1974 VW Beetle - Project Thread *Picture Heavy*

JeRmAn · Last edited by JeRmAn on Sun Jul 22, 2012 10:05 am; edited 2 times in total

Hey everyone, new here with a recently acquired 1974 Volkswagen Beetle. VW Logo

Here it is after it's first wash Dancing

I haven't installed the bumpers, however I do have them both in the garage.

Image may have been reduced in size. Click image to view fullscreen.

I'm excited to have my first Beetle, as the Beetle's have been a common vehicle in both mine and my wife's family's past. I acquired this Beetle on Craigslist 15 minutes ago. It was an even swap by trading my 1967 Ford F-100 to the PO. When I got it home it was in sad shape, dirty and disgusting was an understatement. It had been sitting out in a yard by a barn for months. Currently the Beetle isn't running due to needing a new vacuum distributor, tune up, and TLC. The trunk was full of a heavy coat of grease when I got it home, and I've been working on getting it clean for the last week. Overall, the Beetle is cleaning up great and is in really solid shape. I have little rust in the floor pans, and long term I will more than likely do frame off. Glad to be here and apart of a strong forum community. With all my part vehicle passions, I have found that a good online community goes a long way in learning more and loving more of your vehicle. This is my restoration project for many years to come as I'm only 29 and plan on keeping the Beetle. Thanks for reading, I look forward to getting to know some of you folks out there.
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-JeRmAn-
-Alabama-
1974 V VW Logo

lkswagen Beetle - Project Restoration

'74 Project Thread

Donnie strickland · Posted: Sat Jun 23, 2012 7:50 pm Post subject:

Nice! Always glad to see another Alabama car on here.

Take lots of pictures, especially of the engine, so we can see what you've got. When you start trying to get it running it'll be a great help.

dubhead74 · Posted: Sat Jun 23, 2012 8:03 pm Post subject:

Welcome to forum and congrats on your trade.looks like you got a great find to start with.
Yes it good to see another Alabama car here.

JeRmAn · Posted: Sat Jun 23, 2012 8:25 pm Post subject:

All right, Alabama's representing! I didn't expect to see that already. I know that I have some leaks of oil near the drain, so I am going to replace all gaskets and seals. I'll post a picture of the Engine before I drop it out and work on it. Right now there's all kinds of hoses missing, and wiring spread randomly everywhere. The PO put in an electric Fuel pump and the wiring work seems lackluster at best. I know that the fan is also rubbing the fan shroud when it was running. I had the PO crank it up before I took it away, and it ran strong.
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-JeRmAn-
-Alabama-
1974 V VW Logo

lkswagen Beetle - Project Restoration

'74 Project Thread

dubhead74 · Posted: Sun Jun 24, 2012 10:01 am Post subject:

Did the PO tell what size the engine it is and why he installed an electric fuel pump?
For the fan rubbing it might be because the fan shroud is not level or the backside is pushed where the fan pulls air in.I have had that problem before.
As for your oil leak..... Image may have been reduced in size. Click image to view fullscreen.

JeRmAn · Posted: Mon Jun 25, 2012 12:08 pm Post subject:

dubhead74 · Posted: Mon Jun 25, 2012 2:12 pm Post subject:

imo...I would go with a mechical fuel pump.You will probably need to get a fuel pump rod(make sure you know what year your motor is,there is two different rods) as well a fuel pump stand.
What area of Huntsville do you reside.There are a couple of good VW stores in Madison.I prefer to make the drive to Athens to visit DB.
I would enjoy to try to help ya the best I can.

JeRmAn · Posted: Wed Jun 27, 2012 4:21 pm Post subject:

Thanks dubhead for the info and help. I went out and took some pics of my engine today so I could at least get them up on here. Here's a couple of shots.....

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So the last shot is of the electric fuel pump that the PO installed. The more I look at it, the more I want it gone. It's also leaking from one of the line connections. As you can see, there is already the original fuel pump on the engine, so I'm somewhat confused as to what the PO had in mind here. Either way, my intention (as I have taken the battery out and not ran the engine once) is to just drop the engine out and give the whole thing some much needed TLC. I am in the process of purchasing all new gaskets and a list of new engine parts that continues to grow. The spark plug wires are a great set of Bosch Premium, and apparently the engine has upgraded rods/pistons. I'll have to get back in touch with the PO to remember what it was he said exactly.

Question here. The PO said that he thought the car needed a different Distributor than the one on the engine now. I think he was talking about the Vacuum advance distributor? I may be wrong on that. Any thoughts on that, or if the Distributor on the engine now should work?

I live in the Madison/Harvest area, and didn't even know there was some VW shops in Madison or Athens. If you could tell me more I'd love to check them out!
_________________
-JeRmAn-
-Alabama-
1974 V VW Logo

lkswagen Beetle - Project Restoration

'74 Project Thread

flyboat · Posted: Wed Jun 27, 2012 5:03 pm Post subject:

Congrats on the trade. Since the fuel pump is leaking, ditch it, or replace it with a new one and move it to under the tank. The factory style unit is still in place. I wonder why the PO added the electric unit.
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mnussbau · Posted: Wed Jun 27, 2012 5:22 pm Post subject:

Good luck with it. 1974 was a good year!
Image may have been reduced in size. Click image to view fullscreen.

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Mike
A nice pair (of '74s)
Parts...

Joel · Posted: Wed Jun 27, 2012 5:47 pm Post subject:

Sheizen, so many things in that pic is a fire waiting to happen.

Firewall tinware is missing which has let the rubber fuel hose sit ontop of the hot muffler.
The inlet and outlet of the fuel pump don't have clamps on the hoses and that outlet one is about ready to pop off the barb which will spray fuel everywhere and the pump doesnt even look screwed down.

Stock fuel pump is probably dead, get a replacement and hook it back up, electric fuel pumps have no place on a stock VW engine unless they are an FI block.
They are a bandaid for lazy people who cant work on the stock one.

dubhead74 · Posted: Wed Jun 27, 2012 6:20 pm Post subject:

Good pictures of your engine bay.Reminds me of how mine was but yours is cleaner,I had to evict a family of mice Laughing

If you plan on driving it or simply running the motor until you can pull it please besure to either hook up your heater ducts on your fan shroud or block them off.Not doing so is a easy way of taking a chance of over heating your motor.
Probably not from you is a VW shop called Airkooled Kustoms.Here is a link to their web site http://www.airkooledkustoms.com/contact.html
I have never done any bussiness with them but I have been told from folks that have they are very good to deal with.
While your changing out your fuel punp go ahead and clean up some of that fire hazzard wiring in there.Oh as a suggestion get a different fuel filter then the $1 plastic ones.Sure their cheap and you can see you gas but I have seen to many bad after effects from them.
Take care

docdanracy · Posted: Thu Jun 28, 2012 10:17 pm Post subject:

good to see another '74 starting out.....

EXJAY · Posted: Fri Jun 29, 2012 4:59 am Post subject:

JeRmAn · Posted: Mon Jul 02, 2012 6:08 pm Post subject:

JeRmAn · Posted: Mon Jul 02, 2012 6:10 pm Post subject:

dubhead74 · Posted: Tue Jul 03, 2012 3:54 pm Post subject:

Heres a tip...
tear the top end motor down to the block.it makes accessing the bolts easy as well it makes it where you dont have to jack your car up so high for the fan shroud to clear the rear apron.
If this is your first time to pull a air cooled motor watch afew of the videos online to help get a visual of what needs to happen.

Eric&Barb · Posted: Tue Jul 03, 2012 8:29 pm Post subject:

Personally would just take the engine apart for a full inspection of all parts.

Dump the air cleaner and get a stock one.

DO NOT run the engine till you have the fresh air tubes and all seals and tin pieces (like the front engine tin missing) back in place or risk overheating it.
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JeRmAn · Posted: Thu Jul 05, 2012 4:44 pm Post subject:

mnussbau · Posted: Thu Jul 05, 2012 6:37 pm Post subject:

My '74 convertible, stock...
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...and '74 sedan, basically stock except the PO removed the EGR stuff...
Image may have been reduced in size. Click image to view fullscreen.

_________________
Mike
A nice pair (of '74s)
Parts...

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