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

~ Tom Wilson (Author) "Simple as it may sound, before beginning an engine rebuild, first decide if a rebuild is necessary..." (more)
Key Phrases: bellhousing nuts, apply white grease, bellhousing studs, Panel Truck, Station Wagon, Pickup Truck (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description

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.

Product Details

• Paperback: 176 pages
• Publisher: HP Trade (January 1, 1987)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0895862255
• ISBN-13: 978-0895862259
• Product Dimensions: 9.9 x 7.9 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 14.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (29 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #39,037 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

40 of 40 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Professional Grade Advice, October 8, 2003

By	David Wilson (Massachusetts) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

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.

18 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The definitive guide to rebuilding your air-cooled VW engine., September 18, 1996

By A Customer

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

21 of 22 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars An execellant book to have in the shop, April 3, 1999

By	[e-mail] (Norwood Missouri USA) - See all my reviews

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