VW Beetles?

[Rocknthehawk]

Anyone here know anything about them?

looking at possibly picking up a '61....and not exactly sure what I'm looking for.

I did some bodywork on one, and know about the pan rotting out, the floors rotting out, the front tub rotting out....

but engine wise? Not a clue...

this one definetly looks modded, but no idea if it's good/bad/???

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v199/rocknthehawk/BUG.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v199/rocknthehawk/Calendar_2.jpg

[MrBluGruv]

I know one thing for sure, that's a sexy little bug.

Apparently those little flat 4 motors are great for people just getting started with engines, practically indestructible. I'd figure so long as you make an attempt to take care of it and it doesn't have already broken parts on the inside, you're good to go and if the price is right, jump on it.

[TiTo35]

My dad and uncle had one when they were younger...Between them two and my brothers...they said nothing bad about that car...it ran like a champ!

[ImpalaSlayer]

i have a 69 with an auto stick. i started restoring it a few years ago and then someone here at the shop tryed moving it with no brakes, jamed it in gear and slammed into a big metal table we have. it dented the engine cover and the piece underneath and i never continued on it. once i get a garage of my own i plan to finish it.

this video is AWESOME!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FujamEgz7uY

[Joe Walsh]

That is a cool VW Bug!.......:beer:
I've seen some heavily modded Bugs that would lay down awesome 60 foot times!

My Dad had an early 60s Bug and bolted on a Judson supercharger!.........http://vwjudsonregister.tripod.com/

My Mom thought that he was crazy.....but that thing ran pretty good.

Modding cars....I guess that it is genetic.

[ImpalaSlayer]

dude! thats awesome Joe!

[Marauderjack]

1961's had 36 HP but the pix show 2 carbs so you can bet it has a newer motor and maybe even 50 HP!!??:eek:

I had a 1970 model with 40 HP....installed a 2 BBL Zenith carb, extractor exhaust and a mechanical advance distributor!!:beer: The little car would pull the front wheels in second and peg the speedo (90++ MPH).....FUN stuff for the era!!:D

BTW...the heat sux....oil laden air off the motor...stinks!!:shake:

[jimlam56]

Definitely a newer motor. The dual carbs can be problematic to synchronize. Looks like they are Webers, most likely connected to dual port heads. Look for oil dripping around the push rod tubes, if oil leaks bother you the p. r. tubes will drive you nuts. The engine is a piece of cake to work on, get a good manual (Bentley's) and you are good to go if you can handle a wrench. Biggest problem with these cars is rust, but sounds like you can handle that part. Look real hard in the front fender wells behind the wheel, bad rust area, also under the master cylinder. As low as that bug is you're in for a rocky ride...

[Mr. Man]

You actually managed to get heat, congratulations. Even w/ new heater boxes I had no luck with a '67 I had. A buddy of my old man built a Beetle on steroids. I remember it being loud and very fast, I think he had a lot of Porsche parts in it. I feel sorry for whoever bought it as it had so many non VW parts on it.

[CRUZTAKER]

Now THAT is a rockin' bug!:coolman:

I had a buddy with one back in the military when I was still sporting a turbo RX-7 and his moved out nicely. He had these nasty headers that stuck out the rear and made more noise than my rotory with open pipes.

I once rented a NEW one in Mexico. Well...new until they quit making them a few years back.

EDIT: I once saw one hit a Caddy Eldorado head on in the early 70's.
The bug totalled the caddy. I have no idea what happened to either driver, but the bug had a dent in the hood....or do they call that the trunk?
Mommy told me to look away. I looked anyway. ;)

[Rocknthehawk]

Thanks for the input guys....

He actually offered to trade for my truck (the red and white one in my sig)....

the rust in the pictures is airbrushed on btw. I know what to look for body wise...thanks for the info on looking for the oil dripping. I've heard the motors are indestructable (there's a button for nitrous, no idea if it's for looks or if it has a bottle?).


I think this is a newer pic, with the spoiler:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v199/rocknthehawk/bug2.jpg

I mostly want something I can drive anytime and still take to cruise nights and shows....my truck is show only, and i drive it when the truck decides to NOT give me problems. I've spent two years rebuilding the motor and fixing little problems, and i'm tired of it.

[rumble]

BTW...the heat sux....oil laden air off the motor...stinks!!:shake:

I was a tech at a VW dealership back in the early 60's and one of my jobs
was to install the Stewart Warner gasoline heaters. It was a self contained
gasoline burning "stove" that went in the front under the hood. It put out
something like 15,000 BTUs of heat and on a sub zero day it was warm inside
of just a very few minutes. You didn't even need to start the engine.

[Joe Walsh]

I was a tech at a VW dealership back in the early 60's and one of my jobs
was to install the Stewart Warner gasoline heaters. It was a self contained
gasoline burning "stove" that went in the front under the hood. It put out
something like 15,000 BTUs of heat and on a sub zero day it was warm inside
of just a very few minutes. You didn't even need to start the engine.

I remember those!
We lived in upstate New York when my Dad owned his VW Bug, and I remember him talking about installing an auxillary gas heater in the front.
It sounded kinda dangerous to me...but those winter mornings in Owego were brutally cold.

[scruff]

oh yea those gas ovens that the germans invented worked pretty good but i always thought they were dangerous, that aside look for a beetel that has a super bettle eng i think they were 1650cc or perhaps a bit larger ive been in a few over the years always fun to drive but not a practical car in my opinion

[ImpalaSlayer]

ive seen those engines punched out to 2+ liter :eek:

[Rocknthehawk]

oh yea those gas ovens that the germans invented worked pretty good but i always thought they were dangerous, that aside look for a beetel that has a super bettle eng i think they were 1650cc or perhaps a bit larger ive been in a few over the years always fun to drive but not a practical car in my opinion


my truck is the least practical vehicle anyonce could ever own.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v199/rocknthehawk/100_1802.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v199/rocknthehawk/carlisle007.jpg

[Marauderjack]

my truck is the least practical vehicle anyonce could ever own.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v199/rocknthehawk/100_1802.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v199/rocknthehawk/carlisle007.jpg

I bet it's a lot of fun going over a SPEED BUMP!!!:eek:

[hot-rauder]

Its not too bad going over bumps in his truck... just feels like someon sat on the waterbed your driving lmao....

Gotta love air ride.... And as much as I love Rocknthehawk's truck, and how much work I have helped with and the endless amounts I havent, the beetle seems to be the better deal.

Plus baggin it would be nothing.

[ImpalaSlayer]

Its not too bad going over bumps in his truck... just feels like someon sat on the waterbed your driving lmao....

Gotta love air ride.... And as much as I love Rocknthehawk's truck, and how much work I have helped with and the endless amounts I havent, the beetle seems to be the better deal.

Plus baggin it would be nothing.


yall bag it, im bringin mine to ya

[hot-rauder]

Dave, its soo simple... almost like changing the motor on the beetle.... couple of bolts and there ya go.

Aarons teacher told me about the time he took one out in 10 minutes.

[ImpalaSlayer]

Dave, its soo simple... almost like changing the motor on the beetle.... couple of bolts and there ya go.

Aarons teacher told me about the time he took one out in 10 minutes.

is there a kit?

[hot-rauder]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XA8qe27u4Mg

[jabird56]

You can mod the Beetle like this,...with a 454 in the front. And that would be a young Richard Petty driving the Plymouth...

[Bluerauder]

There's a BUGOUT at Old Dominion Speedway in Manassas, VA on Sunday, 6 September 2009. Gates open at 9:00 AM. Car Show, Swap Meet, Drag Racing and Slalom Racing. Also a Miss "Bugout" contest. If you are interested in VW Beetles and other things Volkswagen -- this is the place to be. Maybe your area has a BUGOUT planned where you can go check out the art of the possible with Beetles.

BUGOUT Info here >>>>> http://www.bugouts.com/

[White Knuckles]

I owned a '63 bug.
Ahhhhh the stories I could tell. Owned it when I met my wife------and she still married me :lol:

I grew up in FL--spent alot of time at the beach---you could drive on the beach---RUST.

One day while leaving a construction site ( Me in my V-Dub and most of the other guys in Lifted Trucks), I was trying to blasted thru a rutted Sand Pit-------which they called the construction entrance. I felt the car jump and then I could hear and feel something dragging. It was my battery, which had been under the backseat. The floorpan had rusted out and the battery was dragging under the car by the cables.

No problem-----one of my carpenter friends quickly fashioned a battery box out of scrap 2x4s. Placed it across the hole, set the battery, covered it back over with the backseat---------worked great, until someone sat in the back seat.

I'm still waiting on royalty checks from the auto industry-----I INVENTED HEATED SEATS!!! :thinker:

[Blk Mamba]

Does anyone remember the EMPI VW's from the 60's?

[Joe Walsh]

I saw this VW at a recent car show....It had a nasty SBC under the hood.

http://i984.photobucket.com/albums/ae326/JoeJWalsh/IMG_0419.jpg
It was 'For Sale' too!
http://i984.photobucket.com/albums/ae326/JoeJWalsh/IMG_0418.jpg

[Richy04]

I sold a 57 oval window about 4 years ago, fun car to drive around.. That looks like a sweet car. It has an early motor (gen stand bolts on) and what appears to be two weber carbs and an early doghouse. Looks like a nice setup possibly using the original or a period motor. The 61's I believe were 40hp and not 36 and being that it has twin carbs its probably set up nice with better internals and larger jugs, also looks like it has a pertronix or Jacobs upgraded ignition. I forgot alot of this stuff now that I don't keep up on VW's but it does look sweet and they will always turn heads.

The funniest thing I can tell you and you will notice this right away, you will see kids punching each other as you pass them. I didn't know at first but when they see an old beetle, they punch each other in the arm and yell Punch Buggy... Pretty funny and it happens all the time..