My 1971 Karmann Ghia Project

Wow, it’s been a hectic month or so around here. First I had to put that stupid t-shirt project to bed. Then I am overseeing my wife’s project in Thailand and getting myself prepared for my upcoming 5 weeks over there. And then there is this little project, which is coming along SUPER!!! I have posting much of the progress on Facebook and then I remember there’s some of you guys that simply don’t go there. In a  nutshell, Scott got the body off, delivered it here to free up room in his tight garage where he has been doing some great quality work. He started taking of all the old suspension and brake stuff and then started getting the front bulkhead assembly welded to the pan. I stopped by one day and started to clean off all the old vw sound and insulation off the tooside of the pan. During that process we realized there was rust on the floor behind the driver seat. There was some fiberglass work on both sides and figured we would eventually see the same on the passenger side. We also decided that day that we would get the pan dipped so we could start on a fresh canvas. Mean while I ordered the two pans while the chassis went iff to the big tank. The pan pieces came in a day or two before the pan was finished last week Friday.

scott then made quick work of repairing the one pan, we got lucky, when we got the nice clean chassis back, only the driver side was hosed, everything else was very nice. Scott had to bang out a corner that must have been caused by catching the jack point on something and bending that pretty good.

I got my new seat covers to an upholsterer so the seats are in the works also, 911 seats if you hadn’t heard. Scott made some nice new brackets to accept the 911 seat rails, then a few more weld spots filling a hole or three.

Yesterday, 3/8 Scott painted the frame. Reassembly, some Dynamatting  etc. will start this coming week. I’ll be shiving off for Thailand on 3/18, burpt Scott will continue to olug away. He is like the Energizer Bunny and I really appreciate his diligence. He sourced a good tranny for me that should be here soon so he can install from the top before the body goes back on.

While all this has been happening, we have decided to have Scott build me a 2276 via CB Performance kit. The obvious exhaust and carbs and...will need to be ordered so Scott can bring ypthis thing to its foregone conclusion. The new engine will hopefully get finished up during the summer and maybe get some fall driving with the new powerplant. In the mean time, Scott will reinstall it so I can get some drive time this summer. I’m still hoping to sell my ‘69 bug to get some cash to help fund this project. Once it’s complete, it’ll be a nice kittle hot rod.

so here’s some photos of the past month or so, maybe not in the proper sequence, but you guys are smart enough to tell which goes where and when.

Looks great, Rich. Thanks for the update.

I am excited for you Rich, this is going to be very cool. 😎

Got the first of the two 911 seats today. It looks great, he just forgot  to include the heated part. It’s all good with me, I’d rather have them quickly. The second will be done by Saturday, just before I leave for Thailand. It is lighter than the dark exposure and darker than the light exposure. Fit pretty good.

Nice! Have a good trip, Wisco!

Rich said “It looks great, he just forgot  to include the heated part”. 

This would’ve been a deal-breaker for Sandy  Who is always  .   If you ever see Henry, ask him about my original Intermecanica build.  It was  delivered with one heated seat.  

I do like the low, medium, high heated seats in my car.   Not much better on a cool, top down day.  They really do help to extend the driving season in an open car.

In an open car a heated seat is a must  for sure in a coupe if you have floor heat you should be good. ... VW in a brand new Jetta forgot the whole heat system going to the back seat on the left side ... go figure. 

Rich,

Chia is looking good. Safe travels to/from Thailand. Hope you have a good trip. 

Regards,

Tom

I noticed that you used the Mendola front suspension. How much work was involved to install it Rich ?........Bruce

AC Bruce, first of all I am having my new best bestest friend doing the work very familar with the VW. Scott Hansen, who has been building his own Speedster over the past # of years offered to help me. I would say if you are very familiar with the VW pann, you know how to weld well it is probable you could do it. If not the above, then maybe finding  someone to do it. I know Todd El Tahar attempted it on his Speedster back a few years. He didn’t use the Mendeola kit, but another brand. Too bad right after he got it finished he had engine troubles and has put the car in moth balls for now to attend ypto other family matters. The kit itself is put together nicely. Kevin Zagar at coolrydes.com talked my buddy thru the basic steps and Scott was good at understanding the jist of the job. Without Scott, I personally would not be able to it, I know how to use a tool, but not for something like this. Of course, we are still a good 5-6 weeks away from getting the car back together, at that point we should know if it was all worth it. Kevin Zagar says we will be amazed. Finally, it ain’t cheap.

Thanks for the response Rich..   It really does look like the "ticket" for our cars. It will be interesting to hear comments about it from you later.  When I look at it from the top I'm not impressed with how it looks. It looks like a giant hard boiled egg slicer ! But..all the good stuff is there and in the right place !   From underneath it looks fine.  My thoughts were drifting to maybe welding on a couple tabs to be able to attach a tow bar as well.  Oh....You are doing a fantastic job on your Ghia, I must say !!! Well Done!.....Bruce

So, while I wasn’t looking, Scott Hansen did his normal great work for the past 3-4 nights. I stopped by tonight and managed to lay down a few sheets of Dynamat, whoopee! Closer and closer it’d getting. 

Thursday night photos:

Wow it is really looking nice with that full suspension set up.  Are there any reviews on how that suspension works and how it drives?  Nice stuff.

Ray, good question. I have yet to find one all-encompassing article addressing your question. Maybe someone else knows more than I?

Well Rich, that car will be well set up with that pan and suspension you now will be forced to do it all up the RIGHT way full up non stop reFurb outside and in with those 911 seats. 

The Toe-in/out adjustors on the rear suspension are interesting !............Bruce

 All you need now Rich is a fibreglass body

That is one helluva suspension system, both front and rear.