Build thread of my 1970 Ghia Vert

Beetle, Karmann Ghia, Thing.

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Bleyseng
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Re: Time to refresh the engine and tranny

Post by Bleyseng » Wed Jul 20, 2016 1:13 pm

At the Seattle Car show/swapmeet there was about 9 ghias but all but one were non stockish engine setups. Most had dual carbs but stock has plenty of hp to push that little car around with lots of fun. So I don't get the "why?" of doing it. Too much hp and the suspension is not adequate for it.
Now the 914 loves more hp.....
Geoff
77 Sage Green Westy- CS 2.0L-160,000 miles
70 Ghia vert, black, stock 1600SP,- 139,000 miles,
76 914 2.1L-Nepal Orange- 160,000+ miles
http://bleysengaway.blogspot.com/

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Bleyseng
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Re: Time to refresh the engine and tranny

Post by Bleyseng » Fri Jul 29, 2016 9:31 pm

Made the trip out to see Ken and get the correct dizzy with a working vacuum advance plus some other odd ball parts. Spent an hour talking about leaking type 4 engines and the "fix".
Geoff
77 Sage Green Westy- CS 2.0L-160,000 miles
70 Ghia vert, black, stock 1600SP,- 139,000 miles,
76 914 2.1L-Nepal Orange- 160,000+ miles
http://bleysengaway.blogspot.com/

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Amskeptic
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Re: Time to refresh the engine and tranny

Post by Amskeptic » Wed Aug 03, 2016 10:49 pm

Bleyseng wrote:Made the trip out to see Ken and get the correct dizzy with a working vacuum advance plus some other odd ball parts. Spent an hour talking about leaking type 4 engines and the "fix".
Let us know how the correct distributor works.

Lubricate the clutch cable and bowden tube.

What is the "fix"?

Who said a 1970 Karmann Ghia with the IRS can't handle some serious additional horsepower? With that rear weight bias, the greatest limitation is the driver.
Colin
BobD - 78 Bus . . . 112,730 miles
Chloe - 70 bus . . . 217,593 miles
Naranja - 77 Westy . . . 142,970 miles
Pluck - 1973 Squareback . . . . . . 55,600 miles
Alexus - 91 Lexus LS400 . . . 96,675 miles

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asiab3
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Re: Time to refresh the engine and tranny

Post by asiab3 » Wed Aug 03, 2016 11:34 pm

Amskeptic wrote: Who said a 1970 Karmann Ghia with the IRS can't handle some serious additional horsepower? With that rear weight bias, the greatest limitation is the driver.
Are the seats the same as bug seats? On a well-engineered series of switchbacks, our '69 bug can destroy unassuming kid racers. With the right tire inflation pressure, the SEATS of all things become the limiting factor in cornering and braking. That car will hug any line I give it until my body slides so hard into the door I can't steer like I want to.

Of COURSE I set the tire psi back to "safe" for when my mom drives it. :blackeye:

Robbie
1969 bus, "Buddy."
145k miles with me.
322k miles on Earth.

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Bleyseng
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Re: Time to refresh the engine and tranny

Post by Bleyseng » Thu Aug 04, 2016 7:01 am

A 70 Ghia could handle more hp along with upgrades to the brakes and tires. At a stock 57hp its enough for driving in town or freeway trips and get 30mpg. The seats are not bug seats and wider but you sit so low in them even after rebuilding them. Adjustment is a joke.
For driving faster and twisty roads I have the 914 with the 120hp engine plus suspension upgrades so its safe cruising at 100mph. The ultimate 4 cylinder air-cooled car .
The ghia broke a upper balljoint the other day and I spent a few hrs replacing that. Now to do the other 3 as I never trust 45 yr old suspension parts especially with Seattle's crappy potholed streets.
Geoff
77 Sage Green Westy- CS 2.0L-160,000 miles
70 Ghia vert, black, stock 1600SP,- 139,000 miles,
76 914 2.1L-Nepal Orange- 160,000+ miles
http://bleysengaway.blogspot.com/

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Amskeptic
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Re: Time to refresh the engine and tranny

Post by Amskeptic » Fri Aug 05, 2016 8:51 pm

Bleyseng wrote:A 70 Ghia could handle more hp along with upgrades to the brakes and tires. At a stock 57hp its enough for driving in town or freeway trips and get 30mpg. The seats are not bug seats and wider but you sit so low in them even after rebuilding them. Adjustment is a joke.
For driving faster and twisty roads I have the 914 with the 120hp engine plus suspension upgrades so its safe cruising at 100mph. The ultimate 4 cylinder air-cooled car .
The ghia broke a upper balljoint the other day and I spent a few hrs replacing that. Now to do the other 3 as I never trust 45 yr old suspension parts especially with Seattle's crappy potholed streets.
Broke a ball joint? Not a factory-issue ball joint? I drove a car that was a month away from breaking a ball joint? What part of the ball joint broke?
Colin
BobD - 78 Bus . . . 112,730 miles
Chloe - 70 bus . . . 217,593 miles
Naranja - 77 Westy . . . 142,970 miles
Pluck - 1973 Squareback . . . . . . 55,600 miles
Alexus - 91 Lexus LS400 . . . 96,675 miles

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Bleyseng
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Re: Time to refresh the engine and tranny

Post by Bleyseng » Fri Aug 05, 2016 8:56 pm

Yes, 46 years old balljoint. The stud/nut that holds it to the arm snapped off.....
Geoff
77 Sage Green Westy- CS 2.0L-160,000 miles
70 Ghia vert, black, stock 1600SP,- 139,000 miles,
76 914 2.1L-Nepal Orange- 160,000+ miles
http://bleysengaway.blogspot.com/

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Bleyseng
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Re: Time to refresh the engine and tranny

Post by Bleyseng » Sun Aug 07, 2016 7:09 am

I spent the day rebuilding the front bumper with newly chromed parts ($$$) I picked up at the swap meet a few weeks ago. Derusting everything that wasn't chromed and repainting it. I used anti seize on all the bolts as they was the biggest problem taking it apart as all of them were rusted up good. I also carefully pounded out some dents on the old chrome blades so the fit and look better. Of course the bumpers brackets were bent and needed a bit of work so it mounted straight once I had assembled it off the car and went to remount it.

Now on to the back bumper....
Geoff
77 Sage Green Westy- CS 2.0L-160,000 miles
70 Ghia vert, black, stock 1600SP,- 139,000 miles,
76 914 2.1L-Nepal Orange- 160,000+ miles
http://bleysengaway.blogspot.com/

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Bleyseng
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Re: Time to refresh the engine and tranny

Post by Bleyseng » Mon Aug 15, 2016 11:08 am

I skipped the back bumper as Zach is back from working in Germany and wanted to get some wrenching experience. Onto the other 3 ball joints! Yes, after much trouble the control arms were pulled and new German ball joints were pressed in at a local shop. Much more hassle and trouble and the control arms with new ball joints were re-installed and new grease was pumped in. Today off to a alignment shop for a front end alignment as of course its way off. It does drive with a new surefootedness so I can't wait to get out on the freeway to see how it drives at freeway speeds all tight and aligned. Potholes and bumps weren't a problem anymore so this was a improvement. Now with the front wheel bearings already done and new balljoints plus the tierods it's all rebuilt and with German parts.
Geoff
77 Sage Green Westy- CS 2.0L-160,000 miles
70 Ghia vert, black, stock 1600SP,- 139,000 miles,
76 914 2.1L-Nepal Orange- 160,000+ miles
http://bleysengaway.blogspot.com/

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Bleyseng
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Re: Time to refresh the engine and tranny

Post by Bleyseng » Thu Aug 18, 2016 7:47 pm

Well is great to have a tight smooth good as new front suspension. The Ghia handles much better and is sure footed even thou it has tiny stock tires. I need to get a new steering box as that does seem to be worn. I try adjusting it again first.
Geoff
77 Sage Green Westy- CS 2.0L-160,000 miles
70 Ghia vert, black, stock 1600SP,- 139,000 miles,
76 914 2.1L-Nepal Orange- 160,000+ miles
http://bleysengaway.blogspot.com/

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asiab3
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Re: Time to refresh the engine and tranny

Post by asiab3 » Fri Aug 19, 2016 6:41 am

Do the Type 1 steering boxes respond well to refreshes like the early bus boxes do?

Robbie
1969 bus, "Buddy."
145k miles with me.
322k miles on Earth.

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Bleyseng
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Re: Time to refresh the engine and tranny

Post by Bleyseng » Fri Aug 19, 2016 6:58 am

I am not sure, but there are new ones made by TRW that are about $100-140. I am checking on the quality.
I went with German balljoints as they are the best quality and give you a good ride. Yes, they are tight at first and I put in grease fittings into them as the guy installing them into the arms managed to squeeze out most of the oem grease. Added grease to the balljoints and they work much better as steering isn't so tight and the ride is even smoother over bumps, rides almost as nice as the 914.
Geoff
77 Sage Green Westy- CS 2.0L-160,000 miles
70 Ghia vert, black, stock 1600SP,- 139,000 miles,
76 914 2.1L-Nepal Orange- 160,000+ miles
http://bleysengaway.blogspot.com/

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asiab3
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Re: Time to refresh the engine and tranny

Post by asiab3 » Fri Aug 19, 2016 8:35 am

I know it's Type 3, but you can make some good conclusions here……

http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=660446
1969 bus, "Buddy."
145k miles with me.
322k miles on Earth.

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Bleyseng
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Re: Time to refresh the engine and tranny

Post by Bleyseng » Sat Aug 20, 2016 6:40 pm

Thanks as I'll steer away from TRW boxes. I Am in Vancouver, BC for the big CiPi show and swap meet so hopefully there are some decent parts here. 90F+ today but it should be cooler in the morning.
Since it was so hot yesterday(95F) I power washer the underside of the Ghia to clean off all the road dirt and grime. Much better but should I touch up the undercoating??
Geoff
77 Sage Green Westy- CS 2.0L-160,000 miles
70 Ghia vert, black, stock 1600SP,- 139,000 miles,
76 914 2.1L-Nepal Orange- 160,000+ miles
http://bleysengaway.blogspot.com/

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Bleyseng
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Location: Seattle again
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Re: Time to refresh the engine and tranny

Post by Bleyseng » Thu Sep 01, 2016 11:04 am

I decided to first replace the rubber steering bushing first and that made a nice difference in the steering feeling. Now the front end is tight and firm feeling. Steering is much better and you can feel the road with authority given I have 165/80/15's. For a 1970 VW it drives and feels good going 70 mph again...without any steering slop.

Now onto the shifter and rebuilding the rear bumper.
Geoff
77 Sage Green Westy- CS 2.0L-160,000 miles
70 Ghia vert, black, stock 1600SP,- 139,000 miles,
76 914 2.1L-Nepal Orange- 160,000+ miles
http://bleysengaway.blogspot.com/

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