Best products from r/beetle

1. You'd want to visually inspect the tires for any cracking in the sidewalls. As a rule driving on tires that old isn't a great idea, but you may be alright for a while (I've done it)
   
   
2. Overheating can have a lot of causal factors. #1 thing to check is if the car has a thermostat and temperature flaps installed and seized in the "closed" position. I say #1 because these days they are pretty rare, most people run without them, so it's best to get that out of the way first. Other things to consider will be your ignition timing, carb settings, dwell, and I'm sure there are things not leaping to mind. But the Muir guide (How to Keep Your Volkswagen Alive) will have good info on overheating
   
   
3. If you're going to work on this car, it's worth picking up a new battery (bring the old one with you for a core-exchange discount) and a charger with both trickle and quick start settings.
   
   
4. Yes, the brakes are a top priority. More importantly, make sure to find out why only one set is installed. It may be that you need a new master cylinder too (only like $60)
   
   
5. No idea if the engine is seized. Here's how to find out: First, put the car in neutral and open the rear bonnet. You'll see a big metal wheel facing you with the belt to the alternator. That's the crankshaft pulley. Being careful not to pinch your fingers in the belt, try to turn it. If it's free it will be hard to turn at points and easy at others (this is the compression/exhaust stroke happening). If it turns, the engine isn't seized.
   
   
6. Yes, that's an awesome book, but it's not the only one you'll want. Working with "How to Keep" will give you lots of info, but for model specific things you'll want a Bentley Guide Official Service Manual

If all of the black trim is original, that is very likely a 110 "very stripped" standard edition. Originally would have come with partial headliner, cardboard door cards and more. It does look as though the seats have been replaced with something else, but otherwise not bad.

New running boards will improve the visuals by quite a bit.

As you've never owned an aircooled beetle before, the first step should be reading the owners manual cover to cover. Pay particular attention to pages 16, 17, 20, and the tick marks on the speedometer seen on page 12. The tick marks go with page 17, and are one of the tricks to keeping the engine running more than a week. A PDF of your owners manual can be found here: https://www.thesamba.com/vw/archives/manuals/74beetle/1974_Beetle_Owners_Manual.pdf

Two books you should buy are the Orange Bentley manual. This is the factory repair manual, and should be your first stop for any repair steps: https://www.amazon.com/Volkswagen-Beetle-Karmann-Official-Service/dp/0837616239/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1543597712&sr=8-1&keywords=Beetle+repair+bentley
You can find these used on thesamba.com, craigslist, used book stores or a VW show. But get one before you need it. I pay $15-20 for pristine used ones, $5-10 for ones that look used.

The second book a lot of people will recommend you is "How to Keep your VW Alive". It's a fun read, has a lot of good information in it, but should ONLY be considered a secondary source to the orange book. How to keep your beetle alive does have a fair bit of incorrect information in it. BUT if you're just starting out with cars, it is quite helpful. I do think new VW owners should read the book, but double check all his repair procedures against the orange book. The artwork inside is worth the $25 to buy a new one: https://www.amazon.com/Keep-Volkswagen-Alive-Step-Step/dp/1566913101/ref=sr_1_1_sspa?ie=UTF8&qid=1543597922&sr=8-1-spons&keywords=how+to+keep+your+volkswagen+alive&psc=1

If that right front headlight is filled with water, swap out both headlights for H4 lamps. They use a replaceable bulb, and are significantly better than what came with your car. A little bit of rewiring is required (I can help with that remotely), but otherwise they are drop-in. You can buy these from your Friendly Local AutoParts Store (FLAPS), a number of the VW online vendors or often Amazon. Heres the kit you want: http://www.myhellalights.com/index.php/products/auxiliary-lamps/sealed-beam-conversion-headlamps/vision-plus-7in-conversion-headlamp/ Order it at Autozone, Pep Boys, NAPA, etc by the part number. Often they have them in stock.

If you ever want to upgrade your car to chrome bumpers, trim, handles, etc. There are guys (like me) who will pay for your black stuff. It's generally undesirable except to the German Look guys.

So I got this bug from my wife's best friend. She is moving and she couldn't take it with her. She knew I've always wanted a bug and she didn't want to scrap it so she gave it to me. I'm super excited to finally own one and I can't wait to learn all about it. I've been a mechanic most my life (I'm only 33) but never worked on older cars. I ordered a copy of https://www.amazon.com/Keep-Volkswagen-Alive-Step-Step/dp/1566913101 because everyone said it's a great book. I'm not 100% sure what style I'm going to do, but I was thinking Baja/hot rod(exposed front wheels, lowered not raised). I just really want to strip it down and see what I'm working with. The motor is locked up supposedly so I may just look into a new/rebuild one. I hear 1600 duel port is a good place to start? If I want to go highway speeds(65-70mph) would that be enough, or would a 1700+ be better to look at? Anyway, I'm happy to be apart of the Beetle family and I'll be posting pictures along the way. So excited to get working on this bug!

+1 it's probably not going to be loud enough, but if you've got all the parts give'r a go. You'll find out pretty quick how well it's going to work.

I do have a suggestion for a relatively cheap, not too too kludgey audio solution. Buy a small amp and a pair of cheap speakers, will run you ~$50, here's the pair I chose - (amp, speakers)
You can then play music off your mp3 player, phone, or whatever.
In the future, if you get a replacement radio with amp-out you can hook it in and roll.

Mounted my amp under the dash for ease of access to the input ports. Speakers are in front of the back seats pointing forward. Couldn't find any kickpanels I liked so that's where they are, works alright.
Pics of my install - (amp, speakers)

Alternatively, one of those 120v adapters and a used boombox in your passenger seat.

I currently use an aftermarket paper filter on my '69 and it definitely improved my performance (not drastically, but the engine sounds and feels like it just got a new set of lungs) but it took me a while to get there. There are paper filters that sell for about $20 with the ability to attach the blow-by like this one. I had to recalibrate the carb a little after but it definitely improved my performance for a while till it started getting clogged by oil. It got clogged with oil because there was little travel in the tube from the blow-by to the air filter so all the oil vaporized and then got trapped in the filter, and then excess oil passed through the filter and gunked up the top of my engine :(. I bought another one (because there so dam cheap anyway) and set up a much longer coil of tubing to the right of the fan shroud to remedy this. The appropriate way to prevent the oil buildup than my tube coil is to install a breather box like this one. But these things are too expensive for me right now so I'm sticking with my makeshift one.

Parts are best ordered on line unless you live some place where there's a lot of VWs and some specialty retailers/parts houses.

Internet:

http://www.wolfsburgwest.com/
http://www2.cip1.com/
http://www.socalautoparts.com/
http://www.jbugs.com/
http://www.mamotorworkstv.com/vwgclid=CNzrraP14LMCFQSg4AoduisA_w

The Samba is a great community and source for info, etc.
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/

A couple of books that you should have.

http://www.amazon.com/Volkswagen-Beetle-Karmann-Official-Service/dp/0837616468/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1371863777&sr=8-1&keywords=1968+vw+beetle+bentley+manual

http://www.amazon.com/Keep-Volkswagen-Alive-Step---Step/dp/1566913101/ref=sr_1_15?ie=UTF8&qid=1371863840&sr=8-15&keywords=1968+vw+manual


Hope this helps. CiP has good quality parts and if you wait for a sale, they're not to expensive.

I just went through replacing with a modern radio this weekend. Had great success with a really shallow radio, no CD player. Fit nicely. I also did all the wiring so if you wanna install without and amp I can explain how I did it. Radio was maybe 80$ plus some small speakers.

EDIT: Link to my kickass new stereo :)
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01463U20E/ref=oh_aui_search_detailpage?ie=UTF8&psc=1

In addition to the book by John Muir, which is very good and easy to understand, you should also consider purchasing the Haynes manual which is somewhat more technically organized. Like the Muir book, it can be found on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Beetle-Karmann-through-Models-Haynes/dp/1850107297/ref=pd_bxgy_14_3?_encoding=UTF8&pd_rd_i=1850107297&pd_rd_r=KHVFJ8WT10F35VFAVHAV&pd_rd_w=DqtqG&pd_rd_wg=6ksIa&psc=1&refRID=KHVFJ8WT10F35VFAVHAV

EDIT: and you might find the SAMBA website useful: www.thesamba.com

There is a real metal dash behind the the pad since it's a flat dash super. Remove the pad and it will look like a 67 and older dash, maybe with a few extra holes.

Edit:

>instead of buying a new dash pad for 330$

Is this $330 one you speak of an NOS dash pad?

They're ~$110 for USA made ones or ~$135 for EMPI sourced ones though more than likely they're all from the same supplier.

Look at this samba link for what the dash looks like under the pad. That sounds more like the look you are trying to go for, bare metal.

Came he to say the exact same. I did a lot of research back in the day and settled on a 64' but iirc the best options were around the 1960 - 1968 but I couldn't tell you the reasons. I spent a lot of time on the samba (as the rest) but I also pretty much memorized the book Baja Bugs and Buggies. https://www.amazon.com/Baja-Bugs-Buggies-VW-based-off-road/dp/0895861860

Get this book . Some of it is a bit outdated, but for simple Baja's, it's still the best.

Otherwise, check out the offroad forum on http://shoptalkforums.com . There's plenty of information there, and the people are all really helpful.

My current bug doesn't have wind wings. I love this little fan. When I'm alone I set it on the passenger seat and it stays put pretty well. When I have a passenger, I make them hold it. =D

https://smile.amazon.com/Honeywell-HTF090B-Turbo-Personal-Black/dp/B00YU0W3CY/ref=sr_1_16?ie=UTF8&qid=1537317392&sr=8-16&keywords=usb+powered+fan

/u/WarCleric has some great advice. I would add getting yourself John Muir's air cooled repair manual if you haven't already and read it cover to cover. Keep it in the bonnet with some basic tools and you will enjoy many miles and smiles.

As for sounds to listen for, just keep driving and listening, you'll know them when you hear them.

edit: words.

'Top end' usually refers to a valve job on the heads, and maybe it had the case bored out for bigger cylinders.

She looks beautiful! For a good explanation of the care and proper maintenance your bug, check out https://www.amazon.com/Keep-Volkswagen-Alive-Step-Step/dp/1566913101

Woah! I have the same color for my 74. Is that a Canadian Edition Auto Stick too by chance?

Have fun! Seriously, I thought you had my car for a minute there but then realized you'd have to take it off the jack stands and find the elusive 4th tire I need ;P


Edit - To answer your question!
http://www.amazon.ca/Keep-Volkswagen-Alive-Step-Step/dp/1566913101

Check out that book if your beetle needs some work to get running. It's been great for me.

Still waiting on my Haynes manual to give me all the nitty gritty, but I have to say, I cannot recommend this one enough - How to Keep Your Volkswagen Alive

(https://smile.amazon.com/Keep-Volkswagen-Alive-Step-Step/dp/1566913101/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1497149142&sr=8-1&keywords=how+to+keep+your+volkswagen+alive)

It covers all the basic stuff, and helps a newbie like me grok how all the systems work together.

You'll want to get the Bentley repair manual which will cover all the technical details of any repair and augment that with the Muir How to Keep Your Volkswagen Alive book that will help explain things in casual speech. Those will be great teachers.

What about something like this. Self contained:
https://www.amazon.com/CarsCover-2011-2018-Volkswagen-Ultrashield-Waterproof/dp/B0791MY4BC/ref=pd_lpo_sbs_263_t_2?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1&refRID=0XCHBYM5JEPPQCAGJ7BY

Is it easy to remove/put. Because on weekends for example I use car 5-10 times.

That is to say it's for everyday use, not for a season

Anything else out there similar and easier.

Not sure where you're located, but I get mine from Canadian Tire. They're pretty cheap and it's worth having a bunch. If you're popping a fuse, you might burn through a couple finding the source.

carb rebuild kit

I always buy the kit comes with all ya need gasket wise. Some local parts stores carry or can get the kit too. With old gaskets its always better to replace.
bad video I made on rebuilding carbs

If you are interested in more information and or history of the Beetle, I highly recommend a copy of Small Wonder.

If you don't have How to Keep Your Volkswagen Alive: A Manual of Step-by-Step Procedures for the Compleat Idiot, one will probably be in the trunk of whatever Beetle you get. But get a new copy in case there's a grease stain over an important part of Chapter X.

Highly recommend this book:

How to Keep Your Volkswagen Alive: A Manual of Step-by-Step Procedures for the Compleat Idiot
https://www.amazon.com/dp/1566913101/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_YWKWDbJE1NPDE

Includes lists of tools needed and what tools will be needed for specific jobs.

$15 well spent.

The Muir book is a must have, and helps put a lot of technical stuff into fun-to-read jargon. I'd also suggest getting the Bentley Service Manual for your year vehicle and the Tom Wilson book if you're going to rebuild the engine yourself.

Buy a copy of The Idiot Book then take it to your local copy shop and have them cut off the spine and spiral-bind it (spiral, not comb). Do this with your Bently service manual as well. Trust me - this will save you so much hassle in the future. Also, get yourself a set of S-shaped box-end wrenches (metric of course). The first time you replace the fuel pump you'll thank Jeebus you have that tool.

Yes, there a good first car to restore.
Buy a copy of, How to Keep Your Volkswagen Alive: A Manual of Step-by-Step Procedures for the Compleat Idiot

Parts are a black hole of aways finding some where to sink more money, but major money items should easy to see before car purchase.
(It's never "just a $50 fix", that part is totally broken some how)

Amazon, bought these two: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1566913101/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o02_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1 and https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0895862255/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o03_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

There is no better car to learn some wrenching skills.

Get this:

http://www.amazon.com/Keep-Volkswagen-Alive-Step-Step/dp/1566913101

and go for it.

Can't recommend the idiot guide enough. Plain English and simple to follow instructions. https://www.amazon.com/Keep-Volkswagen-Alive-Step-Step/dp/1566913101

Even though it's already been posted, John Muir's Volkswagen Bible

I have another book that's handy, but I'm not at home at the moment. I'll post when I get my hands on it.

this is the air cooled vw bible.

If you're just starting, get this book. This isn't a recommendation, it's an insistence.

http://www.amazon.com/Keep-Volkswagen-Alive-Step---Step/dp/1566913101/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1415225609&sr=8-1&keywords=how+to+keep+your+volkswagen+alive

Got an Idiot's Guide?

Step one, buy this book.

http://www.amazon.com/Keep-Volkswagen-Alive-Step-Step/dp/1566913101

You got this. Ask questions here and on thesamba when you need to. Pick up this book, and this one.

How to Keep Your Volkswagen Alive: A Manual of Step-by-Step Procedures for the Compleat Idiot https://www.amazon.com/dp/1566913101/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_Q9JpDbBGQFYRQ