Oil strainer information. An area of extreme importance. The inlet or suction side of any pump is extremely limited in what it can do as compared to the pressure side and should never be...

Building a large displacement VW engine has almost become an art form. Bore, stroke, rod length, and compression can all be combined in so many different ways that once you throw in the human...

Introduction to a three-part article series about building a bug engine with the best of both worlds...power and reliability.

...The next item in the lower end of the engine to consider is the camshaft...(Part two of Jim Ratto's article)

It is often said that the secret to a well performing engine is in the preparation of the cylinder heads. It is also commonly known that...(Part three of Jim Ratto's article)

Developed by Gene Berg and Bob Dixon in 1972.

Cylinder spacers are used to achieve proper deck height when using stroker crankshafts and/or longer connecting rods. Using spacers is one accepted method to lower CR and works very well on VW...

Don't Blow Your Top (cooler, gallery plugs or oil filter)!! Many of you have "blown" apart your oil filter, cooler or even the oil passage plugs.

You must have access to the main oil galley to properly clean the internal passages of loose debris or machining chips.

A brief overview of Gene Berg's recommendations on choosing the best engine to balance performance and efficiency.

A guide to determining the unsafe level of your engine's temperature- determined by the oil temperature.

A discussion of the importance of properly breaking in your engine.  The article also describes the steps you should take to ensure you get the maximum life out of your VW engine.

The way that pistons, cylinders, and rings work together to create engine power is often misunderstood or mysterious to enthusiasts.

How to instructions for starting a VW engine outside of the car- on the floor.

An explanation of the advantages and disadvantages of installing a lightened flywheel on your beetle.

A general guide of what you should and should not do when disassembling your engine- by Bob Ellis.

Adding Some Spring to Your VW's Performance, by Ryan Lee Price. Photography: Ryan Lee Price