Date:         Wed, 18 Oct 2000 02:41:49 EDT
Reply-To:     FrankGRUN@AOL.COM
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Frank Grunthaner <FrankGRUN@AOL.COM>
Subject:      Musings on Manuals
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Gentlemen and ladies of the list,

From time to time as I lurk on the list a discussion bubbles up on the issue
of manuals. The first statement (like those recently) goes along the lines of
"to Bentley or not to Bentley". The Haynes alternative in its Watercooled and
Aircooled incarnations is always raised. Each time the word manual is used in
conjunction with the Vanagon Bentley, I cringe. The term Bentley Manual is
simply an oxymoron. It is unfortunate to malign the useful concept of a
service or shop manual by suggesting the Vanagon Bentley is in this category.
The Vanagon Bentley is a somewhat random collection of disassembly drawings
with cryptic notes passing for a poor excuse for text.

At least the Haynes has sentences and offers some meager advice for the
novice.

Whilst the flame gunners load their pieces, let me note that my library
includes 10 different Bentleys, far more numerous Haynes tomes, Chilton's,
Clymers, VW Service Training manuals, Factory manuals for Fords, Chryslers,
Porsches, Volvos and Saabs, not to mention reference texts from Dempsey to
Ricardo. From these, it is clear that Bentley can publish a manual if VW or
Audi or BMW writes one for them (reference the 88-92 A2 Manual).
Unfortunately VW just put together a collection of pictures, parts lists, a
few notes, some dimensions and tolerances and some wiring diagrams and called
it a manual.

I'm working up to a point.

With all the discussion of the advantages of the in-line 4 engine swap, one
of the singularly most important positive reasons has not yet been
articulated: Swap in an I-4 engine from a Rabbit, Golf, etc., etc. and you
can have a relevant real manual!!! Now as I said, the A2 Bentley is actually
a manual, but the very best, most impressive manual of all (IMHO_MNSHAA) is:

"Poor Richard's Rabbit Book/How to Keep Your VW Rabbit Alive- A Manual of
Step by Step Procedures for the Compleat Idiot" by Richard Sealey and John
Muir Publications. Of course its long out of print and only 68% of the manual
applies to the engine, trans and electrical. The material on the brakes,
steering and body work are adequately general and are delightful reading.
Both the carburated Rabbit and the later CIS fuel injection system are
covered and many points translate nicely to the Digifant system. If you find
these at used book stores, snap up a copy, you newbies will not be sorry. If
on eBay, ... well you know my buyer beware view of ebay, but you pays your
price and.

A real manual. Tips, tricks, shortcuts, warnings and insights complete with
step-by-step instructions. Great!

Vanagon Bentley, undocumented photo diary! (Shameful at the price)
Haynes, documented photo diary! (Fair buy at $11.95 at Pep Boys)
Clymers, some of the original VW service training shop notes with text.
Poor Richard's, This is a manual!

Sigh,

Frank Grunthaner