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OB Bus
Samba Member
Joined: February 09, 2003
Posts: 2535
Location: Ocean Beach in Beautiful BLUE California
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 Posted: Mon May 03, 2021 2:59 pm Post subject: Re: Is the Idiot's book really that valuable? |
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The reason that many of our beloved air cooled VWs are still around is the Muir book. In 1972 I was 19 and the engine in my $450 63 bug gave out. If I had a $450 Datsun, Toyota, Dart or Chevy II instead the car probably would have gone to the junk yard. Too expensive to fix.
My Mother saw the Muir book in store and bought it for me. I had close to zero mechanical skills.
With Muir, a small box of tools (and a few rented tools), one scissors jack and about $175 I rebuilt the engine. Every night I would read ahead and set up my tools and parts. The next day I would work on the engine until noon, clean up and go to work for the afternoon. Repeat for 6 or 7 days and I had a running driving bug.
Yes the book is now very dated but it filled a critical need at that time. And it is still a good read.
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Larry in OB
Stop dead photo links! Post your photos to The Samba Gallery!
69 Westfalia and 2002 Eurovan Camper. |
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Abscate
Samba Member
Joined: October 05, 2014
Posts: 22633
Location: NYC/Upstate/ROW
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| Posted: Mon May 03, 2021 3:53 pm Post subject: Re: Is the Idiot's book really that valuable? |
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If one thinks it is a bad manual , you have read too few manuals.
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KTPhil 
Samba Member
Joined: April 06, 2006
Posts: 33986
Location: Conejo Valley, CA
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| Posted: Mon May 03, 2021 4:15 pm Post subject: Re: Is the Idiot's book really that valuable? |
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| OB Bus wrote: |
| Every night I would read ahead and set up my tools and parts. The next day I would work on the engine until noon, clean up and go to work for the afternoon. Repeat for 6 or 7 days and I had a running driving bug. |
You hit the mail on the head here. As great as other manuals are, and despite being called "owner service manuals" they really are not. They have you jump into the repair sequence, and the parts and tools you may need only become evident as you go.
A shop can work that way, being equipped with tools and spares (and "go-fer" help), and those manuals let them (but maybe not you) do a great job.
But the home mechanic, who may be working on their only transportation, doesn't have that luxury. Stopping to call a friend who takes you to the car parts store, and then have them tell you its back ordered, know the maddening "painted into the corner" feeling of your work coming to a grinding halt without recourse... other manuals are no help here; you need to have done it before, and remembered, to avoid that pitfall.
Muir gave you an itemized list of parts, tools, and other items/issues (like the need to coordinate with a machine shop, or friends to muscle parts on/off the car). This alone made the book unique and golden, since it let you PLAN AHEAD and be successful on your first try, with no "stop work" orders halting your progress and making you replan your life for the otherwise unexpected situation.
He also gave you some recourse for unexpected problems, like broken studs, little money, no tools, etc. As he said, the idea was to have you able to handle almost any situation that may come up.
Why don't ALL so-called "owner" service manuals do this? Are they lazy, ignorant, or just don't care?
Muir cared, and it showed. And that's why I loved the book, and still consult it ahead of a job to see what all I need to have at the ready.
(but it's still not worth $100, at least not that later version!) |
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coad
Samba Scapegoat
Joined: September 12, 2002
Posts: 7552
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| Posted: Mon May 03, 2021 4:40 pm Post subject: Re: Is the Idiot's book really that valuable? |
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| OB Bus wrote: |
With Muir, a small box of tools (and a few rented tools), one scissors jack and about $175 I rebuilt the engine. |
I did too. I even balanced it with the goofy bent coat hanger and stack of quarters method he showed you.
I sold it a few days later, so no idea how long it ran, but I suspect I owe whoever I sold it to an apology. Even though I warned them, I don't think they believed me when I said I was really surprised it ran at all when I put it back together. |
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KTPhil
Samba Member
Joined: April 06, 2006
Posts: 33986
Location: Conejo Valley, CA
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60vwnewengland
Twin #2
Joined: June 25, 2003
Posts: 1784
Location: District of Columbia & Cape Cod
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| Posted: Mon May 03, 2021 5:26 pm Post subject: Re: Is the Idiot's book really that valuable? |
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I use it as a ready reference resource. Most of the time I always refer to it when I’m doing a valve adjustment or checking the timing. Then I cross check with the Bentley.
I figure if all I had in the bus if I broke down was the idiot manual, I’d take it over nothing.
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77 Westy - Cape Cod Sage
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Glenn
Mr. 010
Joined: December 25, 2001
Posts: 76884
Location: Sneaking up behind you
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| Posted: Mon May 03, 2021 5:28 pm Post subject: Re: Is the Idiot's book really that valuable? |
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| 60vwnewengland wrote: |
I use it as a ready reference resource. Most of the time I always refer to it when I’m doing a valve adjustment or checking the timing. Then I cross check with the Bentley.
I figure if all I had in the bus if I broke down was the idiot manual, I’d take it over nothing. |
Just ask the guy next to you.
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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
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Typ3nut
Samba Member
Joined: October 08, 2002
Posts: 1192
Location: MI, MotorCity ManCave
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| Posted: Mon May 03, 2021 6:23 pm Post subject: Re: Is the Idiot's book really that valuable? |
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Try finding this Spanish version :
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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: Mon May 03, 2021 6:33 pm Post subject: Re: Is the Idiot's book really that valuable? |
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| Typ3nut wrote: |
Try finding this Spanish version :
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OK, that's REALLY cool. I wonder how many languages it's been published in?
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No boom today. Boom tomorrow. There's always a boom tomorrow. |
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Typ3nut
Samba Member
Joined: October 08, 2002
Posts: 1192
Location: MI, MotorCity ManCave
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| Posted: Mon May 03, 2021 6:48 pm Post subject: Re: Is the Idiot's book really that valuable? |
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If your a John Muir fan, then this is a great read :
The Velvet MonkeyWrench 1st Ed
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typ914
Samba Member
Joined: October 19, 2012
Posts: 229
Location: Atlanta, Ga
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| Posted: Tue May 04, 2021 7:45 am Post subject: Re: Is the Idiot's book really that valuable? |
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My 2 cents.
I am just getting back into air cooled VWs and I picked up a copy of this book. I was very surprised as to how much I forgot about these little machines. This book is essential reading, sometimes even if you think you know it already. |
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harrymarlin
Samba Member
Joined: June 07, 2018
Posts: 717
Location: Washington, DC
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| Posted: Tue May 04, 2021 12:14 pm Post subject: Re: Is the Idiot's book really that valuable? |
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| DurocShark wrote: |
| OK, that's REALLY cool. I wonder how many languages it's been published in? |
At least as of 2004, just English, German, and Spanish
https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=94793
I'm doubting anyone has taken the time to do further translations since then.
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-Harry
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1967 Ruby Red Convertible Beetle ("Becky")
ISO Albuquerque "Imported Motors" dealership paraphernalia |
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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: Tue May 04, 2021 12:16 pm Post subject: Re: Is the Idiot's book really that valuable? |
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Ahhh... Bummer. I thought it would be a neat challenge to get one in each language. But 3.. 
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No boom today. Boom tomorrow. There's always a boom tomorrow. |
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FarmerBill
Samba Member
Joined: July 25, 2017
Posts: 766
Location: New England
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| Posted: Tue May 04, 2021 1:40 pm Post subject: Re: Is the Idiot's book really that valuable? |
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| I’m surprised there isn’t a Portuguese edition. Maybe the beetle was so common in Brazil they didn’t need the help fixing them. |
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Zundfolge1432
Samba Member
Joined: June 13, 2004
Posts: 12466
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Abscate
Samba Member
Joined: October 05, 2014
Posts: 22633
Location: NYC/Upstate/ROW
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| Posted: Tue May 04, 2021 5:52 pm Post subject: Re: Is the Idiot's book really that valuable? |
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I’ve got a couple of Bentley manuals for more modern cars, these are technical references , not repair manuals.
Great if you want a torque setting, almost useless for the DIY
Example...removing Hvac fan housing on an E83
Bentley: remove fasteners from fan housing....blurry picture with two arrows
If a real effort were made
Text : remove 4 T25 fasteners, two lower visible from engine compartment, two are blind under cowl
T25x30mm fastener , qty 4
All fasteners are identical
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oprn
Samba Member
Joined: November 13, 2016
Posts: 12679
Location: Western Canada
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| Posted: Wed May 05, 2021 4:42 am Post subject: Re: Is the Idiot's book really that valuable? |
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^^^This!^^^
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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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amishman
Samba Member
Joined: March 09, 2004
Posts: 3215
Location: California
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| Posted: Wed May 05, 2021 7:56 am Post subject: Re: Is the Idiot's book really that valuable? |
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The John Muir Idiots Tape was a fun listen. I sold my tape long ago but it was a cool find at the time. Made this quick video showing the tape running at the time.
Link
TJ
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Come visit my web site!
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harrymarlin
Samba Member
Joined: June 07, 2018
Posts: 717
Location: Washington, DC
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| Posted: Wed May 05, 2021 8:00 am Post subject: Re: Is the Idiot's book really that valuable? |
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| amishman wrote: |
The John Muir Idiots Tape was a fun listen. I sold my tape long ago but it was a cool find at the time. Made this quick video showing the tape running at the time.
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And if you want to listen to the accompanying engine sounds, someone is selling a tape in the classifieds:
https://www.thesamba.com/vw/classifieds/detail.php?id=1780418
_________________
-Harry
--------------------------
1967 Ruby Red Convertible Beetle ("Becky")
ISO Albuquerque "Imported Motors" dealership paraphernalia |
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Abscate
Samba Member
Joined: October 05, 2014
Posts: 22633
Location: NYC/Upstate/ROW
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| Posted: Wed May 05, 2021 8:37 am Post subject: Re: Is the Idiot's book really that valuable? |
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| harrymarlin wrote: |
| amishman wrote: |
The John Muir Idiots Tape was a fun listen. I sold my tape long ago but it was a cool find at the time. Made this quick video showing the tape running at the time.
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And if you want to listen to the accompanying engine sounds, someone is selling a tape in the classifieds:
https://www.thesamba.com/vw/classifieds/detail.php?id=1780418 |
Ill make a copy of mine for $1.75 vs the $175 if anyone wants this.
Grifter.
8-track will cost you more.
I stole this from somone, back on topic..
Bentley is the Bible
Muir is the Catechism.
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