Mikey's Ghia Thread...

[yellow73]

Mikey,
Great job I am enjoying your updates. :agree:
Any problems welding the aluminum pipe to the galvanized other than the toxic fumes?

[Mikey]

Originally Posted by yellow73

Mikey,
Great job I am enjoying your updates. :agree:
Any problems welding the aluminum pipe to the galvanized other than the toxic fumes?

Thanks for the feedback.

As far as I know, I asked a friend in my welding class today. I can't weld the two because they're disimilar metals. I can brase them, but he said you can brase about any metal. Brasing isn't an option because it isn't a very clean weld. Not something I'd like to do for my water lines. In my pictures. Towards the rear torsion, there are couplers on either side. I'll probably just use good thread tape and call it done. If that doesn't work, maybe a peice of hose the length of the coupler, then 2 good hose clamps. Thanks for the question. I enjoy answering.

But galvanized is very toxic, I think you end up with the equivilent of a chemical phemonia (sp?). A guy in my class had that happen to him a while back, he was VERY sick.

Originally Posted by Doogie S

Nice work on that Ghia. You're an inspiration for me to get moving on mine this fall. (Right after I insulate and heat the garage).

Thanks, inslulation and heat in your garage is a must. When you get moving on yours. Start a thread. I'd love to follow allong to your build too. Maybe I can help on yours too.

[Supa Ninja]

You sorce out another engine yet?

[Mikey]

No Nick, no engine yet. I'll probably call out to Nippon-motors monday.

Wow, what a week. I had intentions of working my @ss off over my spring break, it didn't happen. But I did make some great progress even though I only worked 3 days.

I finshed the corner in my coolant lines. I had a few failed ideas before I finaly hit gold. I first just cut two 45* angles and tried them up against two 90*s. That didn't work, it left big gaps. So I tried to fill in the gaps. Let me add, I was using a simple tri-square and a hack saw. After a little figureing, I realized I needed to just make two 45* angles with four 22.5*. There was just no way around it. So I thought long and hard.... Chop saw! :idea: I checked the blade, sure enough it's for 'metal'. Tried it, and it worked perfect. Then after I found the right angle. I cut the tubing up how I wanted it, then welded it. Perfecto! I put a small cut and angle in the passenger side to help point the water towards the radiator.

Next is the moment of truth. How will the tubing look with the body and radiator in place? I'll use another post, I'm out of picture room...

[Mikey]

After a little work, and a little help from a 'Cherry Picker'. I managed to get my body back on my pan, by myself. I rolled it up in the garage and put it up on four jackstands, bolted the lines up and nervously checked the fit...

PERFECT! well, not 100% but concidering I made the water lines fit the pan and not the pan and the body. The're great. I thought they'd work out, but I have to admit, I did have my doubts. The passenger side is like I hoped, pretty much a straight shot. But the Driver's side is another story. I think I might up having to use a bleeder similar to Volkdent's.

In the last two pictures, I have a little clearance issue. Then again, it could be a lot worse. It could have hit the body.

Comments are always welcome.
Thanks...

[ricola]

Will the driver's side line clear the fuel tank?

Rich

[zeroaxe]

This is just great! Keep the updates coming. I hope by the time I get that far in my project, I will remember to refer to all these good posts. VERY usefull info to be had here(although I will not go H2O, this is STILL usefull info to me)...

Keep on 'chopping away', and post as you get along :agree: