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Post by CrazyBrit on Feb 20, 2017 19:11:08 GMT -8
Sorry, I didn't mean to elevate your blood pressure!
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Post by Volktales on Feb 20, 2017 20:09:24 GMT -8
I have some medication for that...
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Post by Volktales on Jul 23, 2017 21:37:28 GMT -8
So Brian slowed right down on the Ghia for awhile as life got in the way. However he is back and has been very busy as of late... The engine is finally going back together, this time as a 1776. He was led to believe it already was this displacement in the past, but it turned out to be a 1641. Anyway this has been rectified, and now has a mild performance cam to go along with it. The Vintage Speed exhaust is more for looks than all out performance, as the go faster crowd doesn't like how they flow. Anyway Brian is adding a little bit of bling and the engine should look nice once the Webbers are bolted up. A deep sump has been added as well, hopefully to let it run cooler than my Ghia. Look at that shine. He finally polished the paint that had already been sanded with 2500 grit paper. The whole car is now very shiny, and he is continuing on. Apparently the tar boards are now installed in the engine compartment and that engine is ready to go in! Lets hope the momentum continues...
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Post by Wongai on Jul 24, 2017 8:07:02 GMT -8
Pretty right on looking car dudes. very awesome! B
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Post by Volktales on Feb 4, 2018 21:00:33 GMT -8
Sooo, Brian has finally pulled his thumb out, and his Ghia is now almost completed!!! He has actually owned it for just over ten years now, and drove it once only before taking it apart to restore it. That is going to change real soon... And there is the great man himself. Here he is tightening up that pesky fuel fitting on the bottom of the tank that decided to leak a bit. The car is so close to being finished now that he can taste it... And here is the completed engine in all its glory. It has been enlarged to 1776 cc and features a bumpy cam and dual Italian Webers and a Vintage Speed exhaust. He had some fun setting up the linkage due to some broken parts, but was successful in the end. The large deep sump is clearly visible in this shot. He knew of my overheating issues in my Ghia, so he wasn't taking any chances with his. He likes the big bore tailpipes, that still look stock-ish if you squint a bit... Luckily for him, those low rise manifolds and short filters clear those decklid springs, so he does not need a prop rod like mine. Looks good with the glass all installed, and that appropriate sticker may or may not be hiding a scratch that the previous owner put there... The new reproduction door panels look great installed there. Those "cappings" above the door panels are new too. The old steering wheel that was once on my first VW, looks great installed here. That is not the original horn button however. The original was sitting on Brian's bench, and vapours from some type of chemical attacked it and absolutely destroyed it! Very weird... Not everything went according to plan however. Brian ordered a spare EMPI rim and tire to use as the spare. He found out the hard way that the spare tire well is very narrow, and only an original rim and tire will fit in there. Bummer... His bumpers are ready to be re-installed. They are re-chromed originals that were done by Victoria Plating eight years ago. Brian just found his receipt for this work and was amazed they charged him $1600 to do this!!! Just so everyone knows, Victoria Plating does not actually do bumpers, they sublet them to a shop in Kelowna. Send them there yourself... And the charge for chrome work is obscene nowadays. For whatever reason, it really is excessive now to get anything re-plated... And finally some electrical was attended to while we visited. Brian had four original horns to choose from, and not one would work. This was traced to poor internal terminal connections, and primarily dirty contacts inside. These are similar to ignition points, and responded well to cleaning with a file. Full "honkage" was restored... So really, Brian has little left to do. Those bumpers are ready to go on, and the seats need a clean before re-installation, but that is about it... He will be out to the car shows this year in his own VW at last!
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Post by Brenticon on Feb 4, 2018 22:20:04 GMT -8
Very nice ..... and would you look at that shop.
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Post by CrazyBrit on Feb 5, 2018 14:37:21 GMT -8
Brian's car is going to make mine look ratty😐
The Ghia looks fantastic.
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Post by CrazyBrit on Feb 5, 2018 21:04:24 GMT -8
Russ, my Dad has had problems getting his horns to work too. He purchased them in Seattle when we went to the Cascade Kombi's show, so I have no idea what year they are. When you say that the problem was dirty contacts inside, is this something that will be obvious once he opens them up? Any further guidance on how to fix these please?
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Post by Volktales on Feb 6, 2018 8:23:04 GMT -8
I will do a tutorial later... When the next batch of pictures are ready to be uploaded...
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Post by Volktales on Mar 25, 2018 20:51:35 GMT -8
So was visiting Brian again this weekend... That Empi that would not fit in his spare tire compartment was put to good use afterall... Brian has basically now finished the car. Both bumpers have now been installed, and they look quite good. He chose not to reinstall the black tape that goes in the groove in the centre of the bumpers. I am not sure if I like that or not yet... One thing for sure, is the car's colour seems to change dramatically if in either direct sunlight, or the shade. I think it needs to be lowered as well. (Can't believe I just said that!) Brian thinks he might do that after this summer, but is not sure yet... The last thing he needed to do was installing the seats. I gave him these years ago from a '72 Ghia rustbucket that I parted out. That car was a total pile of crapola, but the interior was minty. Now all Brian has to do is submit his pictures as he is applying for the modified collector plates. Once he gets the plate, then he will start cruising in style!
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Post by PICTUP on Mar 26, 2018 18:26:54 GMT -8
I think it needs to be lowered as well. (Can't believe I just said that!)
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Post by tony on Mar 26, 2018 19:49:08 GMT -8
I s'pose you'll be wanting the hood painted black next!
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Post by CrazyBrit on Mar 27, 2018 19:55:03 GMT -8
Veeerrrryyyy niiiicccce
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Post by Volktales on May 18, 2018 20:54:55 GMT -8
So went to Don's place to check out the completed major home renovation that he has been working on for the last year. And look who else showed up... Yup, it is Brian, finally out cruising in his Ghia at last! It was a long time coming for this to happen. Is he smiling because the car is cool, or because of those leafy green plants in the back??? Car is looking good, but he admits that it will be lowered this winter. I hate to admit it, but I was the one who raised that rear end up like that for the previous owner, Chuck, because that is what he wanted... Brian would like to drop the front a bit more too. He has insured the car via the Modified Collector Plate scheme... Now there are a couple of beauties...
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Post by CrazyBrit on May 19, 2018 8:13:34 GMT -8
Nice! Really looking forward to seeing this car in person. Congrats Brian!
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