Barn Find 1968 Euro Beetle, First Start.

[AnimaliaHolocaust]

I have a '68 too. :) Trying to fix a few odd leaks though. Not sure where they're coming from, and I'm not quite confident enough to just take the entire thing apart. But I'll find them. ^^

[VolkswagenNut1969]

@AnimaliaHolocaust Best of luck with it! Messing around with one of these VWs will make you a master mechanic before you know it! LOL! But it will reward you many times over with fun reliable driving once you get it sorted out.

[outdoorsman310]

was the oil turned to sludge?

[VolkswagenNut1969]

@outdoorsman310

I cleaned a fair amount of sludge out of the filter assembly. The oil itself was not sludgy, but pretty thick. It drained out like maple syrup. Flushed it out a few times before finally filling it and starting it.

[coolstorms]

Yeah that's right. Rev the crap out of a motor that was just fired for the 1st time in 20+ years. Yeah that's a good way to keep it running...

[VolkswagenNut1969]

@coolstorms Piss of you worthless little prick. Go be an asshole somewhere else, nobody cares what you think.

I busted my ass saving this car from its grave and it's about to go on its third cross-country trip, trouble free.

It's not your car, and you aren't being forced top watch the video. If you want to whine, go cry to your momma! Children should be seen and not heard! Speak up when you actually have some experience at something, dumbass.

[coolstorms]

@VolkswagenNut1969 Wow. Way to come back at me. Your so superior to me. NOT. I may not act like it, But I DO know a thing or two about cars. And I KNOW that you don't rev it to top rev when it has sat for as long as a motor like this had, when you first start it, OR when it's new. Your only asking for total and utter destruction of the motor. But like you said I wasn't forced to watch this and it isn't my car. Do what you will to it. I'd like to see the death video when you make one of it.

[The1965Ghost]

@coolstorms But that wasn't even WOT full revving at redline top rev he was just getting the oil circulated and the fuel to be fed in. And just as I have experienced even as a beginner, you need to give an engine some gas at first start or it will just keep stalling on you and won't idle.

[VolkswagenNut1969]

@The1965Ghost Thanks for your comments. You're right, and like you say, It wasn't really being revved that much, but the little mic on the camera being right next to the engine makes it sound like it's screaming. LOL!

[The1965Ghost]

@VolkswagenNut1969 Yeah, It's a nice little beetle with a nice engine! Even with that mic, I could tell it wasn't too much. I saw how far that carb opened when you were pumping it, to how far you opened it when it was running. Wasn't too much gas at all! Half way if that. Lol

[VolkswagenNut1969]

@coolstorms These VWs aren't your dad's old Chevy. Apples and Oranges when you're dealing with them. That's about as nicely as I can put it.

[themaytagrepairman]

@VolkswagenNut1969 Dude, don't let morons like this one irritate you. There's always one ass hole that has to make comments like this. You did a fine job with this old beetle . Did he go to all the trouble to get this old classic VW running? No! You did. BRAVO!!!!! I just have one question, is this model a right hand drive? and what year is it. It looks like a 1968-1970.Of cource I could be wrong. LOL



[VolkswagenNut1969]

@themaytagrepairman

Thanks, man. You're right. Guys like that are a dime a dozen on the internet and I apologize to you and the other viewers here for my reaction and language. Not worth getting steamed over.

Yes, it's a '68, but it's Left Hand Drive.

Getting ready to take her once again to the Eureka Springs VW show next week. ;)

[retetikker]

@coolstorms Hello retard

If you start an engine after a very long time sitting you need to make the make the moving parts loose, make sure the oil is pumped round as soon as possible and get it running + idle properly. The best way to do this is revving it but not too much! VolkswagenNut did the right thing and I bet this engine will last a lot of miles.

[VolkswagenNut1969]

@retetikker Thanks for stepping up. You gave the answer that I should have instead of losing my cool. Thanks again! 

[jess5381]

wherres the black hoes thats in the gas tank where does it come from becuse i have a vw 1968 too but it wont start can anyone help me???

[VolkswagenNut1969]

@jess5381 If you're talking about the main fuel line, it comes out of an elbow fitting on the bottom of the tank. Could have old petrified fuel in the lines. I'd pull the rubber line that goes from the steel line to the fuel pump and run it into a gas can with fresh gas in it and take the carb apart and thoroughly clean it and put it back together with new gaskets. See if it will start from the gas can. It will take a lot of cranking and priming for that first start. Next check the points.

[chuydizzle]

i have a 74 beetle that i just recently purchased and the engine is locked i tried moving it with my hand but no luck i tried with breaker bar forward and back just a bit and nothing what do you recommend that i do?

[Kagaines]

@chuydizzle I would pull it with another vehicle, put it in first and gently let the clutch out to engage the motor. Do it a few times. It works a lot of times. There is stuff you can soak the cylinders in also.

[delorean60]

Very nice! I recently rescued a 72 van from a barn. It was my great grandfathers. It has the earlier 1600 engine in it. I change the oil, replaced the spark plugs, cleaned the contacts and points, and put gas in it. Started right up! Amazing engines.

[VolkswagenNut1969]

@delorean60

Too true. Have fun with your project, I'm sure it will turn out great!

[Pnoerre]

I have got a very good hint for you to keeping the nice old Engine in good shape with todays ultra dry eco fuels: Use 1:100 API TC two stroke oil / fuel mix as regular driving fuel, that keeps the old fuel-system gaskets, rubber parts, alloy parts etc... and cast iron metal surfaces of those vintage engines in excellent shape...and it also lubricates the valves and upper piston regions. Most Porsche vintage owners in Germany do so :) Also keeps carbs + injection and tank clean and rustfree

[VolkswagenNut1969]

@Pnoerre

Thanks for the info on that. We used to do the same thing with our 1950's cars when lead substitute wasn't available. ;)

[Pnoerre]

MADE IN GERMANY!!!!!

[Furetgarcon]

lets see your bleeding prius do that toyota......o nvm its already in a tree....

[MADKingR]

That is Quality Made in Germany!

[420witchdoctor]

It's a Volkswagen engine, it'll start like that after 50 years of sitting.

[VolkswagenNut1969]

@420witchdoctor LOL! No kidding! That's one thing I've learned in dealing with them over the years.

[420witchdoctor]

@VolkswagenNut1969 Indeed!! They are the best!

[greyfoxpwnz]

To me it looks like you kept flooding the hell out of it but idk

[VolkswagenNut1969]

@greyfoxpwnz Nope, the cylinders were full of Marvel Mystery Oil, which was necessary to free up the stuck engine. Had to blow all that crap out first before it had a chance of running.

[berkelusa]

It could have been the last start to it too with that Gas Tank so close to the Distributor eh?? :^)

[VolkswagenNut1969]

@berkelusa Where's your sense of adventure?! ;)

But seriously, I never would have driven it like that. VW engine compartments are tinderboxes as it is.

[berkelusa]

@VolkswagenNut1969 - I hear ya.. Also noticed you have the Alternator version.. Not the ol' round Generator.. - How's she running now?

[VolkswagenNut1969]

@berkelusa Still running like new! It's a surprisingly great road car. ;)

[gunny556fly]

good job buddy! ;) its so buetiful!

[VolkswagenNut1969]

@gunny556fly Thank you! ;)

[axelfols1]

Man, that would bring a tear to a glass eye!

[VolkswagenNut1969]

LOL Thank you! Recently had to make her a daily driver for a couple of weeks when the wheel bearing went out on the other car. She handled the daily grind without a hitch! ;)

[jsatv]

after a shy start it ended by sounding great

[queensplazasouth]

Meh... I bought a 1985 Pontiac that sat for over 6 years and DROVE it away... of course top speed was 20 MPH before I rebuilt the carburetor and replaced tank, sender and pump.

[VolkswagenNut1969]

Huh, well there's a bit of a difference between 6 years and 21 years. After starting this one, I put on new brakes and tank and drove it to Eureka Springs, averaging 70 mph with easily 85% of its original parts. I christen all old VWs I put back on the road with the 600 mile ES trip as the ultimate reliability test. None have failed yet. ;)

[rsjagax]

nice!!!

[VolkswagenNut1969]

Thank you!

[AmericanV8power]

it's running great

[VolkswagenNut1969]

Thanks! When they're tuned properly, I'm really surprised at how smoothly these simple old air-cooled fours can run.

[VolkswagenNut1969]

They're such great cars, you guys hang on to yours! They won't be making any more! ;)

[knightterror66]

i got a 1976 volkswagen beetle with a 1776cc motor =]

[jorologo]

I had seen all of the other vids you made of this little beauty. Until today I had not seen this one. I too own a 68 beetle that had not been kicked over for 4 years. I was amazed at how forgiving these engines can be when they sit idle for long. For yours 21 years is amazing.

[VolkswagenNut1969]

Yes, they're pretty amazing. I just finished its third long trip on a weekend vacation, and its first time on the interstate. I couldn't keep it off of 70 mph and couldn't believe how smooth and quiet it was for a VW. I have to look back at these videos to remind myself where I started with it.

[VolkswagenNut1969]

Man, that's the truth. I just drove this car 60 miles through the mountains and it drove as good as new.

[Bladeserpent]

I just put back in the original engine in my 74 super after non use and water accumalation for over a year! And it started up PERFECTLY. You just can't kill these engines!

[Bladeserpent]

Great find

[VolkswagenNut1969]

The crazy thing is, once I dug into it some more, I found the valves to be adjusted too tightly, and the muffler had to be pulled...it was packed full of horse hair and pecans (mouse nest). It's amazing it was running at all. Now it should run much better. ;)

[Bladeserpent]

Make sure to check in and around the fan shround, it can block circulation of cool air

[aj0049]

that is one smooth running bug

[VolkswagenNut1969]

Thanks guys! It really did shock me that it idled so smoothly right off the bat like that. There was qute a bit of cleaning involved. It looked like a dirty stone relic from a dinosaur cave when I first got the car. ;)

[garrett6699]

its so clean!

[Zachry86]

Im really impressed by that idle. Few cars do that. Amazing story. Very cool you documented it =)

[herbienbrian]

yay!! you got it running :D