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Post by ghiastein on Aug 12, 2008 21:35:22 GMT -5
Sorry about all of this I get bored in the late evening. Ok after a whole day of sanding we were ready for paint. First my manager sprayed on the sealer it only took a few minutes to dry. Next he sprayed on a coat of primer I went with the buff because I did not want any to show through. The next day I woke up early to drive over to his house to start sanding the primer. When I arrived he was fixing oopses and sanded the car some. More sanding I hate sanding but its worth it in the end. On goes the first coat of yellow WOW too cool until it dries and it looks flat. After a few more coats he started spraying on the clear. Now thats cool its like liquid candy it just shines. Sorry for the picture all that I had was a disposable. After a week of letting the car sit and cure he allowed me to drag it home. Now on to wet sanding the clear. This was the worst having to sand the nice Ghia again to make it dull looking. After the buffing the clear coat redeems its glory.
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Post by ghiastein on Aug 17, 2008 21:52:31 GMT -5
On to more painting. I painted the interior, the trunk and the engine compartment all in black with Rust-oleum simi-gloss. The engine compartment got a special coat of truck bed liner a long with the gas tank. After the paint dried it was on to the dreaded wiring. I wanted to make my car different. I wanted all of the modern convinces in a custom car. So I added power locks with key less entry, an alarm system, remote trunk and deck lid release, extra power outlets and lastly a kicking stereo system. Some how I was able to smash all of this into the Ghia. I also wanted power windows but wife stepped in and said that it would take away from the oldness of the car. I just thought she was feeling the pinch in the pocket book and just stopped me.
Oh-yea remember when I said that I did not label any wires when I removed the wiring. Well here is what happened my wire diagrams did not have color just lines. So after a lot of searching on the internet. I found my wire diagram and printed it out on 22"x34" paper. About 1/4 of the way through I have found out that my wires were not matching my diagram so I also printed out the wiring for a 1970 Ghia. That worked out much better.
Well that about did it for 2007 I hate winter to cold to work in the Garage.
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Post by ghiastein on Aug 18, 2008 21:31:40 GMT -5
The spring of 2008 was spent finishing the wiring. It really should not take this long just to install wires but with all of the modifications it takes time. Look at the results. It looks much better now. Also in the spring I installed my engine just a regular 1500cc nothing fancy. The reason for this is I just wanted a cruiser. Something I can hop in and go because I like to drive. The engine install went rather well. I did a lot of planning I made a small engine cart that I can sit the engine on but still get the jack underneath. I measured the height of the engine and figured how high I needed the back of the car. I made jack stand supports to raise the jack stands. When I was all done I think I had the rear 3 foot off the ground. The reason for this is because I did not want to disassemble the engine. The install went rather easy being only myself that is because of planning. I did mess up a bit but it was not my fault. My generator was mounted 90 degrees out and my wires were too short. I felt so bad because of all of the work I spent installing a complete engine. Off goes the fan shroud so I can spin the generator. Next oopsey when installing the exhaust system I busted a stud. Off goes the fan shroud again off goes the tin and off comes the head. I was pissed I shot putted that head into the dumpster from my garage. It was a complete head no big deal I have others. Finally the time to start my engine I assembled my wife to the garage for my victory. She did not really care but she was standing by my side. OK little gas into the carb and start the car pop pop pop no vroom. Again gas in the carb start the car pop pop pop pop no vroom. Again gas in the carb start the car pop pop pop and vroom vroom vroom vroom dead. Again gas in the carb start the car vroom vroom vroom vroom dead. By this time my wife left to go back home. I just could not keep it running it only burnt the gas that I poured in to the carb. Remember what my Father told me "If a engine builds easy and starts the first time that is a sign of bad luck" Well it has not been easy. After kicking the tires I found out I had a bad fuel pump. After bolting on a spare the Ghia finally came to life. I have lost many battles a long the way but I won the war. Next comes front suspension.
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MikeH
1600dp
Posts: 641
Joined: Aug 14, 2008 12:18:22 GMT -5
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Post by MikeH on Aug 21, 2008 12:13:42 GMT -5
OMG, you threw away a 69 frame!? OMG, you threw away a head just because it had a broken stud??
After my initial shock and recovery I must say the car is looking great. Great story.
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Post by ghiastein on Aug 21, 2008 20:33:36 GMT -5
mhoezee thanks for reading the story. Yes I feel bad about the frame but I had no option Yes I threw out a head because of a broken stud. Ever been pissed? I sometimes have the need to disembowel inanimate objects for my pleasure. AKA BFH or shot-put into dumpster to hear it smash.
AJ
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Post by ghiastein on Aug 24, 2008 20:35:55 GMT -5
Back to story
Engine runs but next weekend I started it again to make sure.
Ok on to the front suspension. Also during the spring I purchased some 2.5 dropped spindles without doing any research form R& N Sport Buggy. I was told that some have an offset of 1/2". No big deal I have room between my fenders and the wheel. So my project starts. Rip off all of the old spindles on with the new. Wheels back on jack under the axle tubes and lower it down. Thud.... umm we have a problem jack is down but tires still in air. After some head scratching I come to an idea grab a different jack. Jack up the beam with the new jack enough to pull the other jack out. The reason for all of this is because it was one of those duh moments. This never happened before I could always pull my jack out before. After the car was finally on the ground it looked cool way too cool.
Funny things happen when you lower the front. My wheels were all toe out sitting at funky angles. Time to turn the wheels I cranked the steering wheel about 90 degrees tires rub turn it 90 degrees the other way and tires rub.
It looks cool I will just drive in a straight line its ok.
This is what I hated to do was to narrow the front beam because it was cut and welded once before for the weld in adjusters. Now it needs to be cut and welded again. I made arrangements with my work to bring in my beam and have it narrowed. I measured the beam before removing it from the car and found that 1" on each side would be perfect. Without any smashing to the body with my BFH. I told the guys at work to just remove a inch on each side from everything. The welders did just that and they did an excellent job. They even fixed my little rust problem at the bottom of my shock towers.
Well looks like my problems are solved on for the assembly. So I thought.
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Post by ghiastein on Aug 26, 2008 19:11:52 GMT -5
On to the assembly I bought urethane bushing kit to replace my bearings and seals up front. I had every thing painted nice and neat. The bushings slid in nice the control arms needed a little encouragement. The springs were tricky to install getting them all lined up but I did it. On goes the other control arm and I am ready to mark the springs for the drill point. A quick look down the hole and no springs. On the other side I could see the springs. The center had the drill point and the set screw already but the other side had no springs to mark. After some figureing this is what I had wrong. First my slot in the adjusters was not centered in the adjuster. My urethane bushings were thicker than the stock seals. Well it all adds up and I am screwed.
Well I called R&N Sport Buggy for front torsion springs. No Dice he said that he has not had any for years. I called Spring Valley Motors. He had some and he was going to remove them and set them aside for me. So I can pick them up that afternoon. That afternoon I drove by to pick up the springs. When I asked his reaction was oh-yea I forgot. Nice. After going through his mess he gives me a nasty trashed rusty beam. He told me to take them out of this beam and return the parts back. I could not understand why he wanted this pile of rust he called a front beam back but thats what I did. Lucky for me someone kept the front beam well greased and the springs were perfect.
Finally this time I will measure ten time then cut once after that the assembly went smoothly.
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Post by ghiastein on Sept 2, 2008 21:28:52 GMT -5
I have finally figured out my messed up head lights. The original adjusting bracket had 3centering nubs equally spaced my new ones from Mid-America also had 3 but they were not equally spaced (no nubs on the bottom) That is why my light were 1/4" too low and not allowing my trim rings to center. After paint dries tomorrow I will reinstall my headlights and hopefully it will all work.
I am still fighting to get my Passanger Quarter Window Pillar. I have not heard from my supplier for a week now. Tomorrow I will drive to Spring Valley Motors with cash to see what he has.
I worked a little On my Stainless Steel Fire Wall today until I got to hot and had to stop.
Hopefully all of my little problem area will be solved before the BugRun.
Soon I will post pictures of my finished Interior if you want to see.
I still have a few winter Ghia projects to tackle this winter. Interested?
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Post by Dustin on Sept 2, 2008 22:06:36 GMT -5
Keep on posting AJ I enjoy reading about other peoples experiences with their VW's
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Post by bren on Sept 2, 2008 22:30:29 GMT -5
You could run small carbs like mine!
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Post by ghiastein on Sept 3, 2008 11:24:02 GMT -5
I really don't need the hassle of twin carbs I think I will just stick with my Solex. I like being able to just hop in, push the button start up the Ghia, and go for a drive with out making sure that my carbs are sync. Plus I like the gas mileage.
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Post by ghiastein on Sept 5, 2008 19:14:45 GMT -5
Well I left work early today to turn wrenches and bust knuckles on the Ghia. I have fully installed my Stainless Steel Fire Wall talk about a pain. Stainless steel is not fun to work with. I have also installed the glass for both doors but not fully adjusted yet I have installed the driver side quarter window. I have installed the headlights and they seem to be more centered than before.
I still have the passenger side quarter window to install and adjust the door glass. Also the trim around all the windows still needs installation.
Then after all that I need to detail the engine vacuum the interior and wax the car. Not fun Saturday will be busy.
AJ
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Post by bren on Sept 5, 2008 23:30:58 GMT -5
Did you finally get your pieces to hold in the rear quarter windows?
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Post by ghiastein on Sept 8, 2008 11:55:59 GMT -5
As for the Quarter window pillar. My pasanger side one is a hack job it has been welded twice, broken once, and cut twice. Not fun but it is installed and holding my window in place.
My new used one should be arriving soon after a polite but to the point email. Mike Gregory from House of Ghia was even nice and shipped it out free of charge.
I currently found someone on Samba who was selling clear euro-style front turn signals lenses with the hella stamping for my Ghia for $20.00. I can't wait until they arrive.
Future projects include:
Custom Carpeted Trunk Low Back Seats? depending on cost. Interior extras like visors, coat hooks I don't like my high mount rear view mirror any ideas? I need to finish my remote trunk popper and deck lid popper I have been pondering a house style duplex outlet any comments? I am looking for some kind of black soft rubber that I can use for a right foot heel cushion don't ask you all know why.
Thats about it. AJ
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Post by bren on Sept 8, 2008 13:15:32 GMT -5
And you won a trophy with all this yet to do. Your competition better get to work! Congratulations!!!!
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