TheSamba.com :: View topic - Recommend a book on engine rebuild/maintenance/overhaul

Tue Jan 17, 2012 9:18 am

I have a '65 SB chassis with a '75 1600 DP engine (AJ, carb'd) and was wondering if there is a good book on how to rebuild/modify/maintain/overhaul the engine for a beginner. I have the Muir book for reference and the Bentley for the '65. I want to avoid forking out another $100 for the Bentley on the '75 if I can. Is the Muir book sufficient? I would like something as specific as possible to my particular engine. Any recommendations on a book?

Thanks in advance.

Tue Jan 17, 2012 9:36 am

Thankfully the Bentley manual for 70 - 79 is a lot less than the earlier blue Bentley manuals. I have also found the "Tom Wilson" book very helpful.http://www2.cip1.com/ProductDetails.asp?ProductCode=ACC%2DC10%2D9652http://www2.cip1.com/ProductDetails.asp?ProductCode=ACC%2DC10%2D9690

Tue Jan 17, 2012 9:44 am

Hopefully by 65 SB you mean 65 Standard Beetle since they didn't make a Super Beetle in 65. The Bentley is the best book for engine work. The Muir Book is good for tweaks here and there but Bentley is by far the Holy Grail of VW engine books. You can look on here or even Amazon for a 70s Bentley book for around $30-$50 or so.

Tue Jan 17, 2012 10:58 am

An option is a used book possibly available from our classifieds or a used book store. The Bentley for the 70-74 covers the dual port 1600 very well. I am a former dealer/independent tech and nearly wore mine out til I bought a large 3-ring binder and lots of clear sheet protectors for both my type 1 and type 2 Bentleys. If you can find the older ones I believe they are more desirable as the wiring is in color.
Hope this helps, Bill.

Tue Jan 17, 2012 12:11 pm

if your like me and like to watch someone else do a job 1st then you might wanna get the bug videos to go along with your books.

Tue Jan 17, 2012 12:14 pm

Tom Wilson's book is great, and don't forget the Bug Me Videos. When I did my engine rebuild, I watched the video three times. First time I watched it through. Then I watched it again taking notes. The thrid time was in the shop while rebuilding the engine. Used "pause" a lot. Basically it was watch the step, pause the video, do the step.

http://www.bugmevideo.com/

Tue Jan 17, 2012 1:50 pm

I have the Haynes Manual, The Robert Bentley Manual, The Muir book for complete idiots, How to rebuild your Volkswagen air cooled engine by Tom Wilson and The Volkswagen Super Beetle Handbook.
That should be a full library for anyone.

Jack
1974 Super Beetle Cabrio

Tue Jan 17, 2012 5:21 pm

wayne1230cars wrote: Thankfully the Bentley manual for 70 - 79 is a lot less than the earlier blue Bentley manuals. I have also found the "Tom Wilson" book very helpful.http://www2.cip1.com/ProductDetails.asp?ProductCode=ACC%2DC10%2D9652http://www2.cip1.com/ProductDetails.asp?ProductCode=ACC%2DC10%2D9690

Cool, good to hear.

kburg12 wrote: Hopefully by 65 SB you mean 65 Standard Beetle since they didn't make a Super Beetle in 65. The Bentley is the best book for engine work. The Muir Book is good for tweaks here and there but Bentley is by far the Holy Grail of VW engine books. You can look on here or even Amazon for a 70s Bentley book for around $30-$50 or so.

Yes, I did mean Standard Beetle. I was reading 'SB' as Standard, but I guess it doesn't. Is listing the year without any initials assumed as standard? Thanks for the heads up. Glad Bentley for the '70s is cheaper.

rockerarm wrote: An option is a used book possibly available from our classifieds or a used book store. The Bentley for the 70-74 covers the dual port 1600 very well. I am a former dealer/independent tech and nearly wore mine out til I bought a large 3-ring binder and lots of clear sheet protectors for both my type 1 and type 2 Bentleys. If you can find the older ones I believe they are more desirable as the wiring is in color.
Hope this helps, Bill.

Bill, thanks, good to know.

JonF wrote: if your like me and like to watch someone else do a job 1st then you might wanna get the bug videos to go along with your books.

fred69vert wrote: Tom Wilson's book is great, and don't forget the Bug Me Videos. When I did my engine rebuild, I watched the video three times. First time I watched it through. Then I watched it again taking notes. The thrid time was in the shop while rebuilding the engine. Used "pause" a lot. Basically it was watch the step, pause the video, do the step.

http://www.bugmevideo.com/

I didn't even think about checkin' out vids for a rebuild. Thanks! Visuals are a big help with this stuff. Great idea.

xkeots wrote: I have the Haynes Manual, The Robert Bentley Manual, The Muir book for complete idiots, How to rebuild your Volkswagen air cooled engine by Tom Wilson and The Volkswagen Super Beetle Handbook.
That should be a full library for anyone.

Jack
1974 Super Beetle Cabrio

Thanks for the list. So far Tom Wilson's book, Bentley's, and the Bug Me vids are all in order.

Thanks for the suggestions guys!!

Tue Jan 17, 2012 5:23 pm

Get all of the books manuals read them all and then attack the project.

Tue Jan 17, 2012 6:12 pm

jace you might wanna check out this website also. it is almost as good as having a repair manual in front of you.

http://www.vw-resource.com/

be sure to bookmark it for later refinance.

Tue Jan 17, 2012 6:12 pm

I read the Tom Wilson book cover to cover a couple times then kept it handy while I was building my motor. It was very easy to follow and he stresses the important things so you dont forget something.

I also referenced my "idiots guide" and an old Bently book but the Tom Wilson book was the most useful to me.

Tue Jan 17, 2012 7:45 pm

gt1953 wrote: Get all of the books manuals read them all and then attack the project.

Yeah, I want to get a head start on the reading. I doubt, knock on wood, that I need to do anything major for awhile. But I'd like to have them handy when I do.

JonF wrote: jace you might wanna check out this website also. it is almost as good as having a repair manual in front of you.

http://www.vw-resource.com/

be sure to bookmark it for later refinance.

I actually have it bookmarked and used it for some timing issues I was having. Currently using it for carb questions too. Great site.

Juice C wrote: I read the Tom Wilson book cover to cover a couple times then kept it handy while I was building my motor. It was very easy to follow and he stresses the important things so you dont forget something.

I also referenced my "idiots guide" and an old Bently book but the Tom Wilson book was the most useful to me.

It seems many arrows are pointing to the Tom Wilson book. So that may be my first purchase. Then the Bentley. I've just been disappointed on a couple occasions with the Bentley because it took for granted that I knew a few things that I actually don't. Of course it makes sense they do 'cause it's a shop manual for vw mechanics that are familiar with the car. But either way I'm picking it up.

Tue Jan 17, 2012 8:44 pm

The Tom Wilson book was the best I found on the pure subject of engine rebuilding, but it was good to have the Bentley and my other manuals to supplement it.

Tue Jan 17, 2012 9:01 pm

I just built my first engine using Tom Wilson's book. I would highly recommend getting it.

Tue Jan 17, 2012 9:35 pm

Thanks guys. Appreciate the input.

Zacharysayre, I just read your VW quote to my son, he laughed then said, "heyyy." Lol.

Wed Jan 18, 2012 6:40 am

xkeots wrote: I have the Haynes Manual, The Robert Bentley Manual, The Muir book for complete idiots, How to rebuild your Volkswagen air cooled engine by Tom Wilson and The Volkswagen Super Beetle Handbook.
That should be a full library for anyone.

Jack
1974 Super Beetle Cabrio that's A good set right there!
I have all thows and many more plus the full set of the bug me dvd's. But the list you gave well cover it all..

Wed Jan 18, 2012 7:28 am

Quote: rebuild/modify/maintain/overhaul the engine for a beginner.

depends on 2 things,
where it is now ( condition of engine, just how bad is it?)
and where you want to go with it,
1: DD (fill in your needs here.)
2: original ,stock as possible.
3: massive displacement changes. racing , what ever.

the first step is easy,take it apart (use no pry bars or levers of any kind)
the second step is inspection and is near impossible to explain.
but do read the RED BOOK. Discovery phase.
best advice here , is pay the machinist to do the inspections.
Miking all journals and bores. crack checks.etc...

step 3 , is deciding how to correct all the out of tolerance parts discovered in previous step. (new, use, regrinds, etc) and the more difficult challenge...is from what reliable source?
(vastly bad sources , a mine field for sure... )

the next step , is to measure the new parts (or rebuilt)
are they in spec. or as you ordered them. Never trust new parts ever.
MIKE THEM your self ! Learn how to take these measurements.

the last step is assembly and is covered in all the VW builders books.
Measuring clearances before the final , assembly..
(last are all the checks to do before 1st start of engine, do not skip this)

that is the macro view of engine building.

each step expands.
There are other great books on the shelf , for engine building.
general books.
one old book that has great value
is the old Tom Monroe "the racing engine builders hand book"
v8 oriented but the basics are all there...

Wed Jan 18, 2012 1:07 pm

schadenfreude wrote: Quote: rebuild/modify/maintain/overhaul the engine for a beginner.

depends on 2 things,
where it is now ( condition of engine, just how bad is it?)
and where you want to go with it,
1: DD (fill in your needs here.)
2: original ,stock as possible.
3: massive displacement changes. racing , what ever.

the first step is easy,take it apart (use no pry bars or levers of any kind)
the second step is inspection and is near impossible to explain.
but do read the RED BOOK. Discovery phase.
best advice here , is pay the machinist to do the inspections.
Miking all journals and bores. crack checks.etc...

step 3 , is deciding how to correct all the out of tolerance parts discovered in previous step. (new, use, regrinds, etc) and the more difficult challenge...is from what reliable source?
(vastly bad sources , a mine field for sure... )

the next step , is to measure the new parts (or rebuilt)
are they in spec. or as you ordered them. Never trust new parts ever.
MIKE THEM your self ! Learn how to take these measurements.

the last step is assembly and is covered in all the VW builders books.
Measuring clearances before the final , assembly..
(last are all the checks to do before 1st start of engine, do not skip this)

that is the macro view of engine building.

each step expands.
There are other great books on the shelf , for engine building.
general books.
one old book that has great value
is the old Tom Monroe "the racing engine builders hand book"
v8 oriented but the basics are all there...

Awesome, you speak my language when it comes to explaining a process. It makes total sense and that's what I've been trying to figure out; how to prioritize with what I will need. I need this car as my DD for minimum 2 yrs on a student's budget :/ so keeping it in shape has to have those in mind. Later it's up in the air what the goal will be. However, within all the contexts you listed I want to have the knowledge to understand why the machinist says that that piston is no good or the case is shot. Eventually I want to do it myself, but as you said I need to have a professional's insight for sure.

I take it that the RED BOOK is Wilson's?

Step 3 is what is concerning me since I've been seeking out internet help and what-not. It seems like there are very conflicting suggestions and methods. I want to be able to ascertain for myself what may be bogus or perhaps worth a try. I guess time and experience will help with that.

Wed Jan 18, 2012 1:13 pm

So the Bentley and Wilson manual are in my Amazon cart right now. I'm so glad the Bentley book is far cheaper than my '60s one and they have the Wilson manual for $16; sorry local shops, I'm on a tight budget.