'69 Beetle - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

Kerry P · 11-29-2014, 10:31 AM

I guess I've been a good boy. For my birthday a few weeks back my Wife found a '69 Bug. It was almost 800 miles from home but we took a chance based on the photos. We've been burned buy this sort of car purchase before but since it was close to her family we decided to take a chance. The little fellow turned out to be rust free as promised and the only thing that doesn’t look new is the transaxle case. It made the drive home just fine but soon afterward it demonstrated a problem that is not uncommon among Bugs. It locked up in two gears at once during a third to second downshift. Fortunately it was at low speed and the car just skidded to a stop. As cyberspace predicted the bushings for the internal shift mechanism had a bit of play. To make future service easier I made the rear apron removable. This allows the engine to pull out straight back without the typical wiggling and lifting the car's butt way up. Also added a Scat shifter while it was apart. I encountered the issues that internet haters predicted about the shifter but the recommended fixes made it work very nicely. It seems that these cars a very polarizing. People love them or hate them. I hear a lot of "WHY?" as well as "WOW!"

**Boog** · 12-17-2014, 08:58 PM

What little we can see it looks good Kerry. How bout some more pics.
I had my rounds with the hockey stick lever in my old buggy many years ago. I had a Manx style dune buggy on a 65 pan with 69 engine. I learned I could loosen the engine mounts and slide it back a few inches to give enough room to loosen the tranny nose and wiggle the stick a bit to untangle it. Now 45 years later I'm thinking I'd like to have another old VW.

Kerry P · 12-21-2014, 10:17 PM

It's been 41 years between my first and now the second bug. The ferin' '69 is a bit different from a domestic '69 but they're both are good for a smile. I had my paint suppler try to match the blue. When the weather warms up the bug will lose the green sides. If I have some spare time I think flames will work well on it.

**Boog** · 12-22-2014, 09:09 PM

That looks real nice Kerry.
It looks like a recent restoration too.
I'm with you on the color combo. That's strange. Solid blue with some narrow white walls is more like it.

Russell Ashley · 12-23-2014, 05:01 PM

We had a 70 Beetle back in the 70s-80s. I didn't think it was a very good car but it was fun and there was a lot of things available to improve it. Here's one of the improvements that I made to mine and I would do this again if I ever have another bug.
http://www.mooreparts.com/684-AC1151...FeLm7Aod6WMALg

It's a better oil pump with a spin on filter. Mine was a SCAT product, not exactly like this one but very similar.

Kerry P · 12-23-2014, 07:36 PM

With my '70 as my first car I could not wait sell it to get into some sort of muscle car. I'd be unhappy with this '69 if it was my only car but with an old muscle car as an alternative I really enjoy the bug.

Complete agreement on the spin on and other mods to really have fun with a bug. This one needs more power , wheels/tires and lowering. My Father in Law has a mint, stock '61 convertible. It's a lot of fun to look at but the driving experience is a little lacking (to me at least). I think I was able to exceed 65 MPH with it but it took a long time.

11-29-2014, 10:31 AM	#1
Kerry P Registered User Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Harrison Arkansas Posts: 164	'69 Beetle I guess I've been a good boy. For my birthday a few weeks back my Wife found a '69 Bug. It was almost 800 miles from home but we took a chance based on the photos. We've been burned buy this sort of car purchase before but since it was close to her family we decided to take a chance. The little fellow turned out to be rust free as promised and the only thing that doesn’t look new is the transaxle case. It made the drive home just fine but soon afterward it demonstrated a problem that is not uncommon among Bugs. It locked up in two gears at once during a third to second downshift. Fortunately it was at low speed and the car just skidded to a stop. As cyberspace predicted the bushings for the internal shift mechanism had a bit of play. To make future service easier I made the rear apron removable. This allows the engine to pull out straight back without the typical wiggling and lifting the car's butt way up. Also added a Scat shifter while it was apart. I encountered the issues that internet haters predicted about the shifter but the recommended fixes made it work very nicely. It seems that these cars a very polarizing. People love them or hate them. I hear a lot of "WHY?" as well as "WOW!" Attached Images

12-17-2014, 08:58 PM	#2
Boog laying low Join Date: Mar 2001 Location: Searcy, Ark. USA Posts: 12,957	Re: '69 Beetle What little we can see it looks good Kerry. How bout some more pics. I had my rounds with the hockey stick lever in my old buggy many years ago. I had a Manx style dune buggy on a 65 pan with 69 engine. I learned I could loosen the engine mounts and slide it back a few inches to give enough room to loosen the tranny nose and wiggle the stick a bit to untangle it. Now 45 years later I'm thinking I'd like to have another old VW. __________________ Boog 69 Chevy stepside, 358/T350, 4.11 posi, 4.5/4 drop, rallys, poboy driver primer is finer 91 Chevy sportside, Tahoe, Yukon & GMC Crewcab All GM..'nuff said. I stand for the flag and kneel at the cross

12-21-2014, 10:17 PM	#3
Kerry P Registered User Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Harrison Arkansas Posts: 164	Re: '69 Beetle It's been 41 years between my first and now the second bug. The ferin' '69 is a bit different from a domestic '69 but they're both are good for a smile. I had my paint suppler try to match the blue. When the weather warms up the bug will lose the green sides. If I have some spare time I think flames will work well on it. Attached Images

12-22-2014, 09:09 PM	#4
Boog laying low Join Date: Mar 2001 Location: Searcy, Ark. USA Posts: 12,957	Re: '69 Beetle That looks real nice Kerry. It looks like a recent restoration too. I'm with you on the color combo. That's strange. Solid blue with some narrow white walls is more like it. __________________ Boog 69 Chevy stepside, 358/T350, 4.11 posi, 4.5/4 drop, rallys, poboy driver primer is finer 91 Chevy sportside, Tahoe, Yukon & GMC Crewcab All GM..'nuff said. I stand for the flag and kneel at the cross

12-23-2014, 05:01 PM	#5
Russell Ashley Registered User Join Date: May 2010 Location: Lawrenceville, Ga Posts: 2,640	Re: '69 Beetle We had a 70 Beetle back in the 70s-80s. I didn't think it was a very good car but it was fun and there was a lot of things available to improve it. Here's one of the improvements that I made to mine and I would do this again if I ever have another bug. http://www.mooreparts.com/684-AC1151...FeLm7Aod6WMALg It's a better oil pump with a spin on filter. Mine was a SCAT product, not exactly like this one but very similar.

12-23-2014, 07:36 PM	#6
Kerry P Registered User Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Harrison Arkansas Posts: 164	Re: '69 Beetle With my '70 as my first car I could not wait sell it to get into some sort of muscle car. I'd be unhappy with this '69 if it was my only car but with an old muscle car as an alternative I really enjoy the bug. Complete agreement on the spin on and other mods to really have fun with a bug. This one needs more power , wheels/tires and lowering. My Father in Law has a mint, stock '61 convertible. It's a lot of fun to look at but the driving experience is a little lacking (to me at least). I think I was able to exceed 65 MPH with it but it took a long time. Attached Images



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