Wish I had a better photo. 911s have four round torsion bars. The front end of VWs and 356s have 2 torsion bars that each are comprised of packs of 8 bars that are rectangular in cross section. They are packed together to make a bar with a square cross section. Each torsion bar pack has eight bars. The photo above only shows the edge view of the torsion bar pack. The four bars in the center are 19 mm wide by about 3.5 mm thick. The bars on the top and bottom of the pack are half as wide (basically spit down the middle) - approximately 9.5 mm wide by 3.5 thick, so that side by side they add up to 19mm to form the square. In the photo you can only see six of the eight bars. He had removed the 4 narrow bars that are at the top and bottom of each torsion bar pack - 8 bars total.

These photos depict the VW torsion bar set up .....the individual bars are sometimes called "leaves".....

https://www.thesamba.com/vw/gallery/pix/239166.jpg

http://vwblvd.com/wp-content/uploads...4/dsc07755.jpg

That's the general idea, though that is from a newer car with a different number and configuration of the "leaves."

The older bugs and 356s have 8 "leaves" in each torsion bar pack - 4 wide and 4 narrow. When you look at it from the end it looks like this.

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1548673605.jpg

To lower the car the PO took out the four narrow "leaves."

It looks 100 times better with just the front done. The back should be a little easier I would think. Nice impressive work! I always hated the way they some times narrow the front axle and set it way down low...always thought that looked stupid.

Congratulations on the find, like everyone, love these old cars, miss my 63 truck. Cars like this is the reason I try not to surf CL anymore.

this car is ending on BaT today

https://bringatrailer.com/listing/1966-volkswagen-beetle-8/?utm_source=dailymail&utm_medium=email&utm_campaig n=2019-01-28

My wife had a '66 when I met her as well. She taught me to drive a stick with it. Lots of good times in that car.

Funny coincidence, my dad and I ran in to this guy this afternoon at the local Maaco while we were picking up some parts for a friend's Toyota.
He said they are doing a fair amount of online business for the old VW stuff.
They do still have the stickers, which was nice to hear.

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1548826513.jpg

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1548826546.jpg

Every time I let someone drive my old beetle, they say the same thing. "Wow. This thing is fun to drive."

Lots of good information and stories on the thread. Thanks!
I took the car for a test drive after changing the front torsion bars. Tried to start it and the engine stopped after the starter tuned it a few degrees. I put a wrench on it and it turned, but got spongey at one point and wouldn’t go past it. I turned it over backwards a couple of revolutions, then it turned normally. It acts like it had fluid in a cylinder. Started it up and it sounded normal except for being a little loud - just a bit more general clatter than normal.
Much as I hated to, I had to drop solving that mystery, just as it was getting good, and go get ready for the foot surgery. It’s killing me that I can’t get out there and work on it. Since the surgery i’ve Been sitting here with my foot elevated and cogitating on it - putting some passing observations together to solve the mystery.
There’s only one kind of fluid in a 1965 VW - gasoline.
I noticed the oil is very black and overfilled
There is a good chance there is gasoline in the oil
The only way to get gasoline into the oil is through the fuel pump
The car sports a brand new fuel pump, looks the same as the Chinese “will fit” pump that I see available for $20.
The fuel pump looks like the “will fit” pump for later cars, not the H block, but I’m not familiar
with the aftermarket pumps and somebody may make one like this for H block motors
If it’s the later pump the H block actuating rod will push the pump diaphragm farther than it was designed to go, maybe even break it.
If the diaphragm leaks, gas gets into the oil
I’ve got to sit here with my foot iced and elevated for a week while that mystery sits just outside my window, taunting me. I’m kind of stuck on the bad fuel pump theory, can’t think of anything else that adds up. I want so bad to get out there, drain the oil into a baking pan and take the fuel pump off and give them both a good look.
If I don’t stay off my foot my wife and my doctor will both have very bad things to say to me.

Ya gots ta man up Patrick.
You have another foot.
You don't have another bug.

It’s -5 degrees out there, wind chill - 30, and it’s out there all alone...

I've seen a number of VWs that had the brass dump tube fall out of the carb and the engine swallow it. Lots of rattling and a little rough running. One "fix" was to race the engine to see if it would spit it out the exhaust. Chancy but I saw a guy do just that. Easy enough to eliminate the possibility by peeking in the carb. Just a thought.

Just messing with you.
Cant get my bug started, and I aint going out in 30F degrees to tinker with it.
Hope you get back on your feet soon.

Good luck with the recovery, Patrick. By the time you're back on your feet the weather should be a lot more conducive to messin' with a toy in the barn!

(You might take the time to reread some John Muir, maybe some Peter Egan, and if you're up for it, Robert M. Pirsig.)

^^
I loved Egans columns. For a while it was the only reason I still got R&T. I could reread Zen, good suggestion. The only thing I’m aware of from Muir is “... for complete idiots,” which I can’t tolerate. I dug out my Elfrink and Hayes manuals and I’m brushing up.

Be glad you are in recovery while it's too cold to work on the car. I'm sure it's pining away for you but will be there next week with better weather, raring to go.

It's pretty clear that you are " up for the new bug". Going out to clean the pool and bring in some firewood, and got the front suspension gone over while out there.
Yep no doubt you've got the bug!

Hope your recovery goes well and you are ready for when the weather favors another go at it.

Meanwhile sounds like you have a puzzle to think on.

Those wheels do look great on the car.

Lucky car to have found you.

Cheers Richard

That's pretty awesome. Got the push out rear quarter windows too!

Can you sand/clean up the flat paint and hit it with a clear coat?

You said 40 HP motor, I don't think from that year unless someone put a set of bigger jugs on it.

Edit: I found the post where you said the motor was redone in '84.

I got sent a short rod pump for my long rod motor and didn’t realize it. It’ll run for a while, and then it does exactly what you are describing.

Good to know. Thanks. Now I just have to get out there and see what I’ve got.

Milt, do you know if the flatness of automotive paint is a property of the paint or an application technique? If it’s application I can probably buff it out.