Getting the ‘57 beetle back on the road in 2024

[Wagner73]

Just realized that at some point VW must've moved the battery to the left side, behind the driver, at least that's where it was on our '65.

Edit May 25: As @jetmechmarty said below "Of course it’s possible my recaller is malfunctioning"...and I think mine must've been, based on other's rememberences. My only defense is later experience with C2 & C3 Corvettes, and the battery WAS on the left side behind the driver.

 

[jetmechmarty]

Just realized that at some point VW must've moved the battery to the left side, behind the driver, at least that's where it was on our '65.

I had a ‘71. Battery on the left as I recall. Of course it’s possible my recaller is malfunctioning.

Edit: Battery on the left as I looked into the back seat.

 

[kshansen]

Getting confused now! I know the 1966 VW we had the battery was under the seat on the right/behind the front passengers seat.

 

[bosco659]

Dunno about other years. But for ‘57 this is definitely the correct spot.

 

[grouchie77]

Saw this at a car show this morning. This thread seems like a good spot to put it.

 

[bosco659]

Here’s what my car would have looked like when it was new.




Then there’s this guy who wanted to keep his really original.

 

[bosco659]

There’s factory sound deadening material attached to the doors and body panels. Quite a few pieces have fallen off and rather than attempt to reattach them I bought this rubberized material to stick to the empty spots. Appears to work well and makes the door sound more solid when you close it.

Before and after installation. The brown spots on the interior of the door is not rust. It’s remnants of adhesive that held the factory sound deadening material on.

 

[Wagner73]

Then there’s this guy who wanted to keep his really original.

View attachment 371806

Nice! If those are original EMPI wheels, they are probably fairly rare by now.

 

[bosco659]

Quick oil pressure test and looks like I’m good to go. Idle and over 2500 rpm. Oil was warm, not hot. From what I’ve read, min hot spec over 2500 rpm is 28 psi with idle 4-7 psi. I’ve got a pesky oil leak from either the oil pump or filter screen assembly. I’ll look into it later. Right now it’s not a priority.

 

[Wagner73]

I guess this is a reasonable price for a nice '73(?)

 

[TX650A Van Islander]

Saw a couple of cool Germany origin vehicles downtown Victoria this morning and thought I would snap a pic for this thread. One modified, one perhaps stock.

 

[bosco659]

I guess this is a reasonable price for a nice '73(?)

Convertible is desirable but I don’t think ‘73 is a sought after year? Could be wrong. That selling price was quite low.

 

[bosco659]

Passenger door panel done. Sound deadening added. See inside of bottom of door - very clean for a 69 year old car! Fixed up and installed the beat up running board. Fender protector is a piece of trailer mudflap.

 

[Pat D]

Tractor trailer/dump truck mud flaps are about the most useful bit of debris you can collect from the road. I've used 'em for exhaust hangars, spacer material, early 20th century automotive driveshaft couplings, the list goes on. If you're lucky, some of the angle steel it was mounted on comes with- angle stock is always handy to have around.

 

[bosco659]

The rear licence plate mount was a pita to address. The po had bent the plate over the deck lid and literally drilled 4 x 1/4” holes in the lid to bolt on the plate. I made a bracket out of aluminum and made a bracket today. Not pretty but it works. The car’s name is “Henrietta”. This is the name the po used and my wife wanted yo keep it. She bought personalized plates for it but had to amend the spelling.

I took the rear deck lid handle and lock apart and got it working again. Topped up the steering box with gear oil.

What’s left?

- 2 more interior panels
- secure kick panel carpeting
- adjust brake shoes
- adjust throttle cable stop
- adjust clutch
- install seats

The list is getting very short!

 

[Jim]

Henrietta...

 

[TX650A Van Islander]

Gotta love that cool Vancouver sticker there !

 

[bosco659]

Gotta love that cool Vancouver sticker there !

And this one too!

 

[bosco659]

Right side 99% done. Other than weatherstripping. Looking more like a car! lol.

 

[bosco659]

Well this is a historic day. The beetle moved on its own for the first time in over 52 years! But not without issues that will need further attention.

- Drove 5 miles! Mostly at 30 mph but once got frisky and ran it up to just shy of 50.
- Speedo didn’t work at first but came to life in 2 blocks.
- Twitchy steering is something that I need to get used to. Reminds me of driving a tractor on a dirt road at speed.
- first gear is very noisy, but other gears are fine and shifts well. It doesn’t help that the car really doesn’t have any sound insulation other than the stuff I put on the doors and quarter panels. There’s no carpet on the floor pan so it’s quite noisy. I need to check oil level again in the transaxle. It may need more.
- clutch needs adjustment - engages way too high on the pedal.
- oil pressure light winks at me too often - on at idle and above. Gives out once motor revs a bit (no tach). I checked oil pressure but should have done it with a hot motor. Will check again
- 4 wheel drum brakes are scary. Thinking about bolting s 2x4 across the pedal so I can use both feet! They need adjustment tomorrow.
- needs a good cleaning inside. Most windows are hard to see out of. 50+ years of gunk.
Overall pretty happy. Here’s a few pics a few miles from home.