What the hell...

DorianL

solid fixture here in the forum
Staff member
I couldn't wait.

Gents it looks like this Friday I will be the proud owner of a 1971 Karmann Ghia in reasonable shape... or so I anticipate it.

Before Grumpy gets all in a bundle - I promise I will enhance handling and and significantly enhance performance - tho it will remain air-cooled. :mrgreen: (Mainly because I like the sound and it will have to pass MOT every year.)

I do want this car to become a fun, daily driver.

The KG71 is running - the fellow will drive it 100km from the Netherlands and drop it off.

From what I can tell there is little rust and probably minimal body work - little to no welding.

Nonetheless, there appears to be three layers of paint on there - it was originally yellow, then got a layer of red and then finally a coat of matte black.

Sight unseen I have been debating how I want to prep the body for paint. Likely I will remove the body, the glass etc. so it can get an in-and-out paint job.

I was originally going to soda blast it, but that sounds expensive. I think I can do reasonably quickly most of the car with a DA sander and 40 - 60 paper. The outised should be ok - the part I am worried about is detail sanding under the hood and trunk.

My question is this: would you bring it down to the yellow coat? Or take it down to bare metal. I was thinking section by section to bare metal... and since I am outside, sealing with primer as I go.

Mostly uncomfortable with the detail work needed under hood and in trunk...

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Again - these are pics he sent - this hasn't been delivered yet.
 
am curious about what kind of mpg it get.
those are very light car and small engine :D
 
Well in terms of performance, it's tough. See, on the air cooled the cylinders can be replaced and, well, there's no water pump.

I just want something that is zippy and fun to drive - I keep hearing/reading these guys dropping 4-5000 for a 2110 stroked air cooled making 160HP and lord knows what TQ.

I have a stock 1600... I just want to "uncork" it filter, heads, cam, intake, exhaust... but it's tough to get out of them if that's enough
 
DorianL said:
Right... uncorking it bumps you 30% from 40HP to 54HP. Yay!


funny-puking-pictures-6113.gif

my STARTER has a good percentage of 54 hp.

look Porsche, built some very impressive turbo 6 and 12 cylinder engines that easily made a good deal more hp. anything under 300 hp is just not going to be real impressive, IM sure with some research and a turbo or centrifugal supercharger you can find a way to exceed 300 -370hp, and make that a really fun car
Porsche-917-K_3.jpg

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Po ... 29_engines


BTW, watch these

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hVripflGt7o

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rZQsEEsCHLs

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NK7b261ehxk

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QQsk02IvmPQ

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bzMUyjo_R20


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9sq3wSnLCkc

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5jDQvDUIbGs

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sTAC8nAjtpQ
 
A Porsche Boxter Flat oposed 6 would be the neat engine driveline transplant.
Cost to purchase likely $7 to $15 k.
Porsche box 6 crankshafts cost $7k new alone.
Crankshaft made in 3 seperate sections. Large Morse tapers & nuts holding together.
Some were made with titanium connecting rods also.

A dirt cheap engine to transplant into the Karhma Ghia maybe would be from A Subaru WRX.
Turbo flat opposed 4 banger.


BR
 
There is a guy in our club here that has a 72 KG and he installed a direct bolt-in Porsche engine that had stock 110 hp (believe it was a 914 1.7 or 1.8) and some suspension upgrades made it a blast to drive (especially since they weigh less then 1800 lbs!). His claim was all parts under $2,500 and easy to find. I really like the KGs but the front wheels look funny set in from the fenders and to me don't fit the wheel wells. I bought one years ago and had to sell it, very tight for someone almost 6' 3"!
 
Heh, I watched all this guy's videos already. Though it was a slog. Fellow is kind of annoying the way he yells all the time and his rude banter vis-a-vis his help...

And yes, 54 ponies is strikingly underwhelming to my mind as well. But then again, this fella only weighs 1700 lbs.
 
chromebumpers said:
There is a guy in our club here that has a 72 KG and he installed a direct bolt-in Porsche engine that had stock 110 hp (believe it was a 914 1.7 or 1.8) and some suspension upgrades made it a blast to drive (especially since they weigh less then 1800 lbs!). His claim was all parts under $2,500 and easy to find. I really like the KGs but the front wheels look funny set in from the fenders and to me don't fit the wheel wells. I bought one years ago and had to sell it, very tight for someone almost 6' 3"!

Whoa!!! I like that idea - buying a good used Porsche... but which one??? Any more details on that?

I like the idea of keeping the stock motor for tech inspection :mrgreen:

I was going to upgrade the suspension as well.

I'm 5'10" I suppose I'll be all right ;-)
 
Hmmm, I guess I just have an issue paying $4000 for a 2.1 liter engine that belts out 170 ponies.
 
DorianL said:
Hmmm, I guess I just have an issue paying $4000 for a 2.1 liter engine that belts out 170 ponies.
try to convice yourself.. thinking reliable engine, high mpg. :)

If it was me, id just wait to see the condition of the stock engine and try to keep this one running.
It will be a different challenge to drive a "very" low hp car :).
 
I am not too far away from JC Whittney main retail store & outlet wharehouse Dorian.
Its in my area & driving distance.
They have improved on quality since the 1970's -'80's when they were still in Chicago.
Used to be Warshaski Auto or something close.
They still sell lots of Volkswagon engine & driveline parts. Body sheetmetal too.
Been a while since I looked but I thought I had seen Kharma Ghi listed also.
Some of those VW engines will run hard.
Seen a few runners when younger. Dune Buggies were allover the USA.
Street driven VW aircooled engines.
Don't know much about them but have been told you can remove the engines in 1 hour flat.
Just hand tools. 2 men can lift the VW engine out by hand.
Also have heard stories of Porsche Cylinder Jugs being swapped over..
If you can get a solid 200 Hp. I think the 1800 lb Karma Ghia may surprise many.

Funny, I am 5'10" tall too .

Brian R.
 
The YouTube Video of a guy using Porsche 993 parts and wheels is a real head turner. I was out for breakfast this morning and nearby there were guys setting up for a car show. One was a 72 Gia with a VW Golf GTI engine, 911 Turbo wheels and interior, sorry I didn't have a camera and no cell phone. I asked the guy if he would send me an email with some photos, I hope he does. There is a British show called "Wheeler Dealers" on the Velocity channel and on most every day. These guys buy cars and flip them after doing some repairs (they show the repairs being done) and they've done some VW bugs and a Gia. The shows were about hot-rodding those two cars and the parts needed. It should be easy to find a copy on the Internet and I'm sure you'll get something out of it.
 
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