Thanks all

Looked at the VW, distributor timing off by at least 30 degrees, points set at about 0.030", which resulted in about 10 degrees of dwell. One plug wire not firing. Told him to get a Haynes and a Muir book, and a valve gasket kit and we'd take a look at the valve adjust. The exhaust was whistling like it really needed an adjustment.

No kidding - the John Muir Volkswagen guide was one of the most influential books of my life.

Over twenty-five years ago as a starving college student trying to keep a ten year old Karman Ghia running, it set me on the way to being a DIY mechanic for the rest of my life. More importantly, it taught me that if you stop, research and plan, there's not much you can't do for yourself, if you want to. I also like the whole "know your ass" philosophy of working with machinery. I was actually touched a few years back when he passed away.

The image I always had of John Muir is personified by John Walker, the Porsche guru in Seattle.

the Muir book is a godsend. I enjoy reading it just as a book. just the illustrations alone are fun to look at..

I have my old copy of John's book from only the second or third printing. I bought the latest revision a couple years back to send off to school with my son. Truly classic stuff. My son gets a real kick out of the '60's hippie vernacular. "Dad, did they really talk like that?" He loves all the cautions about tying back your long hair when working around the running motor.

My well used 1973 copy :D check out the price on the lic. plate.
No tellin what went on around this book.
I rebuilt the motor of my 62 bug with this book and drove it for 10 years, burning up the road with 40 HP.
I put that bug in a lake ( they float good ) and it was even stolen once and the cops called me late one night to come get it without even impounding it. I bought it for 135.00 bucks needing motor work. Cool car.
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