Best path for resto on a budget?

Hey all, I'm working on restoring my 71 Ghia and need a bit of
direction. There is minor rust (bubbling around the antenna, drivers
side wheel well, battery, some around the horn -- poor front end
bodywork like every other ghia out there; not much if any rust through).
There are a couple of dents and dings(nothing serious), and a 'fixed'
nose (pounded out and bondo'ed, without the ridge in place) and the
floorpans have been dented up from the PO's running over curbs. Theres
a couple of rust through spots in the pan, under the rear seat (from the
denting and the exposure of the metal). Solid heater channels with a
tad bit of minor surface rust, but they're solid to the best of my
inspection (Jumped on them with no cracking or anything). I've gotten a
new engine for it (the old case was cracked and JB-Welded together...so
basically I gave up on it) and it drives (despite having a bit of shimmy
in the front end).
Basically, with a limited budget (around 1000$ or so, not counting the
money already spent), no garage (but space in the back yard for all of
this), and a good deal of time on my hands, how do you folks reccomend I
go about restoring this thing? Should I pull the body from the pan?
How about the floorpans? Repair or replace? I can't weld, but may be
able to get welding done. How about the rust removal? Whats the best
way? Paint -- Down to bare metal and from scratch or clean up what I've
got and primer over the rust repair spots?
My goal is a pretty nice, relatively stock car that is straight and
solid. I'm not looking to be in any shows nor to do a quick sale; I'd
like the job done right so long as it doesn't cost me an arm and a leg.
On dealing with rust, for my kind of application, should I use naval
jelly or a rust converter? POR-15? Welding in new panels is pretty
much out of the question, but I don't believe it is nessecary anywhere
(except maybe the pan, but I doubt that too). Maybe a chem dip?
Perhaps mediablasting? I dont know. Any suggestions for a newcomer to
resto's would be great. Thanks so much.
-Kevin

Hi Kevin

>From one ACVW newbie to another, I found the following forum a very
valuable source of information: http://www.shoptalkforums.com/
It has a forum on Ghias and rust problems are very well covered.

Remco

Check my sites.. The Bug was kind of a budget resto. The Ghia,
unfortunately for you, was not a budget resto. Cost over $7K just for the
parts, labor was all me There some pix to show how I repaired things. Ghia
panels need to be welded, no way around it if you want it right.



--
Mel

77 Revived Bug & 70 Ghia Cabriolet
www.geocities.com/mpernice

PARTS FOR SALE: http://www.geocities.com/njvwclub/vwparts/index.htm

"Kevin Holzer" > wrote in message
news
> Hey all, I'm working on restoring my 71 Ghia and need a bit of
> direction. There is minor rust (bubbling around the antenna, drivers
> side wheel well, battery, some around the horn -- poor front end
> bodywork like every other ghia out there; not much if any rust through).
> There are a couple of dents and dings(nothing serious), and a 'fixed'
> nose (pounded out and bondo'ed, without the ridge in place) and the
> floorpans have been dented up from the PO's running over curbs. Theres
> a couple of rust through spots in the pan, under the rear seat (from the
> denting and the exposure of the metal). Solid heater channels with a
> tad bit of minor surface rust, but they're solid to the best of my
> inspection (Jumped on them with no cracking or anything). I've gotten a
> new engine for it (the old case was cracked and JB-Welded together...so
> basically I gave up on it) and it drives (despite having a bit of shimmy
> in the front end).
> Basically, with a limited budget (around 1000$ or so, not counting the
> money already spent), no garage (but space in the back yard for all of
> this), and a good deal of time on my hands, how do you folks reccomend I
> go about restoring this thing? Should I pull the body from the pan?
> How about the floorpans? Repair or replace? I can't weld, but may be
> able to get welding done. How about the rust removal? Whats the best
> way? Paint -- Down to bare metal and from scratch or clean up what I've
> got and primer over the rust repair spots?
> My goal is a pretty nice, relatively stock car that is straight and
> solid. I'm not looking to be in any shows nor to do a quick sale; I'd
> like the job done right so long as it doesn't cost me an arm and a leg.
> On dealing with rust, for my kind of application, should I use naval
> jelly or a rust converter? POR-15? Welding in new panels is pretty
> much out of the question, but I don't believe it is nessecary anywhere
> (except maybe the pan, but I doubt that too). Maybe a chem dip?
> Perhaps mediablasting? I dont know. Any suggestions for a newcomer to
> resto's would be great. Thanks so much.
> -Kevin

Mel P. wrote:
> Check my sites.. The Bug was kind of a budget resto. The Ghia,
> unfortunately for you, was not a budget resto. Cost over $7K just for the
> parts, labor was all me There some pix to show how I repaired things. Ghia
> panels need to be welded, no way around it if you want it right.
>
>
>
I dig the site. Nice cars! Thanks!
-Kevin