Customer Reviews

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

5 star:		(31)
4 star:		(7)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

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.

Unlike the other two canonical manuals for air-cooled VWs (The official Bentley Shop Manual and the John Muir Compleat Idiot Guide), this one focuses on removing, rebuilding, and reinstalling the engine. It describes rebuilding procedures more clearly and in more detail, and feels more "current" than the other manuals. If you are contemplating a rebuild of your bug, bus, early vanagon, porsche 914, squareback or other air-cooled VW engine, this inexpensive manual will easily pay for itself by reducing the amount of time you spend puzzling over procedures and improving your chances for a successful, high-quality rebuild. The only complaint I have is that color pictures would be nice, but would undoubtedly raise the price

If you are knowledgeable about engines but not VW's this book is for you. Tom Wilson solves the mystery of what part goes to what engine. Mr.Wilson even tells you how to identify the old 36hp engines no longer used. He tells where to find part numbers what parts to replace for street use and what to replace for hard high rpm use. Terms like crank whip,counter weight, and such are explained. While aimed primarly at the street Beetle owner a valuable addition to the shop library, specialy if you are starting with a pile of parts

I was a VW/Audi technician for many years in a dealership. Never in my many years did I find a book as easy to understand as this book. It is much easier to read and understand then even some factory shop manuals. I have rebuilt many VW aircooled engines and also review this book prior to beginning a rebuild just to remind myself of the nessesary steps. It even tells you what Engine cases to use and not to use and step by step parts installation. My only recommendation is not to cut corners on your parts and the first thing to do is buy and read this book. M.C.

If you are planning on rebuilding your VW or Porsche 914 engine, or are even just curious about what's involved, then this is the book for you. The book is broken down into several excellent sections: engine removal, teardown, parts interchange, reconditioning, assembly, and burnin. Detailed B&W photos document every step involved. This is by far one of the best how-to books out there, and is almost all you need to rebuild your engine (factory manuals would help to supplement the book too).... it's a great buy, and definitely worth purchasing even if you're not going to rebuild your motor, but want to know what's involved, or why your mechanic is charging you so much. I'm currently writing a similar book on rebuilding the Porsche 911 engine, and I'm modeling it after this one.

As an FAA-certified Airframe and Powerplant mechanic, I can say with some authority that this is one of the best tech books ever published. No fluff, incredibly informative and very "user friendly", this one needs to be on every VW and Formula Vee owner's bookshelf.

I've read and have most VW repair books and this one is on the top bracket of quality and easy understanding for the guy (or gal) who is working in an aircooled VW motor rebuild or even simple adjustment of valves.
It has all the information you may need for a standard motor rebuild, however if you are planning on supping up or hotroding your motor you will find information on that part to me minimal or nonexistent.
All motor work is covered with special sections added to each part in order to cover the type 4 engines, which are not even mentioned in most other handbooks.
Step by step procedures and alerts that will make you avoid time consuming mistakes in the assembly of the engine are very well detailed in the important parts where they are needed.
An excellent choice for engine repair, it does not cover tune-up procedures that are out from the basic set-up of the engine.
A worthy addition to any ones library on VW repair.

Of all the vw books I own (a lot) this has been the most useful so far. I cant find the info for rebuilding an engine to stock condition anywhere else not even in the rightly fabled Bentley manuals. This book saved me so much money and a blown engine that I would send mr.wilson a bucket full of white grease if I knew where to send it.

I found this book to provide detailed and informed information and pictures on the process of disassembly, repair, and reassembly of the VW aircooled engines types 1-4. There are many hints and tips that should prevent many mistakes and save hours of time. The information also agrees with other publications that I have read on the subject, which lends credibility to the author's suggestions and options. I recommend this book to anyone interested in VW aircooled engines.

If you have an aircooled VW and you're planning to rebuild the engine then you need this book. Use it in conjuction with the proper service manual like Haynes or better still..the Bentley Manual. This book makes rebuilding a VW engine much easier. The writing style is easy to understand and not boring at all. If you're serious about your Beetle this should be in your reference library