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Re: 59 Ghia
Posted: Fri May 15, 2009 10:09 am
by Hennie Gouws
Hi Didi,
I am new to this forum, and read through your whole project yesterday. You did an awsome job!! I like the fact that you kept it stock. Would it be possible to give a summary of your expenses (ball-park) ?
Re: 59 Ghia
Posted: Fri May 15, 2009 9:57 pm
by didi
Hennie Gouws wrote:Hi Didi,
I am new to this forum, and read through your whole project yesterday. You did an awsome job!! I like the fact that you kept it stock. Would it be possible to give a summary of your expenses (ball-park) ?
Hi Hennie, your'e not working for SARS right? No, I'm only joking.
Are you restoring a Beetle or Ghia? What year? How complete is the car? Do you want to do all of it yourself or thinking of letting someone help you? Are you part of a club?
Re: 59 Ghia
Posted: Sun May 17, 2009 9:36 pm
by Hennie Gouws
Hi Didi, no fortunately not!!
I have a 1960 Beetle, also still 6V, 1200. It is is pretty complete and was still running until I started stripping it. The only big engine problem is a huge oil leak, which is probably only a seal. My plan is to take out the engine and have an expert replace all the seals and gaskets (the car has been in the family from new and has only done 50,000 miles or so, so I don't think it will need bearings etc. Then I will need to recondition the brakes, and the wiring needs some attention (the original "arm" indiactors were replaced by a newer beetle flashing indicators which I want to take out and reinstate the original ones). The body needs some attention (a bit of rust, a few dents), I would like to have it completely resprayed. The interior also needs to be redone (upholstery and carpets). I would like to do as much of it as possible myself - for obvious financial reasons - but the trickey stuff I will leave to professionals.
No, I am not a member of a club (yet). Any suggestions ?
Re: 59 Ghia
Posted: Sun May 24, 2009 8:06 pm
by didi
I removed the '383 flat top dizzy and installed the correct one today. I started the car but not driven it round the block yet.
Thanks for Werner Alker assisting me with the vacuum advance pipe and fittings and to Uncle Bill Noble for goodies from his personal stash and lesson 101 in starting up fault finding!
I have a 1960 Beetle, also still 6V, 1200. It is is pretty complete and was still running until I started stripping it. The only big engine problem is a huge oil leak, which is probably only a seal. My plan is to take out the engine and have an expert replace all the seals and gaskets (the car has been in the family from new and has only done 50,000 miles or so, so I don't think it will need bearings etc. Then I will need to recondition the brakes, and the wiring needs some attention (the original "arm" indiactors were replaced by a newer beetle flashing indicators which I want to take out and reinstate the original ones). The body needs some attention (a bit of rust, a few dents), I would like to have it completely resprayed. The interior also needs to be redone (upholstery and carpets). I would like to do as much of it as possible myself - for obvious financial reasons - but the trickey stuff I will leave to professionals.
Hennie it sounds like a lekker project. Maybe you should start a restoration project with some pictures here on the site and then we can give you advice and help you find stuff and share with you in your project. I'm part of the jacaranda beetle club and it helps me when i'm looking for advice.
Re: 59 Ghia
Posted: Mon May 25, 2009 12:28 am
by forcecooled
Uncle ?
ya ya ya -
NO MORE LESSONS FOR YOU , CHINA!
I will tell my worshond to bite you the next time you come here !
Cheers !
Bill
Re: 59 Ghia
Posted: Mon May 25, 2009 10:44 am
by didi
Sorry Oom Bill 
Re: 59 Ghia
Posted: Sun May 31, 2009 7:45 pm
by didi
Went to the Witbank show with werner and Koos of the Jacaranda Beetle Club.

Re: 59 Ghia
Posted: Sun May 31, 2009 9:16 pm
by forcecooled
Lovely pic Diedrich. -
Nice Oval next to your KG as well!
Re: 59 Ghia
Posted: Thu Jun 11, 2009 4:27 pm
by didi
I asked someone here in Pretoria to machine and balance a 6 volt flywheel for me. I supplied the flywheel (he showed me a flywheel he did and it looked great)
I made one big mistake; I never asked him how much he would ask to face it off. I knew McDonalds in Jo-burg asked about R80 (R200 if they supplied the flywheel) so how much more could it be?
He phoned me up to say I could collect and off I went. He wanted R600
I told him he's not marked related but he refused to call around to check because that is his price.
So I told him to keep my flywheel and sell it to someone else........
It was bothering me, so I swallowed my pride and bought my very expensive flywheel back.
I put the flywheel in, changed the Kombi pressure plate back to a beetle one with single spring and very happy with the result. The shudder is gone.
I also got a flywheel oil seal from seal centre in Hermanstad. The one that was in was 80x60x10 I put in an 80x60x8 which fitted much better and I didn't need to cut the shoulder.
Re: 59 Ghia
Posted: Mon Jun 15, 2009 2:59 am
by ajvw
worth every cent

Re: 59 Ghia
Posted: Tue Jun 16, 2009 4:41 pm
by didi
Fitted the manual choke cable to the carb.

also got the heater cables connected and working.
Re: 59 Ghia
Posted: Thu Jun 18, 2009 12:06 pm
by spca999
That pic at Irene Farm ... man took me on a trip down memory lane. Used to cycle out there back in the days. Must say though, the car park scenery was not as good though. Great job!