Tech Bench — Install Guides & Technical Reference
The Tech Bench Real, shop-tested install and reference guides for your air-cooled Volkswagen — written builder-to-builder, linked to the exact parts that do the job. From our bench in Orange, CA to yours.
The Tech Bench is where we write down how the work actually gets done: procedures, torque specs, install sequences, and the order of operations that keeps you from taking something apart twice. Every guide comes off our own bench in Orange, California, written by the people who do this work daily — on customer cars, on our own cars, with the same parts we sell you.
Below is the full library as we're building it out. Guides that are live are linked. The rest are written and in the queue — they'll turn into links here as they publish.
Shifting & Driveline
9From a vague shifter to a bolt-action throwSnap-Lock Delrin Shift Bushing
The 20-minute fix that turns a sloppy shifter crisp — and the whole shift-linkage explained.
#CH01Read the guideBillet Shift Coupler
Ditch the cracked plastic coupler for billet and tighten up the back of the linkage.
#CH15Coming soonBus Shift Bushing
Sharpen the famously vague Bus shifter with a Delrin rod bushing.
#BS02Coming soonClutch & Throttle Cables
Refresh both cables and set clutch free-play for a smooth, sure action.
Cable RefreshComing soonThrow-Out Bearing Upgrade
Upgrade an early transaxle's clutch release while the engine's out.
Dave FoltsComing soonSolid Transmission Mid-Mount
Weld in a solid mount to kill driveline flex and firm up every shift.
Weld-InComing soonForward Flush Tunnel Cover
Clean, flush clutch-cable tunnel access for custom driveline setups.
#CH27Coming soonCenter Tunnel Access Plate
Weld-in flush plate for serviceable clutch-cable access.
#CH28Coming soonCandy Cane Clutch Tube Support
Heavy-duty tunnel support that keeps the clutch cable smooth.
#CH61Coming soonBrakes
8Stopping power, done safelyTandem Master Cylinder
Upgrade to a dual-circuit master for a 4-wheel disc setup — bench-bled and safe.
Wilwood 1"Coming soonWilwood Front Disc Kit
Complete front drum-to-disc conversion for modern stopping power.
Ball JointComing soonRear Drum Brake Service
Rebuild leaking or frozen rear drums and bleed them right.
Wheel Cyl.Coming soonBrake Backing Plate
Swap a rusted backing plate and transfer the hardware clean.
OEM GermanComing soonParking Brake Rebuild
Restore a parking brake that won't hold — levers and spreader bar.
R70/R71Coming soonBillet Parking Brake Bracket
Mount the handbrake solid with a billet bracket — Manx & Baja favorite.
#CH04Coming soonFramehead Brake Line Brackets
Route and support the front brake lines the factory way.
#CH09Coming soonSlimline Parking Brake Mount
Clean handbrake mount for a heater-delete tunnel.
#CH23Coming soonSteering
4Tight, play-free, safeRebuilt German Steering Box
Swap in a rebuilt box and dial out the wander for good.
Billet CoverComing soonBillet Steering Box Cover
Cleaner, stronger top cover — and the moment to set steering lash.
#CH71Coming soonSteering Box Clamp
Lock the box to the beam so it can't shift under load.
#R33Coming soonTitanium Steering Box Bolts
Grade-5 titanium mounting hardware, torqued to spec.
#A14-TKITComing soonFront Suspension
7Geometry, stance, and long lifeBall Joint Front Beam
The full front-suspension foundation — restored German, spindle-to-spindle.
RestoredComing soonBall Joint Spindles
Bring worn or bent front spindles back to factory-true geometry.
#R53Coming soonEMPI Drop Spindles
Lower the front 2.5" the right way — the California Look, done clean.
ForgedComing soonEccentric Camber Adjusters
Dial in camber on a lowered ball-joint beam and save your tires.
#62Coming soonTitanium Front Beam Kit
Lightweight, corrosion-proof front-beam mounting hardware.
#A10-TComing soonFront Beam Greasing
The cheapest front-end insurance there is — zerks and a grease gun.
#A20Coming soonTrailing Arm Torsion Caps
Seal the ball-joint beam's arm ends — grease in, grit out.
Laser-CutComing soonRear Suspension & Axle
8Seals, stance, and drivetrainIRS Trailing Arms
Replace worn or bent trailing arms and reset rear geometry.
#R29Coming soonRear Ride-Height Adjuster
Dial rear stance with a screw instead of re-indexing torsion bars.
#CH07Coming soonRear Axle Seal Kit
Chase out the gear-oil weep before it soaks your brakes.
#CH50Coming soonIRS Axle Spacer Kit
Set correct rear axle endplay and save a bearing.
#CH43Coming soonTitanium Axle Nuts
The highest-torque fastener on the car, done right.
#A13-TComing soonSpring Plate Caps
Restore an early swing-axle rear end — respect the preload.
#R30Coming soonSwingaxle Narrowing Sleeves
Reinforce the joint when narrowing a swing-axle rear end.
#CH22Coming soonIRS Stub Axle Retainer Cap
Retain the IRS wheel bearing during a rear-end service.
#R40Coming soonEngine, Fuel & Cooling
10Access, airflow, and powerPMO Carburetors: Triple-Throat Induction
The complete reference on PMO triple-throat carburetors for air-cooled Porsche — sizing, jetting, and setup.
PMORead the guideBig Washburn Windows
Large engine-bay access panels for dual-carb and big-engine builds.
#BY01Coming soonWashburn Windows (Standard)
Single-carb engine-bay access — reach the carbs without pulling the motor.
#BY02Coming soonValve Cover Oil-Leak Fix
Stop the classic drip with fresh cork gaskets — a satisfying quick win.
#E22Coming soonSuper Kooler Oil Cooler
Drop oil temps with a high-flow aluminum doghouse cooler.
98-1189-BComing soonWeber Dual Carb Conversion
Step up to a matched pair of Weber IDF carbs for real throttle response.
40 IDFComing soonFIS2 Fuel Injection
Convert a carb'd Type 1 to modern EFI for easy starts and drivability.
Carb-to-EFIComing soonDune Buggy Exhaust
Exhaust routing and fitment for an open-bodied buggy build.
BuggyComing soonBus Heater Log Legs
Weld in fresh legs where the Bus heater log rots out.
#BS06Coming soonExternal Oil Cooler Kit
Remote Setrab cooler + fan for a hard-run vintage Bug.
#E07Coming soonBody & Interior
7Safety, detail, and finishBeetle Seat Belt Anchors
Weld in factory-style anchor plates for belts you can trust.
#CH30Coming soonBus Seat Belt Bracket
A correctly threaded, welded-in lap-belt anchor for the Bus.
#BS10Coming soon2-Fold Sunroof Conversion
Add a factory-style folding sunroof to a solid-roof Beetle.
#BY11Coming soonFloor Mat Retention Buttons
Weld-on buttons so period rubber mats snap down and stay.
#CH60Coming soonTitanium Body-to-Pan Washers
Corrosion-proof body-mount washers for a body-off restoration.
#A05-TComing soonSagging Door & Hinges
Cure a dropped door — hinge screws, pins, and reaming.
#A09Coming soonStainless Fender Bolt Kit
Remove and refit Beetle fenders with fresh stainless hardware.
#A01-SSComing soonShop Tools
2Make the work easierFrame Horn Dolly
Roll a transmission-out chassis around the shop, safely, solo.
#T01Coming soonRolling Body Cart
Weld up a cart to move a body off the pan for paint & bodywork.
#T04Coming soonCan't find your job here?
Call the shop. If the guide isn't written yet, we'll walk you through it on the phone — fitment, torque, sequence, what to buy and what to skip.
(657) 438-7002Shop line — parts, fitment and technical questions. Orange, California.