Date:         Tue, 13 Jul 1999 11:22:50 -0700
Reply-To:     Richard Golen <rgolen@UMASSD.EDU>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Richard Golen <rgolen@UMASSD.EDU>
Subject:      Re: repair books
Comments: To: Jim Cain <jcain@MINDSPRING.COM>
In-Reply-To:  <v03102806b3b0f923d743@[209.86.79.97]>
Content-type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii

At 10:19 AM 7/13/1999 -0400, Jim Cain wrote:
>I've had my 85 Westy for about six months now, this is my first vanagon.  I
>had early 70 Westys before.  I'm not a complete mechanic, but like to
>piddle some.  In the past I have used the Chilton repair books and they
>were adequate for my level of fixin'.  So, when we bought Herbie, I looked
>to get the Chiltons for him, but it is not yet in the stands.  Publication
>date of Feb 99 and it is still back ordered at the local Chapter 11
>bookstore.
>
>I keep seeing references to Bently on the list, is he a butler or a garage
>owner?  I see on Busdepot.com several books listed, Bently being the most
>expensive.
>
>Question:  Since I will not rebuild an engine, but may do tune ups, and
>minor repair/replace things, is Bently too in depth?  What about the
>Haynes, since Herbie seems to be included.
>
>Suggestions, comments on any of these?
>
>TIA
>
Jim,

You are better off buying they Haynes for the info about everything but the
engine (aircooled vanagon manual only), and if you have the extra $$$, get
the Bentley. The Bentley also has some info on the interior of the camper
as well.

As to the Chilton, keep a copy in your Vanagon....you never know when you
will run out of toilet paper. Chiltons manuals make excellent toilet
paper...they are to generic to be useful for anything else.


Ric