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Thu Nov 07, 2002 1:17 pm

Just got my 69 Vert. Want to dress up the engine a bit. Paint tin, SS firewall...etc. (Also installing Heater boxes). How easy is it to drop the engine? Any web sites with step-by-step? Thanks in Advance.
Don

Thu Nov 07, 2002 3:46 pm

John Muir's idiot book has a step-by-step procedure for removing it ("How to Keep Your VW Alive Forever - A Manual for the Compleat Idiot"

Thu Nov 14, 2002 3:47 pm

That is a great book! I have had mine for about 10 years and do most of the work on my VW straight from that book. You don't need to ba a mechanic. It explains it very clearly. I read that thing more than my bible, which might hurt me in the end.

Sun Nov 17, 2002 5:35 pm

Hey bloop, try this book out.

Sun Nov 17, 2002 5:46 pm

i have it, ive had the book for over a year. its very good. but that doesnt help why my bolts dont go through all the way

Sun Nov 17, 2002 8:58 pm

Very easy but lots of patience required. My cousin and I removed an engine in about 4 hours. First time for both of us. Just take your time.

Sun Nov 17, 2002 9:40 pm

Spweights,

All you need to know is on my site (below). Lots of straightforward "fixit" procedures including engine removal.

Dropping the engine is very straightforward - allow a few hours for the first time and take your time - don't rush. In other words, plan a "lazy day" for the job the first time.

With a bit of practice it's an easy 1/2 hour job to get it on the ground and about the same to put it back (the world record is about 8 minutes... out, back in and start it!).

John Muir's book is very good - some things are described better in this book than they are in the "official" Bentley manual, such as the CV joint maintenance; though there are a few things I consider pure hokie (like his recommendation to ditch the electric choke - that's one of the most reliable items on a VW). Remember that John died in 1971, and a lot of VWs were built after that, so some of the stuff in his book has acually been written later by others!

Rob
Rob and Dave's aircooled VW pages
Repairs and maintenance for the home mechanic
http://www.geocities.com/aussiebug1970/

Mon Nov 18, 2002 10:10 am

John Muir diddn't pass on til 1977.....

Mon Nov 18, 2002 1:28 pm

I think John's book is great to sit by the fire and read the entire procedure the night before. it really paints a picture for you that you can see clearly in your mind. let that sink in overnight and in the morning over coffee, sit down and read the entire procedure in the bentley and take some stickies and emphasize certain key steps (you know like the 'Sign Here' stickers your wife uses when she wants you to sign something, like taxes or your will.... also used in the office) then you should have a pretty clear picture of what you are doing when you are lying on your back and don't want to stop to read the directions all over again..... anyway I think this extra time cuts down a whole lot on the actual project, it might take an hour and a half to read the stuff, but it might cut an hour and a half off the job!!

Mon Nov 18, 2002 6:34 pm

I think it was 79 supervert who once commented on me being John's re-incarnate.... ( no way I could hold a candle to the man but thanx!) I think it's because I begain reading the Idiot book when I was about 8 yrs old, I just turned 40 this past weekend!!!!!! I agree there is alot of useful info in the book and it makes great reading, but it is getting dated in alot of ways (like all of us and everything else) and you do have to kind of read between the lines.......