1968 VW Bus Beam Install! Finally back on the Road....

Today we install the front beam from WagensWest on Martin's 1968 VW Bus. We show you how it's done and see how much better it rides now! Check it out and subscribe!
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[@straightaxledubs]

Things I've learned from this VW Life. 1. Gary is "tough" because he wore steel toed boots with crushed steel 2. If you want your cars worked on, just neglect them and people will work on em for you. Thanks for the tip Martin!

[@VWLifeVW]

our work is done here :)

[@findvoltage]

Imagine all the ladies freaking out over that rubber squish...😆

[@johnner7796]

I cant wait to see the 1965 beetle I had wanted a beetle since I was in 2'nd grade and when I was 16 and just got my license my dad bought me a Beautiful redone 1965 Blue Volkswagen Beetle. It was 10 years old but it was all redone from the engen to the paint job. I loved that car with all of my heart. That car took us everywear. We went to concerts almost every weekend and we drove the hell out of my baby. I just can not say enough about that car but unfortunately I had to sell it to help pay for college. It hurts even more because I never even sold it for the master that I was going for. Omg if only I could still have it in my life. I am 63 years old now and still fantasise about having another one before I die. Lol

[@VWLifeVW]

Thank you so much for sharing your story! We think you need to go find yourself a beetle! If you can afford it I would say start looking now and Follow that dream

[@johnnewcomb1128]

It looks pretty straightforward. Always a high point of my week to see your smiling faces. Peace

[@VWLifeVW]

you're going to like next weeks video!

[@nickingvolboth]

It’s nice to have good bros to help out.

[@VWLifeVW]

indeed!

[@brucecollier5134]

I like Martin's approach to getting your VW fixed. "Eventually your friends show up and work on it" that's how I got Ms. Thing back on the road. Buddy's dad was picking up his bug he had worked on, said he wasn't going to drive that far with an empty trailer. Showed up at my house and dug it out of the garage.

[@VWLifeVW]

he has it all figured out! :)

[@HapticGarage]

Nice teamwork on the '68 and that awesome shot through Jerry (Gary's splitty) and out the Safari window!

[@VWLifeVW]

thanks yeah that was one of my favorite parts too! :)

[@rundoetx]

Woo Hoo!! My Thursday is now complete. Thanks Guys

[@VWLifeVW]

🎉

[@waysidetavern]

Love your Ramones T ! Your'e a man after my own heart!

[@VWLifeVW]

thanks!

[@waysidetavern]

@@VWLifeVW I should have also added " & surrounded by air-cooled VW's - You're a man after my own heart!"

[@KSFWG]

Only way that bus could be better would be disc brakes on all 4 corners. Good video! Thanks!

[@pathcharles]

Cylon, The video got even better.

[@VWLifeVW]

thanks!

[@darciebrowning8751]

"I don't think I am doing this right" and "Where are we having lunch?" are probably my most used sayings when working on mine too.

[@VWLifeVW]

You and Jake both!

[@VWJawbreaker]

Great team work guys, he’s all set for quite a while now.

[@VWLifeVW]

yep cruising weather is here in Texas!

[@SkaterStimm]

Just did this same job on my 68 double cab. Replaced the ball joints, and needed to remove the trailing arms. My PO removed all the grub screws that held in the torsion springs and they were just floating. Once I got them cinched down I was able to beat the trailing arms back in and jack up the trailing arms to get the spindles on. This is now my second time doing it, once on my 79 westy (which was a breeze) and now on the 68 double cab which was a royal pain. The biggest difference is that Volkswagen welded the ends of the torsion springs with a tack weld and my 79 still had them in place, while they were broken in the 68, which makes putting the torsion arms very difficult without an air hammer.

[@VWLifeVW]

We actually had to do it several times. In the video we made it look easy but we ended up having to flip them and figure out the right orientation and do it over and over again. Those torsion springs can be kind of a pain

[@VWLifeVW]

Also post a picture of your VW on our Facebook page facebook.com/VWLifeVW/

[@jensers11]

Sweet ride. The commercials were much better this upload. Just one short blip in the middle. Thank you! KZbin’s new business model is to annoy us into paying since all of their other schemes have flopped. Anyway - great vid as always.

[@VWLifeVW]

Thanks for the info!

[@cprovence]

Another fantastic episode guys!

[@VWLifeVW]

thanks Chris!

[@jimgoodfriend9966]

GREAT JOB...

[@VWLifeVW]

thanks!

[@mundo_analogico]

Entertaining and educational !

[@VWLifeVW]

Thanks! Keep livin the #VWLife

[@mayinnlin1879]

Thank you so much for sharing! Love it, great job VW life. You guys are Rock. 👍😍

[@VWLifeVW]

Our pleasure!

[@terryfleming7084]

Nice bus! I love the bay windows!

[@VWLifeVW]

Thanks for watching

[@jamesvw]

Another cool video, many thanks and have a great weekend guys. Cheers

[@VWLifeVW]

Thank you too

[@bigjohn4574]

Enjoy watching you guys work together fixing VW's . Motivates me to get back in the garage an work on my 59 SC and 67 Bus.

[@VWLifeVW]

Great to hear!

[@bmh67wa]

Those rims are sweet.

[@VWLifeVW]

They are!

[@vdub6873]

Awsome video

[@VWLifeVW]

thanks!

[@johnferris764]

Good job boys

[@VWLifeVW]

Thanks! Keep livin the #VWLife

[@WolfHausMotorwerks]

Gotta love it when the noises are gone! Nice job guys!

[@VWLifeVW]

thanks!

[@michaelwierenga1926]

Really good job.

[@VWLifeVW]

Thank you! Cheers!

[@johnramsell1109]

Brilliant video lads what a great bus

[@VWLifeVW]

Many thanks!

[@austinswallow]

went like clockwork and ran like a sewing machine, awesome! Great filming as usual, Thursday evening fix now had! Greetings from UK!

[@VWLifeVW]

Thanks, you too!

[@gustavopadilla9176]

Nice work, guys

[@VWLifeVW]

Glad you enjoyed it

[@aikenbrentkrahmer2275]

Another great vid! One of the things I like most in your videos are the lunchbreak rides and funny little specials. This time I was pleased by the idea that Gary had been in the moshpit back in the days😀.

[@VWLifeVW]

Glad you like them!

[@susangibbs4588]

You're right Matt Jackson I was totally entertained!

[@VWLifeVW]

hey Susan! thanks

[@johnreinburg859]

Beautiful!!

[@VWLifeVW]

Thank you! Cheers!

[@glennclark4212]

That bus sounds nice 👍🏻

[@VWLifeVW]

It is!

[@jillianvanliew]

WOW--Martin got lucky 2 weeks in a row!!! Good things come to those that wait/are handy with the VWs.

[@VWLifeVW]

yeah he's a lucky boy!

[@charleslawrence7194]

Agree with Dubs on both points. Mad Mike has got it going on because he convinced Gary and Matt that it was fun and not work. Spankin, haven't heard that in years. Still better than tv!!

[@VWLifeVW]

love it thanks!

[@johnbarry8238]

Looks like y’all had a good time which is why y’all do what y’all do, just like my crew up in NTX.

[@VWLifeVW]

cool

[@davidryan573]

Wow I’ve never seen the torsion bars go in adjusters that easy, I’ve fought those for hours, cool video technical and entertaining a two ferr.

[@VWLifeVW]

David you sir are right. We had about a dozens shots of this we didn't use before "getting it" so call it "special effects" in this case because you are right :)

[@wadelewis6992]

Looks good, thanks for another great informative video. 😎✌🏻❤️VWLIFE

[@VWLifeVW]

Thanks for watching!

[@artrizal]

Man.. great work! This what I need to do with my bag bus! But in Singapore there no Mechanic able to do this man! Great work guys !

[@VWLifeVW]

You can do it!

[@patrickmclaughlin6013]

Thank You!

[@oldskoolbugyo1036]

Bootiful bus! 🤙

[@VWLifeVW]

Indeed it is!

[@DreamWrench]

Nice work boys!

[@VWLifeVW]

Appreciate it!

[@jerryzunich6045]

I have a 68 Delux Bay Window that doesn't have the chrome molding on a lower part of the body, was that an option back in the day?

[@VWLifeVW]

@@jerryzunich6045 that was part of the "deluxe" package

[@bassjaymi]

Time for a camping trip to Tennessee....Y'all cmon up!

[@VWLifeVW]

okay lets go!

[@antoniorivera6187]

Nice bus 👍🏻take care

[@VWLifeVW]

Thanks, you too!

[@geoffreyjones2000]

I don't remember "doing a beam" being so much fun :)

[@VWLifeVW]

"special affects" make that happen. it's all in the editing.

[@tysonthewolfe93]

I like this Bus I think this is my favorite one

[@VWLifeVW]

it's pretty sweet!

[@tysonthewolfe93]

@@VWLifeVW Yes it is

[@maniestrijdom7271]

What is hideing under the cover? , you are a group of fun guys that makes vw life fun to watch and fix my own 66 beetle, thanks guys!

[@VWLifeVW]

A Ghia!

[@joelpollock6282]

Dayum boyyys!!!!!

[@VWLifeVW]

yep

[@MexiChriS]

When are you guys going to make a Discord?? The community needs this from you guys.

[@VWLifeVW]

ha! i don't know, we aren't big enough for that yet

[@MexiChriS]

VW Life we gotta start somewhere and you guys definitely have a big presence. Let’s not fuel the negative hypotheticals and get that Discord going 👌🏽

[@SteveWebster376]

Love Gary holding up the adjustable spanners.."nuh"....my Dad always called them "nut f@#$%ers".

[@VWLifeVW]

that's funny! :) you dad was a smart man

[@johnflynn9463]

View #852 AT 2:41 pm on 9/10/20 - NJ....I need a bus....oh and nice work Gentleman.

[@VWLifeVW]

hey john! Thanks

[@VochoTalacha]

Awesome job! One day I have to do a quick job like this with y'all! Hey, add me to your list of channels to check out for anybody who speaks spanish!

[@VWLifeVW]

okay we've added you thanks!

[@pathcharles]

It's funny, down here in Brazil, when you say is a 71, it was still a split window till, I Believe, 74/75...

[@VWLifeVW]

yeah that's crazy huh!

[@cadelivingston389]

nice

[@VWLifeVW]

Thanks

[@muhammadjameel8334]

NICE JOB. ONE DAY. JAMEEL LAHORE PAKISTAN 🇵🇰🇵🇰🇵🇰♥️

[@VWLifeVW]

thanks

[@davidievoli6425]

I just did my ball joints and control arms. Getting the control arms back in was the hardest part the because the brackets kept separating. All I have left to do is grease the beam.

[@VWLifeVW]

very cool! post a picture of it on our facebook page - facebook.com/VWLifeVW/

[@spencerduffield7074]

If that torque wrench impresses you check out a 3/4" drive one.

[@VWLifeVW]

Ah okay cool

[@jamie-r2034]

Looks great! Question for you guys - Do you guys use any type of fuel additive due to the high ethanol in today's gas?

[@VWLifeVW]

hey thanks , not really. if you don't drive your VW much it might be a good idea to use it. we use premium gas.

[@SanDiego_VDubLife]

I finally did mine, but used dropped spindles. I haven't done the back yet. I bought the exact same rims. Now I need tires! What size are those?!

[@JIMMYJREVIEWS_thaiM-A-F-I-A]

Your friends haircut it’s so awesome what do you call it because I would like to re-create it in my hometown

[@VWLifeVW]

Which one?

[@jimmywilkinson9190]

Rambus has had about 8 sets of ball joints. New steering box . 3 center pin . And every time I put ball joints I keep telling myself next time I will put grease zerts. still never happened .

[@VWLifeVW]

what? no grease, that's a concern :)

[@SundryTalesOfConstance79WESTY]

i saw you torque the beam bolts...were you applying upward pressure so it was against the body or was the beam hanging by the bolts? how well did the beam marry? any shims needed? thanks for the insight. STOC

[@charlesgass8121]

Doing my suspension..

[@VWLifeVW]

cool

[@stevebetzhold5726]

Another great job by VWL - You mention the power of Martin's 68 Bay - what are the specs on the engine?

[@VWLifeVW]

it's a 2110 actually he just sold it! going to NJ

[@stevebetzhold5726]

@@VWLifeVW Cool -- well hopefully it didn't go before the floods hit - thanks for the info!

[@chrisfreemesser5707]

No wonder there aren't any old buses up here in NY...you folks down south have them all

[@VWLifeVW]

hey! no salt down here jack! :)

[@SeaSurfnBird]

RAMONES!!! 1234!

[@VWLifeVW]

hey ho lets go!

[@christianwernher9559]

If you own a bus you'll need good friends and better tools.

[@VWLifeVW]

and sometimes your friends are tools :)

[@christianwernher9559]

@@VWLifeVW 😂

[@NormT2a]

Great Beam, is it also shorter? Width? That bus is beautiful💪🏻

[@VWLifeVW]

Yes, it is it's narrowed, now sure how many inches.

[@martinlehmann3985]

@@VWLifeVW 4"

[@toddwenke5518]

Hi guys, I have a 68 DC and cannot find wheels to fit under the rear skirts. How did you do it? Thanks

[@EnriqueLopez-hb5jn]

Is this another bus, I thought you guys had a 1972 Westfalia Camper, I wonder how is that one doing nice to see you guys also have a Ford Bronco, considering for 2021,they are making a comeback but nothing like the original,.one.

[@VWLifeVW]

saw that new bronco , should be interesting.

[@EnriqueLopez-hb5jn]

@@VWLifeVW I wonder how does the new one compare to the original, the new one has a lot of electronic gizmos, not like the original, which is basically, a work horse, from the pictures I have seen, it looks more like a Ford Explorer, or the Expedition, with some of the looks of the Ford Pick ups, the King Ranch, the Raptor, or even the Harley Davidson version, I want to see a comparison between the Bronco you guys have or the 1979-1984 Ford Bronco to see how it does, those are true, strong SUVs or Trucks, I even read somewhere that the new ones don*t have the same looks like the original,

[@EnriqueLopez-hb5jn]

@@VWLifeVW I wonder if you guys ever had the opportunity to have or come by one of the 21 window, buses, I think they even had the pop out windows, those are getting rare to see nowadays, but knowing you guys ,and having an opportunity to pick up, a 1972 Westfalia.Camper that was just junked or abandoned in a field, I thought you guys might have had the opportunity,& luck to get one.

[@marcijunebug]

Primitive Pete 🤣🤙

[@VWLifeVW]

that's an ole fashioned saying, Gary is full of them ! :)

[@peterbs40]

🤙👍

[@VWLifeVW]

thanks!

[@mimachohidalgo80]

Saludos y ojalá que le puedan poner subtítulos a los videos 🙋🏻‍♂️🙋🏻‍♂️

[@VWLifeVW]

gracias!

[@yoshinoyajones8924]

Is that beam narrowed? I want dropped spindles for my 70 adventure wagon.

[@dubworldvwadventures]

What does that bus have for an engine? Sounds great!

[@VWLifeVW]

it's like a 2 liter, it's got big power.

[@martinlehmann3985]

@@VWLifeVW 2007cc Stroker with dual Empi 44 HPMX carbs

[@SanDiego_VDubLife]

what did you do for the rear bolt pattern? did you use wheel adapters?

[@VWLifeVW]

Early bay window wheel pattern is 5x205 so Martin was running wide five cosmics. Such a cool bus!

[@SanDiego_VDubLife]

@@VWLifeVW yeah my mistake. I rarely see wide five cosmos

[@SkaterStimm]

Awesome! Why does your 68 beam have a booster bracket? is it not a 68 beam?

[@SkaterStimm]

ah Wagonswest beam.

[@VWLifeVW]

yep custom!

[@johnferris764]

Thay have these things called impact gun or maybe air ratchet?

[@VWLifeVW]

eh, that wouldnt' be any fun!

[@dalewyatt1321]

If the grease gun application was audio only it would have sounded like a dirty dirty DVD was playing.

[@VWLifeVW]

indeed that's some ASMR stuff right there :)

[@crackpotts5347]

Hey Ladies and Gentlemen! If you're suffering for a #VWLIFE fix in between episodes, go back and watch the older episodes located here: kzbin.infovideos

[@VWLifeVW]

thanks Tony :)

[@jerryzunich6045]

I just installed mine to the lowest setting, Can you adjust while it's on the vehicle? It's cool but to low!

[@VWLifeVW]

We never could. You almost have to take the spindles off to adjust it up, or your will be fighting eachother. WW did theirs on a lift so they could hang off the control arms but in a garage you cant get enough weight and leverage to adjust them up

[@trevorward818]

Hey guys! So I recently purchased a 1971 super beetle that was in great shape and after running it for about two hours I noticed there was a little bit of white smoke coming off of the main rear air vent. The engine still sounds just fine, but I’m a little concerned what it could mean. Any ideas?

[@VWLifeVW]

white smoke could be an oil leak burning on the exhaust or bad rings, just keep an eye on it.

[@chadroy16]

im with garry. no adjustable wrenches

[@paulandrewmartin]

Hi Matt Jackson, I want to ask about your roof racks I am planning to do the same with my bus, does it affect the ride? Aerodynamics? And my second question is, I noticed that you tape your safaris when it’s raining, I will also put safaris on mine also, they say that it drips inside, do you have any solution to that? Thanks for reading this.

[@VWLifeVW]

the roof rack actually does add wind resistance. You notice it at high speeds. before i could easily get up to about 60, not it's harder. so it's a trade off. i don't really need to be going that fast anyways so it's fine. we only tape ours when going on long road trips with a forecast for rain. mine actually don't leak that much, if you install your windows correctly it's not too bad of an issue. the key is getting the seals kind of crunched into all four corners of the body. the tape is just a precaution for me.

[@paulandrewmartin]

VW Life thanks, I think you are right, it’s a trade of, but I also need the space to carry stuff. And thanks for the feedback on the safaris

[@VWLifeVW]

Do you already know where you're going to get your rack from? We know of a couple of options there is Chad in Florida who goes by bully driver steel works on Instagram and then there's at least one guy California

[@paulandrewmartin]

VW Life yeah I have one, he made me for my beetle, and Austin Cooper. And by the way, I’m from the Philippines, thanks.

[@jenny80myles]

Me: 102 degree? I think my brain is overheating. Gary: Let's have some fun swinging the BFH Jake: I feel the need to bench press the bus' front end. BTW, what are you doing with all those bikes you picked up?

[@VWLifeVW]

selling them :) 102 was pretty bad, luckily we are in the 80's this week!

[@jessetarin5528]

Do y’all know what engine Martin is running in this bus ??

[@Gnarlodious]

But how will the armadillos hear you coming with no squeakage?

[@VWLifeVW]

Ha ha ha

[@marcijunebug]

If the steel toe shoe don’t fit, wear it anyway!

[@VWLifeVW]

yeah you know Gary :)

[@cassio9788]

👍👏👏🤝🇧🇷‼️

[@VWLifeVW]

thanks!

[@tomtom6319]

😮another vw ruined

[@SundryTalesOfConstance79WESTY]

Noice! 😎 STOC here, I appreciate you making VW videos and love your imagination! Thank you for the detail! Front end rebuild is on the list for Constance. if you'd like to see what I've done so far, please check out my 1979 Westfalia Constance. youtube.com/@sundrytalesofconstance1979VW

[@alemaokombrothers6785]

@kombrotherscwb Instagram 👍

[@VWLifeVW]

Okay

[@beetlebee-fg2bm]

That's a boootiful bus.

[@VWLifeVW]

so bootiful!