Just bought a 1970 Beetle

[wheelhorse]

Howdy all.

Been out of the VW scene for a number of years, but I got the itch and yesterday picked up this 1970 Beetle. Hoping to slap it together and drive at least for the remainder of the non winter season. Car is originally from Texas and is in great shape pan wise. It has been tapped in the front and rear once before so it's a little crinkly, but I've always wanted a beetle, especially one I don't have to be OCD about. I'm excited to get it together.

This was $800

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1970 Beetle

[Tom K.]

Great start - looks solid - I like that car. Pics of the engine?
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'91 Vanagon Westfalia
'70 Beetle Convertible
'71 Super Beetle Semi-Automatic: https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=714131&highlight=
'65 Ghia: https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=762478&highlight=

[daveswoodcraft]

congrats!

looks like a great buy and a fun project
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There are not such thing as a stupid question, but there are a lot of inquisitive idiots!

[boundstaffpress]

Love seeing dark green beetles. You know we are all dying to see more pictures, especially of the engine. Have fun.
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Justin

Building a 73 Super Beetle with my kids.

[AlmostHeavenWV_VW]

Some references/texts to help you in your beetle journey are listed here:

AlmostHeavenWV's Orientation Page for the Samba
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1973 Standard Beetle
1600DP AK case
Solex 34PICT3 Carb
Bosch DVDA 205AJ Distributor

[wheelhorse]

I’m beyond stoked. This has been a bucket list car fora long while. More pics to come tomorrow when I assess what all it needs.
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1970 Beetle

[gt1953]

Nice save. For now cobble it together getter running driving, safe of course. Sort out one system at a time occasionally is one approach to the repairs.
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Volkswagen: We tune what we drive.
Numbers Matching VW's are getting harder to find. Source out the most Stock vehicle and keep that way. You will be glad you did.

72 type 1
72 Squareback
({59 Euro bug, 62, 63, 67, 68, 69, 73 type ones 68 & 69 type two, 68 Ghia all sold})

[wheelhorse]

Went over to the garage after work to start the assessment. A few more soft spots here and there than I thought, but nothing structural or bad. GOOD NEWS! THE MOTOR TURNS OVER. It looks far worse than it is. This weeks project is to find a decent wiring diagram and trace out the ignition circuit and possibly get it started on a jumper tank. Fuel pump works, has compression but haven’t tested cylinders.

My goal is to assess and repair wiring and see if it can start. If so the engine comes out and gets a thorough once over and replacing pushrod tubes etc.

Mechanical and safety first, cosmetic second

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1970 Beetle

[g8torchad]

Good luck. Glad to hear the motor turns over.

[wheelhorse]

Thanks. Had to use the wiring behind the dash to turn it over. I don’t believe the coil is getting juice though. A project for tomorrow.
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1970 Beetle

[gt1953]

Man west of the continental divide I would have walked no run from that rust. But back East it is acceptable. Best of luck.
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Volkswagen: We tune what we drive.
Numbers Matching VW's are getting harder to find. Source out the most Stock vehicle and keep that way. You will be glad you did.

72 type 1
72 Squareback
({59 Euro bug, 62, 63, 67, 68, 69, 73 type ones 68 & 69 type two, 68 Ghia all sold})

[windfish]

[heimlich]

That engine runs? Wow. Take it to a car show.
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[wheelhorse]

[Rome]

Saving a seemingly lost cause Beetle can be very satisfying. I did that myself twice in the last 30 yrs, to a '72 and then a '69 Std. Beetle.

Do you have access to a sandblasting cabinet? I think with some effort, primarily blasting, your engine tin can be brought back to service. After blasting each piece individually, Knock any dents out from the back surface with a hammer placed against a flat surface such as workbench. Apply self-etching primer spray can, then primer/filler spray can for the pitting, wet sand with 320, and finally semi-gloss black. Intake manifold will take lots of work. Before you even try blasting it, see if the heat riser pipe is not clogged (unlikely). If you intend to be diligent with saving existing parts, the build time will take much longer than intended.

I can imagine that all of the engine tin fastening screws will be heavily rusted. Apply heat to the screw heads using a propane torch. Give the screw a hard rap with the flat blade of a screwdriver hit straight down, as well as spray with good penetrant such as Kroil or PB Blaster. Grip the head with a vise grip, then put new tin screws on your shopping list. Put new ones into the engine with a thin coat of anti-seize so that they come out easily in the future.

To help with power to the coil, remember that one of the large red cables at the generator has live 12V from the battery. Just run a thin jumper with alligator clips from that terminal to the + terminal on the coil to energize the coil. There should be a thin wire coming off the same terminal on the coil that goes to the carb electric choke on the right side of the carb, as well as to the barrel-shaped electromagnetic cutoff valve on the left side of the carb. I don't see that valve on your engine but it would be hidden behind the throttle return spring and that silly fuel filter. If you do get the engine to run with that jumper wire, just disconnect it to stop the engine.

The engine is also missing some essential smaller tin pieces on the left side, such as the short piece that goes under the left cylinder tin, and a section of the crank pulley tin on the left side. You should not be able to see the bottom fins of the rear left cylinder.

Any non-green body parts you put on it like we now see with the hood, would be candidates for a cheapo Rust-O-Leum can foam roller recoat. Mix a few drops yellow (or white) from the smallest can into the forest green quart until you get close to the stock green. Then go to town with the roller.

Please provide updates with photos.

[wheelhorse]

Well, got it running. Traced the wiring and it was way more simple than I thought. Cleaned some corrosion off a couple terminals and installed a new coil and it fired up with gas in the carb. It really is worse looking in pictures than in real life. All bolts are barely rusty and come lose with moderate effort. The worst is the tray behind the rear seat. Assuming window needs seals because it’s rusted out pretty badly. Luckily I have access to a shop with an English wheel and all other tools for sheet metal work, so much of the panels will be handmade unless cheaper for our time is available. I’m really excited to tinker tomorrow
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1970 Beetle

[nshaddox]

Having seen this car in person (helped bring it home) I can confirm that it really is in great shape for a Michigan car. It actually has pans and channels. Wow!

And I saw it running from a gas can today. Mr wheelhorse should have this thing going down the road pretty soon. Parcel tray needs some attention. Passenger rear quarter hit pretty good too. Fun project.

[Rome]

Congratulations with getting the engine running!

[wheelhorse]

Pulled the engine to start getting everything cleaned out and inspected
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1970 Beetle

[calvinater]

Looks like that pully has seen better days.
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"Albatross"!