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

Not only does this book tell how to build an engine it also teaches you how to diagnose each part that’s removed. It tells you all of the common issues with these engines and how to fix those. Highly recommend!

I bought a 1977 VW as a hobby to rebuild. Although I have rebuilt other engines, I had never worked on a VW. So I bought this book as well as the official VW service manual by Bently. This book has a lot of illustrations on how to take the car apart and put it back together that the official service manual does not have. Just a lot of good tips and how-to that appeared to come from guys with hands-on experience rather than engineer nerds from the official manual. Although I bought both books, this book was the most helpful in my rebuild. If your vw is fuel injected, however, you will need the Bently manual. As a side note, I am converting this fuel injected bug to a carburetor. Fuel injection parts are just too expensive and I do not need the complications of fuel injection when a carburetor can do the same thing simpler and cheaper.

Great book with photos and reference charts for all kinds of information regarding type 1 through type 4 engines. The book also discussed the different steps between beetles and buses including early and late year bay windows when performing steps. Great book.

This is a well-written book about VW engine rebuilding. It covers the Types 1 through 4 air-cooled engines. The book describes the entire process, from removal of the engine, tear-down, measurement of wear and other problems, identification of interchangeable parts, and reassembly and re-installation of the rebuilt engine into the chassis. This is a true do-it-yourself guide to a quality engine overhaul, with great photographs to help the mechanic to understand some important do's and don'ts. It is even a great guide to the novice who takes the time to study the photographs and understand what is being described.As a constructive critique, it would have been valuable if the author had included just a few more photographs, especially of the Type 4 engine. Generally, the number of photos included are adequate, but there are a few places where more visuals would have helped the reader.I received the book in great condition, in a timely manner, and at a good price.

The manual is detailed in a way to fit various engines of different displacements. A great general reference book.

I'm really glad I purchased this book. For anyone rebuilding an aircooled VW engine or working on a classic VW bug, bus, etc. this book is A MUST HAVE!! Before spending your money on a crate engine (which I considering doing myself for a while) get this book first and do some research. These engines are extremely easy to rebuild if you know what to expect. This book also includes parts interchanging between engines and basic performance upgrades. My only gripe is it's a bit outdated. If you plan on installing an electronic ignition in your distributor (Pertronix, Compufire, etc) this book will provide little if any info. Same for home-built solid lifter shafts. However most of this info is contained in the internet so again, do your research. No matter if you go stock or performance, this book is essential to have by your side.

I bought this book a month ago, due to acquiring a homemade dune buggy with a VW 1200cc air cooled engine. This book has a lot of insight on how to rebuild one of these, tolerances, how to properly maintain one, its shortcomings and how to overcome them. It is probably the go to book on how to rebuild an Air cooled VW engine or early Porsche air cooled. Would even recommend this to those who want to learn more about one of these more popular engine families ever made and one of the longest made families as well (1936-2006). Still popular today for Baja and Dune buggy, to people that just want to run around in a Bug, Bus, or Thing.

Big help. This book explains what to do and why. It will save you a ton of money by focusing on the correct order for upgrades while getting the power you want. If you want to go all the way, it tells you how and has research data to prove it. I was wanting to stay in the mid range. I was ready to order parts, but that this book stopped me. I spent money on the items that had the biggest affect and stayed in my budget. I wish they had a book on VW transaxles.