Mikey's Ghia Thread...

[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:

[Racelook]

Why hadden't you let some bends maked? (less restrition for the water)

Wiebrand

[Mikey]

Thanks guys.

Rich, I'm not sure if it'll clear the tank, if it's too tall I can cut it down, but at least it's not short.

Wiebrand, I believe you're asking. Why didn't I just bend the tube? I coudn't find a tubing bender anywhere around to rent or barrow, and buying a bender just for that seemed too much to me.

[Doogie S]

Mikey,

I've been having the same dilemma over the purchase of the tube bender until I saw a link here for blind chicken racing. If you check out their web site in the tools section, there is a section for a home built tube bender and a couple of others that people have built. :agree:

To say the least, it looks promising and I am planning to build one to test it out. I was going to use it for the custom exhaust system for the Ghia, but I have since order a A1 Sidewinder for the Ghia instead. (Should have it in a week or so)

Anyway, it might be worth a look. I have a buddy who works in a sheet metal shop who may be able to CNC Plasma cut me out the components after I CAD the thing up. I'll post some photos of the work. It might not be till the fall though, as I have to get rolling getting the garage set up before I start making tools to fill it up.

Cheers,


Doug

[Racelook]

Yep Mike, that's what I asked. There are companies that can do that against an relatively nice price (in Holland I know a couple).

WIebrand

[GeorgeL]

Originally Posted by Mikey

Thanks guys.

Rich, I'm not sure if it'll clear the tank, if it's too tall I can cut it down, but at least it's not short.

Wiebrand, I believe you're asking. Why didn't I just bend the tube? I coudn't find a tubing bender anywhere around to rent or barrow, and buying a bender just for that seemed too much to me.

Hmmm, just a wild guess, but couldn't a muffler shop do that sort of bend?

George