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How to Keep Your Volkswagen Alive: A Manual of Step-by-Step Procedures for the Compleat Idiot?
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https://www.amazon.com/Keep-Volkswagen-Alive-Step-Step/dp/1566913101
I second this. They are straight forward and would be great to learn on.
That said - you do know on todays highways they are death traps. The drum brakes don't stop for $%^&, it handles like a tractor, has tiny skinny tires with no grip, and the only crumple zone is your skull. Really, if a texting soccer mom in a Tahoe T bones you its probably over
https://www.amazon.com/Keep-Volkswagen-Alive-Step-Step/dp/1566913101
Following the guide in the book, buy some tools and a box to keep them in that will fit in the rear window well. Then do the basic tuneup. Learn how to set your valves, and why the number 3 cylinder's valves should always be set looser than the other cylinders. Figure out how to advance and retard the distributor. Figure out the proper method for changing your generator belt.
Then you'll want to learn how to do all of that by feel with your eyes closed, so that, some dark night, you'll be able to do it all on the side of the road. Bugs are not unreliable, but they pick the damnedest times to do janky stuff.
Basics like when/how to add which fluids, changing a tire, at what point to see a mechanic are things my kids learned before they were allowed to drive. When I was their age I toasted my VW and had to learn about engines to rebuild it because I had no money. "How to Keep Your Volkswagen Alive: A Manual of Step-by-Step Procedures for the Compleat Idiot saved me an incredible amount of money and was the original "Idiot" book.
Jbugs, CB Performance, and SoCal Imports are where I personally get all my parts. Jbugs has a few items of questionable quality, but for the most part everything has been good. They're also usually a bit cheaper than other places.
Also if you're going to do the majority of work on it, I'd look into getting a service manual. There's the Bentley manual, but apparently there isn't one that covers 1960. There are actual shop service manuals, and those might work. I have this book and I like it. It's got a lot of info about pretty much anything you'll need to work on, and it covers every year Bug.
On another note, keep spare parts in the car in case of a breakdown. I used to have a spare belt, spark plugs, light bulbs, carb rebuild kit, and a tool kit with sockets, wrenches, etc. I ditched the carb kit when I upgraded to dual carbs a while back. A spare throttle cable and clutch cable would probably be good as well. I haven't had it happen, but they do break occasionally and it sucks to be stranded with something that simple.
Buy John Muirs idiot manual it’s a great read and the art is hilarious also pick up a Bentley service manual for your year, don’t bother with the Hayes one. If you can turn the pulley by hand great! Drain all the old gas if it’s been sitting for more then a month and change the fuel filter if the is one. Drop the oil and clean the screen if some of the studs pull out don’t fret, while you are under there clean any leaves or grass out of the nooks and crannies put the pan back on and fill with the correct amount of new oil. Take the air filter off and see how many spiders are living in there. Lift up the back seat and prop it up good because if you turn it over and the starter won’t stop with the key you wanna be able to pull the battery cable off. get a compression tester pull all the wires and plugs and label them to each cyl with tape. check all the cylinders compression they should all be within 10% of one another if it’s ok ie 100+psi. You can check for spark at this point too by putting on plug in the wire and laying on the tin where you can see it and getting someone to crank over the engine a few times don’t put the plugs back in until all are checked for comp and spark. If everything is still good. Put new plugs back in her. change the cap and rotor and clean up the points with some emery cloth if they are corroded , change new wires one wire at a time to the cap and then do the wires one at a time so you don’t mix them up. change the fuel filter if it has one and inspect any rubber fuel lines and change any that are questionable, don’t forget the one under the tank in the front(I would change them all anyways) Clean any leaves and stuff from the engine bay don’t forget in behind the fan shroud.. put gas in it and check for leaks EVERYWHERE If it starts great! If it doesn’t start you need 3 things for a gas engine to run. fuel, compression and spark. Good luck!
A car that can be completely disassembled, and reassembled, in your driveway, with nothing more than an old set of Craftsman sockets and wrenches. Which you’ll need to do frequently, to keep it running.
Amazon sells the required instruction manual: How to Keep Your Volkswagen Alive: A Manual of Step-by-Step Procedures for the Compleat Idiot
There is a great book called How to Keep Your Volkswagen Alive I had one that was hole punched and put into a binder, perfect for working in the workshop.
This. Anyone can say they out in a ‘new’ engine. That could mean a new to the car beater engine from the junkyard to a fully rebuilt from scratch with all new I rentals and seals, etc.
This appears to be the former. You should have the engine tested at a competent VW shop in your area. Have them check the timing, the rockers under the valve covers and do a compression test.
Then start buying books to lean how to work on the car yourself. Buy this book first:
https://www.amazon.com/Keep-Volkswagen-Alive-Step-Step/dp/1566913101
Highly recommend this book for beginners, easy to follow step-by-step instructions for most repairs and maintenance procedures:
How to Keep Your Volkswagen Alive: A Manual of Step-by-Step Procedures for the Compleat Idiot https://www.amazon.com/dp/1566913101/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apan_glt_fabc_BNH3M5CZM7WPDDC0DQ5T
The book also has lists of recommended tools to get you started with.
Your project doesn't look bad at all, a great starting point. Don't sweat the cosmetics right now. Focus on starting, running and stopping. Floors are good to have as well.
Cip1.com is a good source for parts.
TheSamba.com is an invaluable resource, check it out.
I would also recommend getting this book. It has tons of great information on fixing your car, and lots of cool drawings to help figure stuff out. There is a chapter on front ends.
How to Keep Your Volkswagen Alive: A Manual of Step-by-Step Procedures for the Compleat Idiot[sic]
Awesome! Even back in the sixtires, I never had one that nicely kept. If you don't have one already, get a VW Idiot book. Even if you don't work on it yourself, you'll understand what they are doing to your baby.
Since nobody is mentioning it, and if you haven't already, buy a copy of How to Keep Your Volkswagen Alive: A Manual of Step-by-Step Procedures for the Compleat Idiot, which is the bible for your car. Every air-cooled VW owner should have a copy.
Then follow the very detailed instructions for doing a basic tuneup.
If you want to try yourself here’s an excellent book to start with. This guided me and saved me for many of years. Air cooled VWs are easy and fun nice you get the hang of it.
How to Keep Your Volkswagen Alive: A Manual of Step-by-Step Procedures for the Compleat Idiot https://smile.amazon.com/dp/1566913101/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_glt_fabc_FMD9F6ME4KRTYY5XP3BD
My first car was a red 1963 VW bug which my parents bought for me in 1972. You could literally see the street through the rust in the floorboards.
But that puppy served me for more two years when I was first starting out, and I was gifted with the classic VW bug owner's guide, How to Keep Your Volkswagon Alive.
And then my older brother (yes, he gave me the book!) made me take off and replace all four tires on it with the new ones my parents bought. Then he talked me through replacing the rusted out tail pipe with a converter thingie of some sort (just had a different shape, I have no clue anymore what it was--it was long ago!).
I have to say, the day I actually got a flat tire that experience came in handy, and I demonstrated to my equally dressed-up roommate that yes, one actually can crack a tire nut wearing high heels. Then a nice man stopped and finished putting the spare wheel on for me.
In Mexico we rent a house built by the man who wrote the Whole Earth Catalog style books on VW repair including How to Keep Your Volkswagen Alive Forever (it's still in print - see link below). He was an aerospace engineer who dropped out to open a Volkswagen repair shop in the Bay Area and built this house in San Miguel de Allende. It's decorated with signs of the zodiac, stained glass windows of his profile with a VW bug above him. It's a wonderful, funky place. We rent it from his son, who is blues musician who plays for Maria Muldauer. They stopped making bugs in Mexico but there are still very many on the road there.
Okay, I'm going to give you the strangest recommendation you've ever heard of.
You know all these "idiot's guide" kind of books on every subject imaginable out there? Ever wonder where that all started?
It started with the single greatest car repair manual ever written, end of discussion, ain't no doubt about it:
https://www.amazon.com/Keep-Volkswagen-Alive-Step-Step/dp/1566913101
That book is vintage 60s counterculture turned into a car repair manual. It's one of the huge reasons that volkswagon bugs and buses were such a huge part of the hippie culture.
Your average 1970s motorcycle shares a lot of technology with a Volkswagen bug, including how the cylinders and heads are put together, how you do valve adjustments, how you do carb cleaning and adjustments and a lot more.
By pure dumb luck the first vehicle I ever bought and modified with my own money was a VW Baja bug. That manual was beyond invaluable. It's also the ancestor of the entire concept of an "idiot's guide" and none ever did it better.
I shit you not, buy that book and read it cover-to-cover. Grok the fullness of it.
THEN when you buy a cheap running motorcycle and a normal repair manual for it from Clymers or whatever, you will have the ghost of John Muir looking over your shoulder and guiding you because you'll remember the concepts he preached.
The only manual you’ll ever need
How to Keep Your Volkswagen Alive: A Manual of Step-by-Step Procedures for the Compleat Idiot https://www.amazon.com/dp/1566913101/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_npzeAbXZM1D1J
The book linked above got my Dad through numerous problems and issues with his 79 (?) beetle when I was growing up. He says it’s a must have!
Still waiting on my Haynes manual to give me all the nitty gritty, but I have to say, I cannot recommend this one enough - How to Keep Your Volkswagen Alive
It covers all the basic stuff, and helps a newbie like me grok how all the systems work together.
Even if you don't have a Volkswagen, John Muir's Idiots Guide has the best write ups I've ever seen breaking down just how the parts work, plus a some solid advice along the way about how to diagnose problems and be safe while working. Your library may have a copy. It's worth the read if you skip the individual procedures.
Woah! I have the same color for my 74. Is that a Canadian Edition Auto Stick too by chance?
Have fun! Seriously, I thought you had my car for a minute there but then realized you'd have to take it off the jack stands and find the elusive 4th tire I need ;P
Edit - To answer your question! http://www.amazon.ca/Keep-Volkswagen-Alive-Step-Step/dp/1566913101
Check out that book if your beetle needs some work to get running. It's been great for me.
It sounds like you have two different things going on. An oil leak and probably a carburetor adjustment problem. First of all, after cleaning the distributor I hope you let it dry well. Can you keep the engine running by throttling the carb from the engine compartment? If so, can you see the oil pressure switch screwed into the side of block just below the distributor? This may be where your oil leak is coming from. The switches leak all the time. What do you know about the state of the engine before you traded for it? Last tune up? It sounds like it needs a tune up with a carb adjust. That means replacing the points, setting the dwell angle. Set timing. Then adjust the carb. It may also need the valves adjusted. If you want to learn how to work on a VW with old school equipment like this you need to learn a bit of old school theory. If not you may need a pro to do this for you. This is a recommendation of a book all new Aircooled owners should own : How to Keep Your Volkswagen Alive: A Manual of Step-by-Step Procedures for the Compleat Idiot Paperback – August 29, 2001 by John Muir (Author), Tosh Gregg (Author), & 1 morehttp://www.amazon.com/Keep-Volkswagen-Alive-Step-Step/dp/1566913101
OK. I got a really weird suggestion. Go buy this and read it cover to cover:
I know. That sounds weird as hell. But that is the single best technical manual for any motor vehicle, and an air-cooled classic VW is actually very similar tech to a Harley or a lot of other air-cooled motorcycles.
This book is the ancestor of the entire concept of the popular "idiot's guide" books, but none ever did it better.
If you want a true and proper "feel" for wrenching, this book is an awesome place to start. I know about it because I built a Baja Bug as the last "fun car" I ever owned before getting into motorcycles nearly 30 years ago.
"Super-unreliable car"
"Volkswagen Beetle"
Does. Not. Compute. They have like three parts! Thwack the carburetor (it ain't like you have two to keep in sync), replace the belt a few times, and give 'er a go!
(And get this just in case. Thwack the carburetor with it!)
One thing that was mentioned before that I think needs to be emphesized is [the Samba.](www.thesamba.com) It's a great group of people that love VWs, and will help you with whatever you need. And the old air-cooled VWs are the best. If you do end up getting one, get The Idiot's Guide- it is a lifesaver when it comes to troubleshooting. Ghias are great, and they look amazing, but if you end up having to do any body work on them, it might be a pain finding original parts, if that's something you care about. But, in my humble opinion, you can't go wrong with an old Volkswagen. They're cheap, easy to fix, and a blast to drive.
How to keep your Volkswagen alive. http://www.amazon.com/Keep-Volkswagen-Alive-Step-Step/dp/1566913101 Yes they focus on old Volkswagens but you'll learn a lot about general car maintenance and how they work plus it a fun read and written in non-auto speak for the average person to understand. Most of it will apply to any car you own.
When I had my first beetle I was a big fan of How to Keep you VW Alive - Step by step for the complete idiot. Mostly because I was an idiot mechanically back then.
Take a look at this image, and compare it to your pedal set in the car. https://www.thesamba.com/vw/gallery/pix/656067.jpg
The brake master pushrod, number 14 on the image, attaches to a pivot that is welded to the brake pedal, which you can see as a stub in my image above. (Follow the clip, number 15, left to the master pushrod, then over to the pedal assembly to find the pivot.) If the pedal set on your '64 was ever replaced with an aftermarket reproduction unit (which is common), the pivot pins are only spot welded to the pedal. After a few years of use, or heavy braking, they can snap off. Confirm if your pivot pin is still welded to the pedal assembly. If not, problem found.
If the pin is still attached to the pedal assembly, with your head down in the footwell actuate the brake pedal with your hand. Is the brake master pushrod moving forward into the firewall? If it is, your problem is likely in the master cylinder area. The snap, combined with pedal going to the floor instantly tells me a broken pin is likely the cause. Report back with what you find, and I'm happy to help you with the repair procedures. Replacing the pedal set isn't difficult, but it's also not an easy procedure.
With a '64 Beetle there are two books you should buy. The first is the blue factory repair manual: http://www.bentleypublishers.com/volkswagen/repair-information/vw-type-1-1966-1969-repair-manual.html You can find this book from a variety of sources, including amazon and all the VW parts houses. You are likely to find one used quite easily as well. This book is an absolute necessity for properly repairing the car. The second book you should buy is the John Muir book: https://www.amazon.com/Keep-Volkswagen-Alive-Step-Step/dp/1566913101 It's a fun read, is helpful for learning repairs, fantastic for determining where a problem might be, but many of John's steps for repair could be improved. This is the book you read cover to cover as soon as you can, as a fun read. When your beetle has a problem, or you need to perform a service procedure, you pick up the bentley and follow the steps there.
This sounds like the preamble for John Muir's book.
Who cares? You're 17! Whatever happens, you'll have a great story to tell for the rest of your life. I would have LOVED to go on an adventure like this at your age. Remember, "Adventure is misery recounted at leisure."
The car may be able to go about 65-70mph on the freeway but I wouldn't recommend running it at that speed for long. This car was made before the national 55mph speed limit but 60-65 is probably about as fast as you want to go on a sustained basis if the car's top speed is 73. Running ANY car at or near its maximum speed for any length of time stresses it pretty badly.
I *would* recommend that you carry a spare alternator belt, ignition points, spark plugs, and condenser. Know how to change those out at the side of the road, and how to set dwell and timing. Get a copy of <em>How To Keep Your Volkswagen Alive</em> by John Muir. Carry a rudimentary set of tools: assorted screwdrivers, assorted pliers, a set of metric combination wrenches, a metric socket set, a dwell meter and timing light.
It's not unlikely, if you get towed to a shop, that yours will be the first Bug the mechanic has seen outside of a museum or a car show. Mechanics who know how to work on those cars aren't that common, any more.
If this is a *literal* cross-country drive, like, you're starting out on or near the West Coast...be aware that we're heading into the time of year when roads and passes through the Rockies can get shut down because of snow conditions. If you're traveling through desolate areas, don't count on cellphones to work. If you'll be traveling through the desert, read this.
ETA: Hopefully you can get your parents to agree to all of this. Also, if this is a multi-day trip, at 17, you may have problems doing things like getting a motel room, because you're a minor. I'm not sure how that would work even if your parents were to authorize you to use one of their credit cards.
Buy this Book, then obey everything they tell you. I did when I was 16 and now I'm an Engineer https://www.amazon.com/Keep-Volkswagen-Alive-Step-Step/dp/1566913101
This is all you need.
Cheaper and the title is spelt correctly on Amazon.
https://www.amazon.com/Keep-Volkswagen-Alive-Step-Step/dp/1566913101
Yes. I think The Book(TM) would be good first purchase.
$25 at amazon and worth every penny: https://www.amazon.com/Keep-Volkswagen-Alive-Step-Step/dp/1566913101
cut my teeth on a vdub bug and this. good times.
There is literally a repair manual for air cooled VW written and illustrated by hippies, using that type of language. https://www.amazon.com/Keep-Volkswagen-Alive-Step-Step/dp/1566913101
I read this back in the early 1980s when reading "How to keep your Volkswagen alive.” https://www.amazon.com/dp/1566913101/ref=cm_sw_r_apan_i_5RNS6464AT819YFJ23KE?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1
Olá, OP. Tenho um Fusca 77, o qual uso nos meus trajetos diários e viagens de curta distância. Vou deixar aqui meus "dois centavos", além de algumas indicações, pra você considerar sobre o assunto.
Primeiramente, sempre lembre que algum reparo/ajuste vai ser necessária logo de cara, quando se compra um carro velho. O Fusca em particular, tem uma mecânica extremamente simples e duradoura, projetada pra resistir às condições mais precárias e manter o veículo andando, mesmo com o mínimo de manutenção. O que faz com que ele seja vítima de diversos abusos e negligências, pelos donos mais descuidados.
Se você estiver aberto à aprender sobre mecânica, o Fusca também é uma excelente escola. Devido à engenhosidade do seu projeto, mexer na parte mecânica e elétrica do Fusca, se torna bastante intuitivo e requer ferramentas básicas, que você provavelmente já tem em casa. Fora que, talvez, você descubra também que fazer a manutenção do seu próprio veículo, além de ser muito mais barato, pode ser extremamente satisfatório.
Deixo aqui, a indicação do canal do Marcelo Tonella, que tem tutoriais sobre todos os reparos básicos e avançados possíveis em um Fusquinha. Há diversos outros canais também que cobrem esse tipo de conteúdo e com boa qualidade. Além disso, se você sabe ler inglês ou espanhol, recomendo o livro-manual How To Keep Your Volkswagen Alive, do John Muir
Sobre a sua pergunta, especificamente: tanto a parte mecânica quanto elétrica do Fusca dificilmente escondem grandes surpresas. Geralmente fica bem evidente ao olhar, ouvir e especialmente ao dirigir o carro. Procure por sinais óbvios de negligência: excesso de sujeira de óleo no motor, fiação velha, bagunçada ou com muitos remendos, motor fora do ritmo ou fraco, fumaça negra ao dar a partida, componentes elétricos falhando, marchas arranhando ou não entrando, etc. De qualquer forma, sempre peça pra um mecânico de confiança avaliar o veículo antes da compra.
O calcanhar de Aquiles do Fusca é a funilaria. Ele simplesmente adora enferrujar e pode ser difícil achar mão-de-obra qualificada e peças de reposição de qualidade, nesse setor. Então, leve uma lanterna e verifique todos os cantos possíveis atrás de sinais de ferrugem, podres e umidade. Levante todos os tapetes e forrações, se estiverem colados, bata com o dedo em busca de falhas na chapa. Cheque as dobradiças das portas, o porta-malas frontal e bagageiro interno (o famoso "chiqueirinho"). Pontos de ferrugem superficial, onde é possível sentir a chapa ainda íntegra e sólida por baixo, são normais e simples de resolver. Sinais de excesso de umidade acumulada, ferrugem profunda ou até chapas já podres, se desfazendo, devem ser tomados como bandeiras vermelhas.
Procure também por sinais de acidente. Dificilmente um carro que rodou 40 anos não vai ter tomado uma pancada, mas você precisa procurar por sinais de um reparo mal-feito. Observe se o porta-malas fecha bem e está alinhado com a lataria, se as portas estão bem ajustadas e os para-lamas estão igualmente alinhados entre si.
Com o carro em movimento, ande em uma rua de paralelepípedos e procure escutar se o chassi ou a lataria não fazem barulho em excesso, especialmente se não há presença do famoso "grilar", sons de metal raspando conforme o carro balança.
Acredito que esses sejam os pontos pricipais, que eu observaria hoje. Possivelmente edito este ou acrescendo outro comentário, em outro momento, com mais links que podem ser de ajuda.
Bump that. Get this:
https://www.amazon.com/Keep-Volkswagen-Alive-Step-Step/dp/1566913101
Also get this book
This is a great resource, as well as this book.
As others have said, the carb will most likely need to be pulled and cleaned/rebuilt. Find out what carb/distributor setup you have, and do some research on The Samba to see if they work well together. These engines really do run the best when they are in their original configuration (stock form that is). Over the years, lots of people install loads of mix and match crap quality parts that will make the performance suffer.
Other than that, check the plugs/wires/distributor and make sure everything is in good order. Also try to drain the junk out of the fuel tank, or at the least grab a bunch of fuel filters and keep swapping them when they fill up with debris. Most of all have fun! These old veedubs will make a mechanic out of anyone.
There are other books, but this one helped me tremendously. And if it's on your shelf, people will know you're a serious VW guy. Haha.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/1566913101/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_awdb_imm_GR35A5DRQ61VDJN46XDF
very CLEAN Super
now pick up this book it's a good read and will help keep it on the road
https://www.amazon.com/Keep-Volkswagen-Alive-Step-Step/dp/1566913101
boom, get this and start having fun.
| Item | Current | Lowest | Reviews |
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| How to Keep Your Volkswagen Alive: A Manual of St… | - | - | 4.8/5.0 |
^Item&nbsp;Info | Bot&nbsp;Info | Trigger
Buy "The Idiot Book".
Seriously.
https://www.amazon.com/Keep-Volkswagen-Alive-Step-Step/dp/1566913101
It's been around since 1969, and is absolutely *THE BEST* source for inexperienced mechanics who wind up owning aircooled VW Beetles.
You can find a copy at any reasonable used book store, or at Amazon. But get it. It's the best for where you're starting -- and not bad if you were more experienced. Keep it in the car. You'll thank me for that later.
How to Keep Your Volkswagen Alive: A Manual of Step-by-Step Procedures for the Compleat Idiot https://www.amazon.com/dp/1566913101/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_glt_fabc_QJP8EZ3P392A52ABM6SB?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1
Are you using actual high temp wheel bearing grease? Buy this book https://www.amazon.com/Keep-Volkswagen-Alive-Step-Step/dp/1566913101
If you do buy it, or any old air-cooled VW, do not hesitate for one minute to buy this book. It will save you tons of money and time. Plus it's a good book.
Buy this book. Read it through. It will teach you everything about the basics. It's a good book too.
Start here. https://www.amazon.com/dp/1566913101/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_fabc_f6P2FbKGK316Y
Classic for the beginner.
Amazed that this hasn't been mentioned, but John Muir's guide is indispensible: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1566913101/
Get a copy of <em>How To Keep Your Volkswagen Alive</em>.
Check out these guys, https://youtu.be/z4W92DlPELQ
Also do you have this bookhow to keep VW alive
1) it's a bus not a van :)
2) Depends what year you buy, what shapes it's in etc..
3) How to learn? Pick up a book, scan the internet and start fixing.
https://www.amazon.ca/Keep-Volkswagen-Alive-Step-Step/dp/1566913101
Your first step in buying a bug should always be buying John Muir's "how to keep your Volkswagen alive" and reading it cover to cover.
https://www.amazon.com/Keep-Volkswagen-Alive-Step-Step/dp/1566913101
If you do get a bus, I highly recommend this book. It is amazing, simple, and has groooovy drawings.
https://www.amazon.com/Keep-Volkswagen-Alive-Step-Step/dp/1566913101
This is novel, I get to post on this sub as an answerer instead of a questioner lol.
So, I've got 6 VW busses. They are not really for sale so to speak but those are the credentials. I bought my first bus in 1998 for a $300 while still in high school with 0 mechanical knowledge other than changing my oil.
As some have said here the best way to start is to just jump right in! Find one you like and go for it. When I started buying VWs they were still trash vehicles, everybody had an old one in the backyard and they were just looking to get rid of them. Now they are a bit more precious, you will pay much more for a poor condition bus than I would have for a great one back then. But the upside is there are many more aftermarket places for things that were harder to find then. NADA, Edmunds and the like are useless to find out what busses are worth. It's best to get familiar with online VW communities like the Samba they also have an excellent classified section.
I used a book 60% of the time to figure things out on my bus. Two books you REALLY NEED are The Idiot's Guide and the Bentley book. Between these you are pretty much covered. The Idiot's Guide is similar to Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance, I would recommend reading it cover to cover.
For the other 40% of my VW learning curve I utilized people's advice. Air cooled VW enthusiasts are the best people to get to know. They will always wave and stop to chat when you finally get to drive your bus. Find your closest VW auto club and start joining in activities, make connections and offer to help people fix their cars, it will be a huge help and you will make friends.
Now just a quick final observation and opinion. You said you wanted a "camper van". From that description I can point you to a a '68 to '79 Westphalia. Those are what most people picture with that description. There are three main body styles for busses; Splitty, Bay Window and Vanagon all fall under the general model number Type 2 (beetles are type 1). I don't want to write a novel here so I'll cut it short. If you have any other questions feel free to ask here or PM me, if I don't know I'll know where to look.
Try this book. It's all about air cooled VWs, but there's plenty of general repair info in there, and it's fun to read.
Get your own insurance for it it will much cheaper than you think as the car is in storage.
Buy a copy ofHow to Keep Your Volkswagen Alive (The Idiot Book)
Do yourself a favor and buy (or search for the PDF version) this book, http://www.amazon.com/Keep-Volkswagen-Alive-Step-Step/dp/1566913101
Check out http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/
It's centered around aircooleds instead of waterpumpers. Also get this book. Very helpful for people new to aircooleds and auto repair in general.
Anyway, it sounds to me like checking out the fuel lines would be a good place to start along with a new fuel filter (If its located in the engine bay move it, huge fire risk). My guess is some tank sediment got knocked loose and clogged something. If you can't find a clog maybe the fuel pumps defective? Even though it's new it happens.
Oh..... and are you sure theres gas in the tank? Could be leaking.
the illustration and writing reminds me of that old vw repair manual.
If you're just starting, get this book. This isn't a recommendation, it's an insistence.
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