Reddit mentions of How to Keep Your Volkswagen Alive: A Manual of Step-by-Step Procedures for the Compleat Idiot

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.

If you have the spare cash, buy what's commonly referred to the idiot book.

Even though you may not own or even have any interest in owning an air-cooled VW, there's a lot of good information in here and it explains a lot about what generally goes into working on your own car.

It especially covers tools really well so if you have no idea what a feeler gauge or puller is or how you use them, it's great for that. The Haynes and Bentley books assume that you have some prior knowledge of tools and stuff and the VW book assumes that you have literally no clue.

It's also a very amusing book to read.

Step one, buy this book.

http://www.amazon.com/Keep-Volkswagen-Alive-Step-Step/dp/1566913101

Yes, there a good first car to restore.
Buy a copy of, How to Keep Your Volkswagen Alive: A Manual of Step-by-Step Procedures for the Compleat Idiot

Parts are a black hole of aways finding some where to sink more money, but major money items should easy to see before car purchase.
(It's never "just a $50 fix", that part is totally broken some how)

And the best book for learning about repairing Beetles:

"How to Keep Your Volkswagen Alive"
http://www.amazon.com/Keep-Volkswagen-Alive-Step-Step/dp/1566913101


The same publisher put out similar style books for a few other cars, unfortunately not many and none newer than 1985-1990. They may be the best books for absolute beginners to learn about car repair in general.

There's two aspects...no...make that three:

1. Cosmetic. Some like how these bikes look.
   
   
2. Historic/cultural. Cafe racers are a leftover from European roadracing and then the "rocker" subculture (mainly British, mid to late 1960s) taking street bikes and converting them into respectable replicas of race bikes.
   
   
3. Performance. When I was in my early 20s I was street racing ("canyon racing") in the Santa Cruz mountains of California, a Mecca for that sort of thing. This was basically 1985-1989. I didn't have the cash for an early Suzuki GSXR, Kawasaki Ninja, whatever, so I made do with what we'd now call a cafe racer: 1979 Yamaha XS650. I had Mikuni VM series carbs, aluminum hoops over spoke rims, better rear shocks, progressive front springs, fork brace, 2" worth of extra preload in the forks, flattracker bars, junk everything that didn't need to be there, all the usual tricks. On a tight enough road where some guy in a brand new bike couldn't use his horsepower advantage I could have serious fun. If that bike were still alive everybody here would call it a cafe racer.
   
   And here's the kicker. It took me about a year and a half to build it, one piece at a time - we call that a "rolling build" and it's absolutely how your first build should be done. As I did I experienced the effects of each modification. The value of what I learned about how high performance bikes work is beyond calculation. It's been a huge help as both a pilot and mechanic.
   
   You also need to read "A Twist of the Wrist" by Keith Code. Yes, he's a crazy ass Scientologist. No, DO NOT take one of his classes. But you need that book.
   
   You need a repair manual for whatever bike you get as a starting point. I can guide you there some if I know your approximate height/weight (yeah, it matters!). But you need one more book. You need to get into the mindset of a mechanic and there is absolutely nothing better than the best car repair manual ever written, bar none:
   
   https://www.amazon.com/Keep-Volkswagen-Alive-Step-Step/dp/1566913101
   
   I'm not kidding. Read that cover to cover. It is the best and funniest technical manual ever written. It's the reason "idiot guide" books are so popular - the whole concept was stolen from this. It's also a hippie counterculture artifact - you know all those hippies with VW bugs and busses back in the day? They ALL had this book.
   
   VW Bug tech is also pretty similar to a lot of what you'll run into in 1970s/1980s Japanese motorcycles. Broadly speaking :).
   
   You also need this:
   
   https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B6Fh3F6hufhDckM2ektBcDRFNWs/view?usp=drivesdk
   
   ...and my update to the carb chapter:
   
   https://old.reddit.com/r/CafeRacers/comments/c5lboc/so_we_need_to_have_a_major_conversation_about/
   
   Other stuff...
   
   https://old.reddit.com/r/CafeRacers/comments/da7t1z/some_notes_on_whats_out_there_on_craigslist_and/
   
   https://old.reddit.com/r/CafeRacers/comments/db4g0s/the_good_bike_list_part_one/
   
   https://old.reddit.com/r/CafeRacers/comments/db6jbn/the_good_bike_list_part_two/
   
   If it's not blatantly obvious yet, my focus is on performance and building a stable bike that handles but won't actively try and kill you.

It sounds like you're after the basics of how mechanical things work. These aren't bike specific but the principles remain the same.

Engine basics

How oil systems work and what your engine oil does

Gearboxes and what gears do

Early braking systems and what brake fluid does

Cooling system

Yes these are old but I think explain things in such an easy to understand method. Some things are far outdated by today but all basic principles are exactly the same.

If you're after some books. How to Keep Your Volkswagen Alive by John Muir is one of the best mechanical guides around. Sure it's about VW stuff but it explains things is such a great way and how to think when working on something, mechanical problem solving etc. It's helped me when I worked as a race car mechanic and it just provides advice that sticks with you and applies to anything mechanical.

Upvoted for truth. Prepare to live on the Samba and look into this book https://www.amazon.com/Keep-Volkswagen-Alive-Step-Step/dp/1566913101

IT will help you with everything you need to know about Aircooled.
Investing in a Bentley Manual is wise as well.

First classic VW? NICE! I feel inclined to share my advice from what i learned with my first. man you got a lot to learn in front of you! get the idiot guide. That book really helped me when i had my first. Mine beetle was like yours, except mine was free. Lets see... to get it running i'd say first you gotta drain the bad gas. If it was running as a daily driver before hand your ignition should still fire more or less properly. It's most likely bad fuel that's gonna keep you from starting. probably should get a carb gasket kit and learn how to clean out your carburetor from gunk'd varnished gasoline. Don't open the carb if you don't have gaskets. You could check and verify that fuel pump is pumping fuel. To test if you are actually getting spark(you should do this early on in startup checks) pull a spark wire off the plug and hold it to something solid like alternator body. Hold it slightly away from the metal and have someone turn engine over. if you see sparks that are blue or white you are good, if it's orange/brown that's bad and probably need new ignition coil. (but don't do this near gasoline!) Also make certain all your cooling tin is in place. Get it running and familiar with it, then learn how to check ignition settings like points and timing. use a strobe timing light, its way easier. Check the intake system for leaks when it's running. you can use a flammable aresol to lightly spray at the connection points of the intake manifold you listen for change in RPM. if RPM changes you are leaking at that joint and need to fix asap. Also of course check your brakes. wheel cylinders like to die after long times sitting around. There's a lot more i could say...

There is no better car to learn some wrenching skills.

Get this:

http://www.amazon.com/Keep-Volkswagen-Alive-Step-Step/dp/1566913101

and go for it.

There are only 3 components to a working internal combustion engine: fuel, air (oxygen), and spark. If your motor isn't running, then one of those three things isn't happening.

Lucky for you, all three happen in a fairly simple, easy-to-follow way in a VW.

Other posters have given you procedures for testing. And if you haven't, go get a copy of the Idiot Book and follow the testing procedures there. Get a sandwich or some fruit or something, because it might take some time to go through everything, but you'll figure it out.

So I got this bug from my wife's best friend. She is moving and she couldn't take it with her. She knew I've always wanted a bug and she didn't want to scrap it so she gave it to me. I'm super excited to finally own one and I can't wait to learn all about it. I've been a mechanic most my life (I'm only 33) but never worked on older cars. I ordered a copy of https://www.amazon.com/Keep-Volkswagen-Alive-Step-Step/dp/1566913101 because everyone said it's a great book. I'm not 100% sure what style I'm going to do, but I was thinking Baja/hot rod(exposed front wheels, lowered not raised). I just really want to strip it down and see what I'm working with. The motor is locked up supposedly so I may just look into a new/rebuild one. I hear 1600 duel port is a good place to start? If I want to go highway speeds(65-70mph) would that be enough, or would a 1700+ be better to look at? Anyway, I'm happy to be apart of the Beetle family and I'll be posting pictures along the way. So excited to get working on this bug!

Got an Idiot's Guide?

Okay.

Checking for spark: Disconnect one of our spark plug wire boots and hold it against the engine block while you have a friend turn the engine over. If you see a spark, you know the ignition system is correctly getting spark to your engine.

Checking for fuel: Take the fuel hose that runs from the fuel pump to the carburetor off and put it in a clear container. Again, have a friend turn the motor over and see if gas squirts out of it.

Check to make sure you didn't accidentally disconnect any wires or anything else while you were changing the oil.

If you own an air-cooled and intend on working on it yourself, you would be well advised to buy this book:

https://www.amazon.com/Keep-Volkswagen-Alive-Step-Step/dp/1566913101/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1503889652&sr=8-1&keywords=idiots+guide+volkswagens

That book is the Bible for air-cooled backyard mechanics.

The Muir book is the Bible.

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_KKb5CbG3N27P5

Parts are best ordered on line unless you live some place where there's a lot of VWs and some specialty retailers/parts houses.

Internet:

http://www.wolfsburgwest.com/
http://www2.cip1.com/
http://www.socalautoparts.com/
http://www.jbugs.com/
http://www.mamotorworkstv.com/vwgclid=CNzrraP14LMCFQSg4AoduisA_w

The Samba is a great community and source for info, etc.
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/

A couple of books that you should have.

http://www.amazon.com/Volkswagen-Beetle-Karmann-Official-Service/dp/0837616468/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1371863777&sr=8-1&keywords=1968+vw+beetle+bentley+manual

http://www.amazon.com/Keep-Volkswagen-Alive-Step---Step/dp/1566913101/ref=sr_1_15?ie=UTF8&qid=1371863840&sr=8-15&keywords=1968+vw+manual


Hope this helps. CiP has good quality parts and if you wait for a sale, they're not to expensive.

I bought my first car in 1984, a '71 Beetle, for $300 when I was in high school. It had over 200K miles on it. Me and my buddy dropped a $450 rebuilt engine in it in my dad's driveway and neither of us were mechanics, but we were armed with a copy of How to Keep Your Volkswagen Alive.

That Beetle ran pretty well for 8 years until I sold it for $500. My Beetle was not seen by me as "the car to have", by any stretch of the imagination, but at the time it was the only car I could afford. Although it had a few quirky problems, I remember it fondly. The car was as basic a vehicle as it could possibly be. So simple it was kind of charming. Still, I would have preferred a GTO.

When I drove it for long periods of time, it would vapor lock. Air would get in the gas line feeding the carburetor when the engine got hot and the engine would quit. Sometimes you just had to wait by the side of the road for the engine to cool down, then it would be fine again. Sometimes when I was going down a large hill, I would shut the engine off and coast to cool the engine. Later I relocated the fuel line away from the engine, and eliminated that problem.

Although the car would go in the snow like nothing I've ever owned since, there was almost no heat. Most of the car would remain at the outside temperature, but the driver's side vent would keep my left foot comfortably toasty no matter how cold it was. I had to keep an ice scraper in the car to remove the frost buildup. On the inside.

The windshield wiper fluid was powered by the pressure in the spare tire. I would over inflate the spare to get good pressure. The one time I got a flat and needed the spare, it had no air in it.

One winter, I backed the car down somebody's icy driveway and parked. It was one of the rare times I got the car stuck. My wheels couldn't get traction and just spun futility. My Vdub was a two speed auto-stick (no clutch), I put it in 2nd, got the wheels spinning, opened the driver door, got halfway out and gave it a shove. The wheels gripped and the car got away from me as it trundled up the driveway, across the street, through a neighbor's fence, finally coming to a rest against a tree.

There's an engine under the hood. It's a VW bus engine, so you're going to need to replace it in another thirty years. Start saving up. In the meantime buy this:

http://amzn.com/1566913101

You got this. Ask questions here and on thesamba when you need to. Pick up this book, and this one.

Every air-cooled VW owner needs at least one copy of this book.

Preferably more than one - one go use and get dirty, one to keep in the house.

You probably want this book:

http://www.amazon.com/Keep-Volkswagen-Alive-Step-Step/dp/1566913101

It is about air cooled VWs, but it goes through all the automotive systems. Later chapters cover things like VW disc brakes and fuel injection in the 1960s. It's a clear book with pictures and a humorous approach to the basics of a car. You can start from a point of no knowledge and get a pretty good idea of internal combustion principles.

Good luck!

Sounds like the fuel pump to me. I always keep an extra in my trunk because I’ve had so many go bad on me (I’m on my 2nd electronic one after going through FIVE cam-driven ones in 2 years).

I’m heading for bed, so I can’t be much more help, but go over to thesamba.com and search the forums. That site is the absolute best!

Also buy the John Muir book if you don’t already own it. It was an excellent intro when I first got my Karmann Ghia.

'Top end' usually refers to a valve job on the heads, and maybe it had the case bored out for bigger cylinders.

She looks beautiful! For a good explanation of the care and proper maintenance your bug, check out https://www.amazon.com/Keep-Volkswagen-Alive-Step-Step/dp/1566913101

Highly recommend this book:

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_apa_i_YWKWDbJE1NPDE

Includes lists of tools needed and what tools will be needed for specific jobs.

$15 well spent.

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 How To Keep Your Volkswagen Alive 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.

I learned using John Muir's manual. Simple to do.

They have a book like that for classic volkswagens http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/1566913101/ref=redir_mdp_mobile

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_awd_.7Zfvb1QXATZJ
https://www.amazon.com/dp/1566913101/ref=cm_sw_r_awd_.7Zfvb1QXATZJ

Buy this and you will have no questions. :)

Buy this book: http://www.amazon.com/Keep-Volkswagen-Alive-Step---Step/dp/1566913101/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1346863954&sr=8-1&keywords=complete+guide+to+volkswagon

The floor pan rusted out of mine 20 years ago. I sold it for more than I paid for it though.

Carry a spare alternator pulley and belt for when yours breaks. When, not if.

Make sure the back seat isn't saggy, and that there is a non-conductive barrier between the battery and the seat, so that passengers won't get their asses shocked/a fire won't start.

If you have the cash, upgrade the brakes. The brakes on my '73 (non-super) Beetle were horrible and faded severely. Kits cost 200-300 dollars online.

If you work on the engine yourself, the first time you disassemble it take it to a machinist and have them measure the interior dimensions. Over the years, due to wearing and performance upgrades, the cylinders of many Beetles have ended up being bored out so that they are larger than stock. If you assume that they are still the same size and go to replace some pistons (like I did) you're in for a very expensive and time-consuming lesson when the pistons are too small for the cylinders.

I would recommend an external oil cooler. Those are cheap and easy to install (if one hasn't been installed already) and they will increase the life of your engine.

Buy this book: http://www.amazon.com/Keep-Volkswagen-Alive-Step---Step/dp/1566913101/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1346863954&sr=8-1&keywords=complete+guide+to+volkswagon

In fact, I'm going to put that one at the top so you see it first.

Treat rust like a mortal enemy. Fix any rust spots now, replace rusted panels and body structures, and fix paint chips and scratches. You've got a convertible so you want to make sure the seals are good and water isn't getting into the doors or the panels around the doors. The bottom will rust right out and you won't know until you get in the car one day and the floorpan detaches from the side of the car along a 2-3 foot long rip.

That's all I can think of right now...

I cut my teeth on old air-cooled Volkswagens with the help of this book. After doing that for several years, and replacing the transmission in a '74 Bus by myself, rebuilding motorcycles didn't seem like too difficult a task.

With a decent set of tools, patience, a good manual and the experience of thousands at your disposal on internet forums, anybody who really wants to do it can rebuild an entire motorcycle from the ground up, even with no previous experience.

Can't recommend the idiot guide enough. Plain English and simple to follow instructions. https://www.amazon.com/Keep-Volkswagen-Alive-Step-Step/dp/1566913101

You'll want to get the Bentley repair manual which will cover all the technical details of any repair and augment that with the Muir How to Keep Your Volkswagen Alive book that will help explain things in casual speech. Those will be great teachers.

http://www.ratwell.com/ and http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?p=6804868. If one doesn't have the answer the other does. Also this should live in the vehicle http://www.amazon.com/Keep-Volkswagen-Alive-Step-Step/dp/1566913101#

If all of the black trim is original, that is very likely a 110 "very stripped" standard edition. Originally would have come with partial headliner, cardboard door cards and more. It does look as though the seats have been replaced with something else, but otherwise not bad.

New running boards will improve the visuals by quite a bit.

As you've never owned an aircooled beetle before, the first step should be reading the owners manual cover to cover. Pay particular attention to pages 16, 17, 20, and the tick marks on the speedometer seen on page 12. The tick marks go with page 17, and are one of the tricks to keeping the engine running more than a week. A PDF of your owners manual can be found here: https://www.thesamba.com/vw/archives/manuals/74beetle/1974_Beetle_Owners_Manual.pdf

Two books you should buy are the Orange Bentley manual. This is the factory repair manual, and should be your first stop for any repair steps: https://www.amazon.com/Volkswagen-Beetle-Karmann-Official-Service/dp/0837616239/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1543597712&sr=8-1&keywords=Beetle+repair+bentley
You can find these used on thesamba.com, craigslist, used book stores or a VW show. But get one before you need it. I pay $15-20 for pristine used ones, $5-10 for ones that look used.

The second book a lot of people will recommend you is "How to Keep your VW Alive". It's a fun read, has a lot of good information in it, but should ONLY be considered a secondary source to the orange book. How to keep your beetle alive does have a fair bit of incorrect information in it. BUT if you're just starting out with cars, it is quite helpful. I do think new VW owners should read the book, but double check all his repair procedures against the orange book. The artwork inside is worth the $25 to buy a new one: https://www.amazon.com/Keep-Volkswagen-Alive-Step-Step/dp/1566913101/ref=sr_1_1_sspa?ie=UTF8&qid=1543597922&sr=8-1-spons&keywords=how+to+keep+your+volkswagen+alive&psc=1

If that right front headlight is filled with water, swap out both headlights for H4 lamps. They use a replaceable bulb, and are significantly better than what came with your car. A little bit of rewiring is required (I can help with that remotely), but otherwise they are drop-in. You can buy these from your Friendly Local AutoParts Store (FLAPS), a number of the VW online vendors or often Amazon. Heres the kit you want: http://www.myhellalights.com/index.php/products/auxiliary-lamps/sealed-beam-conversion-headlamps/vision-plus-7in-conversion-headlamp/ Order it at Autozone, Pep Boys, NAPA, etc by the part number. Often they have them in stock.

If you ever want to upgrade your car to chrome bumpers, trim, handles, etc. There are guys (like me) who will pay for your black stuff. It's generally undesirable except to the German Look guys.

I had those! (Well, a 70s Honda.) Learned a lot about cars from them. The Hondas were leagues ahead of the VWs in terms of technology, handling, comfort, etc.

The How to Keep Your VW/Honda Alive books made it so easy to fix them: https://www.amazon.com/Keep-Volkswagen-Alive-Step-Step/dp/1566913101

Yes. Best technical book I've ever read:

https://www.amazon.com/Keep-Volkswagen-Alive-Step-Step/dp/1566913101?ie=UTF8&*Version*=1&*entries*=0

and I've been working on nuclear reactors since 1996....

use a slight dab of liquid gasket, I put it on my finger and just put a paper thin coat on both sides after cleaning the pushrod tube, block, and head with a cleaner that can remove oil/grease.

Best book ever if you dont have access to an old school vw mechanics locally for advise http://www.amazon.com/Keep-Volkswagen-Alive-Step-Step/dp/1566913101

You're not going to find one 'decently priced'. Just give up on that ideal right here and now.

VW Nerds like myself, and those who are packed to the rafters at VW Vortex, The Samba, TDI Club, etc, etc. are always on the hunt for aircooleds. You can pretty much rest assured that anything that approaches 'steal' territory will be snatched up within a few days, if not hours.

You're almost guaranteed to pay a ridiculous amount of money for a project, just due to the demand and the market price.

So if you're serious about buying one - set aside an appropriate amount that you're ready to spend at the drop of a hat, and search ads as often as possible. When something pops up, you'll be ready to go.

In my area a $300 Squareback was posted, and it was sold within 2 hours - just as an example.

That said - figure out which generation you want.

Do you want aircooled, or watercooled?

Do you want a T1? T2? T3? Westfalia? What about a Doka?




Aircooled engines are the easiest things you could ever rip apart. This book is the holy grail for aircooled VW's. Anything you could ever want or need to know lies within those pages - or on the Samba.

Watercooled VW engines are all covered by Bentley manuals - just seek one out, and you're golden.

Also, if you're interested, join us over on /r/Fahrvergnugen !

SCORE Class 11 meets your frugal, don't care about speed requirements, and is relatively easy to work on.

That said, understand the safety equipment, gear, licensing and entry fees will add up quickly. Something like Wide Open Excursions could potentially work out better and cheaper.

I owned a '66 Beetle for about 3 months when I was 17. It didn't end well. (Not a wreck, it just needed a lot of small to medium work from the previous owner, and in the end I couldn't afford even the modest things that had to be done.)

I've wanted another one for my whole life since then, but it's never been the right time - so congratulations to you!

I very strongly recommend this book, it's both entertaining and informative.

How to keep your Volkswagen alive

There is a 'golden bible' of working on VW Bugs, I think CH 1 was how to cut the binding off and punch holes in it to put in a binder.
Edit:
ugh, typos. and found the book

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_apa_i_Q9JpDbBGQFYRQ

Even though it's already been posted, John Muir's Volkswagen Bible

I have another book that's handy, but I'm not at home at the moment. I'll post when I get my hands on it.

Amazon, bought these two: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1566913101/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o02_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1 and https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0895862255/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o03_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Your best bet would be a VW, a chevy, or a ford. Chevy's are super easy to work on and parts are easy to find and relatively inexpensive. Pretty much same with Ford. VWs are also great for beginners. The parts can be a bit more difficult to find, but they're great to learn on. Just get "how to keep your volkswagen alive" http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/1566913101/ref=redir_mdp_mobile/185-8215834-7045105 it is the best car repair for noobs guide out there. Try to find something that is solid and runs 1970 or older and you'll be set. I also recommend you go to some car shows and meet & greet with people who have similar tastes in cars. Most car guys are more than willing to help out the new guys.

If you want reliability.. I'd respectfully spend the extra on an engine case that doesnt need line boring. Line bored engines tend to have a shorter life, it's hard to do right (most use a handheld tool) and it usually costs 200-400 to get it done, plus 150-200 for cylinder boring. A new aluminum case (They are a bit heavy compared to as41 mag...) is roughly 830 dollars shipped, and it would include boring for larger cylinders. (aa performance, use code AASAVE15 )

As for the build, it has gone VERY simple. I used gasgacinch everywhere, and aviation permatex on the jugs for the most part. I replaced a LOT of parts with aftermarket ones, including my heads (the old ones might be rebuild-able, but i found a pulled out spark-plug thread in one..) That said, This is my second re-assembly of this engine. I did a non sealant full assembly to check fits, bearings, clearances, etc.

There's lots of little gotchas with measuring this, that, and the other. Some parts are only available in inferior versions, etc. If you can find a complete vw engine for 200-300, you're saving a lot of money on things like the distributor drive pinion, tin, 1.1 forged rockers, cooling fan, oil relief valves, alternator, etc.

Whatever you do for the engine case, do look into 'full flow' modifications. These permit you to add an external spin on oil filter, which is a big improvement. I'm doing a filter pump.. which isn't amazing, but works. Also look into a sand seal to keep crud and moisture out of the oil, and have a proper crankcase ventilation setup (basically, vac hose to air filter, consider a catch can.) When you go to build the engine, measure everything, including stuff that 'should be' correct. Consider having the crank, crank pulley, flywheel, pistons, rods balanced, then the clutch pressure plate (yup..) balanced. That way, you can replace the pressure plate without hosing the balance on the engine. It's really not super required, but it will help make for a longer life engine. Make sure to get a forged crank, cast cranks are problematic in VW engines because they only have 3 real main bearings. If you're not stroking, it's REALLY hard to beat original forged German cranks, unless you want counterweighted (not needed unless you're revving to the moon...)

All of this is really building up to.. make sure you're basically running a cleanroom on final assembly. Wash even new parts, chase threads carefully, then wash again and bottle brush the oil passages. If your build table is dirty, lay down some paper to keep it clean, etc. Then learn to love the assembly lube. And have all the torques on hand. and torque patterns. You're probably going to be about 1.5-2k into the engine, to be totally honest, tack on another few hundred for your choice in carbs, and whatnot. You can do it all cheaper if you find an engine in fantastic condition that just needs some cleanup, and new P&Cs. Those really do not exist, to be honest, outside of finding an older person's projects when they pass...

ALso: Go get a book. Good overall and excellent for engine building. Saves you money.

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

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.

I would just start it up and feel the air around the exhaust looking for the pressure escaping, (don't burn yourself) but there may be better and safer ways of checking. If you have heater boxes on the J pipes the leak could be inside one of those and a lot harder to find. And do make sure you have the engine timed correctly, I remember seeing a chart showing that throughout the model years the timing changes between 10 BTDC, 7.5 BTDC, 0 TDC, and 5 ATDC. This Book was very helpful to me and I would absolutely recommend it.

Well, the vehicle platform would be the Type 2, but the engine would likely be the Type 4 if it is a U.S. Westfalia Model. The parts for that engine are generally a bit more expensive and less readily available, but I don't think it should rule the selection out by any means. The wikipedia article on the bus has some more details on the specifics.

If you do wind up getting an aircooled VW of any kind, I cannot recommend John Muir's How to Keep Your Volkswagen Alive enough. Illustrations and step-by step guides for pretty much anything you can think of, troubleshooting guides, and maintenance tips that are valuable for anyone from beginners to pros.

Edit: You might consider crossposting to r/Fahrvergnugen, they've got a bit more classic VW content.

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.

Good luck! Here's some crucial literature as well!

http://www.amazon.com/Volkswagen-Station-Official-Service-Manual/dp/0837616352/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1416243503&sr=8-3&keywords=vw+bentley+manual

http://www.amazon.com/Keep-Volkswagen-Alive-Step---Step/dp/1566913101/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1416243535&sr=8-1&keywords=how+to+keep+your+volkswagen+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
   

The only manual you’ll ever need

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

(https://smile.amazon.com/Keep-Volkswagen-Alive-Step-Step/dp/1566913101/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1497149142&sr=8-1&keywords=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.

Half the price here. I don't even own a VW yet and I bought one. It breaks everything down very simply, yet seems like it could guide you on any problems that come up.

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.

buy the Idiot book for [ Volkswagens ] (http://www.amazon.com/Keep-Volkswagen-Alive-Step-Step/dp/1566913101)

Read it from cover to cover. Sure, its about older air cooled VW's but its written in plain english so that anyone can understand and the concepts of the internal combustion engine, suspension, brakes, and electrical systems of cars are not that much different these days than they used to be.

If you want to take it to another level, get on auto-trader and find an old air cooled VW and put it back on the road using this book. There's nothing you can't fix with a little patience and the instructions contained within.

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!

this is the air cooled vw bible.

"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!)

If you're just starting, get this book. This isn't a recommendation, it's an insistence.

http://www.amazon.com/Keep-Volkswagen-Alive-Step---Step/dp/1566913101/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1415225609&sr=8-1&keywords=how+to+keep+your+volkswagen+alive