made some progress today - Karmann Ghia

today, I almost created a parts car for you...

as a public service announcement, I'll say this:

When you see a Hummer coming in on your left side, the wrong choice is to gun it - your car doesn't have the balls to pull off that maneuver...
 
lol.... you could crush this thing with a Geo Metro..... with that H3 it's going to feel like a mall speed bump......
 
ok, made some progress on the rims, I got the inside painted, outside is next......

two coats grey epoxy:

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two coats white basecoat, followed by three coats clear

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ok, it's been a few weeks and here's the "progress ": i got a battery and my plan was to bleed the brakes and get the Ghia off the jackstands....

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well, didn't happen...... two bleeders snapped on the front calipers so I ended up buying two calipers.... while I was at it I repaced the rotors, wheel bearings, tie rod ends.....

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now I have two drop spindles on order as well as new ball joints.....

stay tuned .....
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wtf? ......

al I can say is WTF...... big capital letters.......


I got new calipers from a local VW resto store, TriangleAutoparts in Winter park, tjey're AWESOME !!!!!!

too bad I decided I need new rotors (old ones had been machined) ..... so I got new tie rod ends, new rotors, new wheel bearings, new calippers, new seals..... $350 later I was on my way back home......cheaper than Vette stuff at least :lol:

pulling the front susp beam tomorrow :)))))))) .... :lol:
 
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ok...... after a few days of pure pain I finally got the font suspension and axle beam out........
come to find out a few torsion leaves are missing so now I have two sets on order (upper and lower torsion tube) .... cut the beam to weld ride height adjusters in place, going to be adjustable +- 1" up/down ... starting 2 1/2" below stock because of the drop spindles :)

her's a few pics:

beam cut and blasted..... also blasted the disc brake backing plates and one last part of the engine tin......

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here's the beam halves in epoxy primer.... you can also see the shock towers are welded solid, from the factory they're only spot welded

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here's the backing plates primered.... in the background are the drop spindles......
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cut the beam in halves to weld adjusters in.... that torsion spring setup is really growing on me.....

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beam welded and painted.....

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here's the Ghia as of tonight: 2" drop spindles installed, new shocks, new brakes, just what the doctor ordered......

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got the throttle linkage sorted out..... the carb is a Weber progressive and apparently this one was not designed for a VW, the throttle turns counter clockwise which made the install a little more difficult.

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installed the headlights and front bumper.....
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It's alive !!!!!!!! Have to fix a oil leak at the pushrod tubes, other than that it runs great !!!!!

click image to start video !!!

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TimAT said:
If a VW engine does NOT leak at the pushrod tubes, how will you tell if it's got oil in it?
Click to expand...

:shocking::hissyfit::pprrtt:


Since it is FLORIDA, I would have taken a sawzall to the top, making a roadster out of it, :beer:
 
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