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Who.Me? Samba Member
Joined: July 14, 2014 Posts: 2190 Location: UK (South)
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harrymarlin Samba Member
Joined: June 07, 2018 Posts: 702 Location: Washington, DC
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Posted: Wed May 05, 2021 10:41 am Post subject: Re: Is the Idiot's book really that valuable? |
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2D: "Is your Engine Missing?" Is that a typo, because, if not, that should probably be the *first* question asked. _________________ -Harry
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1967 Ruby Red Convertible Beetle ("Becky")
ISO Albuquerque "Imported Motors" dealership paraphernalia |
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Abscate Samba Member
Joined: October 05, 2014 Posts: 22573 Location: NYC/Upstate/ROW
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Posted: Wed May 05, 2021 10:45 am Post subject: Re: Is the Idiot's book really that valuable? |
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harrymarlin wrote: |
2D: "Is your Engine Missing?" Is that a typo, because, if not, that should probably be the *first* question asked. |
and the next Block would be...
Its in the back. _________________ .ssS! |
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mukluk Samba Member
Joined: October 18, 2012 Posts: 6985 Location: Clyde, TX
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Posted: Wed May 05, 2021 2:31 pm Post subject: Re: Is the Idiot's book really that valuable? |
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harrymarlin wrote: |
2D: "Is your Engine Missing?" Is that a typo, because, if not, that should probably be the *first* question asked. |
The question is asking about missing as in experiencing misfires, not if the engine cannot be located. _________________ 1960 Ragtop w/Semaphores "Inga" |
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Abscate Samba Member
Joined: October 05, 2014 Posts: 22573 Location: NYC/Upstate/ROW
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Posted: Wed May 05, 2021 4:53 pm Post subject: Re: Is the Idiot's book really that valuable? |
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mukluk wrote: |
harrymarlin wrote: |
2D: "Is your Engine Missing?" Is that a typo, because, if not, that should probably be the *first* question asked. |
The question is asking about missing as in experiencing misfires, not if the engine cannot be located. |
I missed that. _________________ .ssS! |
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mukluk Samba Member
Joined: October 18, 2012 Posts: 6985 Location: Clyde, TX
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Posted: Wed May 05, 2021 7:58 pm Post subject: Re: Is the Idiot's book really that valuable? |
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Abscate wrote: |
mukluk wrote: |
harrymarlin wrote: |
2D: "Is your Engine Missing?" Is that a typo, because, if not, that should probably be the *first* question asked. |
The question is asking about missing as in experiencing misfires, not if the engine cannot be located. |
I missed that. |
_________________ 1960 Ragtop w/Semaphores "Inga" |
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Manfred58sc Samba Member
Joined: October 05, 2009 Posts: 3374
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Posted: Wed May 05, 2021 8:18 pm Post subject: Re: Is the Idiot's book really that valuable? |
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I still think the book has value because of its gentle nature in recommending different levels of involvement. I did not start wrenching on ACVW, I started on Mopar V-8's. My first ACVW ( 64 Bus), looked so alien to me I had a hard time knowing what did what. The Muir book really helped me understand what and how stuff worked.
Then I bought a Bentley .
I always give a copy to new customers when I sell an engine or car.
The value needs to be measured in terms beyond the cover price or speculated gains. _________________ Fat chick owner/operator |
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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: Wed May 05, 2021 8:33 pm Post subject: Re: Is the Idiot's book really that valuable? |
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As I said above, I use mine to get my teen daughter interested into the concepts involved. The artwork keeps her engaged. I can correct anything that isn't appropriate as we work on the cars. _________________ No boom today. Boom tomorrow. There's always a boom tomorrow. |
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Abscate Samba Member
Joined: October 05, 2014 Posts: 22573 Location: NYC/Upstate/ROW
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Posted: Thu May 06, 2021 2:06 am Post subject: Re: Is the Idiot's book really that valuable? |
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DurocShark wrote: |
As I said above, I use mine to get my teen daughter interested into the concepts involved. The artwork keeps her engaged. I can correct anything that isn't appropriate as we work on the cars. |
+1000 points.
My kids were the only ones in high school who knew how to jump a car or change a tire. The rest called Dad/AAA. Hades,most of them couldn’t open the hood.
Abby once got one home with a low coolant light, popped the hood,checked the reservoir, and told her she could drive home watching the temp gauge closely and became a legend. _________________ .ssS! |
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YDBD Samba Member
Joined: February 25, 2017 Posts: 890 Location: Bavaria, Germany
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Posted: Thu May 06, 2021 6:04 am Post subject: Re: Is the Idiot's book really that valuable? |
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harrymarlin wrote: |
2D: "Is your Engine Missing?" Is that a typo, because, if not, that should probably be the *first* question asked. |
Well one time my baja didn't start, it wasn't the engine that was missing it was the carbs...gone. _________________ '56 pan Dune Buggy since '69
don't live in the past...but when I did:
'67 bug
'64 baja
'60 dune buggy
'73 Personenkraftwagen Type 182 "Thing" |
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cdennisg Samba Member
Joined: November 02, 2004 Posts: 20233 Location: Sandpoint, ID
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Posted: Fri May 07, 2021 5:31 pm Post subject: Re: Is the Idiot's book really that valuable? |
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I have a small collection of other books from Muir publishing. There are idiot books for Subaru, Toyota, Honda and Datsun. Also VW Rabbits.
Muir helped this idiot with his first bug back in the 80's. I still have some copies laying around. It was a fun read at the time, with good basic info. _________________ nothing |
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mark tucker Samba Member
Joined: April 08, 2009 Posts: 23937 Location: SHALIMAR ,FLORIDA
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Posted: Fri May 07, 2021 6:28 pm Post subject: Re: Is the Idiot's book really that valuable? |
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Ive seen the books but never figured they were for me.....I still dont. but for those who might....get 3 of them just encase. |
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oprn Samba Member
Joined: November 13, 2016 Posts: 12632 Location: Western Canada
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Posted: Sat May 08, 2021 4:19 am Post subject: Re: Is the Idiot's book really that valuable? |
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I have the Rabbit one, I didn't realize there were others too.
One thing I have come to realize as I grow older is that I don't know everything. When I was 16 I did! Now I find that even idiots sometimes can teach me something! _________________ 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: 9826 Location: Somewhere between Dubuque and Keokuk
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Posted: Sat May 08, 2021 5:25 am Post subject: Re: Is the Idiot's book really that valuable? |
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mark tucker wrote: |
Ive seen the books but never figured they were for me.....I still dont. but for those who might....get 3 of them just encase. |
Some folks are too smart for the Idiot book and dive right into the Moron's Manual. |
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RIX70Bay Samba Member
Joined: June 14, 2017 Posts: 45 Location: moved to Iowa
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Posted: Sat May 08, 2021 7:23 am Post subject: Re: Is the Idiot's book really that valuable? |
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I am kind a new to this VW stuff. Since I have 3 now, I try to get as many books as I can. I saw Glenns VW repair on page 2 and had to have. Looks like it will be helpful even though my vws are a little newer. _________________ Rick
1970 7 Passenger Bus (Rose)
1968 Square back (Baby Huey)
1970 Standard Bug
1951 Crosley Super
1968 Camaro (Gifted to my son) |
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mark tucker Samba Member
Joined: April 08, 2009 Posts: 23937 Location: SHALIMAR ,FLORIDA
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Posted: Sat May 08, 2021 10:51 am Post subject: Re: Is the Idiot's book really that valuable? |
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iowegian wrote: |
mark tucker wrote: |
Ive seen the books but never figured they were for me.....I still dont. but for those who might....get 3 of them just encase. |
Some folks are too smart for the Idiot book and dive right into the Moron's Manual. |
you got that right,I see lots of them. there quite eazy to spot too, they dont know a vw engine is just another engine....and for that matter so is the car...just another car. and they try to build them like a .....and then the car& parts end up at the swap meet for another exspurt to try their handy work on. Ive picked up some good deals there, and saw some totaly reparable junk too. always know what your looking at and your ability to repair whatever is afu. like the carrage head 3/8 galvinized head studs...you cant fix stupid...but I reckon it worked untill it didnt. |
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amishman Samba Member
Joined: March 09, 2004 Posts: 3202 Location: California
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Posted: Sat May 08, 2021 3:43 pm Post subject: Re: Is the Idiot's book really that valuable? |
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oprn wrote: |
I have the Rabbit one, I didn't realize there were others too.
One thing I have come to realize as I grow older is that I don't know everything. When I was 16 I did! Now I find that even idiots sometimes can teach me something! |
I find I am always new to every experience because even if I did it before... that before may have been 5 years ago!
I barely remember yesterday and I supposed to remember 5 years ago. haha.
I have to watch videos and maybe read before every project and that is fine, as I am no mechanics and just a shadetree mechanic with a screwdriver and a crescent wrench but not afraid to try.
TJ _________________ tj (the Amishman)
Come visit my web site!
http://www.vwhippie.com |
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mark tucker Samba Member
Joined: April 08, 2009 Posts: 23937 Location: SHALIMAR ,FLORIDA
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Posted: Sun May 09, 2021 9:26 am Post subject: Re: Is the Idiot's book really that valuable? |
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working on a vw or anything should be done like a CSI lab.if you havent a clue whats rong and dont look at it then how do you intend to fix it....just throwing $ at it usualy dont work.unless you just happen to replace the offending part with a good one by axadent. but then you could just replace the entire car/bus/ghia/thingy with a new toyota and probably be better off....with a lot less headaches to all involved. |
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Bug-nut Samba Member
Joined: December 20, 2015 Posts: 485 Location: Knoxville, TN
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Posted: Sun May 09, 2021 6:43 pm Post subject: Re: Is the Idiot's book really that valuable? |
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Ok I'll bite. I really don't see why there is such dislike out there for the Idiot Manual, yeah it's not perfect but it's still better than nothing! When I got my first VW, I ended up getting the latest edition of the book to read through and it was pretty funny. I really enjoyed his simple to understand instructions and Peter's hilarious illustrations. With that said, some parts still make me shudder to this day (taking a chisel to the rear axle and flywheel nuts? No thanks!)
But as you can see, I also have been collecting other VW maintenance books as well. And it goes without saying this forum is pretty much the best out there, and if you can learn to use the search function I believe you could fully restore any air cooled VW out there using nothing more than this site (as long as you have some good wading boots on standby ).
And finally - yes, I also have a signed copy of his Velvet Monkey Wrench. I barely made it through the first ten pages before I couldn't take it anymore and stopped reading it. But for some reason I still hang onto it. Maybe because I think books are awesome? I don't know.
It's interesting, if you notice the first book says $6.50 and the second book says $12.50. No price is noted on the third book, just an edition notice.
From top to bottom, the printing date is 1975, 1983, and 2009. The Monkey Wrench was printed 1973.
The last two books aren't maintenance related, but I like them so much I just had to include them. I don't know how accurate Small Wonder is, but it was the first VW history book I ever got and it's a great read. And then the Hand Tools book is just plain funny. It was printed by General Motors during WWII for use by the armed forces to help train mechanics, and it shows all the right and wrong ways to use hand tools. Of course to us god-level mechanics the information inside is pure kindergarten stuff, but for a greenhorn mechanic that has never even held a flat blade screwdriver it would be very informative. _________________ 1959 Fjord Blue Volkswagen Beetle
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=6...highlight=
1962 Austin-Healey Sprite
Snort wrote: |
A 59 Beetle is just an Oval-Window car with aspirations of modernity. |
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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: Sun May 09, 2021 7:33 pm Post subject: Re: Is the Idiot's book really that valuable? |
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I'd gather all my books, but they're scattered throughout the house and garage.
I found the most useful one to be the pocket service manual. Has all the torque specs and stuff, and not much else. _________________ No boom today. Boom tomorrow. There's always a boom tomorrow. |
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