{"product":{"product_id":"1566913101","title":"How to Keep Your Volkswagen Alive: A Manual of Step-by-Step Procedures for the Compleat Idiot","price":"26.72","image_url":"https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/51kk-B80LML._SL500_.jpg","url":"https://www.amazon.com/dp/1566913101"},"comments":[{"body":"https://www.amazon.com/Keep-Volkswagen-Alive-Step-Step/dp/1566913101\r\n\r\nI second this.  They are straight forward and would be great to learn on.\r\n\r\n\r\nThat said - you do know on todays highways they are death traps.  The drum brakes don't stop for $%^\u0026amp;, 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","subreddit_name":"cars","author":"pblood40"},{"body":"https://www.amazon.com/Keep-Volkswagen-Alive-Step-Step/dp/1566913101\r\n\r\nFollowing 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.\r\n\r\nThen 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.","subreddit_name":"beetle","author":"NeverEnufWTF"},{"body":"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] (https://www.amazon.com/Keep-Volkswagen-Alive-Step-Step/dp/1566913101) saved me an incredible amount of money and was the original \"Idiot\" book.","subreddit_name":"news","author":"oddartist"},{"body":"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. \r\n\r\nAlso 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](https://www.amazon.com/Keep-Volkswagen-Alive-Step-Step/dp/1566913101) 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.\r\n\r\nOn 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.","subreddit_name":"aircooled","author":"hunter-of-hunters"},{"body":"Buy [John Muirs idiot manual](https://www.amazon.ca/dp/1566913101/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_1ydwFbCP6N0CZ) 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!","subreddit_name":"beetle","author":"KdF-wagen"},{"body":"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. \r\n\r\nAmazon sells the required instruction manual: [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_i_SZvuEbB1F5YPM)","subreddit_name":"RoastMyCar","author":"JonBoy-470"},{"body":"There is a great book called [How to Keep Your Volkswagen Alive](https://www.amazon.ca/Keep-Volkswagen-Alive-Step-Step/dp/1566913101/ref=sr_1_9?crid=2WFF0A8JT5W1\u0026amp;keywords=beetle+repair+manual\u0026amp;qid=1647464643\u0026amp;sprefix=beetle+repair+manual%2Caps%2C99\u0026amp;sr=8-9) I had one that was hole punched and put into a binder, perfect for working in the workshop.","subreddit_name":"Volkswagen","author":"jojowasher"},{"body":"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. \r\n\r\nThis 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. \r\n\r\nThen start buying books to lean how to work on the car yourself. Buy this book first:\r\n\r\nhttps://www.amazon.com/Keep-Volkswagen-Alive-Step-Step/dp/1566913101","subreddit_name":"vwbug","author":"TheNamesDave"},{"body":"Highly recommend this book for beginners, easy to follow step-by-step instructions for most repairs and maintenance procedures:\r\n\r\nHow 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\r\n\r\nThe book also has lists of recommended tools to get you started with.\r\n\r\nYour 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.\r\n\r\nCip1.com is a good source for parts.\r\n\r\nTheSamba.com is an invaluable resource, check it out.","subreddit_name":"aircooled","author":"RISmachine"},{"body":"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.\r\n\r\n[How to Keep Your Volkswagen Alive: A Manual of Step-by-Step Procedures for the Compleat Idiot](https://www.amazon.com/Keep-Volkswagen-Alive-Step-Step/dp/1566913101)[sic]","subreddit_name":"beetle","author":"TheNamesDave"},{"body":" 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](https://www.amazon.com/Keep-Volkswagen-Alive-Step-Step/dp/1566913101).  Even if you don't work on it yourself, you'll understand what they are doing to your baby.","subreddit_name":"Volkswagen","author":"dave729us"},{"body":"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](https://www.amazon.com/Keep-Volkswagen-Alive-Step-Step/dp/1566913101/), which is the bible for your car. Every air-cooled VW owner should have a copy.\r\n\r\nThen follow the very detailed instructions for doing a basic tuneup.","subreddit_name":"beetle","author":"NeverEnufWTF"},{"body":"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.\r\n\r\nHow 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","subreddit_name":"indianapolis","author":"EWiggins"},{"body":"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. \r\n\r\nBut 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](https://www.amazon.com/Keep-Volkswagen-Alive-Step-Step/dp/1566913101).\r\n\r\nAnd 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!).\r\n\r\nI 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.","subreddit_name":"funny","author":"mischiffmaker"},{"body":"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.\r\n\r\nhttps://smile.amazon.com/Keep-Volkswagen-Alive-Step-Step/dp/1566913101/ref=sr_1_3?dchild=1\u0026amp;keywords=keeping+your+volkswagen+alive+forever+Muir+books\u0026amp;qid=1602785508\u0026amp;sr=8-3","subreddit_name":"itookapicture","author":"Atozman"}]}