VW Beetle Restoration Handbook: How to Restore 1949-1967 VW Beetles to Original Factory Condition Review

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(More customer reviews)If you really intend to "restore a beetle into factory condition" you should probably look out for a better "handbook" than this one. Thats the summary of my impression (or should I say: depression?) after reading this book. I own a beetle built in 1965, which has come to the point where it's necessary to strip it down completely, because the heaterchannels have rusted away (their bottoms) and it doesn't make any sense to try any "quick-repairs", but a complete rebuild is needed.
So I bought this book, full of hope to find needfull information, but was disappointed in a very cruel way, when I got it. For example there is a chapter dedicated to a beetle, which needs no restoration at all, because it has gone less then 50.000 miles (if I'm not mistaken ..sorry, but I can't look it after. Reading this book makes me angry!), a fact, which is very interesting but doesn't help me in solving my restoration-problems at all! Another thing is, that problems, you are surely involved in, when restoring (and that means: "RESTORING"!), are not mentioned by a single word, or are solved by using new parts. The beam is one of the most impressing examples! As the authors say:" We decided to get the complete unit,.., so all the work was already done. We just had to bolt it in." Fine! But I missed some words of how to restore this section... The No.1 rust point of the beetle, the heaterchannel, is not mentioned and it seemed to me, as if beetles in the US don't have to be splitted into frame and chassis even after 50 years of use. Welding seems not to be necessary to "american" beetles. The highlight of this book is (in my humble opinion), when it tells you to fill small holes in the floor-panel by using bodyfiller! Thats what I call a real "Restoration into factory conditions", though I've never heard about any beetles leaving the factory with bodyfiller on their floorpanels;-) I was deeply impressed, when reading the 4th chapter (Installing power windows & doorlocks), but still wonder in which years beetles left the factorys with power windows and door locks between 49 and 67? But thanks God I'm told, that this is no job "for the inexperienced enthusiast". My conclusion? If you want to restore your beetle yourself, don't buy this book! Especially, if you want to see it in original factory condition after all that work....

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The fully-illustrated guide to making classic Beetles look like new again!This handbook is designed to make restoring a vintage Volkswagen as simple and cost-effective as possible. Sections include Teardown of the unrestored vehicle Part evaluation and buyer's guide Engine rebuilding and restoring Assembling the bodywork Vintage accessories Custom modifications and more

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Water-Cooled VW Performance Handbook: 3rd edition (Motorbooks Workshop) Review

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(More customer reviews)I hate the previous edition of this book because it is useless but I have to give this one at least 3 stars for having more usable info. It is a very very general walk through of a lot of topics none of which are really explained in depth. This is a good book for the novice VW owner who wants to find out whats possible.

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Turn your VW into a high-performance machine. Chad Erickson explains everything from low-buck bolt-ons to CNC-machined mods. Learn how to choose, install, tune, and maintain performance equipment for Golfs, GTIs, Jettas, Passats, and more. This book will help improve your VW's engine, transmission and clutch, ignition, carburetion/fuel injection, suspension and handling, brakes, body, and chassis. In its 3rd edition, Water-Cooled VW Performance Handbook is now updated to include new engines, body styles, and modifications for the 1986–2008 model years.

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How to Restore Volkswagen Beetle (Enthusiast's Restoration Manuals) Review

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(More customer reviews)I've had experience with the restoration of a number of vintage cars in the past so after I purchased a 1963 Volkswagen convertible I started to do my homework which consisted of reading everything I could find online about these cars as well as purchasing this book. The main gripe I have with the book centers around the misleading title. This book is not a "restoration manual" but rather a repair manual. That may seem like a petty statement but it is actually an important difference to note for those people who are looking for a reference book to guide them in a proper and correct restoration of a Volkswagen Beetle. I'm not saying that it's necessarily a bad book..in fact as a repair guide it's quite helpful especially in regards to the most involved body repairs. There are an extensive amount of color photos documenting many of the procedures however none of them provide any insight into what would be a considered a "correct" restoration.
Beyond my disappointment with the lack of correct resto info, I would also have to take issue with some of the bodywork procedures outlined in the book. Among the dubious methods employed in some of the extensive repairs were brazed together panels (as opposed to a proper weld) or overlapping patch panels instead of properly fitting and butt-welding the panels. While I realize that plenty of people, past and present, utilize these bodyworking methods, they are considered to be far less than ideal and can often lead to more problems down the road.
The mechanical repairs covered in the book seem to be soild and well thought out. Just as in the bodywork section, repair text is supported by an extensive amount of photos. I have several other books covering the mechanical aspects of the type 1 Volkswagen so I was not as concerned about the detail in this area. If someone was looking for reference covering just the mechanical repairs I might suggest some other books first such as John Muir's "How To Keep Your Volkswagen Alive", the Haynes Rapair Manual or the Bentley shop manuals.
Overall I could recommend this book but only with the notes that I have mentioned. In the end, there are not too many Volkswagen books available so even books that are mediocre are probably worth picking up.

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Tells even those owners without technical knowledge nor previous car restoration experience how to completely restore their Volkswagen Beetle's bodywork, interior, mechanical and electrical components. All you need to know - in step-by-step detail - to make your Beetle like new again. An essential guide for millions of VW Beetle owners around the world.

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How to Restore and Modify Your Porsche 914 and 914/6 (Motorbooks Workshop) Review

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(More customer reviews)"How to Restore & Modify Your Porsche 914 & 914/6" doesn't tell how to do either. Its best section describes the many places to look for rust when buying a 914. Most of the rest is filled with generalisms and pablum, much of which is not even specific to 914s. The book is filled with annoying technical errors that individually seem minor, but are collectively inexcusable and indicate insufficient research. Example: the author claims that compared to the stock 17mm master cylinder, the larger (19mm) master cylinder's "main advantage is to increase the brake pressure of the system." In fact, for a given force applied to the brake pedal, it does the oppposite. Another example: the author cautions us that the terms "backspacing" and "offset" of wheels are often confused, then he gives an incorrect definition of "offset." Thanks for muddying the pool of knowledge!
On modifying the cars, we are advised that certain components can be replaced with better ones, but the author does not tell what parts to buy, how to install them, or what gains in performance we can expect.
There are many better books on 914s available. "914 Tech Tips 700" by George A. Hussey, IV, gives practical maintenance advice. "The Porsche 914 & 914/6" by Dr. Brett Johnson gives an excellent model year history and shows what parts are original. Neither of these books was mentioned in Mr. Paternie's list of suggested reading. Neither of these books goes into modification in any depth. For that, buy "Up-Fixin der Porsche" (11 volumes) from the Porsche Club of America, or subscribe to Grassroots Motorsports magazine.

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This information-packed guide tells you what to look for when buying a 914, and helps you decide what to do with it once you have it! Whether your goal is a restored stocker, a modified street car or a club racer, this book covers both restoration and modification to body and trim, interiors, lighting and electrical, suspension, brakes, engines, fuel systems, transmission, wheels and tires, and detailing for concours participation. A history of the model traces the evolution of the VW/Porsche collaboration to its demise in the mid-1970s.

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The VW Beetle: A Production History Of The World's Most Famous Car, 1936-1967 Review

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(More customer reviews)The story of the Beetle never changes, but in this case, it gets more interesting to read. This book contains the production history of the "People's Car" combined with a section called Volkswagen by the numbers, which details year-by-year model changes. VW Beetle is a must read for anyone that doesn't know the story of Volkswagens' rise from the ashes of W.W.II. Author Ryan Lee Price makes the story as interesting as a novel and doesn't get stuck on minor details that tend to make this chapter in Volkswagen history tedious. The first nine chapters follow the Beetle from Porsche's dream to Hitler's reality. The Beetle then goes off to war and is rescued by the British. The tale continues as the Beetle crosses the ocean and comes to America. This rocky ride makes you realize that we are very lucky that the Beetle ended up staying on our shores.
Once you move on to Part II you can follow changes that turned the little car from Wolfsburg into a world-beater. Years 1945 - 1967 are covered with meticulous detail to even the smallest change. Each year is broken down by chassis numbers, engine numbers and the actual dates that the Beetle was produced. A paragraph discuses the particular production year in general and it is further detailed month by month with all the modifications and improvements that took place. I.E.. August 4, 1955 - Chassis/Unit Number 1-0929746 - The generator pulley is secured with a 31mm bolt instead of a 36mm bolt, making the 36mm ring wrench obsolete and allowing the spark plug wrench to do double duty. After reading this book you'll be able to go up against almost any VW historian in the world. This book is an amazing accomplishment that you just won't be able to put down.

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VW Type 3, 1500 and 1600, 1963-1973 (Haynes Manuals) Review

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(More customer reviews)I recomend this book. It has specific data that I didn't find in other manuals. This manual has good pictures and figures and could be very useful if you want to rebuild a Type 3. Almost every thing you want to know about VW Type 3 is in this book.

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Haynes disassembles every subject vehicle and documents every step with thorough instructions and clear photos. Haynes repair manuals are used by the pros, but written for the do-it-yourselfer.

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Haynes VW Golf & Jetta 1993-1998-Old Edition #126119 (Haynes Manuals) Review

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(More customer reviews)Its not complete. Lots of maintenance/parts replacement omitted, one example is the coolant flange. Only contains very basic things.

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How to Hot Rod Volkswagen Engines Review

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(More customer reviews)Bill Fisher's book is what most VW fans start out with. It may be outdated (written in 1971 I believe). The current printing has no updates and lists some catalogues as being 50 cents. The information is what most people will find interesting. Once you understand what Bill is talking about you can learn more by participating in online VW forums like the Cal-Look Forum on the net. There are lots of people out there willing to help with advice and information.

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Aircooled VW Engine Interchange Manual: The User's Guide to Original and Aftermarket Parts... (Motorbooks Workshop) Review

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(More customer reviews)An informative book but not a first book to buy if youre interested in VW hotrodding. It would, however be an interesting companion to Bill Fishers Hot to Hotrod VWs book. NO detailed dyno tests in this book and it might make inexperienced owners want to build a drag race engine for the street, in which case they will encounter lots of problems as drag engines are not meant for street use. Nice to have though.

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How to Rebuild Your Volkswagen air-Cooled Engine (All models, 1961 and up) Review

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(More customer reviews)Tom Wilson's book brings the mystique of engine rebuilding down to a level that your average backyard mechanic can understand. It is as easy to use as John Muir's book when is comes to rebuilding a VW engine. It does not take hundreds of hours to do nor does it take thousand of dollars. Rebuild kits with cylinders, pistons, etc are relatively cheap and, if these parts are servicable, a gasket kit and rings will be well under a hundred dollars. I rebuilt my engine for about three hundred dollars and it runs like a charm. It took one week to do part time; about twenty hours. Little in the way of specialized equipment is needed. Machining, if needed, is usually minimal and not costly. I only have the usual range of socket wrenches and stuff and no specialized equipment. Muir's book even tells you how to make inexpensive substitutes that work excedingly well. Wilson's book cuts to the chase and tells you what you need to know. If you have an average level of mechanical ability you can do this.

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Complete details for rebuilding air-cooled engines in all chassis from 1961 to 1983: Beetle, Ghia, Bus, Squareback, 411/412 and Porsche 914. The text includes chapters on how to remove, disassemble, inspect and assemble engines, and recondition cylinder heads and crankcase internals.

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How to Keep Your Volkswagen Alive 19 Ed: A Manual of Step-by-Step Procedures for the Compleat Idiot Review

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(More customer reviews)First, my credentials for this review. From 1971 to 1994 (with insignificant gaps), I've owned and driven three Vokswagen buses (not including a parts bus)and used this manual to keep all of them on the road. As of this writing, I'm driving my fourth bus. I've gone through four copies of the Idiot Book, using each one until it either fell to pieces, became illegible from grease and oil stains, or needed to be updated as I bought a later-model bus. It has guided me through six or seven engine rebuilds (I used my engines very, very hard) and God knows how many other procedures ... I think that I've done every single procedure in the book that applied to my particular makes and models. And using this book, I've done work on various WV bugs, buses, and squarebacks that belonged to friends of mine.
I agree with everybody who calls this the indispensable reference for VW owners. I also agree with those who point out its shortcomings. Muir quotes a friend of his, on a review of another VW book. as saying "I agree one hundred percent with ninety percent of what he says." That could also apply to my own feelings about this book.
As a technical manual, it mostly consists of solid information -- solid enough, anyway, to get you back on the road so you can find somebody to show you how to do it the right way. I've always advised a prospective repairer to own both this book and another manual (my favorite was the green Volkswagen Official Service Manual, also called the "Bentley"), read the Muir write-up first to get a general idea of what to do, and then compare it to the other manual, note the differences, and ask somebody why the differences are there. Usually it's because Muir assumes you're making do with a minimum of tools, or are too cash-strapped to make a proper fix. Occasionally, you'll find that John was flat wrong about something (such as how to warm it up in the morning, or why chokes should be disabled, or why the 009 distributor was perfect in every way), or that your particular model had a different set-up than the ones he was familiar with.
But to simply compare this book with other technical manuals would be to ignore the most important feature of this book, which is its ability to empower you. It presumes that the reader has no technical aptitude and starts you gently down the road to proficiency and self-confidence. I'll bet that more mechanics have been inspired by this book than any other technical manual ever written. Not only that, but once you have discovered that you can indeed perform a repair competently, you get a sneaking suspicion that there are other things you can do if you apply the same confidence, common sense, and ingenuity that John taught you about. I doubt if I would have had the courage to time a sewing machine, install a hard drive, build a mandolin, or re-assemble a hang glider if John hadn't shown me that I had the potential to do these things.
This book has survived because of its idiosyncrasies, not in spite of them. John writes that "You must do this work with love or you will fail. You don't have to think, but you must love." He's telling you something important about Life here, and about the relationship we have to our possessions and to our work. Forty years later, these are still wise words, and to find them in an automotive manual is astonishing. Pirsig's "Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance" tried to apply philosophical principles to machine repair, but it failed because he was no mechanic and tried to gauge his mechanic's skill according to his own expectations of what a mechanic's mind-set should be. John knew better. He knew, and taught, that you achieve oneness with the machine by applying mind, heart, and hands together, and by listening to the machine as it tries to tell you what needs to be done. If there's ever been another book like that, I haven't heard of it. And if there is, I'll wager that the author has read the "Idiot Book."

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First published in 1969, this classic manual of automotive repair equips VW owners with the knowledge to handle every situation they will come across with any air-cooled Volkswagen built through 1978, including Bugs, Karmann Ghias, vans, and campers. With easy-to-understand, fun-to-read information - for novice and veteran mechanics alike - anecdotal descriptions, and clear language, this book takes the mystery out of diagnostic, maintenance, and repair procedures, and offers some chuckles along the way. This edition features new information on troubleshooting, new photos, and an updated resource list.

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