Former air-cooled VW owners?

[Alex_Rochester NY]

I'm on my second Subaru, but my first 2 cars were VW Beetles; a 1966 1200 45hp, and 1972 1600cc early smog-motor. I learned to fix cars on those, but could not win against the excessive rust, so I moved on. But, that flat-4 motor.....

Subaru flat-4's certainly SOUND different than VW's, but there is still that slightly lumpy idle. As far as efficient packaging, they can't be beat, although the rear-mounted was a LOT easier to change spark plugs on! But, back then you had to do that about every third oil change (points and rotor, as well...), and those oil changes were at roughly 3000 mile intervals...

Any other classic Beetle owners with Subarus?

 

[Matt42]

1974 Bus owner here. It gave lemons a bad name, though.

 

[Train Dan]

More air cooled VeeDubs than I can count; four Beetles, one convertible, and a Westfalia camper. My folks had more, couple Beetles,a Kublewagen, a Squareback, a Bus (that Dad made a camper). Ours weren't troublesome, but we learned most of their quirks. The heater cables/heat exchangers were an ongoing issue. We also had a VW mechanic who moonlighted on his own, after hours.
We had a bunch of water pumpers as well. Last one was a second Scirocco.

Funny story, the kid that sold me the Subie was a real treat. ( For a refreshing change, he actually knew something about what he was selling. The guy who sold me the Toyota was a nice man, but only vaguely knew anything about the product.)
Anyway, we got to talking about Beetles, and he said his Mom had one. Great in the wintertime, with the engine over the front wheels.... He is really young.
On my bucket list, I want to drive one more Beetle. Do see them on Hemmings for not a stupid amount of money. I want one more analog car before exiting this mortal coil, either a Beetle or a Miata.
Dan

 

[bmart]

Miata. Easy choice.

 

[Alex_Rochester NY]

..... I want one more analog car before exiting this mortal coil, either a Beetle or a Miata.
Dan

I've been reading about Subaru 360's and the replacement, the Subaru R2; rear engine, 2 cyl 2-stroke, about 36 hp. About as analog as you can get...

 

[bmart]

Where have you looked? They're everywhere, it seems.

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[Train Dan]

Beetles are coming out of the woodwork at Hemmings, though I'm not seriously thinking about one this instant. If I had one more garage bay, it would be a different matter.
This spring, it is my intent to visit a Miata dealer, and see if I actually enjoy driving one. A much-loved M340 would have to go, if I get one.
What has been absent on Hemmings: only the occasional Karmann Ghia, Sciroccos, Honda CRX Si. A lot of everyday cars have simply been used up, and/or consumed by the tin worm.
Dan

 

[bmart]

You're not wrong. It is part of why I settled on 3rd/4th gen Legacies. They're a lot of fun for no money.

 

[Alex_Rochester NY]

Where have you looked? They're everywhere, it seems.

2015 SUBARU LEGACY 3.6L H6 Fuel Filter | Shop Now at RockAuto

Fuel & Air Parts and More for Your 2015 SUBARU LEGACY at Reliably Low Prices. Fast Online Catalog. DIY-Easy. Your Choice of Quality. Full Manufacturer Warranty.

www.rockauto.com

Beetles? Have you seen the condition of every single one east of the Mississippi and north of the Mason-Dixon line? Not a single one of them does not need extensive welding done...

 

[Train Dan]

Beetles? Have you seen the condition of every single one east of the Mississippi and north of the Mason-Dixon line? Not a single one of them does not need extensive welding done...

As a frequent flyer with Bugs in the past, yes, the tin worm is an issue. What look some clean examples have been on Hemmings, and a buddy has a Mexican car. As always, let the buyer beware.
It's a burden we carry, on our salted roads in the NE, especially in the days before galvanized metal and better rust prevention techniques. We had a number of aftermarket rust-prevention vendors, which have largely disappeared, on account of those improvements.
Dan

 

[SoobaRoobaDoo]

First car was a Ghia. Plenty of fun and could put 2 bicycles inside the back. This was when they were everywhere and cheap.

Great car to learn repair with "How to keep your VW alive".

 

[Train Dan]

One of the less happy memories of a Westfalia camper was a leaking pushrod tube seal. Once the engine warmed, the leak disappeared, but left to sit, it hemorrhaged oil. The VW air cooled engines were very motorcycle like, with a whole stack of components held together by long bolts.
The malfing part was a $0.75 item, but installing it would have required tearing down the entire engine.
If I still had it, a new/rebuilt engine would likely be a cheaper option, and maybe a manual transmission. The two speed auto in that thing was really pretty pathetic.
Hoping the Subie engines don't have the oil weeping issue.
Dan

 

[Alex_Rochester NY]

As a frequent flyer with Bugs in the past, yes, the tin worm is an issue. What look some clean examples have been on Hemmings, and a buddy has a Mexican car. As always, let the buyer beware.
It's a burden we carry, on our salted roads in the NE, especially in the days before galvanized metal and better rust prevention techniques. We had a number of aftermarket rust-prevention vendors, which have largely disappeared, on account of those improvements.
Dan

Yes; anybody remember Rusty Jones? They closed up shop after about 5 years, which was about 2 years before the cars they "rustproofed" started to rust to smithereens...

 

[Alex_Rochester NY]

First car was a Ghia. Plenty of fun and could put 2 bicycles inside the back. This was when they were everywhere and cheap.

Great car to learn repair with "How to keep your VW alive".

I still have my copy of the late Mr. Muir's book, and even 40 years after my last Beetle, I still read it from time to time just for entertainment. Mine is the large, spiral-bound version, with many oily fingerprints on the pages...

 

[Alex_Rochester NY]

One of the less happy memories of a Westfalia camper was a leaking pushrod tube seal. Once the engine warmed, the leak disappeared, but left to sit, it hemorrhaged oil. The VW air cooled engines were very motorcycle like, with a whole stack of components held together by long bolts.
The malfing part was a $0.75 item, but installing it would have required tearing down the entire engine.
If I still had it, a new/rebuilt engine would likely be a cheaper option, and maybe a manual transmission. The two speed auto in that thing was really pretty pathetic.
Hoping the Subie engines don't have the oil weeping issue.
Dan

So, that 75 cent piece would only require you to pull a single head. Taking the engine out would be required, but on an air-cooled VW, that only took 15 minutes; I've done it in 5. There used to be a yearly engine-swap contest at a big VW auto show, and I believe the record is just a little over 2 minutes from shutdown to startup.

Now, about that transmission; VW only offered the 4-speed (and a few later ones a 5-speed) manual, and the3-speed semi-automatic. I don't believe VW ever offered a 2-speed on anything automatic, semi or full. I've heard that a few electric cars made today come with a 2-speed transmission, but I'm not sure if VW is one that offers this.

 

[Train Dan]

Yes; anybody remember Rusty Jones? They closed up shop after about 5 years, which was about 2 years before the cars they "rustproofed" started to rust to smithereens...

We had Zeibart, which I think survives, and perhaps another local one. Seem to recall one of the issues was the 'rust proofant' blocking drainage holes, making a situation worse.

So, that 75 cent piece would only require you to pull a single head.

Unhappily, never researched it at the time, and we even had a VW mechanic who moonlighted at home. Wish I'd checked, but simply assumed a hugely expensive job. We were always stone broke in those days, though it did take an old love and I from Florida to Maine, and never gave other mechanical issues; we had it about 3 years.

I don't believe VW ever offered a 2-speed on anything automatic,

The selector was marked 'L' and 'D', and I recall it moaning in two gears...but it is now 45 years ago, and the Bus wasn't new at that time. My memory is often less than perfect, but that is the recollection. It may have been the first automatic VW offered in anything. Do know that any Interstate merge was cause to consider your sins...the poor thing was bog slow.
It was truly tiring in a crosswind, it sometimes required 90* on the wheel to go straight ahead.
Dan