Is it easy to work on a 1974 VW beetle?

Question

I was thinking of picking one up for 2 grand in great condition. Are they easy to work on if something goes wrong? Are parts inexpensive for the most part? What commonly goes wrong with these cars? I'm pretty good with working on cars but have been all domestic. I'm a little scared to purchase this car. Any info on these cars would be appreciated.

Answer 1

Anyone with a decent metric tool set & a good manual can work on their Type I Beetle. I recommend "How to keep your Volkswagen Alive" by John Muir.
BTW...V-Dubs don't leak oil: they mark their territory. And 90% of the time, if they do leak, it's from the pushrod tubes.

Answer 2

Easy to work on. Most shops don't like them because the motor is in the rear and it has to be dropped instead of lifted out.
No rad is something else they don't understand.

Basically, it is a simple aircooled motor(just like an airplane).
Grab a library book on VW beetles(they are all basically the same). Nothing really changes. Sure, you have an altenator instead of a generator now and maybe fuel injection?
Parts are generally inexpensive IF you go to a "jobber" shop that specializes in VW. The dealer gets many of their parts from the same place and puts on "pro bono pricing" cause you bought it at the dealer counter.
Also check the wreckers. You might get lucky, as many parts swap out for many years.
If something goes wrong. My 73Super gave me 3hun thou(wore out the speedometer) before I sent it on its way(after 10 year) to change to something else.
They are not a race car/dragster/ or 4x4 so don't expect them to be one. Ya got 56hp or so and thats about it.
Driven right(don't lug it like you had an automatic) The engine is suppose to be noisy. Not exhaust wise, but engine wise.
Get yourself good metric tools (6 point sockets and open end and box end and buy a bug book. Everything is fixable and some parts can be got from the other Vw types (station wagen, karman ghia, van, 411) There were alot of them out there.
If the engine is wet underneath, it is probably coming from the pushrod tubes(normally the first) . Blowby past the rings into the crankcase.
If you live in cold climate you want to understand how this heating system works(very similar to a pistol hair dryer). No need for the gas heater.
Shes a keeper if you can get it.
Nothing common about what goes wrong with them. If left stock it just keeps running. And running.

Answer 3

I hvae had 4 beetles and just got my 5th they are about the easyiest cars out there to work on a simple set of metric wrenchs and a good haynes book is all you really need engins come out very simply parts are cheap for the most partevey thing is fairly accesable if ican help in any way let me know Daniel

Answer 4

Provided you have METRIC tools, it will be very easy. These are very simple cars.

Be careful of rusts. These cars were made before galvanized steel were available. Many of them have heavily rusted. Be especially careful of an area under the rear seat. A battery is hiding there and it is not at all unusual for the floor pan in this area to be COMPLETELY rusted through.

Go through the entire body with a magnet. I bet the "perfect" body is a result of bondo work....

Parts are plentiful.

Answer 5

SCHIZ just summed it all up. If you can do a tune up on a domestic car you can repair nearly anything on a bug provided you have a manual and tools. Parts are dirt cheap compared to a comparable year ford or chev, absolutely everything you might need is avail aftermarket, tons of hop up, resto and cosmetic mods. Wanna get wild, go for it, I'm in the process of putting a twin turbo Mazda 13B in my 71 bug. They're a perfect canvas for customizing.

Answer 6

I'm not a big guy but I dropped my motor and lifted the car over the motor then it was real easy to work on. If you live in a harsh weather area I would definetely recommend it. I've been places where they couldn't get 4WDs in n out of.And I'm talking about good old wet Oklahoma red dirt roads.

Answer 7

These are very easy to work on. Parts are cheap. Oil leaks are common. To pull whole motor less than a hour! So easy.

Answer 8

not really,those are kind of hard to work on either way you look at it,just make sure the one your looking at doesn't have any oil leaks,usually on those when they got a leak you had to pull the engine,because it would be the rear main seal or an oil cooler,and it was hard to get too,other than that they were good cars,i have owned a few of them,their very fun to drive also,and now there collectors items,so for that amount if it has no rust,that would be a real good deal on it,good luck with it.