Page 5 of 12
Re: House of Karmann
Posted: Tue Sep 07, 2021 7:31 am
by greg356a
Re: House of Karmann
Posted: Fri Sep 10, 2021 7:35 am
by greg356a
Re: House of Karmann
Posted: Fri Sep 10, 2021 8:58 am
by 911hillclimber
Seems to me to leave it there and get those parts spot-on and the whole shell signed-off with the specialists.
For me that would be a major stage done and dusted and well done throughout.
just my 2d
Re: House of Karmann
Posted: Fri Sep 10, 2021 9:53 am
by greg356a
Just been talking to Californian Classics, they are going to send me an update on the engine lid progress and the right hand battery tray is on back order so confirmation of delivery time. Agree it would be best to leave the car and get it finished. I suspect I may not see the modified engine lid for some time, given how busy they are. So may have no choice other than drag it back home and crack on with chassis work.
Re: House of Karmann
Posted: Fri Sep 10, 2021 2:16 pm
by 911hillclimber
Can you prep the shell all over and fit the underside etc before the rear lid is ready, or will it's absence delay/alter the rear wing gapping etc?
Re: House of Karmann
Posted: Fri Sep 10, 2021 4:28 pm
by neilbardsley
With those brakes your car is going to stop very well
Sent from my M2004J19C using Tapatalk
Re: House of Karmann
Posted: Sat Sep 11, 2021 6:22 pm
by greg356a
The vented disks and calipers and over size bore master cylinder should make for some great stopping given no brake servo. I used this combination on my speedster, which given the light weight stops without locking up.
Unfortunately I need all the panels at the same time to make sure they fit together correctly. About a month left on the front and then bring the Ghia back home. I then need to work out how to get the body up in the air so I have enough space below to work on the pan.
Re: House of Karmann
Posted: Tue Sep 14, 2021 2:56 am
by RobFrost
greg356a wrote:Morning to you all.
lockdown 3: The 356 Coupe waiting in the que for paint and the speedster outlaw waiting final tune with it’s new PMO’s. I have searched endlessly for a 911/ 912/356 project but the starting costs are just outrageously prohibitive and then the parts. What’s left that’s rare, cool and has German heritage? House of Karmann lead me to the lowlight or early 60’s Ghia. A Baywatch body with Crimewatch mechanics? Link pin, swaybars, drum brakes all less than ideal for modern traffic.
The vision is to blend two Coupes from house of Karmann the 1964 VW Karmann Ghia and the Porsche 356C using modern suspension, brakes, drive train
Too much time on google and my next project is ready to go.
Wait only essential travel, so everything stopped.
Staring with a 1964 LHD US import in all of its 47 years of patina. Pete at California Classic helped with a great deal, 64 Ghia, stripped, bagged and tagged, media blasted, epoxy coated, uk registered and a whole bundle of replacement panels. They make a RHD dash board kit. Also secured a 901/07 gearbox from 1969 911S
845x300_acd2771684cacf3dd40532902f5d8165
The aim is for something like this Indonesian car, but not as a lowlight.
OK-IMG_8761
OK-IMG_8895
Techy stuff
Imohr a Brazilian VW suspension company make some amazing bolt on suspension systems, RHD double A arm wish bone suspension front and back. Addition of front and rear sway bars and 60mm vw dropped spindles, CSP 4 pot vented brakes at front and 2 pot disks at the back with e-brake. Still exploring if any Porsche early 911 hubs, calliper's will fit on 1968+ vw spindles on front and the 1303 spindles on the back of the Imohr suspension package
122446316_407079583786053_3715778384481503670_n
Not got a clue as to engine to use except must be aircooled, look like a 356 with around 150bhp, no subby stuff here. I need to use a 914 flywheel and clutch for the 901 gearbox to fit type 1 or type 4 engine.
Understated wheels, 16” or 17” 130x5 steel look wheels maybe Fuchs
So no budget or time scales, just needs to be another step up in build quality, like my last speedster project will take years, but hopefully be great fun, make some new friends and look great when finished.
Gearbox arrives next week but may not be until March April until travel restrictions are lifted and I can take the trailer down to Californian Classic to pick everything up.
Appreciate, its not a Porsche in the restoration threads, but hope everyone is ok with that and likes a KG
I don't know if you chose an engine yet, but in my youth I had a type 3 with a flat 4 fuel injected. It had about 65hp I think, but it felt pretty fast for daily driving because that engine has quite a bit of torque and delivers maximum power at 2,800 revs. Certainly no hot rod but still a lot of fun and you could get about 30mpg.
Sent from my SM-G988B using Tapatalk
Re: House of Karmann
Posted: Sat Sep 18, 2021 4:51 pm
by greg356a
Rob, I suspect you are right fuel injection is the way forward.
My lead on a 1776 type 1 with hopefully a good case seems to be getting closer to selling. Thinking of rebuilding to 1918cc, high lift cam, followers, lightened flywheel and fuel injection/ crank trigger. But using 356 fram filter, throttle linkage, oil filler etc maybe a solid 140bhp.
So latest parts hoard increasing, thanks to a very kind fellow DDKer is expanding. Great pair of complete 911 swb from 1969 front seats. Hinges need re-chroming and obviously new upholstery. Once I get the chassis back I can now look at fabricating some seat support for the runners
IMG_6191
IMG_6196
Front brakes complete ready for first trail fitting
IMG_6189
IMG_6188
Re: House of Karmann
Posted: Wed Sep 29, 2021 7:53 am
by greg356a
Re: House of Karmann
Posted: Fri Oct 01, 2021 1:11 pm
by greg356a
Catch up Friday. The inner wings have been straightened and the correct gasket inserted between the end of the inner wings and the intersection of the nose cone. No idea why VW did not weld these together but I guess there must be a reason. Both head light surrounds and buckets have new metal. Measurement for the head light bucket position are symmetrical from the ground and measured back to the windscreen. The nose and the under belly section have been cut into place are are being slowly mig welded along the butt joint. So far no sign of any panel distortion due to heat.
IMG_6212
IMG_6213
IMG_6214
IMG_6215
IMG_6216
IMG_6223
IMG_6224
IMG_6228
I guess the front will be wrapped up next week. There may still be time in the guys schedule to look at the back. I think I can get hold of the panels, the most difficult one to get hold of has been despatched. The others I could pick up at the same time as picking up the engine lid. Engine lid modifications are not done but its needed to fit the joining panels.
Really think I have a good shot at making this into a good quality car, for me its really going to be about the small details. Some of my ideas include;
Porsche features
356C Engine lid twin grills
356 Rear shine down number plate light
356C Front indicators, very similar to KG in design
911 R engine lid hinges - not sure about these
356 Leather straps
356 Through bonnet filler
Body colour bumpers with 356 GT aluminium deco strip
356 GT aluminium deco strip to replace side spears.
356 Rear rectangle reflectors - rear lenses already have reflector
912 Steel look wheels but need to be at least 16" to accommodate the 968/944 calipers. They just never made any?
911 Rear ¼ window louvers
356 Period colour
356 Washer jets
KG gauges to look like 356 gauges. There are some green dials already available or use 912 gauges.
911 swb seats – head rests and adjustable / tilt base
356/ 912 Rear view mirror
550 handbrake
911 gear shift
356 look engine
356 GT fuel tank - Most likely get this made
356 Floor mounted headlight switch
356 steering wheel or 912 bat wing
etc
Re: House of Karmann
Posted: Fri Oct 01, 2021 9:12 pm
by Bootsy
Sounds very special
Re: House of Karmann
Posted: Fri Oct 08, 2021 4:52 pm
by greg356a
Thanks Bootsy, fingers crossed.
Progress this week has seen the front end panels all fully welded in. Keith has also panel worked the right hand wing to remove a lot of the dents, amazing skillzs with hammer and dolly. Also received the unobtanium right hand side battery tray panel. Given its hand made looks like a really good fitting panel. The KG is staying with the guys at Hingham a little longer than planned, to have the rear end panels replaced. This is mostly the rear right side bottom, inner and outer right side 1/4s, rear corner valance x 2 sides and rear engine bay panel. The panels are all ordered from Californian Classics and Pete is sending the panels and the rear engine lid so that the panels can be correctly positioned, before welding.
IMG_6255
IMG_6250
IMG_6248
IMG_6253
IMG_6254
The body fabrication, welding etc will be fully complete in the next few weeks. Well accept the work I need to do with hammer and dolly on the rear left wing to get rid of the dents. I want to have a go at lead loading a few seems, particularly around the front light bezels and front 1/4 seem never done it before so what could possibly go wrong!
I will then turn my attention to the chassis mods, fitting 901 gear box front mounts and gear linkage. Also the rear cradle mount has slightly different angles to the VW Beetle so need to modify to fit the poly bush mounts.
Ordered and received the new 550 replica look handbrake. Looks like a simple fit. However, not one for simple and trying to be IVA compliant I need to fit an switch to allow for a on/ off warning indicator light to be installed on the dash. The handle looks like it needs a series of holes for a race look.
IMG_6257
Re: House of Karmann
Posted: Sat Oct 09, 2021 9:30 pm
by rhd racer
Looking great, excellent progress. It’s going to be super cool…
Re: House of Karmann
Posted: Fri Oct 22, 2021 4:45 pm
by greg356a