Air Cooled VW Love

Before I make this thing go I have to be able to make it stop!

Life, work and weather have gotten in the way a bit so I haven’t done much to the car lately. I am reading and making lists and preparing to get to work on it though. I am still learning a lot about the 1967 one year only stuff.

At the moment I am working on an order list for the brakes. (About $250.00 with shipping from Keiths Auto Parts – 1-800-RACE A VW)

Including what I have already ordered:

• Master Cylinder
• Brake shoes for front and back
• 4 Brake kits (Springs and all that stuff)
• Brake cylinders for all 4 wheels
• All new brake lines
• Brake hose for the reservoir to master cylinder

With all this I will have some good working brakes. I am also ordering new wheel bearings while I am at it.

When I pulled off the front wheels I saw brake shoes that were literally falling apart. The pad separated from the metal and rust dust …

I pulled out the fuel tank and discovered it had rusted out. The bottom was very thin and there were numerous holes, eaten away by old fashioned oxidation. After a time even fuel will turn into mostly water and then begin to eat and corrode at the tank. If you’re going to put a vehicle into long term storage it’s a good idea to remove the fuel.

I checked around and learned that I was going to have to pay about $130 plus shipping for a replacement tank. I told my wife that I was going to use one of those red fuel cans instead. Spend the money on more important parts. Besides, I’d be 5 gallon tank and mobile. If you live in a rough neighborhood you could take your gasoline in with you every night!

As if it had been intended, I was checking the newly listed items in the Samba classified ads and found the fuel tank I needed for under $60 with shipping and all. I got a salvaged fuel tank from a 67 …

For the Beetle 1967 was “one year only” in many ways and even more so for the convertible.

I have been doing quite a bit of reading and researching to learn more about this particular car. I have learned that the 1967 was an unusual year in that there are many 1967 “only” parts and accessories.

I learned that the passenger side front fender is not an original although the driver side fender is. I haven’t found out for certain about the bumpers but the rear deck lid is original – and very rare I have been told. The thing you see attached to the underside of the deck lid in the photo is a rain catcher. Notice the drain hoses on either side of the rain catcher which directs rain water away from the engine. I have been an air cooled VW enthusiast (fanatic actually) all my life and had never seen a deck lid like this before.

The seats that were included; a back seat and a passenger seat – are not 1967s …

I started putting this website about 4 years ago but I haven’t owned an air cooled Volkswagen in more than 15 years. That is until this year. I just bought a 1967 VW Bug. It is a a “fixer-upper” that needs a lot of love and attention (and some cash money of course).

Right off the bat I can see that I will need 4 new tires, a muffler, a battery, a rear window, and some seats. But it does have a brand new top and maybe even the original bumpers. Most likely have to replace the entire brake system and a lot of wiring too.

I have already bought myself a copy of the “How to Keep Your Volkswagen Alive” by John Muir.  Next I am looking to get the Bentley manual. To me those are the required materials from the start. The How to Keep Your Volkswagen Alive is a great read even if you dont have one! I love the illustrations and the way John describes the procedures.

As I work on …