68 Regatta Blue Karmann Ghia Vert 22,350 Original Miles

[Marcdeb]

[Trylon]

I don’t understand how the state that would simply mail me a license plate for our car sight unseen, is one and the same with yearly inspections of ‘em. Guess any havoc created outside the border is simply not their concern.
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1973 Porsche 914 2.0
1959 Volkswagen Karmann Ghia
1979 Volkswagen Rabbit
1973 Volkswagen Bus
1970 MGB-GT
1962 Oldsmobile Jetfire

More tomfoolery on
The Karmann Ghia Fever YouTube Channel!

[Marcdeb]

[Trylon]

[Marcdeb]

In doing lots of reading about exhaust leaks, I found a very helpful tip posted in 2016 by "wcfvw69" (Sparx Werks).
https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?p=8034120#8034120
He points out that exhaust donut clamps have a small and large side and need to be oriented properly to get a good seal. The difference is not easily noticeable. I actually found some of my old clamps had this and some did not. My new clamps however did have the small and large side and it made a big difference in sealing up the joint. I cheated a little and used Permatex Copper Seal just in case.
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Marc
68 Karmann Ghia Cabrio Autostick
71 Karmann Ghia Cabrio

Previously Owned:
2011 VW EOS Hard Top Conv
2008 Saab 9-3 2.0T Conv
2003 Saab 9-3 SE Conv
2001 Saab 9-3 Conv
1998 BMW 3 Series Conv
1997 Saab 900 Conv
1997 Mazda Miata

68 Ghia Vert Survivor with 22,350 miles: https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=768107&highlight=
71 Ghia Vert Restoration: https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=726710&postorder=asc

[Marcdeb]

Four weeks ago, I started getting a loud squishing noise on the front right when going over bumps. Not long after, the right side started doing the same thing. All 4 shocks looked to be original as they were covered with the same undercoating as the rest of the underneath. I got the same noise when I bounced the corners of the car while parked, yet the shocks seemed to behave ok. It's pretty amazing that the shocks have gotten 55 years of service. I hated to replace them but I figured it was time. When I removed the the rear shocks, they were indeed dated March of 68. The car was built in April of 68.
Rear Shocks which are "Fichtel & Sachs", with a VW log, felt fine after I had them off but I put the new ones anyway.

The original front shocks were also stamped "VW" but they were made by "BOGE". Surprising that VW didn't use the same manufacturer for front and rear shocks.

The original front shocks definitely felt weaker than the new ones. They were also very difficult to remove. The bottom nuts were no problem, but both top nuts were very hard to turn. There was no rust what so ever, but I think undercoating seeped down into the nut over the years making it very tough to turn them. I even cleaned the threads of the shaft with a wire brush, and used PB Blaster but no help. I had the nuts about 75% off on both shocks when the top of the shafts snapped off. I had to destroy the lower rubber bushing and use vise grips to finish removing the nuts.

I installed new "Cofap" shocks. I test drove the car after replacing the fronts and other than the noise being gone, the ride didn't feel much different. I still need to test drive the car after installing the rears.

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Marc
68 Karmann Ghia Cabrio Autostick
71 Karmann Ghia Cabrio

Previously Owned:
2011 VW EOS Hard Top Conv
2008 Saab 9-3 2.0T Conv
2003 Saab 9-3 SE Conv
2001 Saab 9-3 Conv
1998 BMW 3 Series Conv
1997 Saab 900 Conv
1997 Mazda Miata

68 Ghia Vert Survivor with 22,350 miles: https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=768107&highlight=
71 Ghia Vert Restoration: https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=726710&postorder=asc

[Marcdeb]

My project this winter was to repair the front seats. When I bought the car, (from pictures on the internet and by phone), it was clear to see that the original seat covers had open seams. As long as it was just the stitching that gave out and the vinyl wasn't ripped at the seams, it should be easily repairable. This is a picture provided by the selling dealer.

I fully expected there would be surprises when the car arrived, but I was quite disappointed when I saw that the selling dealer had repaired both seats by gluing the seams and then covered the repair with some sort of vinyl paint. The two week old repair was already cracking when the car arrived. The repairs are on both seams nearest the center of the car.

And a few weeks later:

I completely took both seats apart to see if I could repair them properly. I put together a separate topic thread detailing the process. If interested, here's the link:




It was a fun project that took way more hours than I expected. Basically, some of the botched vinyl repairs peeled off easily, but the glue portion was very challenging to remove without damaging the surface of the vinyl. In addition, I found that the seat frames needed some repairs from damages made years ago when someone had taken both seats apart to add in more foam. I was able to remove all of the botched repair then restitch the open seams by hand sewing through the original holes.

_________________
Marc
68 Karmann Ghia Cabrio Autostick
71 Karmann Ghia Cabrio

Previously Owned:
2011 VW EOS Hard Top Conv
2008 Saab 9-3 2.0T Conv
2003 Saab 9-3 SE Conv
2001 Saab 9-3 Conv
1998 BMW 3 Series Conv
1997 Saab 900 Conv
1997 Mazda Miata

68 Ghia Vert Survivor with 22,350 miles: https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=768107&highlight=
71 Ghia Vert Restoration: https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=726710&postorder=asc

[mouse action]

Is there anything you can’t do ?
I’m amazed on how much knowledge you pickup in such a short time.

[Marcdeb]

For starters, I can't weld or do body work worth a crap, and I can't paint a car either! I leave that to those who can do it right!
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Marc
68 Karmann Ghia Cabrio Autostick
71 Karmann Ghia Cabrio

Previously Owned:
2011 VW EOS Hard Top Conv
2008 Saab 9-3 2.0T Conv
2003 Saab 9-3 SE Conv
2001 Saab 9-3 Conv
1998 BMW 3 Series Conv
1997 Saab 900 Conv
1997 Mazda Miata

68 Ghia Vert Survivor with 22,350 miles: https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=768107&highlight=
71 Ghia Vert Restoration: https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=726710&postorder=asc

[kiwighia68]

[Marcdeb]

[obus]

wow! Great work Marc!
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July 1959 Mango Standard Bus aka Obus L346 L347 https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=256592&highlight=
June 1973 Pumpkin Orange Thing aka Othing L30H
https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=711775&highlight=
1960 Paprika Red Karmann Ghia Convertible aka Schatze L452 built 5/20/60
https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=...highlight=
66 21 window bus built 8/31/65 https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=777273

[Marcdeb]

[Braukuche]

Those seats are beautiful. Nothing like factory shaped seats.
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Go Reds! Smash state!

Retirement is here!
1956 Ghia
1959 SO-23 Westfalia
1960 double cab
1960 Baja Bug
1963 stretched double cab
1962 Golde sunroof Ghia
1963 356 B coupe
1963 Notchback
1967 21 window less rusty now

[Marcdeb]

I should be working on finishing my 71 Ghia but when I have free time, I can't help spending it on Regatta.

I thought it would be a good idea to remove the floor boards and check the condition of the floor pans. I could see surface rust around the edges of the tar boards and where the mat buttons are.

The two larger tar boards came up rather easily. I was planning on using a heat gun to warm them if needed but they came up without too much trouble. On the rear tar board, I used an old putty knife and slowly kept working it from both ends going towards the kick panel. The Front tar board was more stubborn and could only work from the rear side going forward. The putty knife was too short and this tar board seemed more fragile. I used a metal yard stick which worked quite well. Just kept shoving it forward like a thin spatula. I could get the ruler underneath all of the tar board but it still was sticking near the dog leg area. Without realizing it, I had pushed the yard stick into that section of the tar board instead of under it. The issue was a fairly large dent in the floor and it caused the ruler to move upwards. I was able to repair it with some 3M spray adhesive.

The floor pan looked like a mess. 56 years worth of dirt and sand.

The white stuff is what was left of the old dried out glue. I used a variety of wire brushes to remove the glue from the tar boards as well as the floor.

Thankfully, no major rust that needs repair. I would like to preserve the black paint that is protecting the majority of the floor but am not sure how I will treat the areas where the paint has been compromised? I'm thinking of applying some phosphoric acid where ever there's surface rust. The worst areas are around the pedal cluster and behind the heater tube under the rear seat.

While working under the back seat, I noticed that the control wire for the heater flap was not connected.

Then I am considering wiping on a thin coat of lanolin undercoating on the floor to prevent rust from starting back up??

There was 3 dents in the floor. The worst of which was by the dog leg. I suspect this might have been caused by jacking or lifting the car in the wrong place?? I was able to use a block of wood and a sledge hammer to level the high spots.

I'm considering not gluing the tar boards back on but just set them back on the floor so I could lift them to check the condition of the floor when needed??
_________________
Marc
68 Karmann Ghia Cabrio Autostick
71 Karmann Ghia Cabrio

Previously Owned:
2011 VW EOS Hard Top Conv
2008 Saab 9-3 2.0T Conv
2003 Saab 9-3 SE Conv
2001 Saab 9-3 Conv
1998 BMW 3 Series Conv
1997 Saab 900 Conv
1997 Mazda Miata

68 Ghia Vert Survivor with 22,350 miles: https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=768107&highlight=
71 Ghia Vert Restoration: https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=726710&postorder=asc

[WestyMeg]

Hi from New Hampshire!

I just got my dream 68 Ghia coupe last summer and this thread is great inspiration to tackle some of the jobs that are a bit more intimidating (to a noob anyway).

Your car is beautiful and you are taking very good care of her!
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Why is the rum gone?!

1968 Karmann Ghia-some fancy white
1985 Westfalia-some crap brown
1971 Opel GT-hubby's first car
1974 914-mostly rust colored
2007 Cayman S-Sapphire Blue (so pretty!)

[Marcdeb]

[WestyMeg]

Thanks! There's little things and bigger things to do to her of course, but overall I think she's a beauty for being 56 years old.

I get the life getting in the way thing, but sometimes you need to just make time to do the things you love.

Have fun with your projects, I'll definitely be following!
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Why is the rum gone?!

1968 Karmann Ghia-some fancy white
1985 Westfalia-some crap brown
1971 Opel GT-hubby's first car
1974 914-mostly rust colored
2007 Cayman S-Sapphire Blue (so pretty!)