Hi Guys and Gals -- anyone have a Ghia they have converted to rear coilover springs, thinking about getting rid of the torsion bars and going to coilovers (clearance issues, thinking I'm going to need a LOT MORE TIRE LOL)((opps tyre) --- Looking for a spring rate as a starting point for my project car
yeah I know -- steering wheel is on the wrong side
This Morning 5:45am -- 20 miles west of Blythe CA -- Gensis Solar site -- 101*
Checking out my parts from the coater -- Before --
After --
colin ·
Thats a real nice finish, is that ceracote?
Would like to do something like that on an exhaust header and muffler.
Cheers Col
sander288 ·
I don't know of many dubs over here that have a proper rear coil over conversion done to them; but I do know 911 guys have done this type of thing for a while.
From memory the 935 got rid of the torsion bars and went with coilovers.
As far as spring rate goes that is completely up to you and your suspension man to decide; how the rear of the car is going to load up with that turbo motor I'd suggest stiffer springs
Sorry can't be more help; but suspension setup is completely dependant on what driving you want to do; what events if any, your driving style etc etc...
Cheers
Shaun
Ps, Great looking donk! Whats it running for cooling?
Fiatdude ·
I don't know what the process is called -- but it is real similar to the Turbo Hot coating which I've used on exhaust in the past and it is very durable. This was done by Young Guns in Ontario CA. They are the same guys Marty Staggs uses for his intakes and exhaust systems.
yeh i have done swing axles and irs.don't have any close ups of the irs,but pretty easy to do.
same for both realy.
cheak out the junka post.or searh under westi.some thing should pop up.
spring rate,150 to 180 ish .depends on what you manly want it for.and how you mount it all.
Fiatdude ·
dash is done, just got to finish wiring it --- put the steering wheel over where you guys like it
westi ·
Got some gauges on ya.
Wheel is on the right side for a change.
Did you stand back and realize that you car looks better now.lol
matberry ·
Spring rate is also very dependant of mounting position because of any lever arm effect making a huge difference. On Shoptalk, some guy's have programs that do calc's with a heap of input measurements. Maybe try a post with the offroaders there.
Coating looks like normal ceramic coatings, Competition Coatings are one of Australias best, preferably the Archerfield, Brisbane branch.
Great Ghia 👍👍
Fiatdude ·
westi wrote:Got some gauges on ya.
Wheel is on the right side for a change.
Did you stand back and realize that you car looks better now.lol
Having lived on Bermuda for a few years, I have no problem with the steering wheel over there, but I was having a hell of a time reaching the pedals LMAO
Fiatdude ·
More crappy welding for you to look at -- one of these days I'll invest into a foot pedal for my TIG -- priced one once and it was twice as much as what I paid for my welder LOL
Had to redo this a couple of times so that I can fit a remote oil filter next to it
westi ·
foot pedals are for cars not tig's.lol.
practice makes perfect.try using stainless filler wire.
mactaylor ·
A/F heads nice!
Fiatdude ·
If you liked the heads, I think you might like the pistons and barrells
Fiatdude ·
Been working on the car alot lately -- nothing that would show up in pictures, the fuel system is done, the oil system is done, Still sorting out the electrical and trying to make it look like something other than a birds nest
The Wife bought me a new Helmet for my birthday -- said I needed something to intimidate the opposition
christopher ·
I'm Scared
matberry ·
👍😂
Fiatdude ·
Can i get a OOOHHHHHHH!?!?!?!?!?!?! lol
Dash wiring is done, except the brake lights aren't working -- still have to move the battery up front -- one bolt at a time
Fiatdude ·
New Turbo time LOL
lou0060 ·
holy crap! with that turbo you'll need more than coil overs to keep the back level!
Fiatdude ·
Went and got 5 gallons a fresh E85 this morning -- then fired up the Ghia for the first time this afternoon and broke in the new cam --- I think it was a little fat, looked over and my sons eyes were watering
newghia ·
tears of joy ????
Fiatdude ·
Well -- Drag Day is this Sunday at Irwindale and I'm really trying to get this thing running good enough to make it -- -- This car is killing me -- LOL -- Bolting in the BIG FOOT pedals and stuff and damnit the rear stop isn't right the pedals are falling forward
Call Don at Big Foot and he says that cars that have had the pans halves replaced are having this problem --something about the hole isn't in the right place on the new halves -- Geeezzz -- He says that he'll be glad to send me a different stop they are making that is 3/8" longer -- I said no thanks I'll weld something to it -- 2 Hours from starting this 15 minute job -- done
perfect!!!!!!! -- -- just finished running the throttle cable (using the stock one for now) my hands look like they have been in a knife fight all cut and bleeding -- sucks to get old -- LOL -- quick lunch break and it's out to do the intercooler..... then the seats .. ... maybe
Fiatdude ·
Just got to bolt on the door for Drag Day -- Car is not finished, but finished for now -- got a job starting Monday and it is another 100+ mile oneway commute to the other side of downtown LA through all the traffic -- Oh well .. .. ..
Fiatdude ·
Fiatdude ·
matberry ·
Storage shed...... hey Bud?
I saw the sambas pic on the Lounge 🙂.... we can always dream 😍
Maybe the trailer is for your turbo in the top pic 😂😂😂
Fiatdude ·
Wellllll, it has been a while since the last up date, got the new 65mm TB from accufab -- it is NICE
and then the nightmare started of getting a flange to bolt it to -- -- everything I could find was aluminum, so had to get one made, finally got one and the guy and I must of had a misunderstanding and the center was cut to 80mm instead of 65mm, CHIT, so had to get some time off to get by Scotty's Muffler in Berdoo and Tom made me a "adapter" from 80mm to 2.5" tubing that I'm using. I got the piece cut and welded onto the intake but still have to find time to install the intake and then find the right position for the TB so I can weld the flange in place. Freaking Holidays are sure sucking time on my weekends, and my old ass doesn't feel like doing much after 9 hours of working and 4 hours of commuting to Hinkley and back every day. Going to have some time off over the holidays (a couple of back to back four day weekends, YaHOOOO) and I might get something done on the pos...... Happy Holidays to all
That is unless it all ends on 12/21/12 LOL
Fiatdude ·
I got the new TB on the car and got most everything rewired except for the IAC
(I just blocked it off for now -- going from a 4-wire IAC to a 2-wire requires some major redo of the harness and some guru work in the program, which is scheduled for next weekend)
-- went back thru some old programs this evening and mixed and matched with the current E85 program, plugged it all in, and the damn thing fired right up. and ran pretty good -- needs some fine tuning, but ran out of fuel
I'm really pumped right now
Fiatdude ·
You've got to click on it to watch it
westi ·
mad scientist laugh.heheheheh
love it .car came up well,u must be pleased
matberry ·
😂😂
Fiatdude ·
The things you see at sunrise
Fiatdude ·
As of today it is a driver -- a fast driver -- a trip to the dyno is in order
Doug Sweetman ·
Sooooo ...... Still no answer on the coil overs then ?
Lol awesome looking Ghia mate, looks like it will fly .....
Fiatdude ·
Well, was looking at doing the coil overs and then thought about changing the trans over to a Fortin 5 speed at the same time -- -- and then the budget went flying thru the roof and out the window so sticking with what I've got, until something breaks LOL
I've got dyno time scheduled this Saturday afternoon, so I've been pushing to wrap a few issues before then..... My 4477 Autometer boost gauge has been acting up, so I had another one setting on my desk to be installed -- then I was installing my turbosmart e-boost street in the car and I called Marty to see if he could help me program it -- so we were talking and I asked if a e-boost 2 would fit in my dash replacing the 4477 and what changes had to be made to convert to it from the street. He said that the gauge would fit and all the e-boost use the same plug in back so no conversion -- -- HMMMMMM -- so I went by the local Turbosmart regional office and saw Marty, his wife and daughter picked up the new gauge and Marty programed it for me right there on the bench..... Thanks Marty
So now I've got a e-boost street (powered up once and never programed with all new hoses and stuff from the 2) and a brand new Autometer 4477 boost gauge (box never opened) for sale .
Fiatdude ·
Well, you can see there hasn't been to much done to the car since May -- I've been Constructing a Solar Plant in beautiful downtown Lockhart, CA..... Never heard of it????? Here it is --
--- It was a old Ghost town that it is now a solar plant ---- You can see an existing solar plant north of there that has been there for almost 20 years -- all the area that you can see the crop circles is the new solar plant.... Maybe one day it will show up here..... Still don't know where it is????? Start backing out of the picture and you will figure it out, LOL -- can you say middle of nowhere?!?!?!?
Well anyway, Friday was my last day on the job, after being there for almost a year and doing a 200+++ mile commute everyday I'm really done with this work shit LOL. so it is mini vacation time, gonna really dig into the ghia and get the jinx's out of it -- got some gremlins in the engine and EFI that defy logic, so I'm gonna get after them or start using a hammer on this shit LOL.... I've got a month or so before the next job so lets see what I can get done.
Well, I've broken 3 rocker studs now, so...... engine has been pulled apart and the head that been breaking the stud has been disassembled and can't find nothing wrong HMMMMMMMMM drilled out the helicoils and installed a timesert-- -- K800's still within spec, maybe some beehives are in order?!?! -- valves and guides are OK and doing what they are suppose to do -- WHY THE F*** IS THIS HAPPENING? still investigating --
One cylinder did have a broken ring which scored the cylinder -- so new +.030 pistons and total ring seals will be required to fix that --
Good news: it will now be a 2963, Buhahahahahahah --
bad news: it hurts when I laugh
Summary of week one of "Vacation" ===== new JE 4.030 pistons, New total seal rings, Trip to the machine shop for some bore adjustment, -- -- some new beehive valve springs, retainers, locks, trip to the machine shop to get that dialed in, retainers aren't the right ones, won't work, can't get a set of retainers that fit these springs to match up with the valves, DAMN IT, -- -- some more new beehive springs, retainers, and locks, trip to the machine shop to see if this will work, crossing fingers, so far so good, -- -- call from machine shop doing boring -- one man shop -- owner has been sicker than a dog all week, won't get to my barrels until next week, -- -- call to another machine shop, sorry won't have pistons back when I thought, so will miss this weeks run of coating, maybe next week. Nothing to do this weekend except work on putting the side windows in the Ghia -- -- screw that, -- -- going to the Coach House in San Juan Capistrano to see the Big Bad Voodoo Daddies Saturday night. Good Week LOL
Fiatdude ·
It's HERE -- --- BuHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA
Just need that old man who's doing my boring to get them done --- I'm gonna call him EARLY LOL
Fiatdude ·
Went and visited my engine builder today
They found this on all four lobes
matberry ·
Did the VooDoo fix it? Maybe some Snake Oil would work?
Fiatdude ·
Sexy Bitch
Fiatdude ·
Ha --- Just noticed that it 2 years and 1 week since I brought the Ghia "Home" -- How time flies when you're having fun.........
I disintergrated the 901 trans right after the first of the year -- been fighting putting in a 091 in finally got it done and engine reinstalled
Took it for drive -- -- -- needs a little adjusting on the shift linkage -- but I like it
Did a quick tune and put the E85 in the Ghia (actually winter blend so it is E70 LOL) went and got the trailer and loaded the Ghia up
So Since I can't make it to Bug-in on Sunday -- I'm gonna do the Cars and Coffee in Irvine at 6am Saturday Morning -- then going to the DKK get together at Hero's at 11am -- see if I can get through the day without doing in another trans LOL
Fiatdude ·
Twas a beautiful day in the neighborhood ----
Cars and Coffee was great
Then the Hero's get together was off the charts
Fiatdude ·
Got a phone call late last night -- job canceled until Monday morning,, cool,, So now I can go to Fontana Sunday
SOOooo -- I got off my butt and put the mirrors on -- plus installed the wink mirror too -- I know -- just how cool can I get LOL -- -- -- Now,,, I'm all dolled up for the car show here in Yucaipa for Friday night --
Fiatdude ·
I must just love abuse LMAO
Was trying to get the trans out tonight, freaking can't find my tri-square sockets........ getting to freaking old to remember where I stick chit -- -- Tired of looking for them,, gonna go buy some more in the morning, I always end up with two or three of everything this way,, Must be rich this week LOL
Gotta get the trans over to Benco so that he can put the POSI in -- -- Love it when a plan comes together LOL
Fiatdude ·
Ohhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh
Truetrack
matberry ·
Wow, nice looking diff. I have a Quaiffe in my street bug, that Truetrack looks similar but way smaller.
How did you find the 901 trans? Apart from too weak? 😉 Were the ratios as you wanted/expected? Was the shift acceptable (I've owned 901's before but not used the trans in a Dub before)
I have one that I'm thinking of using in a split bus project, behind an aspo 2110 mild engine (maybe 150-170hp)
Fiatdude ·
Been playing in the rain today -- pulled the dual disc out and inspected it --
Got a little heat rash on it but not bad -- probably need to replace the discs and floater during the next year -- the floater and PP were perfectly flat, Nice -- -- the discs were showing wear and according to Kennedy, I'm allowed a total of .030 wear before replacement or adjustments need to be made -- Stopped at Clutch Masters in Rialto CA (((they have a dual disc system using copper discs -- their system is about 50% more expensive than Kennedys but includes a flywheel))) -- was talking about cleaning up the floater and PP - -- - but by dressing these 3 surfaces, it would of pulled 5-7 thou off each surface for a total of about .020 just in that, so then add in the wear that I've already got on the Discs, I'd would be out of spec and would require machining the flywheel surfaces (both the wear and the surface where the PP bolts to keep everything in tolerance) -- -- It just goes on LMAO -- so said screw it, I've got no issues with it grabbing now, so will let it run for now until I replace everything
I got the trans back this afternoon from BENCO with the LSD by truetrack installed -- need to check with truetrack to see if it requires any special oil, but because it has no clutches I don't think so,, going to check to make sure before I screw it up LOL
Then start putting everything back together -- still debating about moving the oil cooler to the front of the car -- need to run the lines and stuff -- the STUFF is never ending LOL
matberry wrote:Wow, nice looking diff. I have a Quaiffe in my street bug, that Truetrack looks similar but way smaller.
How did you find the 901 trans? Apart from too weak? 😉 Were the ratios as you wanted/expected? Was the shift acceptable (I've owned 901's before but not used the trans in a Dub before)
I have one that I'm thinking of using in a split bus project, behind an aspo 2110 mild engine (maybe 150-170hp)
Hey -- sorry I missed your post -- I hated the dog leg 1st gear in it for street driving, but everybody I know loved them for track -- I have/had a bunch of different gears to try for 4th and 5th looking for something that take the car up into the 175 MPH range for doing land speed stuff -- I'm guessing that I broke the main shaft in it pulling away from a stop sign very easily, I know I didn't break 1st gear which everybody thought I would, do to it being a cantilevered design... I have given the trans to a friend and he is planning to rebuild it and put it in a '59 Fiat 600 which he is back halving with ACVW engine which will quite similar to my old Fiat
Fiatdude ·
Ranney sent me this
vassy66T1 ·
😂😂😂
Fiatdude ·
Order your Turbo lag shirt today -- they'll be printing them soon
When getting yer chit powder coated -- -- ALWAYS get it ALL done at the same time -- not 3-4 months apart
The bad news is, it was together for about an hour before I noticed there was something wrong LMAO
Fiatdude ·
Hello from Sunny California
Fiatdude ·
Today was a great day -- I got to tour the Malloy Collection in the AM and then go to the Hero's show hosted by DKK-----
The Malloy Collection has some great early Sprint cars, Indy cars and other Road cars -- I took over 70 pictures here are a few
Fiatdude ·
He also had a great collection of vintage helmets from very famous drivers
Fiatdude ·
It was a beautiful day for the car show today (mid 60's) at Hero's hosted by DKK
Fiatdude ·
I believe this table is worth more than my house -- and damn I want it LOL
From the Malloy Collection
Fiatdude ·
Been trying to get my Ghia to the salt for the last couple of years and between the lack of cash and then the E85 issue, it just hasn't came to fruition -- -- A while back a Company in the UK -- VW Heritage -- Opened a contest where they would help you have a road trip of your dreams -- I just had to enter --
TODAY I GOT THIS EMAIL
From: AGregory
Subject: Your VW Heritage dream road trip made the shortlist!
Date: Tue, 6 Jan 2015 14:53:46 +0000
Hi,
Thank you for entering the VW Heritage Win your dream Road trip competition.
Your entry has been selected to join a shortlist of our 5 favourites, so you are in with a great chance of winning!
We will be announcing the shortlist in our newsletter at the end of the week, and will open up a vote to find the winner (the vote will be open until the end of Jan).
Each trip will be detailed on our website, blog and Facebook – we will provide the answer you gave, and accompany it with a basic map showing where you plan to travel.
We would love to feature your VW, and a picture of you and anyone you were wanting to travel with to help bring the story to life even more.
The more information you can provide, the better your story, the better chance you have of winning!
We will provide you with web the links as soon as they are created, so you can inform friends and family, and get them to support you from the start.
Congratulations on making the final five, I look forward to hearing more about your trip shortly.
Happy New Year!
Andy
Andy Gregory
Marketing Manager
DDI: 01273 444014
VW Heritage Parts Centre Limited | Registered in England & Wales: 3294341
47 Dolphin Road, Shoreham-By-Sea, West Sussex, BN43 6PB, U.K.
International Tel: +44 1273 444000 | International Fax: +44 1273 454986
I had to back out of the VW Heritage promotion,,,, part of their deal was they wanted the owner to drive their VW to the location and back....
After I started looking at all the stuff I needed to have with me to participate on the salt, and looking just how small the Ghia was, I knew that I needed to have a truck and trailer to haul my junk and car up there and back, and I couldn't afford to drive two vehicles. So I told them of my dilemma and offered to withdraw and they accepted my decision and thanked me for being upfront on my attentions.... So now I need to start saving my nickels and dimes to see if I can afford to make the trip on my own. DAMN ,,, I was sure excited there for a minute or two
Fiatdude ·
Hmmmmmm
Fiatdude ·
The Ghia has been setting like this for about a month chasing push rod tube oil leaks -- -- been so pissed at it I haven't even put the tools away,,,, Did leave a BF hammer right there in case the need arose LOL
Just got a set of super whammy killer push rod tubes from Roger Crawford and it looks like they are gonna solve my problems (I've installed them on the "problem" side and they're sealing) -- so now I've got to get motivated and do the other side -- you can see the problem ones (blue) and Roger's new ones (silver)
Fiatdude ·
c21darrel wrote:I have had good luck with JayCees spring tubes.
One of the biggest issues I've had with having an engine this big (2989cc), is the amount of growth during the heating/cooling cycle. And a lot of stuff that works fine on smaller engines, just doesn't hold up with this duty cycle. So I very rarely complain about parts issues I encounter. That said, I've been looking for some super whammy large diameter tubes (to fit the bigger push rods) to address this issue.
During a casual conversation with Roger Crawford, I found that he had had these same issues on his race engines, and had developed these tubes with a higher spring rate and triple oil O-rings -- -- From first impressions, these are perfect (I had to hit the gym to get enough strength to collapse the springs for install LOL)... And instead of using oil for assembly, I used some high temp anti-seize goop I had laying around. SO, I'm thinking (fingers crossed) I've finally solved this issue!!!!
Fiatdude ·
So today the wife and I were coming back from Home Depot, and this primer Oval is making a left turn in front of us and I'm looking at it... and looking at it ... thinking could it be ???? could it be???? -----
Sure enough, there's the Ovalholio sticker on the side window -- The kid I sold it to, has it running and going down the road -- I got pretty excited to see the kid had done what he said and got it running -- It's been two years since I sold it to him, It's still primer and still has the same wheel and tires on it..... But it looked way cool going down the road --
Wife couldn't understand why I got so excited...... LMAO
Here's some pictures I took the day I took it over to his house......
HappyDaze ·
Wouldn't mind that DFV coffee table.👍😍
Fiatdude ·
Well,,, The EFI has been in the shop for a while and I've been staring at the car, kinda just walking by and giving it the middle finger because of the EFI screwing up again big time,,,,,, FINALLY, I get a call yesterday from the head honcho, and "they" have finally been able to duplicate all the "issues" I've been having with the unit forever --- --- HOLY CHIT,,, I'm not insane, so they are shipping me a brand new unit as a form of an apology for all my freaking banging my head against the wall trying to get this damn thing to work.....
YYYEEESSSSSSS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
So, I've found my ambition for the car again and been out welding and cutting and fixing and cleaning up and .. .. and .. .. you get the picture...... So I've done a couple of thing of note
Also, I've made an appointment with the EFI Guru (His is a wiring harness super dude) and I'll finally be making the change to sequential on the injectors since I've had Mario's cam sync setting in tool box for a while....
So , It's about time I've gotten a happy face about this POS car I've got!!!!!!
vassy66T1 ·
Thanks for all the pics and for sharing your journey
Fiatdude ·
My Pleasure -- Just hoping that seeing my trials, can help someone to a short cut in the future
matberry ·
vassy66T1 wrote:Thanks for all the pics and for sharing your journey
x2
Awesome effort
Cheers
Fiatdude ·
She wants to drive the Ghia and says she knows how to drive a stick -- -- I've got my doubts -- guess I should just keep an eye on it
Just kidding -- she hates Ghias
matberry ·
She can drive my stick anytime................ was it ok to say that?
Fiatdude ·
So been working on the Ghia -- -- This car when I first got it had a Porsche 901 trans in it, that lasted about 30 miles, then I got a 091 from BENCO trans in Riverside CA -- This thing has been bullet proof so far, but I was broke when I first had it done and didn't have a LSD installed...... So after a few track days it was very apparent that the LSD was needed as I was frying the inside rear tire off as I left every corner --- -- So I had the LSD put in and the trans freshened up. BUT because the 091 hockey stick comes out above the tunnel, I've always had some funky linkage for the shifter... I've just welded in and above tunnel shifter and rod and got it all aligned up.........
here's where the 091 comes into the cabin,,, all the lines are for my air-to-water intercooler system
Also been meaning to change the EFI over from batch fire injectors to sequential fire -- I've been running a crank fire but never had the cam sensor on the car to be able to do it.... Found 'The Dub Shop' up in Washington and Mario has developed a cool little cam sensor that plugs into the distributor hole,,,, so been working on doing this change over
Fiatdude ·
Got the new Cam Sensor installed -- What a PITA!!!!!! -- -- everything that could screw up did.... Finally went and got my Engine Guru and between the two of us we were able to get the Distributor drive in,,,, it fought us all the way... the sensor dropped right in after that -- Looks good in there now
Fiatdude ·
HOW's YOUR WEEK GOING???????
Got this hiccup going on with the EFI in the Ghia, it starts, idles, and runs for about 30 seconds and then shuts off -- If you run it at 3K or higher it stays running -- -- so Sunday the Electromotive guru says bring it over -- -- I load the car up and drag it over to Corona, we play with everything for about 4 hours and can't find the answer - -- - He thinks it could be a electrical or tuning issue -- DUH -- -- So I decide to take it home and tear apart the electrical -- -- On the way home in the rain, I driving in the rain and I must of gone thru where a dump truck has dumped a load of pea gravel on the freeway -- rocks are going everywhere from the cars hauling ass -- I slow down and don't catch any on my Flex,,, cool ... Get home put the Ghia in the garage, and put my hand on the windshield to push it back a little and look down,,,, Damn it,,, a HUGE rock chip ... If you don't know I had a ton of trouble getting a windshield for this car that fit,,, and the crap glass coming out of China is too damn small and leaves the rubber about 1/2" short in all the corners,,, then with a help of a friend in the glass world I was able to buy on the last USA made PPG front windshield's,,, SO to say I'm a little mad is a under statement --
Monday -- - I start with the obvious, I load a old program into the EFI and it still doing the same thing, so with a help of a good buddy I start trouble shooting the electrical, chasing lines front to rear,,,, so because you can't never have enough light for us old guys to see, I put a Halogen light on the front hood to light up the interior of the car and put a little warmth into the car,, so were jumping in and out of the car chasing electrical runs from the engine to the luggage area and then start working from the luggage to front trunk,,, we raise the hood and carefully reposition the light -- -- -- so after about another hour we have determined there ain't no electrical issues as all the power is still on even when the engine shuts down -- -- which leaves either the injectors aren't working (I need on of those little plug in test lights to see if the injectors are still working) OR they are clogged,,,, which I find hard to believe since I run a 6 micron filter...... SOOOO, my buddy and I are scratching our heads,,,, OK he is scratching his head, I'm scratching my butt.... and I decide I'll get a injector tester and another set of injectors AND another filter and go that way tomorrow ,,,, So, we start putting stuff away,,, THEN,,, I start shutting off lights and look down at the light on my hood,,, the halogen light had rocked forward and the protective wire screen was touching the NEW front windshield -- HOLY CHIT -- -- It's not a good week to be a windshield around me
Damn you gotta love this chit -- -- at least both of these things are on the passenger side and I won't have to be looking thru them
Fiatdude ·
Somebody provided me this link for a great technical resource for driving in a crooked manner -- thought I'd share
Fiatdude wrote:SO after 3 years .. .. .. enuff said
Out with the old...... So what's going in?
Fiatdude ·
Spent the day making some brackets to mount the new coils -- Slowly laying everything out so that I will not get any ignition and injector feedback into the crank and cam sensors
Fiatdude ·
I've had a AEM EMS4 setting on the shelf for over a year -- -- so gonna try that out
Fiatdude ·
Man, With each coil sporting 5 wires, it is making this wiring job a bastard to keep it looking clean, I could of 'hid' it better with longer wire runs, but I was wanting to keep the power wire as short as possible after looping it thru a ferrite core to kill the 'noise' from the coils -- -- I do not want any interference getting into the cam and crank sensors this time ====
This took me 5 hours with building the harness and doing the plugs and it is still not done, This is with only 1 wire connected, 4 more to go -- hitting it hard today,,, again
Fiatdude ·
After::::::::::::::::::
Now I'm waiting on my Metricpak connectors to get here --- Should of ordered them before the weekend but couldn't find what I wanted until last night late -- -- coming from Texas -- --
Fiatdude ·
Was planning on having a nice relaxing day today, It's a beautiful day, shorts and t-shirt weather here in Cali -- Well, My wife and I are recovering from having our kitchen completely tore apart from the ice maker line breaking and hosing the floor and cabinets and walls down -- but after about 29 hours of listening to the dehumidifiers drone on and on and on and on, I decided to go out into the garage where it's nice and quiet and plunk away at wiring up the engine harness for the AEM -- so I decide to make a few runs here and there and get some wires about where they need to be and complete the injector wiring -- I've got the ghia stripped down, all the seats are out so I can get my fat arse in to snake between the roll bars and poke wires thru the fire wall, then I crawl out backwards and get into the engine compartment and pull them thru -- I've been doing this for about 4 hours -- in and out, in and out -- so I finally got the injector wires half way shrink wrapped and I'm getting ready to put the connectors on and finish this chit up,, It's looking pretty good and then I cut them to the length I want -- -- Now AEM has some nice harness, each wire is labeled with what it is for, and they put the harness together with a zip tie about every foot, But all the injectors are the same color and I just cut off the wire .. .. and the labeling can't be seen as it is under the shrink wrap,,,,, Damn it, So I get out the ohm meter and poke a lead thru the fire wall, walk around snake myself into the car, pop the connector off the EFI and start seeing which wire is for which injector,,,, easy peasy -- so I'm backing out from inside the car and suddenly there something cold, wet stuck up my arse -- -- I scream like the little girl that I am and almost launch myself out through the opposite side of the car -- -- -- The freaking neighbors Great Dane had got of its back yard and snuck into my garage was checking out what I was doing ... O Holy Chit, it skeered the living crap out of me
The wife comes running out thinking I have attempted to kill myself .. again ... --So I then end up hurting my back lifting the wife off the ground where she was rolling on the floor laughing and crying her eyes out -- F-it,,, I'm done for today......
Fiatdude ·
My old '56 Oval is for sale -- Ovalholio -- Looks like the disc brakes let him down
I beginning to wonder if I'll find the ends to all these wires LOL
or
Dude, where's my interior
My Metri-pack connectors are here,,, Waiting for the CORRECT crimper now -- It never ends.....
Fiatdude ·
In the never ending saga of the weirdest chit happens to me -- -- -- -- I bring you the ordering of the Metri-pack Crimpers
So, I had bought a chit load of Weather-pack connectors thinking that they were the best, I run into Scott Featheroff at Drag Day and he proceeds to tell me the only way to go is Metri-pack and points me at all the problems the Scorpion were having with their ignition cutting out during tire shake. So I talk to Chad and I'm converted.... SO, I buy a big box of Metri-pack connectors, stupidly thinking that the big buck weather-pack crimper I've got will work .. .. .. oooops, Stupid me -- -- So now I'm needing a Metri-pack crimper -- -- OK, I go on Flea-bay last Monday and buy a moderately priced one and click the 2 day shipping box -- cool, I'm ready to go -- -- I get the shipping confirmation, and with nothing else to do while waiting for these crimpers, I start following their journey to me -- Tuesday they're shipped from Texas, OK -- -- Wednesday they are in Oklahoma, ??? --- Thursday they are Kansas, WTF -- Friday they are Colorado, This is getting plain stupid -- Saturday they are in Vernon, CA,,, Cool at least its the right state -- Sunday,,, Nothings happens on Sunday -- -- MONDAY 7 DAYS LATER, at 4pm I receive them,,, That's right, I get 2 pairs of crimpers. I only paid for one -- -- And the kicker, the return address is from Orange CA
So, in my best Ricky Ricardo voice "Lucy, you got some 'splaining to do !!!"
Fiatdude ·
Fiatdude ·
It is called 'The NoGhia Project' -- I think I'll just call it BadAss
newghia ·
That is pretty damn cool, any more pics or links ?
Thanks for posting that,
Nath
Fiatdude ·
The project was called 'noghia' and it is from Idaho -- that's all the info I've found --
Fiatdude ·
Finally found a little time today to finish wiring up the cam and crank sensors -- -- The AEM cables to both has some strange stuff going on that I was waiting to hear from AEM before I finished wiring them in --- through out the harness they have used black as ground, red as power and white or green as the signal wires -- WELL,,,, suddenly in these cables, the ground was the white wire and black and green were signal and at least red stayed power -- .. .. .. -- It didn't make any sense to me either, that is why I checked with the factory and asked why they went stupid -- -- Put a good work out with my new Metri-pack crimper and it worked neat -- requires two crimps to do each connector unlike the weather-pack, but it was still nice
I'm switching over to Mario's crank wheel and also going to a Honeywell GT101 hall effect sensor -- Mario's wheel comes with a VR sensor and it required a bunch of playing to get the 101 a place to fit as it is 3/8" longer, So I made a bracket and had to move it up a few degrees from where Mario has his placed... Big difference between the Electromotive (60-2) and Mario's (30-1) ...... here's a picture of the back of both crank pulleys
Fiatdude ·
LMAO -- Google Street View -- Me and the Ghia
matberry ·
Your famous Fiatdude now......
Thanks for sharing mate
Fiatdude ·
Had the infamous ice maker leak which destroyed the wood and carpet flooring on the whole bottom floor -- and a couple of cabinets -- -- so been fighting the good fight with the insurance company and the hardest part has been trying to get in touch with the adjustor -- he has the whole Orange County, plus the San Bernardino and Riverside counties -- which is almost half the total area of SoCal --
Needless to say the Ghia isn't going to be ready for Fontana next weekend -- THIS has been my current project -- 1/4 of the way done and this is sucking so hard to get it right -- --
I was cleaning up a old tool box I don't use anymore, giving it to the brother-in-law, and I closed it for the first time in years -- -- Damn, I've had this for a long time LOL
Fiatdude ·
Sooooo, When having to redo the Kitchen and Family room, the wifie was looking at the Front/dining room and said "I JUST HATE HAVING CARPET IN HERE, let's put the tile in here too"....... So being the good husband, I put the tile in there..... and then I come yesterday and .. .. .. ..
a freaking $500 rug in the middle of the room WTF
Fiatdude ·
The Ghia might get a room mate -- went and looked at this this morning
HappyDaze ·
👍...and the motor is in the correct end. 👍
pete wood ·
Cool. Are you considering some aircooled power for it?👍
HappyDaze ·
Hope you mean VW, not Fiat 500, Pete ! 😏
nbturbo ·
I can relate to all the drama you are having with the ECU stuff. What engine do you have in your Flex? It tows the Ghia ok then?? When my son and I were in Vegas in 09 waiting for his money to clear so we could take delivery of his new Shelby GT 500,there was a new black one in the showroom and I was blown away with how awesome it was- it had every possible option known to man.From memory it had a 3.5 lt V6 Duratec with 6 speed auto, leather everywhere, a fridge in the centre consol,the Sync digital sound system and a full glass roof and DVD screens everywhere.But best of all it looked fxxkin tuff
Fiatdude ·
I have the non-turbo'd V6 -- it is rated to tow 4500 LBS and the turbo'd V6 is rated at 3500 lbs. -- However the turbo'd V6 hauls butt and it has a AWD option that works great -- -- I have a family of 6 footers, my son and I are 6'4" and the wife is 6' -- and this car/truck has more room in it than any vehicle we've ever had -- even F150 and F250's
pete wood ·
HappyDaze wrote:Hope you mean VW, not Fiat 500, Pete ! 😏
Course!
Sorry, is there any other sort? 😂
Fiatdude ·
So way back in November of last year, there was that thing going around where California was going to reissue Black and Yellow plates for cars up until 1969 -- Well, my '70 Ghia was manufactured and sold in late '69, so I thought I'd give it a shot and mailed my documentation in -- It has been so long I had forgotten about it in fact --
And then today in the mail, -- -- -- Oh happy day
Fiatdude ·
OK -- -- I have been using the Honeywell GT101 Hall effect sensors for most of the applications on the Ghia
Now I'm installing a speed sensor onto the Ghia -- The bracket and pulse ring I got from Pacific Customs in Corona
But with this bracket a standard GT101, which has a tab that you bolt to your bracket, will not work -- I need one that is threaded on the outside so that adjustments can be made -- -- SOOOO after spending half of today cross referencing parts I finally found someone that had the knowledge to finish my quest -- The part number I need from Honeywell is SR4P3-A1
They are about $5 dollars more than the GT101 at $43 each at Mouser Electronics.....
I'm gonna finish this damn thing on of these days LOL
Fiatdude ·
I'm STILL working on the AEM EMS4 install -- the engine compartment wiring is done -- so mainly it is bringing all the wires together into one big bundle that doesn't hurt my eyes -- just decided to do a speed sensor, so the sensor should be here middle of next week,,,,
OH CRAP, it's coming UPS,,,, who the hell knows when it will get here
Oh Well, I've been cleaning up all the wiring as I go along, so there is a lot of 2 steps forward and one step back chit.... I just installed new positive and negative cables from the back of the car up to battery in the front.... Been thinking about installing a new starter when I get under the car to put in the speed sensor and connect the new positive to the starter -- --
I'm too frigging BIG to start with and now I'm getting to frigging old and blind to be snaking my big azz through this cage to get to chit I tell you LOL
Fiatdude ·
Well, a lot on my plate today -- LOL -- Last night decided to run the oil lines down the tunnel and also put in a new starter and do the associated wiring with that chore -- -- So I had a choice of 2 starters setting on the shelf a new 16300, which is the auto-shift starter that I love in almost any situation, and an almost new Hi-Torque starter -- -- I decided to use the Hi-Torque and then remembered it was a IMI105 which is for use on a 6 volt flywheel -- damn -- Then I remembered a friend who was a neighbor of Chris Isom on of the owners of Hi-Torque, so I called my buddy who called Chris and Chris was nice enough to talk to me about what needed to be done -- seems as if they are both the same starter except for the pinion gear is bigger for the 6v flywheel -- so for $15 I got a kit to change over the gears. -- That little clip is a mother to get off and even harder to put back on LOL -- I must of had it spring off 5 -10 times while trying to get it on -- that little bastard is hard to find too LOL
with old gear removed and ready for new gear install--
old gear and new gear kit on left--
I'll need to orient the starter since it was last on the Porsche 901, but that is just R&R 2 bolts -- --
but before I do that -- I have to take the cat ((a few of you remember THE CAT)) to the vet to have her ANAL GLANDS expressed -- -- OH Joy!!!!!
Fiatdude ·
Dagmabit -- -- Sometimes it a MFer having an old mans memory in a 18 year-olds body -- --
Like having a 3/4" sensor hole and swearing you need a 1/2" sensor -- -- Oh welllllll, nothing a couple of fender washers won't fix -- -- I hope LOL
Fiatdude ·
Finally decided on a plan for the oil coolers move the front of the car -- -- I know, I know, but sometimes it just takes me a while to decide on a course of action -- I decided that since the shift rod was now run on top of the tunnel, I'd run some 5/8" aluminum tubing thru the tunnel -- - -- Since the PO cut the bottom of the tunnel at the rear to do the shifter for the 901 trans is should be a cake walk -- -- I got some water hose and cut it into 2" lengths and placed them every 1.5 to 2 foot along the tubing to hopefully reduce rattling -- I was going to put over the entire distance but I was wanting the tubing to act as a heat sink to also help lower the oil temps so I didn't --- --
I did some work on the front vents so that I can maybe add some ducting to the coolers
Here is a picture of the tubing exiting thru the PO's 901 hole:::::::
I'm still playing with a couple of different ways to mount the coolers in the nose -- and the mounting brackets -- but here is kinda what I'm leaning towards----- (you can see the tubing exiting thru the shift rod access hole)
Hope to finish this up tomorrow and get some brackets made and all the hoses ran to the coolers................
Fiatdude ·
So was finishing up the oil cooler install and using SS tubing -- Things were going pretty good, then started flaring the tubing ends -- you know, always feeling it needs to have the last quarter turn to finish that perfect flare -- NOT
It's amazing just how much can leak thru those little cracks at pressure LOL -- -- Then started looking for that last piece of tubing to finish the install -- -- damnit -- it was 5/8" aluminum, needed 1/2" SS -- Oh Well, 20" short of tubing finished the day for me -- might stop by G and J in Ontario and the way home tomorrow and get a piece of SS tubing
Fiatdude ·
I met a buddy for lunch today -- look at what the damn bastard drove up in -- --
It was his dad's who bought in '79 for $19K -- his dad took a greyhound to Texas with the money in a tool box -- -- Only the second time in four years he had driven it -- should of seen the commotion it caused -- even a Firetruck going up the street with its siren on had guys hanging out the window starring ....... It's 100% original total unrestored ... Oh it's a '70 Plymouth Super Bird
Fiatdude ·
This is freaking embarrassing -- -- Just figured out that this is the first time this year the car has been out of the garage --
Oh Well, -- It's at least back together, just waiting on the tuner -- --
Fiatdude ·
It was looking soooo good in the driveway this morning -- I just figured that daddy needed a new chair for the office
A Kirkey Seat is for sale !!!!
Fiatdude ·
I was just wondering if .. .. .. .. ..
Fiatdude ·
I'd love to have huge(r) tires under the Ghia -- -- But I can't bring myself to do any cutting to the body, I just think the stock lines are beautiful -- I could do a 3" Torsion narrowing and go that route, but it would require a lot of "redo" to my cage as it is mounted to the outside of the torsion tubes..........
I just think all the 'hacking' done to this body is just crazy -- -- It will be badass when done but .. .. .. ... ..
Fiatdude ·
My Son bought me a new key ring for the Ghia -- Does he know something I don't????
Fiatdude ·
Got to talk and hang out with Finnegan and Freiburger for about a hour today at the Optima Challenge --
They were working on a yellow Mazda rotary pickup with a 455 front engine Olds mounted in the bed -- they bought it from a guy who claimed it was a 10 sec car -- must of been timed in the 100 foot, cause it was a dog LOL
I didn't have much to offer them as far as help or suggestions, BUT they had some very nice eye candy hanging around them and it made walking away very VERY difficult LMAO
Did get a cool sticker -- Had volunteered to help doing the Tech-in early this am (before it got into the 100's) and the guy making the stickers messed up as it was suppose to be intermediate, so I took the damn thing LOL -- don't know if it should go on the Ghia or the tool box -- probably be the tool box
Fiatdude ·
SO -- -- About December 15th I had the engine out and got the trans back from Benco -- I reinstalled the engine did some upgrades, and started putting everything back together
Immediately, I started having EFI problems -- turn on master power -- Electromotive EFI would come on run all the prestart stuff, hit start, engine would run for 20-30 seconds and shut off -- -- -- I would turn off the 'key', turn on the 'key' -- nothing -- kill the master power everything would repeat, engine would run, shut off, again everything dead
Holy crap I was vexed,,,,, so I sent the box back to Electromotive,, came back,, still the same thing,,, sent the box back and they sent me a new one as a replacement...... By this time I was pissed and I had the AEM setting on the shelf, so I started the AEM install -- -- So flash forward until this month and I had finally finished the install (OK, OK , I know I'm slow, but I was just frustrated with everything) I took the Ghia over the WesTech in Mira Loma to double check everything I had done on the install of the AEM and for them to tune the damn thing......
So I get a call from Eric @ WesTech last Friday, the Damn AEM is doing the same freaking thing, turn on main power, turn the 'key' on -- it would cycle thru everything perfectly, turn the 'key' off, turn 'key' back on -- -- box is all pissed off -- turn main power off/on -- start over, it work once then fail.....
WTF is going on???????????
I am Stumped -- I had gone through the wiring twice during the install checking everything -- -- I really dwelling on this thinking, thinking............ I'm thinking that the ARC switches is letting a small of current to flow through when the 'key' is off, not letting the memory clear for a clean restart...... Nah!! how can that happen through the relays......
SOOOO, I'm in bed Saturday night at about 11:30, almost asleep, when it hits me, The freaking alternator has a bad diode in it and letting current bleed through -- -- Hmmmm just might be it...
Monday night after work, I swing by WesTech, walk over to the Ghia, pull the exciter wire off the alternator.... SHAZAMMMM, freaking problem disappears -- -- 10 DAM months working on this thing and it was just a bad freaking Alternator from the very beginning...... who would of thunk it.......................................
newghia ·
Oh man that's frustrating 🤪,
I'm glad you've persisted though, I've enjoyed reading your updates,
Nath
Fiatdude ·
All my stuff is pretty far off the normal path traveled, so I've tried to document my trials -- just incase someone might have an issue and remember the dumb azz (me) and my solution
Glad you've enjoyed my updates
nbturbo ·
Well done with the solution - most of my good thoughts happen in the nearly asleep zone.You want to talk about WTF is going on-listen to my story about building a Drag Car and getting it to the track.I had an issue with the crank angle wires going too close to the alternator and picking up a signal.Traps even us older players.Really like reading your stuff.
Fiatdude ·
Fiatdude ·
Wellll, The guys at WesTech are really MAD at me - --- -- - One of the front oil coolers decided to split open while the car was on the dyno Monday -- what a mess -- Freaking car was still dripping oil out of the spare tire drain Tuesday when I went over to help by-pass that cooler -- should of just put another oil cooler in its place, but their description of what happen had me confused -- -- but I've been working nights lately so I'm in a constant state of confusion LOL (still had to have the blue towels and rags there to continue to mop up the oil in this picture LOL)
Don't know when they will have some open dyno time so they can get the Ghia back on there
They did have a cool open class desert car on the dyno Tuesday -- -- about a half million dollar toy there
Fiatdude ·
Was over working on the oil cooler at WesTech -- Chad from BangShift was there -- He had a junkyard SBC on the Dyno and all the guys there were running around the dyno and giggling and laughing and just cracking up -- --- --
They had setup two targets behind the headers and were pouring BB's down the carb and watching them hit the targets.... It was the craziest thing I'd ever watched-- I don't know which was funnier watching the BB's come shooting out of the headers or the guys running around laughing their azzes off -- -- Then they pulled the plugs out after their "run" OMG .. .. well, look at the pictures.....
Soon to be a video to be posted somewhere :::::::::::::::::::::::
If you look closely you can see all the BB's on the floor....
lou0060 ·
maybe that's how they split your oil cooler......
Fiatdude ·
A little update -- -- Nothing is happening LMAO
The last 2 weeks the guys from WesTech have been jammed with the high dollar cars going to SEMA (or Chad destroying a SBC) or Eric being sicker than a dog -- Hope he's feeling better !!! -- Went over to work on the Ghia this morning, but they've all left to go to SEMA too..... Oh well, it's not like I've anywhere to go LOL -- and remember I'm the one who made the deal that the Ghia is not their first priority, just something for them work on when they can -- so really no problem as far as I'm concerned, because they are treating the ghia very well !!!
SO, Screw it,,,, I'm going on Vacation -- see you all in a couple of weeks
Fiatdude ·
Been working hard on the tune on the Ghia
Here's the latest dyno sheet::::
HappyDaze ·
That should get into the top ten shootout. 👍
newghia ·
Ok, so maybe I'm just perverted.....but that kind of looks a bit wrong !
Or maybe I've been looking at too many non car related sites !
lou0060 ·
hahaha looks like it is coming on boost prematurely.....
Fiatdude ·
Fiatdude ·
It's Story telling day and it's Baseball season (here in the states) and the final year of Vin Skully's 67 year career announcing Baseball -- -- Here are a few of the stories he interweaves into his broadcasts that makes him so great.......
Well, The Ghia is back home -- -- It has been gone so much the past year that there almost wasn't a space for it in the garage..... you know how a empty spot in the garage fills up quick LOL
I brought the damn thing home Sunday, with more problems than it left with, oil leaks up the arse and just a ton of electrical issues. It runs OK. It drives on and off the trailer and goes down the road, then it just shuts off -- -- guess I'm just gonna reach in there and grab a handful of wiring and just rip it out and start over.... Ordered some new electrical things and they will be here tomorrow night, so tomorrow I'll get started straightening out my rats nest and decide how I want to proceed.....
On the way home, I was cruising a car show at the Riverside Auto Center with the Ghia on the trailer, and there was Ester (E-girl)((Powder puff VW racer par excellence)). I didn't know she was Ms. Route 66.... Damn she looked good in that tiara... LOL
Fiatdude ·
Fiatdude ·
I've finished rewiring the Ghia. I found that since I had relocated the battery to the front, I had the power running from the front of the car, to the back, back to front, and then back to the back, and then back to the front..... Those little electrons were being busy little bastards.... Then add in the small wiring sizes that I had used and that were in the stock wiring harness,,, well, lets just say that it wasn't right.... So, I've added some 8 gauge power wires and sorted out everything, so we're good to go (I hope,,, LOL)
Now, on to the oil leaks.... If you remember from previous posts, I was having issues with the flares breaking/cracking on my stainless tubing....
I guess what makes it different is that the flare is actually has bumps/ridges on it.
OMG,,,, you should see the flares this thing makes..........
So now I just have to go around and redo all the flared ends and see if I can dry this pig up!!!!!!!!!!! Trying to talk to my buddy so I can use his shop (with a concrete floor) to do this, as my carpeted floor just doesn't like oil dripped on it.......
Fiatdude ·
Monday, thinking I had the electrical all sorted out, I took the car out on my little 3 mile test loop I use. Left one signal and was rolling onto the throttle, trying to get my gremlins to reappear. Damn, only boosting to 4-5 pounds, double damn, forgot to plug-in the boost controller and was only running on the waste gate spring..... Turned onto a side street so I could connect it back together... As I climbed out, this new GT Mustang pulls up next to me and rolls down his window... "I usually don't stop and congratulate someone for beating me, but that little thing is fast ! Whatcha got in it??"
"Just a stocker with a little boost," I replied, "If I'd known we were racing, I would of really got after it!!!!" Hope I don't go to hell for all the little lies I tell, LMAO.
He drove away shaking his head..... Don't mess with the Air Cooled!!!!! LOL
Fiatdude ·
As life goes -- so do our toys --
The Ghia is for sale for $16,500 --
I believe this is a really fair price knowing how much in receipts I've shredded....
all offers are welcome, but please don't embarrass yourself.
Fiatdude ·
Tuner leaned out the engine, then noticed a loss of power -- I said thank you very much, please do it again sir
But I now have a solution to this tuner shit----
newghia ·
So I take it....hope...you're not selling it now .
I enjoy your updates ,
Nath
Fiatdude ·
Oh lets say I've gone little stupid since the last post -- -- a complete tear down is now in order, inspection/R&R of the bearings, Corilla rods, J&E pistons, new gapless rings, heads completely redone (new porting, valves, springs, heat resistance coating on the inside, heat dispersement coating on the outside, blah blah blah), new 1.4 Pauter rockers, a couple of weeks in Italy for vacation and got all the parts and pieces back from the machine shops,,, and wah-la back together as a birthday present to me.... """Oh yes dear, it shouldn't cost more than a $100 to redo the engine,,,,, cough,,, cough ,,, choke, cough....."""
Ok --- I think I got the carb intake mocked up -- this engine is starting to have more colors than an Easter Egg -- --
HappyDaze ·
Fiatdude wrote:Tuner leaned out the engine, then noticed a loss of power -- I said thank you very much, please do it again sir
...Or words to that effect...
Fiatdude ·
Engine is almost ready -- Just need to finish the MSD install -- I still hate crawling around the freaking cage to get to the back of the firewall LOL
I'm so over using steel braided line -- and E85 just eats them up -- I'm having to replace it almost every other year -- So now I'm using hard line when I have new installs or replacing old lines, I'm using either SS or Aluminum... AL is softer and easier to form and more forgiving than SS.....
Fiatdude ·
IT'S RUNNING -- -- Fired right up -- My timing light took a dump so I was just guessing where I was at --- and was trying to guess where I was at with the fuel but it was sounding real nice.........
No sooner than I bragged about how great my 16300 starters, I had mine go out --- Damn it!!! -- -- So, I jumped into my car and drove over to CarCraft in Riverside, all the while preparing to buy another 16300 (and get lunch at Zorba's).... Was setting there bench racing with Bob Godfrey and whining about losing a starter, Ed perks up and said that he had this new brand new starter "OE Brand Part Number BA16450" out of Florida making some really killer starters.... I'm going, Yeah, Yeah, I've heard this all before... So Ed brings one out. They are tiny and light!!! I'm looking at it and thinking there's no way that this little thing is gonna spin my 2963.... He says, you buy this, and if you don't like it, bring it back in the original box and I'll put 100% of the money towards another starter.... OK, what do I have to lose except another chance to come over to CarCraft and go to Zorba's Hamburgers for lunch (I live for a Zorba Burger and Onion Rings from this place -- they are great!!!! Remember that the next time your in the area)..... SO, I bring this thing home, throw it into the car and this little starter is winging my engine at a higher RPM than I have ever had..... Really impressed with this little thing!!!!!!
Fiatdude ·
Confucius says -- You definitely have an over rich condition, if you are finding pinholes in your intake by fuel squirting out.......
Words to live by if you ask me.....
Fiatdude ·
Update time ---- Some dude came up to me an made me an offer I probably should of refused, but I didn't and I gave him the big engine out of the Ghia..... So I'm thinking it is time for a more of a street loving engine for the car -- So here is the new incarnation -- A 2332 with a bunch of goodies.... Probably not the total top shelf build I should of done but has enough good parts to get it running and sorted out.....
Still fabbing stuff together and trying to get everything to play together nicely......... The engine is 1/2 inch wider and 3/8" longer than a stocker, so everything that I bought trying to save time, had to be modified and took more time than piecing everything together.... Here's where I'm as of this morning and I'm planning a full day of attacking this thing, but I'll probably spend most of it chasing parts/bolts/stuff if you know what I mean....
The purple lines on the blow-thru hat on the EFI is where I'm having interference with the deck lid -- I'm trying to decide whether to cut the hat and reweld it at the purple lines or offset the deck lid higher -- kind of leaning towards opening the deck lid up as it will add a little more air flow to the engine also....
Fiatdude ·
For those of you that warned me about using aluminum for fuel lines with a alcohol based fuel -- -- Well,,,, You were more than right......
My injectors looked the same too!!!!!!
Fiatdude ·
Fuel system completely redone -- just missing two -8an to -6an fittings -- ordered them from Jeg's today........ Redid the front mounting of the fuel pump and ran the 5/8" lines down through the tunnel -- need to take a picture of that
Oil system is next .....
newghia ·
Just in case you're wondering, I'm still following this & reading your updates 👍
Nath
Fiatdude ·
Fiatdude wrote:
Thanks for watching this sh*tshow LOL -- one day I'll get it right, I promise
Fiatdude ·
newghia ·
Nice one 👍
pete wood ·
Fiatdude wrote:
Nice work. 🙂
And of course the steady drip of deep sumps. 😂
Fiatdude ·
Actually found the two plugs for the oil galleys in the rear of the engine to be the culprit......
Didn't take any pictures or videos as I went by myself, but I went out to California Speedway for some AutoX this past Saturday. The event was held by Fastivus. Did some laps. My 5-6 year old tires were really holding me back.... The rear end was sliding out from under me the whole time and when it wasn't, the front end was pushing......
Had the speed up for a tight section and was trying to whip the rear around to setup for the next section .. .. .. Ended up doing this really slow looping slide right through this huge area of cones..... Did win the unofficial award for most cones collected (knocked down) for the day LOL
Noticed the Ghia wasn't pulling as hard as 'normal' -- found the seal between the hat and the carb had squirted out -- need to find a fix for that.....
Fiatdude ·
Lance Gregory donated a parachute lever and cable to me after he finished his promod build a few years ago..... I've been having issues with the cable and release for the hood on the Ghia.... Then I got this wild hair and now I've got a bullet proof hood release......
Fiatdude ·
Loaded and Ready to leave for Bug-in #42 -- -- With a 37 foot (11.3m) coach and a 25' (7.7m) trailer I feel like I got a land train
Fiatdude ·
Showed up at 4pm at California Speedway to spend the night -- unfortunately there was a test and tune that day and there was still a ton of V8 guys there clogging up the pits -- so I choose a spot that was way out beyond the finish line.... peace and quiet,,, Yeah right the Silverbugget guys were 100 feet away.
So there I am profiling with my motorhome thinking I'm cool -- -- then Dave Rosique (sp?) drives in.....
And he ruins the neighborhood with his coolness..... LOL
I jump into the Ghia and drive over to the Drippers meet at BurgerTown hoping for the magic of Nick's to return to SoCal.... But most everybody must of missed that memo as there was only about 15 VW's there. Maybe the DKK thing all day killed this meet...... But what was there was really nice, I should of taken more pictures
So, everybody that was there from the campout had to be back by 8 as the gates were locked at that time... I did my best to do a nice leave, had some sideways action going and headed back to CMS... found out my headlight switch is going bad as I had no dash or tail lights for the 9 mile return trip in the dark... also Had a nice fog following me as I had sucked a valve cover gasket at some point too (wonder when that was????)
When I got back, the party was going full blast at numerous locations, everybody seemed to have a full bar and the World Series going..... after visiting several of the parties I stumbled back to my MH and proceeded to nose into my pillow and ignore the several occasions of pounding at the door to get me to come out to play some more... that is until someone drove an uncorked VW by at 7 AM... I could of killed them, if I could of lifted my head off the pillow....
But by now the gates were open, people were POURING in, and there wasn't any more sleeping to be had.... Great turn out! The Car show area was 90% full by the time I got to functioning, so I said screw it and kept my oil leaking pig in my pit.... Soon all the Red Baron crew started showing up and I almost didn't save enough area for everyone to park.... The baron was running real good and Eric took it all the way to the finals until a oil filter took a poop and started leaking as he was staging and he had to shut off giving the win to Racing' Jason who was running real strong with his Pro Turbo car (5.70's)....
Here's a picture of the area in front of my MH between rounds... remember just how empty it was??? not now, the pits almost went all the way back to the scales!!!!
HappyDaze ·
I suppose we need to look at the 'Big Picture'. 😎
Fiatdude ·
The word is that Irwindale is closing as of December 31...... Since I'm working about 5 miles from there, I'm thinking that one last trip down the strip is in order.... So Thursday the 28th, the Ghia is getting trailered to Irwindale for one last time.....
Well, here it is the Saturday before Christmas and went to the morning Cars and Coffee in Mentone -- Had about 30 cars and 1 VW show up to congratulate each other on making it through another year LOL.......
The star of the show 'Winston" taking a lap around the lot, collecting the price of admission, a good petting from all in attendance
Fiatdude ·
Fiatdude ·
Had plans to hit 2 different events today -- Donut Derelicts and the 'New' OC Cars and Coffee at the outlet malls in San Juan Capistrano -- Derelict's was from 6-9am and C&C was from 9 to 11 with about 45 minutes of a drive between the to (counting loading and unloading the Ghia from the trailer). So got up at 4am and met my buddy at 4:30 and headed to Huntington Beach ---
The Derelict's didn't disappoint, with over 300 cars there to check out ---
Then at about 8am everybody started heading out and we were guessing they were down south for the C&C -- -- We unloaded the Ghia about a block away and headed over to the event -- It was pretty hilly around there and I stalled the Ghia going up a steep incline at a stop sign.... ((dummy, I know... But that 4 puke disc is just not very forgiving when you're trying to slip it)) -- Anyway, the engine popped real hard when I was cranking it and blew one of the intake boots off,, and suddenly we were running on 2 cylinders and sounding like chit.... and I hadn't thrown any tools in the car, so we limped back to the trailer and put the car on it. then drove through event ... Didn't take any pictures, but there was some very NICE cars there and quite a few VW's -- There are tons of pictures of this event on the web and on you tube to see.....
Fiatdude ·
Decided today was the day to head down to Woodland Hills for Supercar Sunday. Loaded up the Ghia on the trailer and set the alarm for 5am and drove the 92 miles down there for the event.... Unloaded the Ghia and drove to the event getting there at 7:30 and there was only about 50 cars there and I was pretty disappointed. Found a spot near a bunch a ricers and started checking out the rides in the lot.... Man, about 8 am the cars started coming in and by 8:30 there were over 500 cars spilling all around the nearby lots.... Every different type was there!!! a few air cools with a really patina-ed 58 low light ghia parking near me.... and suddenly at 9:30 it was over and everybody was leaving. That's when I found all the other cars parked at the outer lots that I hadn't even seen ...... Good time, long ways to go for such a short event though.....
The Ghia parked in the middle of the action.....
Fiatdude ·
Damn -- -- It's been since January since I've been on here ... Some of you have missed me, Some of you haven't LOL
Well, Here's the short story.... Last October I turned 65 and I had been dragging my feet at retiring .... I had hooked with a good company and really was enjoying the type of jobs they were doing and the work I was getting to do. Well, on February 1st, the wife insisted that we list the house and try selling it again (last time things didn't go very good). I, in my infinite wisdom and thinking, thought that it would be the same stuff all over again. NOT, we had 4 full price offers the first weekend..... Damn, we're gonna have to move and do it in 21 days.....
Again didn't think this thing through very much.... We had been living in this house for over 27 years and you can guess all the stuff I had collected during that period of time. So, why worry, I'll go to work and let my wife pack it all up.... Can you guess where this is going LOL. Needless to say I gave my 2 weeks notice and all the while, every waking moment was spent packing and moving stuff into storage.... Did I mention we didn't have any place to go to yet???? Nope, not a clue where we were gonna end up....
So, on the very last weekend we were to own the house, I called hire-a-mover and had 3 guys move most of the big stuff from the house and into 3000 cubic feet of storage and some of the essentials into the motorhome... We moved to the local regional park (about a mile from the house) and then sat there trying to figure out what was next..... can you guys tell I wasn't really happy about moving out of the house???
Anyway, we decided to head towards Missouri where I had about a million relatives and we had been there a ton of times on vacation. Oh Chit, what about the Ghia, There was no more spaces left at the storage, and the wife told me I wasn't gonna spend $250 a month on space rental just to put that dumb car inside somewhere. ... .. ... So it got loaded onto the open car trailer and wrapped with 2 car covers, some blue traps and then bungee'd wrapped and hoping it would survive out in the open at a friends lot....
So, we put the Flex on a car dolly and packed up the MH and off the MO we went...... Holy Crap was it cold in March in Mo... and it wasn't really that cold by Mo standards 12 degrees (f) a few nights, 22 a lot of nights, and a healthy dose of snow on occassion... LOL ------- Please notice all the Marble size hail on the ground from an overnight storm -- IT WAS LOUD IN THE MOTORHOME!!!!
Anyway, we started looking for a house and of course what the wife was wanting and what I was wanting were in two different parking lots on opposite coasts of the continent LOL.... But after 2 months of full time looking at stuff in our price range, she decided on this house in Monett MO....
Not a bad little place 1700 sq ft upstairs and 900 sq ft in the finished basement.... really funky designed thing, but the wife wanted it so.. .. you know the story, Happy wife blah blah blah...
It did have this detached little 2 car garage where 1/2 of it was set up as a paint booth and a nice covered RV parking thing that was about 15' too short for my Motorhome,,, but....
The house is sitting on 5 (20200 sq meters) acres of land, of which 3.5 acres are of grass which needs mowing -- -- Damn... So I ended up buying a lawnmower that cost more than the first 5 cars I owned combined!!!! Damn nice lawnmower if you ask me, even has a cup holder if your worrying about that... OH yeah it did also have this other little building sitting on the property.....
Something about a 40' x 60' (223 sq meter) shop building that just brings tears to a man's eye!!!!!!!
Well, the place had some issues, so we bought it in "as-is" condition and took possession the first week in March and 2 days later were flying to Cali to get the Ghia, .. oh, and the rest of the stuff...
We hired the same movers to take all the stuff out of storage and put it into a 26' Penske rental truck -- about half way through this it became apparent that one truck was not going to be enough, so I got another one and filled that one up too... I then hooked the car trailer up to the 26 footer and we prepared for the second part of adventure.....
Man, there was a ton of things that happened on the trip back to Mo which would fill another blog. but I won't bore you with here. but we made it right before Memorial Day weekend, put the Ghia in the 40x60 and it sure looked awfull lonely in there with my multi million dollar mower, I need some more stuff don't you think????
Anyway, it's taken me 2 weeks to get around to unpacking all my office stuff and setting up my computer, so I could give you a update... Aren't you glad you had all this extra time to spend reading this LOL Love you guys!!!!
beetleboyjeff ·
Quite an adventure and a change in direction. Unfortunately, your photos won't open for me.
Fiatdude ·
Went out and did some Auto-X at Neosho Mo -- Great group of guys from Ozark Z's and they put on a great event!!!
Was airing up my tires and just glanced at the dates on my tires.... They're freaking 8 years old. Damn!!! Spent the whole day short shifting and trying to stay off boost.... The second it would come on boost the back end would just crawl out from under me.... Loads of fun, like being on a slick track, My old butt wasn't up for the challenge LOL
My first winter in Missouri.... Learning experience has started. Winterized the Barn, the Shop, the cars..... Last weekend was the last car show, track day and get together for the year, so I guess it's time to put the Ghia to bed for the winter (especially since it is suppose to be 17 degrees here in the next couple of days). And start the Mods I've got planned for her... The shop is done and ready for the big move.
Fiatdude ·
A couple of days after I posted that I woke up to this
It's been in the teens and 20's F since so the snow hasn't melted yet
Damn -- -- It seems like just last week it was running
Fiatdude ·
Welllllll, Six months later and 3 house rehab projects later....
New parts have arrived, case has been machined, long barrels machined, new cam, new pistons and some total seal rings..... Now I'm looking for all that ambition (OK any ambition) to get started working on this old thing.....
New Parts
I'm trying to see some new swing arms setting here.... Might have to break out some more ambition. LOL
