1969 1300 Beetle restoration project - Veronica.

[F1Racer]

I have recently bought a 1969 Beetle (1300cc) as a restoration project.

http://veronicawilkinson.blogspot.com

One of the first things we`ll be getting done is compression test on the engine to see if its worth keeping or replacing with a recon unit.

But before we start, we need some technical details on the engine such as the compression ratio, engine timing details etc. and other such relevant information. I have searched the net but have found basically nothing.

If anyone can help me with this, it would be much appreciated.
Thanks.

[glutamodo]

It's not too surprising you are having trouble, there's not a whole lot of data on those out there, much of the data you see if USA model oriented and they didn't sell the 1300 in the USA after the 1966 model year.

First of all I'd see if it really still IS a 1300 in there. I mean, it still has the 1300SP look to it - that's a vac-only distributor and a 1300 air cleaner. However with that red cooling tin who knows what's been done to the engine in the past.

My guess is to go by the 1966 1300 specs as for horsepower and compression ratio. It's probably got a 30PICT-2 instead of 30PICT-1 carburetor.

The timing is always keyed to what distributor you have so you need to go and find out what part number is on yours (it's around facing the front of the car and it looks like you might have to scrape some grime off to see it)

Here's the technical data out of a 1966 1300 owner's manual:

[F1Racer]

Wow, brilliant stuff ! Thanks a lot glutamodo !.

The red stuff on the car is this 'red lead' paint which the previous owner put on which I think is sealing primer. I`ll be taking that off and priming and re-painting in sating black once the engine is dropped out.

The owner also sold it to me as a 1300 and he was a mechanic who worked on it for a while as it belonged to his daughter so Im reasonably sure thats the original 69 engine in there. Clock shows 107,000kms (not miles).

This info you have provided is invaluable and just what I was after.
Thanks again.

[glutamodo]

you're welcome. Post your distributor number when you got it. My guess is it's a 113905205T or something similar - those get timed to TDC statically or at idle with the vac line unhooked and plugged off.

Also, for comparison's sake, here's a chart I put together showing all of the US-spec engines in the 60s and 70s. So you can see how the (1966) 1300SP compared to the other US-spec engines.

And lastly, not much info here but here's a page from a non-US brochure from 1969 showing the 1300 engine model's specs:

-Andy

[F1Racer]

Thank you again glutamodo. My mechanic who is doing this restoration with me will love this.

What he tells me he needs is the figures for the compression pressure (which he tells me is measured in 'bar').

I have bought the Haynes manual and 4 other Beetle info and restoration books from Amazon which hopefully will be here this week or early next week so if I can't glean that specific info, maybe it`ll be in the books.

[glutamodo]

The Haynes 1300-1500 book was pretty good for those. it's no longer in print though, they've combined all the old 12, 13, 15 and 1600 manuals into one and it's not near as detailed as the separate ones were.

You can convert PSI to Bar easily. Just divide the PSI number by 14.5.

for a compression test - 100 is usually the lowest you'd want to see. Good is 120-130. That would be like, say 7 bar for the low end and 8-9 bar or higher for good compression.

-Andy

[zzhayward]

If I remember right the 1300 had the 1500 stroked crank (69 mm?) but used the 1200 pistons also the flywheel was one year with the 6 volt flywheel starter teeth but the o ring crank to flywheel seal. It used the 180 mm clutch I think

[glutamodo]

He's talking about the non-US 1300. It was still offered outside the US in 1967-1970 and featured things not seen on the USA 1966 6V version. His would be 12V but with 180mm clutch - and has the O-ring style flywheel. (actually that flywheel change to the Oring style happened when it was still 6V during model year 1966- April 26, 1966)

It's not exactly the 1200 pistons either - the wrist pin is different size.

-Andy

[F1Racer]

OK so it seems after further inspection that my car is a 1969 chassis (going by its number (119xxxxxx) but the engine in it is coded 'F' meaning its a 1966 unit, right ?

The engine that should be in the car is the H type.

I do indeed have the 30PICT-2 distributor so I dunno how that affects the timing but any help there would be appreciated.

At the moment the engine is now out of the car and on a bench. Hopefully we are going to do an compression test on it by cranking the car with an electric motor that we have.

I wish there was somewhere I could see an engine comparison between all the types like B,F,H etc. I have spotted a B type engine for sale but I have no idea if the flywheel size is the same or what else to look out for before I consider buying. So I'll likely lose the opportunity to get it as its going to get sold in around 2hrs time.
Oh well better that, than buying and shipping only for it not to fit.

Here's where we're at right now... Maybe I should start a dedicated thread for her.

http://racingrenders.com/vw/ver-1.jpg
http://racingrenders.com/vw/ver-2.jpg
http://racingrenders.com/vw/ver-3.jpg
http://racingrenders.com/vw/ver-4.jpg
http://racingrenders.com/vw/ver-5.jpg

[glutamodo]

[F1Racer]

I`ll get those photos and info for you this weekend (hopefully).

[glutamodo]

We should probably pick a thread between the two and just use the one. I can go and insert all the photos you've linked to so far as display photos if you want, would make it easier than digging them up when you want to talk about something in them.

-Andy

[F1Racer]

That would be a good idea. Get everything into one thread. This one.

'Ive renamed the thread more appropriately.

[glutamodo]

Okay, here's your photos so far:

[F1Racer]

Thanks bud.

I've updated the blog today too. Looking forward to the week ahead. It's where the planning and spending starts.

[ashman40]

[glutamodo]

I have that Haynes as well, but their little notes about the AB and AR engines are not very well done. Those engines were a bit different than just having more compression. They also had dual port heads! That's why I said the 1300SP lasted up through the end of model year 1970. (Actually in Brazil they made the 1300SP after that, but their engine was set up different down there - only 6.6:1 compression and SAE-Gross HP of 46 at 4000RPM )

-Andy