haubstr Posted November 28, 2009 Report Share Posted November 28, 2009 I've been a ratsun member for a long time and love the format here. I now came into a 68 baja bug but know nothing about vw's. Is there a forum out there with the same format as ratsun, ie... no "special feature vehicles", no commercials, just enthusiasts helping enthusiasts. Somewhere i can ask a stupid question and they don't make you feel like a dumbshit, or does that just go along with the territory when your a nubie? Quote Link to comment
DanielC Posted November 28, 2009 Report Share Posted November 28, 2009 I would suggest you ask here. I have had a VW bug, and I also built a VW powered sandrail. There is a book, HOW TO KEEP YOUR VOLKSWAGON ALIVE by John Muir. It is subtitled "a manual of step by setp procedures for the complete idiot" Do not let the title turn you off. It is a very good book for VW noobs. Quote Link to comment
LenRobertson Posted November 28, 2009 Report Share Posted November 28, 2009 I kind of hope you don't get an answer to this. I've been secretly snooping Craigslist for Baja bug ads lately. I really don't need to feed my mania by finding a forum for VW loons. But I can't keep from looking at Bug vids on Youtube. I don't know which is cooler - Bajas or chopped top Bugs. Len Quote Link to comment
Iowa Mark Posted November 28, 2009 Report Share Posted November 28, 2009 The biggest forum for VW's is thesamba.com . They break the thing down by models, off road, speed, kit cars, years of buses/ cars, and on and on. There is also a parts for sale section that you can't keep up with the new entries, they show up so fast. Quote Link to comment
JDM510 Posted November 28, 2009 Report Share Posted November 28, 2009 yeah my vote is for thesamba.com Quote Link to comment
ariascarlos1990 Posted November 28, 2009 Report Share Posted November 28, 2009 thesamba.com all day. Ill trade my vw for a 510. :D Quote Link to comment
stilltwisted Posted November 28, 2009 Report Share Posted November 28, 2009 yeah my vote is for thesamba.com the samba is the best air cooled forum ,,but it is set up differnt than ratsun,,but i use both forums Quote Link to comment
FoxyRoadster Posted November 28, 2009 Report Share Posted November 28, 2009 thesamaba has my vote.. though the vw for idiots book teaches you everything you'll ever want to know besides how to fix the rust. 63 Baja here, needs everything but drives lol Quote Link to comment
chiquapen Posted November 28, 2009 Report Share Posted November 28, 2009 http://www.volkswagenforum.com/forum/ Quote Link to comment
JDM510 Posted November 28, 2009 Report Share Posted November 28, 2009 (edited) ha lots of people who like or have datsuns, has or has had a vw i used to have LOTS of vws some pretty rare ones too i left the vw scene for the datsun/nissan scene (510's&240sx's are funner to drive daily and are less to maintain IMO) i also built a 69 baja, that bug was awesome the best thing i ever did was buy the gear box for that thing. 486r&p that thing went ANYWHERE in the dez and hills, however you could not drive it on the hiway :fu::fu: Edited November 28, 2009 by JDM510 Quote Link to comment
MicroMachinery Posted November 28, 2009 Report Share Posted November 28, 2009 Yeah man, check thesamba.com.. I have a buddy that's into aircooleds and that's his source. As for the "How to keep your VW alive" by John Muir, it's a a comic book in my opinion. Pretty irritating if you know how to use a regular service manual, but if you don't know beans about using an actual service/repair manual, then this is the ticket. Reminds me of if you were trying to explain working on the car to a 5 year old.. Not really a good one for troubleshooting, either. If you're more the technical, "cut the crap and just tell me what I need to know" type like myself, you'll find that Bentley Publishing makes the absolute BEST service and repair manual. Bar none. I wish Bentley made books for Datsuns.. or if they did, I wish I would catch wind of where I could get one. Just depends on what works better for you: I'm more biased towards "Cut the Crap". Quote Link to comment
haubstr Posted November 28, 2009 Author Report Share Posted November 28, 2009 Thank you everybody for the responses. I already have HOW TO KEEP YOUR VOLKSWAGON ALIVE but it doesn't answer some questions i have. I'll try samba. If anybody can answer my questions here? I'm wondering which engine parts are interchangable. I've found cylinder/pistons for sale but I have an AE 60 horse dual port engine. I believe it has 85mm pistons. Wondering if other sizes can be used on the same block? Quote Link to comment
banzai510(hainz) Posted November 30, 2009 Report Share Posted November 30, 2009 I love the lowered VW Things!!!!!!!!!! Quote Link to comment
Mr. Squirrel Posted November 30, 2009 Report Share Posted November 30, 2009 I love the old school Buses. Quote Link to comment
Bears510 Posted November 30, 2009 Report Share Posted November 30, 2009 Congrats on your purchase!! Having owned several air and watercooled v-dubs over the years, and I think most of us here have as well, the john muir book is a good reference and easy to follow book. But, as was said before, doesn't dive in too deep into the technial stuff, tho there isn't all that much stuff that is technical with a bug unless you get into upping the cc's, dual carbs, and all that. most of the parts are interchangeable with no mods, unless you change the cc's, then you would have to have the case machined for the bigger jugs and pistons. you may already know but if you can, stay away from some sizes like 1835 as they cylinder walls are a little thin and tend to run hot (at least here in Az they do.) now, word of warning, if you are going to build a motor, don't be like me and look at parts and start thinking "well, for 40 dollars more, I can get an even bigger stroker crank!" and so on and end up with a monster 2387 like I did...:lol: because, keep in mind you would definitly have to upgrade the tranny, axles, and so on to handle it. Dubs are some of the easiest cars to work on and are a great learning experience. if you have the non hydraulic cases, (preferable for any high performance upgrades) you will be adjusting valves every couple months or so depending on how much you drive and the carb/carbs you use. dual carbs are VERY picky when it comes to valve adjustments so I was doing mine every month. only takes about 15 min tho once you get it down... I actually have several books on air cooled dubs, including the how to keep your volkswagen alive so if you need them, I could send them to ya, just message me and let me know. Quote Link to comment
sliding_creep Posted November 30, 2009 Report Share Posted November 30, 2009 still kicking myself for not trading my built B13 for this incredibly sick brown roof-racked 66' nana spec type I 1200, uber-slammed on porsche wheels that i did a complete rewire on last year. shouldatradedshouldatradedshouldatraded before i rewired it! i deleted the damn pics from my phone! POOOP! cheers Quote Link to comment
Bears510 Posted November 30, 2009 Report Share Posted November 30, 2009 still kicking myself for not trading my built B13 for this incredibly sick brown roof-racked 66' nana spec type I 1200, uber-slammed on porsche wheels that i did a complete rewire on last year. shouldatradedshouldatradedshouldatraded before i rewired it! i deleted the damn pics from my phone! POOOP! cheers I kick myself all the time for selling each and everyone I have had..but...at the time it seemed right...still wondering why...:lol: Quote Link to comment
Spedie Posted December 1, 2009 Report Share Posted December 1, 2009 I would really have to suggest http://www.volksrods.com/forum/, theDRAMBA can get real purist-y and picky. I frequent here and there, and it's a lot more than just hot rod vw's. Check it out! Quote Link to comment
ichorid Posted December 1, 2009 Report Share Posted December 1, 2009 during my VW ownership days I was on vwvortex. didnt frequent the air cooled section no idea if its friendly. the rocco and rado guys were rad though. Quote Link to comment
Skib Posted December 1, 2009 Report Share Posted December 1, 2009 I dont touch a VW with a 10ft pole :lol: Quote Link to comment
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