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karmann ghia

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Q: Can/Should you take a ‘71 Karmann Ghia to Jiffy Lube or the like?
I have a ‘71 Karmann Ghia and need to have the oil changed. I know I can do this myself, but time is an issue. I’m just not sure if it is smart to take a vintage car to one these quick lube places. Thanks for any help.

A: I would not trust a hard to find aluminum thread oil drain hole to Jiffy Lube. Change it yourself, and make sure you use a torque wrench to tighten the drain plug to the recommended specs.

Q: Question about restoring a 1970 Karmann Ghia?
So me and a buddy are restoring this Ghia we bought. We’re curious about how we could paint it ourselves and if anyone could give us advice about how to do that.
Also, would a 64 Ghia hub caps fit on a 70 Ghia, and what models would have the same gas tank as a Ghia?

A: If you have not painted before, don’t experiment on a good car.
The first one is bound to have mistakes.
For example, people like dark colors like black, and that is much too hard of a color because it show all the flaws in reflection.
Tan or light yellow are the easiest colors.
Use acrylic enamel instead of lacquer, because it will not drip as much.
But it takes a week to really dry.
Don’t use accelerators to make it dry faster, because they cause checkering years later.
The other tips on prep work were good.
When it comes to final step of actually painting, first you do a quick light tack coat.
You just mist it on, in order to make it sticky, so that more paint will have something to adhere to.
Then you do back and put on a heavy coat.
You want it as thick as you can without dripping, so that there is no orange peel from the individual paint droplets.
If you are further away, it will drip less, but have more orange peel as well.
If you screw up and it drips, have something lintless to wipe it off quickly with.
If nothing else, your hand will work.
Don’t let it drip, since it will take a week to dry before drips could be rubber out with abrasive compound.
There are 2 popular painting motions.
One is back and forth stripes.
If you use this, release the trigger before you start to slow down and reverse direction, or else you will have over spray and drips.
The other motion is circular, but this is difficult because it is harder to maintain constant distance.
But it does not leave a stripped appearance.

You should do a lot of practice first. Do some practice objects, like maybe the engine shrouds or something. Purposely put on too much and see it drip, or to little and see orange peel.

I don’t believe 64 hubcaps will work on a 70 without modification. I believe in 64 the wheel rims had large spring clips riveted on, that catch the rim of the hubcap. In 70, I believe the wheel rim had bulges that the hubcap rim snapped over. So I believe the 64 hubcaps will be too loose for the 70 rims, unless you add spring clips to them.

However, I think the gas tanks are the same with the bug and Ghia. That is because the Ghia used the bug front suspension and pan. Type II and type III are different. But leaks can easily be brazed, and rusty insides easily cleaned and coated. They prefer you to steam clean tanks out first, to remove any danger of explosion. They will use a smell test.

Q: I need bumpers for a 1962 Karmann Ghia. But i don’t know where to find them. Is there other bumpers that fit.?
I need bumpers for a 1962 Karmann Ghia. But i don’t know where to find them. Is there other bumpers that fit

A: Chech auto salvage yards on the internet. Check Edmonds auto book and/or put in an add.

Q: Can one cram a Porsche 911 engine into a Karmann Ghia convertible without too much trouble?

A: No. Not without cutting out the rear pan. The 911-6 is too long.
Now the 4 from a 912….or a 914, 411, 412 or 74-on bus will fit in there with just a few modifications. Gotta remove the rear fan housing, relocate the oil cooler into a type-1 style doghouse…

Q: Volkswagon karmann ghia engine shakes and kinda screeches at high RPMs. what could be the cause?
air cooled 71 karmann ghia, fuel injection. idles fine. when it hits high in the gear it sounds like it’s screeching and shakes pretty good.

A: Sounds like it is loose in its bolting to the transmission. That or the trans is not fastened well(so that the whole engine vibrates alot.) Screeching could be do to metals rubbing against each other.
That or worse. A main bearing is sliding in its shoe(instead of remaining stationary. Only fix is engine dissassembly and put in new bearings for the crankshaft.

Q: I have a 1969 Karmann Ghia and i need seat tracks?
Kind of like these: http://www.karmannghia.com/products.asp?strMasterCat=598&strYear=&strBodyType= but cheaper they don’t have to be made especially for a Ghia they just have to be able to fit in the car.

A: karmannghia.com is one of the best sites I’ve ever used restoring Ghias. Try Wolfsburg West, I use them a lot and their prices are good.

Q: Does a 993 Porsche turbo engine fit into a 1963 Volkswagen Karmann Ghia?

A: I’ve never imagined this one. I guess if you remodeled the Ghia extensively, you could do it. You’d probably have to extend the entire chassis from the firewall back. You’d need to redesign the rear to provide additional breathing — a lot of it — for engine and engine bay cooling. You’d need to transplant both the engine and the transaxle from the 993.

Much additional modification would be required if you’re talking a late model 993 turbo with all-wheel drive. Reinforcement of the tub would be required to prevent the big engine’s torque from permantly twisting the Ghia’s body.

You’d need a large engineering budget — you’re essentially creating a new car model: the mouse that roars. What you’d create wouldn’t look much like a Karmann Ghia in the rear. Considering everything, I think the answer here is no.

Q: What is the gas mileage for a 1970’s Volkswagen Karmann-Ghia?

A: In a 1970 VW Karmann Ghia Coupe, you can
expect gas mileage estimates between 21-30.
Keep the car well tuned, tires inflated properly
and drive sensibly. Mine gets up to 32 mpg on
highway runs. Not bad for an old car!

Q: Is there a year of bug bumpers that fit the 62 karmann ghia ?
if so what year ?

A: Hey, Josh- you got an answer 13 hours ago. To your other “same question” post!

Q: Is a 1972 Karmann Ghia a good first car?
I am looking around for my first car and i came upon a beautiful 1972 Volkswagen Karmann Ghia, running and everything for $2,500. My dad thinks it would be a great car, but my mom is concerned mainly about safety issues. I am a huge Volkswagen fan, and really want to get this car considering what a steal it is. Can anybody give me advise or any saftey numbers or features that would make this car safer than it already is?

A: Noooo question that it is one of the coolest first cars you could get if you’re a VW person!
As far as safety issues, the car met all the 1972 safety requirements but would never meet them today!
Rust is a major problem with those old cars- If it’s a “beautiful ‘72″ as you describe- is it a restoration and was it done properly? When I did my 71 Bug, we took it off the pan and replaced all the rusted metal on the pan and body. We did our best to rust proof it and undercoat it for additional protection… “Bondo” was used in scant places.
Or is the car all original and lived in a garage in the winters, was driven only on sunny and dry days, etc? These are the things you want to find out before going any further. For all you know, it looks good from a distance but the floor-pan looks like swiss cheese.
Makin’ it safer once you determine the car’s ok? Get and keep a fire extinguisher in the car. Get 3 point seat-belts, a “Wink” mirror to increase your field of vision. Lesse…. and you may be able to have a roll bar installed to help protect you in the event of a roll over.
I hope this helps!
Good luck!

Q: karmann ghia info. Cost and color.?
I am planning to fix up this old karmann ghia. It needs a whole new engine new interior and new body work. How much would that cost? And also should i paint it black or silver?

A: Just buy American. All you’re doing is building other countries’ economies while our’s suffers…

Q: I have a 1963 Karmann Ghia and one of the headlights is brighter than the other. How can I fix this?

A: More than likely the ground wire at the dimmer headlight has corroded at the body of the car, or has come loose.

Q: How do you pronounce the Volkswagen’s ‘Karmann Ghia’?

A: folks-vogen kar-men-gee-uh

Q: What do you think of a Karmann Ghia?
Has anyone ever owned one?

http://images.google.com/images?hl=en&resnum=1&q=Karmann+Ghia&um=1&ie=UTF-8&sa=X&oi=image_result_group&resnum=4&ct=title

A: Dad had a collection. 4 in all and I got to fix them all (read customize /JC Whitney style) Any way – they were one of the earliest cars with the rounded style of body work and were just a ball to drive. You put them on like an over coat and (with the short shift kit) were as much fun as any european sports car.

They used the VW circut numbers for wiring, so you were never lost when switching out electrics, The rest was straight beetle.

Q: dose anyone have info on custom karmann ghia racing body kits and ground effects.?
cant find any info on said question in mags or in on line order catalogs, only stock body parts.

A: There isn’t any being manufactured. You have to fab them yourself of find a good metal man.Here is a very good link to buy steel (hand made) ghia fender flares. Also there’s links on how to do custom metal work.

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