Cincy VW Porsche Reunion '09

I went up to check out the VW show in Cincy. Nice show, nice cars, nice people.

It was a little overcast, which kept some cars away no doubt. Here's some pictures of the show.

This Ghia won best daily driver in '08. The owner turned me on to the Stainless steel bumpers on the Samba. Very helpful and knowledgeable guy. I think he is selling this car on Ebay.

I especially like the donut vending bus. Very cool! It had 6,000 miles on it, all original. They made the donuts in the bus.

IT IS ALIVE !!!!!!!!

Well, I finally have the electrical working thanks to Steve Parker at Westport Auto. It is also running very well. Steve actually got the horn working too. He said I just had a couple of wires crossed, man is that frustrating. I still need to get the lighter working. My wiring harness was made for a generator so I had to splice it to fit the alternator.

Here's the stainless steel bumpers I ordered from Harrington's from Vietnam.

They look great! I just had to notch the bumpers spacers and buy lots of assorted nuts and bolts to get them on the car. I used the bumper rubber kit to mount them. I decided to put the back up lights on the bumpers. I didn't use the tubular supports, just the brackets and mounted to the side of the car's fenders. They seem very sturdy. They cost a little less than $1100. Not cheap but still cheaper than rechroming and less hassle.

The car is at the painter's now. He is going over the whole car to get out all the scratches, swirls, drips, etc... It will probably be the end of November before I get the car back. I will update the pictures. I 'm trying to decide how to replace the interior. I have been looking at the Procar seats/interior kit from Scat. I will go with tan/ beige look.

Putting it all together!

I started to put on all the exterior components, changing out all old rubber to new.

It's a little harder than you think. Started putting in lights, emblems, hardware, etc....

I bought new headlight housings from Happy's. We had to drill holes that had been filled for the front passenger turn signal.

I just got stainless steel reproduction front and back bumpers in the mail over the weekend. They were made in Vietnam by a British company that specializes in SS bumper for restorations.

Yes, that is an automatic stickshift emblem and not just for looks either. I have already heard that I should have converted it to manual transmission. I know it will be slow, problems, less fun, etc... But hey, its a VW and it will definitely be different.

My Nemesis- the dreaded electrical rat's nest.

This will take some work to get power. I may need professional help- Mechanical and Psychological. More to come on this topic.

Saving Face

I decided to go with the prefabricated wood grain dash face from Karman Ghia Restoration and Parts. I thought about going with the painted dash face, but decided against it. I thought it would be too much black. I used the 3M spray on adhesive, so I had to mask off the rest of the car. I also used a heat gun to help adapt it around the corners.

Glove box wood grain facing.

Starting to to put in the dash components. I just need to get the electrical right.
I used the old dash pad, it looks pretty good.

I also put in a new windshield. I was going to replace the windshield trim as well for a more original look. After two failed attempts, I went with the Cal look rubber. I got the new windshield from Happy's in Southern Indiana.

Nice Ghia! New Friend!

I went over to Happy's picnic in Corydon, IN a few weeks ago.

I saw this sharp 69' Ghia vert owned by Herschel. It was neat to talk with someone that had just completed a restoration to pick their brain. Herschel completed this in less than a year and is real knowledgeable about VW's. It turns out he lives across the street from my brother-in-law in Spencer County. Nice Ride, Nice Guy.

Engine In! Check!

We started to put the engine back together a couple of weeks ago. Kerry, my dad Paul and myself. We put it back together and realized we need to get a few things before we could get it in the car. I sprayed the tin, heater channels, manifold, etc... black. We changed out all the needed gaskets, gas lines, fuel filters, new plug wires, accelerator cable and vacuum lines. We also put in a new exhaust system from Mid American Motorworks(Eurosport). We had to bend it a little to get it to line up with the heater channels.

We needed the new engine seals before we could get the engine in.

Putting the pieces back together.

Just about ready to put in the car.

New engine seals. Kind of a tight fit.

Kerry working away, looking good. I choose to put in 2 fuel filters, just in case the gas tank has some leftover dirt in it.

It's in. Now I need to start getting the new wiring harness, gas tank and auto transmission parts in the car.

IT'S BACK!!!!!!

I picked up the car from the painter, Larry Renfrow last month. It looks great. There are a few places that need to be touched up the painter showed me. He wants me to bring it back after I put it back together for touch up. He always wants the paint to cure for a few months and then check it out. Plus, he says I may nick it up putting all the pieces back on(can't believe he thinks I would do that, wink, wink). I will be reassembling the engine with Kerry and then replace the wiring harness. I bought the wiring harness from Mid American Motorworks. I have noticed since bringing the car home some the trim holes got covered up as well the front right turn signal. I guess we will have some drilling to do. I will be replacing all the rubber as well. I am thinking of making the interior tan.

Primed and Paint!

Well the car is starting to take shape. He has it primed and painting it black. The pictures show him starting to wet sand the car. I think I should be able to to pick it up this week! For some reason I'm thinking putting all the parts back on will take longer than taking them off.

Unfortunately he was in the middle of wet sanding when I got there.

Here's the engine broken down. I've been cleaning up the tin, heater boxes, manifold, valve covers and other pieces. Won't be a looker in the engine compartment, just a stock look. I'll put on a new exhaust system and change out all the gaskets.