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DurocShark Samba Member
Joined: April 05, 2004 Posts: 6624 Location: Crappy town in a crappy state. But the beach is nearby, so I have that going for me.
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Stockholm VW Samba Member
Joined: July 02, 2020 Posts: 304
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Posted: Fri Apr 30, 2021 5:06 pm Post subject: Re: Is the Idiot's book really that valuable? |
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Nope! Lol
Maybe if it’s signed by the author. Maybe. 🤷♂️
Mine was free. It was signed by the original owner of my ‘66. _________________ 1966 Volkswagen Sedan 1300 (now 1641), 6 volt, L456 Ruby Red, Platinum leatherette. |
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DurocShark Samba Member
Joined: April 05, 2004 Posts: 6624 Location: Crappy town in a crappy state. But the beach is nearby, so I have that going for me.
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Posted: Fri Apr 30, 2021 5:12 pm Post subject: Re: Is the Idiot's book really that valuable? |
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That's what I thought. I have two: An early 80's spiral bound version, and a 90's paperback bound version. I didn't pay more than $20 for either of them. _________________ No boom today. Boom tomorrow. There's always a boom tomorrow. |
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Glenn Mr. 010
Joined: December 25, 2001 Posts: 76911 Location: Sneaking up behind you
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Posted: Fri Apr 30, 2021 5:18 pm Post subject: Re: Is the Idiot's book really that valuable? |
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No.. get the Bently manual. _________________ Glenn
74 Beetle Specs | 74 Beetle Restoration | 2180cc Engine
"You may not get what you pay for, but you always pay for what you get"
Member #1009
#BlueSquare |
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EverettB Administrator
Joined: April 11, 2000 Posts: 69813 Location: Phoenix Metro
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Zundfolge1432 Samba Member
Joined: June 13, 2004 Posts: 12467
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Posted: Fri Apr 30, 2021 5:27 pm Post subject: Re: Is the Idiot's book really that valuable? |
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This is just another example of a seller trying to extract a maximum price. Plenty of examples of this book on Amazon or eBay around 20 bucks or less.. What you need to know about these books is anything past early to mid 70s is run of the mill common. You want a first edition 1969 or very early 70s, that’s it.
Here’s a 1971 edition of mine, the cover is different take a look.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/313491632789
I got a couple spares
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AirHead1966 Samba Member
Joined: October 17, 2019 Posts: 568 Location: Triad Area NC
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Posted: Fri Apr 30, 2021 6:17 pm Post subject: Re: Is the Idiot's book really that valuable? |
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That is the absolute worst automotive manual I have ever read. Other people may disagree, but that is my opinion. |
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Zundfolge1432 Samba Member
Joined: June 13, 2004 Posts: 12467
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Posted: Fri Apr 30, 2021 6:22 pm Post subject: Re: Is the Idiot's book really that valuable? |
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AirHead1966 wrote: |
That is the absolute worst automotive manual I have ever read. Other people may disagree, but that is my opinion. |
I suppose that’s why over 50 years later it’s still in demand. Lol. When it came out it had very little competition, perhaps it’s nostalgic who knows? |
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Glenn Mr. 010
Joined: December 25, 2001 Posts: 76911 Location: Sneaking up behind you
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Posted: Fri Apr 30, 2021 6:24 pm Post subject: Re: Is the Idiot's book really that valuable? |
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Zundfolge1432 wrote: |
AirHead1966 wrote: |
That is the absolute worst automotive manual I have ever read. Other people may disagree, but that is my opinion. |
I suppose that’s why over 50 years later it’s still in demand. Lol. When it came out it had very little competition, perhaps it’s nostalgic who knows? |
Every copy comes with a few hits of "blotter" hidden withing the pages. _________________ Glenn
74 Beetle Specs | 74 Beetle Restoration | 2180cc Engine
"You may not get what you pay for, but you always pay for what you get"
Member #1009
#BlueSquare |
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DurocShark Samba Member
Joined: April 05, 2004 Posts: 6624 Location: Crappy town in a crappy state. But the beach is nearby, so I have that going for me.
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Posted: Fri Apr 30, 2021 6:25 pm Post subject: Re: Is the Idiot's book really that valuable? |
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For me, I use it to help my teenage daughter understand principles. The artwork is great, and things are written in an easy to understand way. Do I depend on it for the details? HELL NO! _________________ No boom today. Boom tomorrow. There's always a boom tomorrow. |
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DurocShark Samba Member
Joined: April 05, 2004 Posts: 6624 Location: Crappy town in a crappy state. But the beach is nearby, so I have that going for me.
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Posted: Fri Apr 30, 2021 6:26 pm Post subject: Re: Is the Idiot's book really that valuable? |
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Glenn wrote: |
Zundfolge1432 wrote: |
AirHead1966 wrote: |
That is the absolute worst automotive manual I have ever read. Other people may disagree, but that is my opinion. |
I suppose that’s why over 50 years later it’s still in demand. Lol. When it came out it had very little competition, perhaps it’s nostalgic who knows? |
Every copy comes with a few hits of "blotter" hidden withing the pages. |
4-way Window Pane, baybee! _________________ No boom today. Boom tomorrow. There's always a boom tomorrow. |
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raygreenwood Samba Member
Joined: November 24, 2008 Posts: 21513 Location: Oklahoma City
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Posted: Fri Apr 30, 2021 6:56 pm Post subject: Re: Is the Idiot's book really that valuable? |
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Worthless....no. It is entertaining. ..and as other have mentioned...its good for total idiots to get the grasp of what the ACVW is and what it needs....but only what it needs bare minimum.
As someone mentioned in another thread last week...it was written in the days when even the highest miles used VW was probably much newer than anything out there today....and you could not go 50 miles in any direction in the US...without passing a shop or boneyard full of fresh parts to scrape together a repair if you had "0" money.
There are a few small nuggets in the fuel injection section for type 3 and 4...mainly about what matches up with what and changes in the systems....but aside from that it was clear that JM admired the tech in the fuel injection but hated them in general.
Its not a serious book for REAL service.
As the title says....its just for keeping them alive.....not insuring anything is particularly done correctly....or will survive long term. Ray |
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Zundfolge1432 Samba Member
Joined: June 13, 2004 Posts: 12467
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Posted: Fri Apr 30, 2021 7:08 pm Post subject: Re: Is the Idiot's book really that valuable? |
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Certain chapters and topics stand out. The most important is how to check out and evaluate a VW you are buying. The rap on timing is worth reading. Other things like using hammers and chisels to tighten nuts and bolts, not so much.to make a statement the book is a pile of shit only tells me a person didn’t read it or maybe comprehend the info. You are lucky this book and a Chilton’s manual is all we had. |
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FarmerBill Samba Member
Joined: July 25, 2017 Posts: 766 Location: New England
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Posted: Fri Apr 30, 2021 7:49 pm Post subject: Re: Is the Idiot's book really that valuable? |
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I could see a first edition/first printing being worth some coin. The value of the info in the book itself is not worth much anymore, but back in the days before the internet it was priceless to me for tuning and maintaining my first VW engine. All for a tiny fraction of the cost of a Bentley manual. Is all the info accurate? No, but back in the day it was the best budget option. I always looked at it as a philosophy book with some good tips for tuning/repairing a VW air-cooled.
You should check out John Muir's other book "The Velvet Monkeywrench" it's a pretty wild political manifesto, mostly crazy and un-workable but I do like the part about having drivers license levels based on driving skill and experience.
Zundfolge1432 wrote: |
Other things like using hammers and chisels to tighten nuts and bolts, not so much. |
Yeah, that one always struck me as a bad idea. The first axle nut I had to deal with i bought a Harbor Freight 19mm-50mm socket set that i still have almost 30 years later. Seemed cheaper than replacing a destroyed nut. I still refer to chisel marks on hacked up nuts as "The Mark of Muir". |
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Q-Dog Samba Member
Joined: April 05, 2010 Posts: 8699 Location: Sunset, Louisiana
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Posted: Fri Apr 30, 2021 9:54 pm Post subject: Re: Is the Idiot's book really that valuable? |
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If you are broken down in the middle of nowhere with no phone or internet and limited tools, the idiot book would be the right book to have. _________________ Brian
'69 Dune Buggy
'69 Beetle Convertible
'70 Beetle |
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Abscate Samba Member
Joined: October 05, 2014 Posts: 22648 Location: NYC/Upstate/ROW
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Posted: Sat May 01, 2021 12:44 am Post subject: Re: Is the Idiot's book really that valuable? |
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Q-Dog wrote: |
If you are broken down in the middle of nowhere with no phone or internet and limited tools, the idiot book would be the right book to have. |
Is hilarious that a you tube generation of hacks to keep your. Wheels rolling disdains the printed version of the same. _________________ .ssS! |
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TDCTDI Samba Advocatus Diaboli
Joined: August 31, 2013 Posts: 12850 Location: North Carolina
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Posted: Sat May 01, 2021 3:27 am Post subject: Re: Is the Idiot's book really that valuable? |
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I found it captivating & invaluable as both an instruction manual & entertainment that was easy to read & understand when I started working on VWs... when I was 7. While my dad was just trying “to keep his VW alive”, I helped & even fixed things on his car (and the parts car) and it was very satisfying when the car sprung to life after I did something to it, all with the help of that horrible book. _________________ Everybody born before 1975 has a story, good, bad, or indifferent, about a VW.
GOFUNDYOURSELF, quit asking everyone to do it for you!
An air cooled VW will make you a hoarder.
Do something, anything, to your project every day, and you will eventually complete it. |
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oprn Samba Member
Joined: November 13, 2016 Posts: 12714 Location: Western Canada
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Posted: Sat May 01, 2021 3:44 am Post subject: Re: Is the Idiot's book really that valuable? |
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Funny isn't it how we can look back 50 years and condemn people for doing what they could with the best knowledge they had. He was a life saver for the guy on a budget trying to keep an economy car on the road. His book was never intended to be "the Bible" for today's Chinese clone 8K rpm 250+ HP 1/4 mile expert.
Henry Ford sure built a piece of shi!! for a car too if it comes right down to it. Not many people got 200K miles out of a Model T.
I don't understand what gives you guys licence to drag up someone's work from 50 years ago and expect it to meet modern standards! Heck, 30 years from now your kids are going to look at your air cooled VW, think "What the *&#$@? was he trying to do. There are a hundred better ways to accomplish that!", shake their heads and haul it all off the the recyclers!
If you don't have John Muir's book, buy one. It's a classic in my view, read it in the context it was written in for the entertainment value and you just might pick up a tip or two as well. Would I pay $100 for one? Nope but the one I have ain't going nowhere and some cold winter day I am going to finish coloring in those great illustrations with penile crayons!
For you John Muir haters... when is your book coming out? _________________ We had the stone age, the bronze age, the industrial age and now we are in the age of mass deception and mind control for corporate profit. (The mass media age) |
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iowegian Samba Curmudgeon
Joined: February 16, 2005 Posts: 9829 Location: Somewhere between Dubuque and Keokuk
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Posted: Sat May 01, 2021 4:27 am Post subject: Re: Is the Idiot's book really that valuable? |
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Zundfolge1432 wrote: |
Certain chapters and topics stand out. The most important is how to check out and evaluate a VW you are buying. The rap on timing is worth reading. Other things like using hammers and chisels to tighten nuts and bolts, not so much.to make a statement the book is a pile of shit only tells me a person didn’t read it or maybe comprehend the info. You are lucky this book and a Chilton’s manual is all we had. |
I still have my 50 year old Big Blue Chilton-----all 1536 pages of it
It tells you how to fix a Buick or a Gremlin or a Pontiac GTO or a Falcon
"PLUS Volkswagen"
A hefty 7 pounds of information for $10.95.
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AirHead1966 Samba Member
Joined: October 17, 2019 Posts: 568 Location: Triad Area NC
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Posted: Sat May 01, 2021 4:41 am Post subject: Re: Is the Idiot's book really that valuable? |
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Dang! I touched a nerve with some people. It is just my opinion, nothing personal against anyone else's opinion.
Don't get all offended folks. Ease up, and do what Muir would do - light one up, take a long drag, hold and exhale slowly |
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