Poor neglected Dubs...

Not a whole lot has been going on with the projects this summer, at least no physical work done to them. We have been in planning stages with the Fasty and really haven't done jack to the Ghia. The Fasty will be getting a custom Stand-alone Engine Management that will run its 9A powerplant.

Our operation has moved to a bigger and better location, one Shaun calls home. With extremely tall ceilings, cold storage loft and a solid I-Beam construction providing us with chain hoists, we should be able to tackle our projects more effectively.

The VW projects are gaining steam again, just in time for winter, haha.
Stay tuned for updates and check out MiShift Garage: Project Noise Pollution for details on my cafe racer project!

Fastback body work

Shaun just finished up shaving the passenger front fender and within the next week the PS Quarter will be done as well. Pics will come soon.

Nothing new to report with the Karmann Ghia, as Shaun and I have been working on my cafe racer a bit. We are sculpting a cafe seat for it out of foam and drywall mud. The fiberglass will be laid over it soon.

So many changes for the HoodRides!

The Fastback

There have been many purchases and new additions to the Fasty. Shaun purchased a 16v 9A powerplant which will receive a set of Mikuni VM38's. There are plans to do a unique exhaust setup that will set this car even further apart, those are undisclosed at this time, stay tuned ;)

So many big changes are on the way! 

New Wheel

16v 9A upon purchase

Getting purdy!

Shaving the body

Slammage! A little taste of things to come!

The Karmann Ghia

The floors in the Karmann Ghia have been replaced with new pan sections and then the front sections fabricated. I purchased a Turbo Legacy which provides the EJ22T that will power the Ghia, at 1800lbs and 200hp this silly little car will haul. 

Some new rust spots have been discovered in both the front and rear lower sections of the quarters. Both will be repaired soon after the structure is reinforced. On the quarter panel just behind the doors I discovered that the heater channels were gone, so we welded in reinforcement which fixed the door sag! One side done, driver's side is next.

Floors done

EJ22T

Yikes! No heater channels found

Solution to the heater channel issue was a 1" box tube section welded in and sheet metal linking that box section to the floor pan resulting in the doors closing great.

Going to town on the channel repair

The engine bay has plenty of rust on the left side.

The rust holes were chopped out and a new section was welded in to replace.

More lovely discoveries on the Ghia. No heater channel on the driver's side either.

The Collective Awesome:

Minnesota Speedway Park

I'm taking a moment to spread the word here about a racetrack that is being proposed to be built! This racetrack could drastically help with Minnesota's poor economy and give motorheads a real outlet for their craft! Please take a moment and sign the petition and read over what the website has to say. I'm not going to write some long-winded heartfelt post about how important this could be to the families, the individual and the economy in Minnesota, I think it goes without saying that if your taking the time to read my blog that you appreciate those motorhead values already! Thanks everyone.

                                      Minnesota Speedway Park Website

Karmann Ghia floors and Fasty body work starts.

The Karmann Ghia
Recently the Karmann Ghia has undergone quite a bit of work on the floors. I hacked out the old rusty passenger pan section first, prepped it and cleaned off the factory floor sealants with a wire brush. The new floor section was shaped and formed, I welded it in and that's where she sits as of now; ready for seam sealer, undercoat and other coating.

Currently I am working on the driver's side floor section the same way as the passenger's. Cutting/grinding out the old and rusty to make way for a new pan! 

The Fastback

Shaun has started working on the fastback by using Por15 on the rusty spots/holes in preparation for repairing the sections. He also used sealant on the area behind the fender. An engine has been ordered and soon will be added to the heaps of parts in the garage. 

Welcome to the Blog

These 4 walls house two of Volkswagen’s goofiest automotive masterpieces. In one stall is a yellow frog shaped fastback with some meaty tires and minimal rust, this old girl was once home of a 300+whp monster of a motor, she now sits eagerly awaiting some fresh styling and a new heart! The Fasty looks like it’s straight off the streets of Munich with its timeless German styling and quintessential Volkswagen qwerks. The other oddity calling the MiShift Garage home is a 1973 Karmann Ghia. The Ghia was Volkswagen’s idea of a sports car but because it adorns those letters V and W, it maintains that iconic dorky demeanor. There’s a bizarre blending of elegance and awkward contained in one curvaceous clunky classic.

Here is how these cars are starting out:

Shaun's Fastback

Jake's Karmann Ghia

The minds behind these two projects both have their visions of what they wish the final results to look like; both cars sitting low and propelled by modern powerful engines but the details is where these shells will truly gain their character. I will do my best to update all those taking the time to read my Blog as Shaun and Jake (myself) embrace the challenge that is modernizing Vintage Volkswagens.