Swap, cut or run?

[Awesome dude]

i just purchased a '64 ghia and a '68 parts ghia. The plan is build the '64 into a 60's German look ghia using 356 and 901 parts. I want to be able to take it out on the track from time to time and have some spirited road driving when i want..now the '64 is for the most part rust free and complete, but it does have its few metal issues and missing a few bits. the '68 is rusty and an autostick but complete missing only an engine, but it also has disk brakes and IRS.

So the question at hand is do i:
A) Swap the autostick to manual and swap pans?
B) Cut out the front and rear ends out and swap them?
C) Run from this idea and keep the '64 as K/L pin and swing axle?

[Steve Arndt]

I would keep the 64 pan for the VIN and being the "right" pan for the car, and weld in IRS pivots in the the conversion. The car will have maximum value that way. It becomes a "68" if you swap to a 68 pan.

[Marc]

I'm not real certain that any collector who values a `64 above a `68 would think very highly of one which had been converted to IRS and "German-looked", so for me it's a moot point - use whatever needs the least work/cost to yield the finished product you're after.
Personally (assuming I had legal paperwork on it) I'd weld a clutch tube into the `68 pan and swap the body. That leaves you with a balljoint beam (already set up for disc brakes) without the need for framehead surgery.

If you're going to use a Porsche gearbox you'll likely be doing something "custom" with the shift rod anyway, but in case you weren't aware of it the AutoStick rod is shorter and the end is offset ~10° compared to the same-year 4-speed - to put a stock VW trans into the `68 you'd need a `68 through `72 4-speed shift rod (from any Type I).

[Awesome dude]

ok, so i think ill swap pans..im building this car for me, the ghia ive always wanted, the way i think they should have been built.

So, get the car up and running on the '64 pan, so i can play in the sun for a bit, while i build up the suspension, sort out a 912 5 speed tranny and get the rust cleaned up on the '68 pan..cool, sounds like a plan!

thanks Marc and Steve for your input.

[Steve Arndt]

Where are you at? I have an IRS pan with 912 5 speed sitting in my shed. I wrote the install article that is at aircooled.net and germanlook.

[Awesome dude]

I'm listening..

[Steve Arndt]

Your profile hasn't been completed so we don't know your location.
edit Just saw your PM.

[Jadewombat]

I think you should enter the '64 in the La Carrera Panamera race in Mexico.

[Awesome dude]

i like the way you think jade!