Water-Cooled VW Performance Handbook
Table of Contents
Here are the chapter headings and subheadings for the Water-cooled Volkswagen Performance Handbook. This should give you some idea what is in the book. You can also take a peek inside the latest edition here .
Front matter
Acknowledgements
Preface
Philosophy
Compromise
Caveat emptor
Introduction
About your warranty
About air pollution, laws, and inspections
About dynamometer numbers
About hot rodding
About those who do the work
About your budget
About safety
Chassis types
Chapter 1: Bolt-on Performance
Tune-ups
Exhausts
‘Recurved’ distributors
Engine management system chips
Mild cam and valve springs
Adjustable cam sprockets
Throttle bodies
Supercharger
Carburetors
Unplugging the oxygen sensor
Breakerless ignition
Coils
‘Limited-slip’ differential
Driving school
Chapter 2: Engine Swaps
Considerations
Choices
Costs
A1 swaps
A2 swaps
A3 swaps
Diesel swaps
Audi engines
Preparation
Engine mounts
Transaxles
The Automatic Question
Constant velocity joints and axles
Electrical
Cooling system
Fuel system
Exhaust
Linkages
Chapter 3: Engine Build-ups
Replacement engines
Tools and techniques
Cleanliness
Blueprinting
Plastigage
Leakdown testing
Compression testing
Increasing engine size
Metal Preparation
Magnafluxing
Nitriding
Shot peening
Moly impregnation
Gun Kote
Zirconium oxide coating
Blocks
Differences among blocks
Preparation
Crankcase oil jets
Bolts vs studs
Crankshafts
Differences among crankshafts
Preparation
Bearings
Flywheels
Rods
Choices
Preparation
Pistons
Choices
Piston pins
Compression ratio
Checking compression ratio
Clearances
Coatings
Rings
Motor mounts
Assembly
Start-up
Chapter 4: Cylinder Heads
Two-valve heads
Carbureted
Early fuel injected
Heron
GTI
GTI with air-shrouded injectors
Hydraulic
1996 2.0 liter heads
Head gaskets
Four-valve heads
Porting and polishing
Using a flow bench
Unshrouding the valves
Valves
Sizing
Selecting
Cutting valve angles
Valve seats
Cutting valve seat angles
Lapping the valves
Valve guides
Selecting a high-performance head
Camshaft bearing problems
Miscellaneous tips and techniques
Valve cover studs
Oil splash/blow-by guard
Preventive maintenance
Moly impregnation
Chapter 5: Camshafts
Theory
Camshaft operating parameters
Intake opening and closing
Exhaust opening and closing
Duration
Lobe centers
Valve overlap
Cam timing
Lobe profile
Lift
Area under the curve
Base circle
Billets
Selecting a camshaft
Fuel-injected camshafts
Carburetor camshafts
Supercharger camshafts
Other concerns
Cam sprockets
Cam belts
Installing an adjustable cam sprocket
Installing an 8V camshaft
Installing a 16V camshaft
Checking camshaft specifications
Timing the camshaft to the engine
Valve train
Valve springs
Valve guide seals
Retainers
Followers
Adjusting the valves
Chapter 6: Lubrication
Oil pumps
Oil pans
Magnetic drain plugs
Prelubrication
Filtration
Oil additives
Oil analysis
Chapter 7: Air and Fuel
Tools and Techniques
Infrared gas analyzers
Computer diagnostic analyzers
Exhaust gas temperature readings
Fuel injection
Tools and Techniques
Tweaks
Black boxes
Throttle bodies
Intake Manifolds
CIS air sensor housings
Air filters
Fuel filters
Hot-start problems
Fuel injectors
Injector O-rings
Repairs
Special fuels and fuel additives
Chapter 8: Forced Induction
Theory
Turbochargers
Superchargers
Volkswagen G-Lader
Advanced Motorsport Solutions supercharger
Autotech Supercharger
Fuel enrichment
Ignition
Intercoolers
Water injection
Nitrous oxide
Traditional set-ups
Fogger nozzles
Individual injectors
Chapter 9: Exhaust systems
Pollution control equipment
Exhaust gas recirculation
Catalytic converter
Oxygen sensor
Headers
Cast-iron manifolds
Aftermarket manifolds
Porting and gaskets
A3 exhaust rattle
High-performance exhausts
Flex couplings and motor mounts
Muffler hangers
Chapter 10: Cooling
Water Cooling
Fan Switches
Thermostats
Radiators
Water pumps
Special coolants
Coatings
Oil Cooling
Calibrating the oil temperature gauge
Types of oil cooler
Chapter 11: Transaxles and drivetrain
Clutches
Reinforcing the transaxle
Differential problems
Transaxle Swap: Five Speeds in Place of Four
Shift Points
Gear ratios and shift points
Six-speed transaxle conversions
Overdrive fifth-gears
Limited-slip differentials
GTI ‘Mini-Slip’
Torque biasing
Detent
Friction Clutch
Viscous
Antislip
Lubrication and maintenance
Magnetic drain plug
Constant-velocity joints
Wheel bearings
Front Hubs
Linkage
Weighted shift rods
Chapter 12: Suspension and Steering
Tools and Techniques
Shocks
Springs
Kits
Front suspension
Anti-roll Bars
High-performance bushings
Boxing the lower A-arms
Front stress bars
Rear suspension
Anti-roll bars
Rear stress bars
Steering
Weight redistribution
Corner balancing
Chapter 13: Tires and Wheels
The Plus concept
The Plus 1 and Plus 2 concepts
Balancing
Rotating
Tire pressure
Tire shaving
Selecting wheels
Selecting tires
Snow performance
Miscellaneous tips and techniques
Chapter 14: Brakes
Brake pads
Brake squeak
Slotting the pads
Bedding the pads
Drilling or slotting the rotors
Upgrading the front brakes
A1 front brakes
A2 front brakes
A3 front brakes
A4 front brakes
Upgrading rear brakes
Proportioning valves
Master cylinders
Braided stainless-covered Teflon brake lines
Brake fluid
Chapter 15: Body and Chassis
Straightening your car after a wreck
Stress bars
Body kits
Air dams
Wind splits
A-pillar fairings
Rear spoilers
Side skirts
Chapter 16: Electrical Systems
Ignitions
Allison/Crane
Perlux
MSD
Factory breakerless
Factory knock-sensor ignition
Distributors
Spark plugs
Engine management chips
Wiring modifications
Gauges
Lights
Remote relays
Intermittent wipers
Roof-mounted antennas
Chapter 17: Accessories
Alarms
Radio lock
Wheel locks
Vehicle retention
Fire extinguishers
Radar and radio detectors and protectors
Steering wheels
Seating
Analysis methods
Stopwatch
Computers
Accelerometers
Windshield wipers
Appendices
Volkswagen engine information
Volkswagen chassis information
A1 chassis
A2 chassis
A3 chassis
A4 chassis
Volkswagen part numbers
What is horsepower?
Conversions
Index