Colby might be able to answer bec i see that he got his wife one but how hard is it to find parts for them, i dont know much but the wife to be wants one and im smelling a resto project so could someone just give me some more info, im clueless
CK5
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VW Beetle super or not
- Thread starter TC4x4
- Start date
bp71k5
3/4 ton status
They are super easy to find parts for. It was easier about 10 years ago, but there's still two parts stores dedicated to them out here.
The "Super Beetle" isn't really as good IMHO...
Those appeared in about 1971 and were the ones with the longer front hoods and the strut front suspension. Some of the later emissions and fuel injection stuff made them more of a nightmare than the simpler "non-Super" Bugs which were simple carbureted engines with a traditional torsion beam front end. Those '73+ telescoping bumpers were expensive and harder to find than the simple bolt-on ones too...
Aftermarket support is weighted heavily towards the earlier non-Super stuff also. Easier to modify and again IMHO better looking with the shorter front hood. The proportions are just nicer looking.
Those appeared in about 1971 and were the ones with the longer front hoods and the strut front suspension. Some of the later emissions and fuel injection stuff made them more of a nightmare than the simpler "non-Super" Bugs which were simple carbureted engines with a traditional torsion beam front end. Those '73+ telescoping bumpers were expensive and harder to find than the simple bolt-on ones too...
Aftermarket support is weighted heavily towards the earlier non-Super stuff also. Easier to modify and again IMHO better looking with the shorter front hood. The proportions are just nicer looking.
rjpastor
1/2 ton status
As I recall, the 1968 was considered to be the epitome in the "old style" beetle. 1600 cc engine, good brakes, transaxle, etc. If you're thinking baja bug, everyone used the older style. The superbeetle front end, etc wasn't as good. 1956-1968, almost everything is interchangeable.
DR
1/2 ton status
Yea. Ton of stuff out there, and pretty cheap too. Engines are even super cheap... Well, compared to smallblocks anyway.
jonathon
1/2 ton status
Easy and cheap to find parts for.... skip the Super, they aren't worth much compared to the regular Beetle. Then again the standard Beetle is kinda... caveman tech.
My bro has got a 73 standard Beetle.. we've been working on it a little here and there. Biggest issues at the moment is that the reverse gear is gone and it won't idle. Swapping a used trany in this week sometime and doing electronic ignition soon.
They are a very simple car, but unless you full on replace or rebuild everything they'll nickel and dime you a lot like our old and abused trucks
Really though for a commuter hard to beat the mileage and the price... I'd rather own one of these than an older Honda, at least I can fit my hands in most of the areas in the engine compartment
My bro has got a 73 standard Beetle.. we've been working on it a little here and there. Biggest issues at the moment is that the reverse gear is gone and it won't idle. Swapping a used trany in this week sometime and doing electronic ignition soon.
They are a very simple car, but unless you full on replace or rebuild everything they'll nickel and dime you a lot like our old and abused trucks
Really though for a commuter hard to beat the mileage and the price... I'd rather own one of these than an older Honda, at least I can fit my hands in most of the areas in the engine compartment
Josey Wales
Registered Member
Go to http://thesamba.com. This site is a goldmine for anybody
wanting to know anything about vw's:
Forums
Classifides
Parts
Clubs
wanting to know anything about vw's:
Forums
Classifides
Parts
Clubs
My brother-in-law has had a couple of them, and in my opinion, they are a pain in the a$$ to work on and most every repop part is cheap junk. I've dabbled in most areas of them, body, interior, motor and drivetrain, and so far have not found too much that is easy.
original balzer
1/2 ton status
If your doing a street car a super beatle is fine and they ride pretty good. 1968 was the first year of IRS this also rides better than a swing axle *pre 68* IIRC a super beatle is easier to do air ride suspention on as it has a strut front end (again street car)
Now this is not to say the beam/torsion front suspention (non-superbeatle) cant ride good or use air ride.
There are limitless possibilities with old VW beatles. They make almost anything for them. wider front axles, narrower front axles, even I beam inverted leaf/hairpin front ends (think model A front end for a "volks rod" look)
A little info about beatles.
Basicaly the body is 10 parts, pan(frame) body shell, 2 doors, 4 fenders, trunk lid,(front) and a hood(rear)
The most powerful engine IIRC was 65hp maybe 70hp
The transaxles in all the beatles are crap (go bus trans)
Air cooled heaters suck
Never had A/C
They make adapters for LOTS of engines
Subaru engines fit the original engine compartment
...............And make tons more HP have real heat and can have A/C
Now this is not to say the beam/torsion front suspention (non-superbeatle) cant ride good or use air ride.
There are limitless possibilities with old VW beatles. They make almost anything for them. wider front axles, narrower front axles, even I beam inverted leaf/hairpin front ends (think model A front end for a "volks rod" look)
A little info about beatles.
Basicaly the body is 10 parts, pan(frame) body shell, 2 doors, 4 fenders, trunk lid,(front) and a hood(rear)
The most powerful engine IIRC was 65hp maybe 70hp
The transaxles in all the beatles are crap (go bus trans)
Air cooled heaters suck
Never had A/C
They make adapters for LOTS of engines
Subaru engines fit the original engine compartment
...............And make tons more HP have real heat and can have A/C
original balzer
1/2 ton status
Are you a jew with a grudge? they are SUPER simple and almost all reproduction parts are as good as originals. Parts from empi, bug pack, ect. are top notch, for their intended purpose. You have to remember these cars where intended to be cheap, "the peoples car" in a country that had alot of poor people. Sure compair a chevy water pump to a beatle water.............wait they didnt need water pumps
, simplicity my friend.Im not trying to be offencive, just dont see where your coming from. The most difficult part on the whole car is the rear torsion bars, and once you know what your doing there, even that is pretty simple, but it can be dangerous. Well, tuning dual carbs can be a pain too!
Are you a jew with a grudge? they are SUPER simple and almost all reproduction parts are as good as originals. Parts from empi, bug pack, ect. are top notch, for their intended purpose. You have to remember these cars where intended to be cheap, "the peoples car" in a country that had alot of poor people. Sure compair a chevy water pump to a beatle water.............wait they didnt need water pumps
Im not trying to be offencive, just dont see where your coming from. The most difficult part on the whole car is the rear torsion bars, and once you know what your doing there, even that is pretty simple, but it can be dangerous. Well, tuning dual carbs can be a pain too!
I do realize they are a simple car and they aren't as bad if there is a lack of rust. But, a few things come to mind:
Replacing the alternator sucks because of the fan and shroud
Those door window mouldings with those PITA clips, and the replacements were 10X worse.
Master cyl in a hard to get to spot.
The aftermarket hood that simply did not fit. Spent about 6 hours getting it to fit the curve of the body and had to do about 10 hours worth of bodywork on top of that. Oh yeah, and had to make a custom length latch post.
The empi 8spoke wheels that I had to drill the lug holes significantly larger so the bolts would go through.
I could go on and on, but I won't
I actually used to like the things until I had to work on them.
