Oops I forgot to compliment you on your straight & almost rust free Ghia!
Was there any reason given by O&S about why they werent happy with soda blasting?
There are pros & cons for both stripping systems.
Is that a 356 cabrio they are doing in the background? How much did it cost to get dipped out of interest? Great way to start.
Cheers
Steve
only problem is how do you paint the inside of stuff? Is there special spray equipment like a spraying flexible wand like thing?
71 notchback,
Past owner of, 70 NB, 73 SB and 72 FB TLE
Yes that's a 356 cabrio in background, they are converting it to RHD. Cost $2500 for the acid dip!
alansvw wrote:Yes that's a 356 cabrio in background, they are converting it to RHD. Cost $2500 for the acid dip!
is it real acid? or alkaline electrolysis dip?
Just that acid dip is used as a loose term.
71 notchback,
Past owner of, 70 NB, 73 SB and 72 FB TLE
I did the 8 hour round trip to deliver the ghia chassis to have the swingarm pivot bracket Installed. I bought them from Pacific Custom for $82 US which included the 7/8 4inch Hex Bolt that are counter sunk into the bracket. I checked out others available but this are so well made and the welds are beautiful. Decided to do some other work on cleaning up the chassis at the same time. Not decided if I need a bigger fuel line installed to feed the 48"s have had engines with and without bigger lines and cannot say i noticed a difference. cant wit to now install the narrowed trailing arms plus every other bid needed when narrowing the rear end. Are 17"wheels worth the effort don't know yet!
Thought it time for an up-date. Progress has jumped ahead. Now working on dask and rust in doors. We had a set back with the IRS brackets as it seems they do not fit my model so Wayne has found some original brackets and fitted them.
IRS Brackets being fitted
nice welding!
71 notchback,
Past owner of, 70 NB, 73 SB and 72 FB TLE
Work almost finished on dash, I wanted it original looking but needed extra gauges , I found a very rusty dash from a 58 beetle which is now has been grafted on so I have my 3 gauges. Also as im not usung the dash pad we needed to rework the top section above the steering wheel. it turned out well. heres how dash looked , then the changes.
after
Are are now working on the cooling system, will be running twin Oil coolers at the fromt , one in each guard. They will be joined by 1/2 hard linnes polished of course. I was going with three vent holes under bumper but have since decided on using early model horn grills.
lovely body work there
Reckon you will be real happy with the result
Futue te ipsum!!!
I thought I should give an update on progress. Have got the ghia 95% ready for paint so I asked the next obvious question "How much to paint in a solid colour?" It took a lot of pushing but was finally told $20,000+gst. To say I was shocked is an understatment. I have now removed the car and placed in storage while I start the search for a top notch painter that lives in the real world. I was very very happy with all the work done and would have preferred to have it stay in the one place for paint and final assembly but its not to be. Will let you know who I choose for doing the paint job.
alansvw wrote:I thought I should give an update on progress. Have got the ghia 95% ready for paint so I asked the next obvious question "How much to paint in a solid colour?" It took a lot of pushing but was finally told $20,000+gst. To say I was shocked is an understatment. I have now removed the car and placed in storage while I start the search for a top notch painter that lives in the real world. I was very very happy with all the work done and would have preferred to have it stay in the one place for paint and final assembly but its not to be. Will let you know who I choose for doing the paint job.
Holy Crap! Wow that is a big number! I got quoted a similar amount with my first bug resto years ago.. Good luck finding a painter who does live in the real world though.. way too much fume inhalation I say. Love your work so far, headlights looks great!
It will all be OK in the end, if it's not OK it's not the end!
All back on track after a 6 month break. Now just deciding if I'll go with the Airkweld Stage 1 Pro Built Beam with their Stage 3 Disc brake kit or the Mendeola T1 front suspension package with their 12.5" Disc Brake setup. Both will let me run 17"x7" wheels but the Mendeola offers much improved handling. both setups arent cheap so taking time to decide while I watch the Aussie Dollar drop.
New CSP Carbon Fibre Breather Kit just got from Boris.
Just paid for my new Mendeola Front beam
handling! thats what Im talking about. 😵💫
71 notchback,
Past owner of, 70 NB, 73 SB and 72 FB TLE
Bloody expensive and I hope worth every cent. Im having Boris at Vintage finish the chassis when this arris in Feb. he's anxious to get his hands on it to see how it performs.
I don't think they are expensive at all, most cars need couple to several $K to make them handle decent.
71 notchback,
Past owner of, 70 NB, 73 SB and 72 FB TLE
It seems I've been waiting months and it has been but finally my new Mendeola suspension setup is being delivered in the morning. I have crowbar ready and camera at hand. Will post photos up of the new setup. At the end of this month it goes to Vintage Veedub for final fitting new suspension, engine and gearbox. Also found a painter who I can work with and he is giving me a time for painting the shell in the next few days so all is coming together quickly. If only finding the wheels I want was this easy!
Had some fun un-packing crate as it has been so long arriving I had forgotten what was insides beside the Mendeola suspension setup.
Rain Tray
Rear Luggage Rack
Mendeola A1 Suspension Front System.. custom colours I ordered were not done , still very happy and it will not be seen much so its ok.
Rear Brakes
Kafer 6 point bar setup, still have to assemble
Dropped Thae chassis and all my goodies into Vintage Veedub on the weekend so now its in the hands of Boris to bring it together.
haven't seen this thread before and really enjoyed reading thru it. I'll be visiting Boris in a couple of weeks so hope to see it in the flesh then. looking forward to following this build. Good work so far Alan.
1971 karmann ghia Cabrio - Cruising 👍
1963 beetle Sunroof - gathering dust 🥲
1968 race beetle - twin turbo Subaru - stress relief 😁
1960 beetle - old school low & slow 😏
Great thread!
O&S did some work for me a year or two ago.
Can you please let us know how the certification and/or handling goes for the Mendeola set up?
1967 VW Beetle Deluxe
I was at Vintage on Saturday I take it that was your pan on the lift cause you don't see those front ends every day now 😉 very nice
Made up the brackets to mount the two coolers .
👍👍
Called into VINTAGE to check on progress and saw what Boris had done and I was delighted. Looks even better than I ever thought it would, just hoping it performs as it looks.
The Mendeola system is not a 4 hour DIY project as they make out, if you asked Boris he would say its not in any way a DIY job as almost every part needed machining or refitting to work correctly.
It now only needs a few things done and we can test fit to body before paint. Yippee!!
Nice
Step up to get out !!!
The Mendeola system is not a 4 hour DIY project as they make out, if you asked Boris
Yes I can vouch for that it is taking time to assemble
Haha Yup no "bolt on kit" Just bolts on, This will be one insanely cool Ghia .
Did you find a painter yet ?
VITS 2016
watch this space
