Barn find 1963 Euro VW Beetle

Thought I would write up a little blurb on the barn-find 1963 Beetle I just rescued. I'm no stranger to rescuing long-sitting cars, but apparently I'm rusty and the gods were a little against me, lol.

Knowing it had flat tires, and hoping they would hold air for at least a while, I loaded my full (130psi) air tank, and my little 110V compressor, since it was in a garage) with an extension cord. Also a jump box (with a little compressor) if I needed to crank it over or move it on the starter for some reason. Extra wood blocks for chocking or whatever, my 2x12 tapered wooden ramps that lead up to my trailer ramps in case it's really low or on flat tires, charged my winch battery up full. Extra pair of gloves, a few tools, etc.

When I arrived, I aired up the tires from zero to around 25psi all around and still had about 40psi in the tank. Then plugged in the little air compressor (it and it's tank are so small it takes a lot longer to air up deflated tires using only it). Then I realized I forgot the hose for the compressor, so just put it back in the bed of the truck, sigh.

I backed up the trailer in the driveway to the garage. A shove on the bumper, and the Bug moved a little - brakes weren't frozen - yeah! I strung a sling strap around the axles and to the back to hook up the winch. Free spool the winch, pull the cable out, clip on to the strap, and plug in the remote and the winch - clicks. Try the remote again, wiggle connections, just a few clicks. Then nothing. Sigh.

So, I go to the truck, and pull out the come-a-long. Many, many years ago, before I had a winch on a trailer, I used a come-a-long hand winch as the only way to load non-running cars. I love having a winch on my trailer. This is a 9500lb one that has only been used on the trailer, on mostly small cars, but in the elements it's whole life. Only about, well, OK, it's 7 or 8 years old. Time to replace it.

So, hand winch it up onto the trailer. In the nice, hot, Colorado sun. Better than rain or snow. I'm lucky it rolled easy, the e-brake worked fairly well to help keep it from rolling downhill.

Now to get it washed, in the shop, and evaluate the next steps to ready it for sale.

Awesome.  What are the plans? 

I so much prefer the contouring on these earlier front fenders. Very nice find! I miss my beetle

In reply to lownslow :

Wash it off and clean it out.  Look it over to see what it needs.  

Decide how much to do.  Make it parking lot driveable and re-evaluate.  See if we do the normal things to make it safe-driveable (tires, brakes, fluids).  

What's the difference in US and Euro models?  Headlights look the same, 1963 it can't be emissions?   Just curious.

In reply to 914Driver :

The headlights *should* be H4 versions, but US ones are installed, as are US bumpers with the 'towel rack' over riders.  The semaphore turn signals in the B-pillar are the only giveaway anymore on this one.  

Cool, thank you.  Don't see the semaphores in that photo.

I like the direction. 

I started by draining the really, really bad gas (worst I have eever smelled, and I've done lots of old car/bad gas stuff).  Inside of tank is pretty rusty, and an exact replacement isn't available, so I'll clean and recoat.  I've used the POR-15 stuff with good results in the past.  

I removed the carb, thoroughly cleaned the Solex 28 pict 3 carb, and got it functioning really well.  Or so I thought.  Before reinstalling, filled the bowl with solvent and activated the accelerator pump with the new diaphragm.  No fluid coming out.  Removed the nozzle, sprayed carb cleaner through - nothing.  The checkball in the passage must be stuck.  Soaked it in solvent for a day, blew back and forth with compressed air - nothing.  Tried PB blaster for a day.  Nothing.  Tried brake cleaner.  Nothing.  Tried hammering it on the side with a screwdriver handle while using the compressed air.  Nothing.  Decided to order a replacement (30 Pict 3) carb for $100 before spending any more time on it.  

The distirbutor was a 009 verion (common VW performance 'upgrade) with no vacuum advance.  On some performance VW engines, I think they are OK, but on this totally stock 40horse, no.  Also, a replacement vacuum advance unit cost about the same as ordering new cap, rotor, points & condensor, so I just ordered a vacuum unit.  Installed, along with new NGK plugs.  Old ones didn't look that bad, which makes me hopeful she will run again with minimal effort.  

Ordered new tires - 165/SR15 size.  Received tires from Priority tire (who I've used before) and received 165/65R15.  Very different sidewall heights.  Priority was an absolute pain in the ass for customer service.  It took WEEKS for them to send a label, and many phone calls and emails.  I had intended to get the correct ones from them, but it took so long and such a pain, I ordered some 165/80R15s from Giga tire.  Should pull the wheels today to get them mounted, and maybe the gas tank as well.  

The Brake reservoir was empty.  Pulling the rubber cap off made it stick and tear apart - ugh.  Topped it off and waited a few days and tried the pedal.  Wouldn't pump up.  Not surprising, have a new master cyl, reservoir and brake hoses to install.  

Some more cleanup work and we are gonna be close.  

Sorry I haven't updated!

It is, in fact, a 1960.  It was one of those cars that fights you.  The gas tank was REALLY rusty.  Really rusty.  Like pounds of rust flakes shaking around in there after I drained the worst-smelling gasoline I have ever smelled.  So, decided against recoating.  And I have had around 100 old project cars - so that is saying something!  Since it is a 1960, an exact replacement tank isn't available so I got an earlier style one, and cleaned out and modified the outlet/reserve valve from the old tank.   The tubes had to be cut down because the new tank doesn't have a 'sump' like the old one.  After cleaning it out and leak checking it, I installed it in the new tank, and put a gallon of gas in it.  The next day, there was about a quart of gas on the ground, leaking through the valve.  Ordered a later style outlet and installed it.  

Remote gas tank to test - and she fired RIGHT UP!  It's one of those cars that pops off instantly every time.  And this is after sitting for 25+ years.  

The brakes fought me as well.  The reservoir was empty, so first try was to add fluid and try to bleed them.  I could only get a tiny bit of fluid through the rear brakes.  None through the fronts.  There was no pedal.  I removed and examined the master cylinder - it was toast.  The reservoir was crusty inside - likely from being empty for decades.  New master, new reservoir.  Still nothing at the bleeders.  The rubber hoses *looked* to be in great shape.  They were likely replaced when the car was refurbished in the late 80s, early 90s.  However, I suspected they might be collapsed inside.  Replaced the hoses - bam, instant bleeding success.  Well, not instant.  The left front, the shortest brake line length, which is usually the easiest to bleed, was being a little stubborn.  Some bubbles, some fluid, then no fluid, etc.  Finally, something let go and a little piece of crud (tiny) came out the hose from the bleeder.  Success.  Perfect pedal.  Drums have some corrosion where the shoes were vs. where they weren't but I'm hopeful that will 'self-machine' with a little driving.  

New tires mounted on the old 5.5" Mangels chrome wheels, and it was mobile.  I took it around the block.  Success!!  You can tell this was the owners daily driver before it was parked so many years ago.  The sound system works well - for a 1980s cassette deck and speakers! 

I vacuumed out the interior and rough cleaned the windows.  When I unearthed her, I gave it a car wash bath on the trailer, but I need to do another wash and now a detail, and then photo it and list it for sale!