Updates to my 67 VW beetle

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washernoob

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Jul 3, 2010
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Major updates are happening to my rusty ol' 67 beetle.

It hasn't been on the road in a few months. Replacing parts, painting, fixing, restoring etc occurring. Lots of money and hard work!

As I picked it up. Not going to look like this for long! Taking off all fenders, grinding and sanding it all down for paint. Lots of rust all around to be removed. The bad paint job will be changed. No more single piece door windows.

Vent windows will be back in. New bumpers, lights, hubcaps and rims, whitewalls, mirrors, door handles, trim, rubber, steering wheel, carpet, shifter, transmission, motor upgrades, tin, electrical, brakes, lines, hoses etc.

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Wheel being restored. Still needs sanding and clear coating.

Lots of work put into this part! Grinding, sanding, drilling, putty. Had to reform the center ring edges because they had chipped off.

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The old transaxle out. New one going in soon.

I didn't take a picture of the new one I guess.

You should have smelled the original transmission fluid that poured out when we released the axles from the transmission.

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Doors off... going to be sold away. Restoring new old doors in better shape for the car.

Thats the old bent bumper on the car, damaged from when the car was hit.. Brand new one going to be put on last when car is complete.

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Rear fender removed.

Overhauled motor put back in. Some detailing still to be done. Carburetor is off for restoration.

You can see the original Beige color underneath the fenders.

The car is back on 4 feet for now.

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Here is the motor as I got it.

Lots of unoriginal chrome crap, low quality parts. All have been replaced. Big oversized weber double barrel carb replaced with a proper sized original 1600cc carb. Better MPG and performance. New original vacuum advance distributer replaced the old mechanical one. New fuel pump, Heat risers, spark plug wires, spark plugs, bearings,

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Thats all for now.

Ordered the L240 Agave Green paint for my car. Should be ready quite soon. Doors to be painted first, then fenders, then car. Still a few months away from completion.

Until then I am enjoying the 101F degree weather in the NO AIR Audi A4

Will look this color when done.

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See if you can retrofit a cast throwout fork. The welded ones like to break. Same with clutch and brake pedals. VW cheapened these key parts as they went along. I had a 64, 65, 67, 68, more trouble with the later ones.
 
Interesting note on the throwout piece. I have never thought of that. Haven't heard of an issue with them. The pieces in the car are all brand new.

Paint began today. Still lots of sanding and touchup to do. But its coming along well.

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I wouldn't have known either, except after the 64 and 65 both broke clutch cables--making the things a struggle to drive--so I had the 67 clutch completely overhauled. The throwout fork is the only part I did NOT replace. It broke shortly after the overhaul. At the weld, of course.
 
67 is the best bug but still needs the cast brake/clutch retrofits for reliability. 68 stock rear suspension is better but 67 is readily upgradeable.

Later than 68 the US models devolved into halfass compliance with pollution standards and the compliance hardware proved problematic. By 1973 the Beetle was no longer a value by any stretch.
 
By '69 all Beetles had the 4-joint independent rear suspension, IIRC this was introduced in '68 on the semi-automatic ("Automatic Stick Shift") cars only. This was a big improvement in safety and roadholding. The swing axles used in early Beetles and lots of other swing axle cars have geometry problems due to excessive camber change as the rear wheels go up and down. Ironically, Chevy took some pains to make the early swing axle Corvair better and more stable than the VW or Renault Dauphine, such as keeping the center of gravity low, but got castigated for it by Ralph Nader. My guess is that by the late '60s VW realized they better do something about the rear suspension.  

 

Early Beetles can certainly be driven quickly and safely, but it takes some special attention from the driver and adherence to the old rule about getting the braking done before entering the corner and then coming out under power. It is particularly true for driving downhill on mountain roads where it is easy to get going fast and then need to brake in the middle of a corner. Doing that makes the nose of the car dive and the tail lift, which forces the rear wheels to achieve postive camber in relation to the road (the bottom of the wheel is pointing inward toward the ground) and the tires lose adhesion. Not a good thing if you're already going too fast as then the car is trying to spin when you hit the brakes. Porsche 356s have the same geometry, albeit more carefully developed, so drivers of early Beetles can get some insight by reading up on how 356 drivers dealt with this - try a search for the word wischening.
 
I am a true VW lover. I will agree that the post 67 beetles had some unfavorable upgrades, especially on the super, but they did honestly make the vehicle a little more up to date than pre 68 machines. More conveniences, and more room with the super beetle.

I do enjoy the post 68 beetles. Not as much as earlier, but I don't think they are bad cars. Still very easy to work on.

My ultimate beetle dream is to drive an early split window beetle. (1938 to 52) Beautiful cars with a gorgeous dash. But for moneys sake, I am on the hunt for a Bus.

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