I have a 1977 Volkswagen Type 1

Question

Isn't this an amazing car eh? It's so cool looking. It's the last year of the hard top. It's got fuel injection and a standard torsion bar sprung front end. This thing can survive a nuclear blast since it's all metal. No modern car has near as much character.

What can I do to preserve this car and make it last longer? It's in original condition and well preserved at the moment. 31 years old. Older then me.

Answer 1

So the question is "what can I do to make it run for ever?" First is the body work- Get a pro under coat. Next is mechanical- change all the fluids. Brake fluids-tranny fluids(synthetic 80/90 wt), motor oil. Use synthetic 30wt motor oil. Keep good tires on it as it would be a shame to crash this car because it didn't stick to the road. Adjust the valves. Keep the Gas mixture in spec. The best preservative of an older car is it's driver. You take care of it and it will take care of you.

Answer 2

one of the biggest problems with those cars is rust i would do some kind of rust prevention other than that just keep up on the maintmance  

Answer 3

Get the body off of the chassis, weld up any parts that need it and then seal the lot using a decent sealer. Next up the body, again weld or replace any parts that have been effected by the tin worm and give the body a good sealing when done.

Finish it off by servicing the fluids and brakes.  

Answer 4

I have a 1971 VW, I love my car and have had it for 15 years. Preserve it? Well, just make sure you change the oil every 2000 miles, if you drive mostly in the city, at least once a year. Keep the valves adjusted, don't run it hot. I do not allow ANYONE to drive my VW except my husband, he does most of the work on her...I trust him. We actually own 8 Volks wagens...We just bought a 1966 type 3 squareback station wagen....we are stoked! Good luck, and remember, only let those you trust to drive your car.