIG ASS heater,one of those kerosene burning mini jet engines,the problem i have now is sweat dripping off me and on the car,it happened once tonight before i could wipe it off my face,so i will have to do something about that before i shoot color and clear.

 

[MYBAD79]

I know this happens, that's why I told you last night...LOL.... here in FL it's hot 8 months a year.... sweat is dripping as soon as you open the door and leave air conditioned environment....

Get some wax and grease remover, that stuff at AutoZone is pretty good (KleanStrip "PrepItAll"), $6.99 for a quart...

 

[kwplot34]

I have a Gal of PPG wax and grease cleaner,well i use to have a Gal have pretty much used all of it,and i have this other cleaner from HOK can't remember the name of it now,but you use it after sanding and before the other cleaner,so far i have had no problems with paint adhesion,if any thing i might be over doing it. If there is such a thing

 

[saudivette]

...the problem i have now is sweat dripping off me and on the car,it happened once tonight before i could wipe it off my face...

I sweat like a rapist from my hair so if I'm painting or powder coating and risk dripping sweat onto the job, I wear a sweat band. I look like a twit or some old hasbeen tennis player but it stops the sweat dripping where I don't want it...

 

[MYBAD79]

more progress:


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took this photo without the flash.... a lot darker, the light seems to really change the color a lot....

 

[Shirley1978]

hood looks a little off :harhar:... but either way its still awsome!

 

[mrvette]

Karsten, how much how long, and when.....

:loveletter:

 

[saudivette]

Looking good there Karsten :thumbs:

 

[bobs77vet]

that looks great.......i have never had a Karman Ghia but i have had lots of other small convertibles, MGA, Big Healey, MGTF,Tr6 and i really like the size of them for working on as projects......they are easy on space and small enought that the project moves along and stays fun.....keep up the good work.....you are making me psyched to get be able to be in my garage, and start back up on my hot rod project....

 

[Red]

Your wife must be excited about your progress, NICE JOB! That color looks Great.

Your 79 trans swap into my 79 will be done sometime this weekend.

 

[bobs77vet]

any more updates on the Karmen Ghia?