General Automotive Interest
Racing, Multiple Manufacturer Books, Automobile History, Hot Rods, Classics, Musclecars
Also, check these books recommended by Amazon.com, for customers interested in the types of books sold on this page!
1001 High Performance Tech Tips
By Wayne Scraba
By David Vizard
By Christopher Jacobs and Christopher A. Jacobs of Jacobs Ignition
The Step-By-Step Guide to Engine Blueprinting: Practical Methods for Racing and Rebuilding
by Rick Voegelin
A review from Amazon:
I purchased and read several engine blueprinting books before undertaking
my 396 LT1 stroker project. Voeglin's book is not a step by step guide,
unless its been revised since I read it, but it does flow in logical
order. What it does have is some of the best and most complete advise on
what to
check and why. This book is not for the plastigauge set: you'll
need a set of micrometers and preferably a dial bore guage, etc. It will
definately teach
you how to use them.
Like most such books, it centers around the small block Chevrolet, but
is not specific to them: he provides information in numerous places where
Mopars and Fords deviate from the Chevrolet.
Auto Math Handbook: Calculations, Formulas, Equations and Theory for Automotive Enthusiasts
by John Lawlor
A review from Amazon:
I was happy with the book. It was represented to give calculations,
formulas, etc. in an easy to understand format for the auto enthusiast.
It did exactly
that. I was interested in calculating my compression ratio after milling
my block and heads and using new (semi-flat top) pistons. The book conveyed
this information effectively. As for the review that complained about not
being able to calculate MEP, I had no problem understanding the authors
point.
MEP is not something you calculate, its something you measure. It is measured
with a tool called an indicator. Again, I think the book is exactly as
advertised. For "enthusiasts" not professors, engineers or automotive professionals,
(although I know a couple professionals that enjoyed the book).
As for the "filler" type material at the end of the book, some people may
genuinely be interested or may actually need the information. There are
many
people out there with little or no knowledge about such things.
I was very happy with the book, and am looking forward to a sequel.
Auto Fundamentals (Text)
by Martin W. Stockel
A review from Amazon:
This is a fantastic book! It explains difficult concepts in easy-to-understand
language, but it never patronizes the reader. The depth and breadth of
the
coverage are also very good - while reading it, I never found
myself wanting information that I couldn't find somewhere within this book.
The most surprising feature is the book's readability. For starters,
the grammar and spelling are great, with no typos or conflicting information,
which is
(sadly) exceptional for this sort of small-press technical book.
The text flows nicely from one topic to the next, complemented by the ample
diagrams
and photos. It's rare that I find myself not wanting to put down a
industrial textbook, but this one kept me turning pages.
The book deals primarily with the 'theoretical' side of auto mechanics,
meaning that it answers questions like 'What is x?', 'What does y do?',
and 'Why
did they do z this way?' rather than 'How do I fix component x on a
y model car built in year z?' But the text is plainly oriented toward working
mechanics
(unlike Bosch's Automotive Handbook), offering much practical info
as well as many general rules and guidelines of interest to mechanics.
In short, if you want to learn how automobiles work with a view toward
fixing them, you can't go wrong with this book. If you were born with a
wrench in
your hand, you probably won't learn a lot here, but anyone else
from neophyte to advanced intermediate will get his money's worth.
by Tom Newton
A review from Amazon:
How Cars Works is refined simplicity. I work for a major Auto Parts
chain and when I get new employees, the first day they read this book.
Just from two
hours, an average "Joe" off the street can get the feel for how a car works.
This book is well illustrated to fit the text. Granted, this book does
not go
deep into any specifics, but gives general information on all subjects
such as Engine (top and bottom end), brakes, cooling system, chassis, and
much
more. I would recommend this book to any new drivers as well as anyone
wanting to know more about cars.
Cannonball! World's Greatest Outlaw Road Race
by Brock Yates
The "Cannonball Baker Sea To Shining Sea Memorial Trophy Dash" is the real-life basis for a few movies that came out in the mid-70's, such as "Cannonball," "Cannonball Run," "Death Race 2000," and my personal #1 favorite movie of all time, "Gumball Rally."
A review from Amazon:
Brock Yates finally tells the real story behind the famous (or infamous,
depending on one's POV) Cannonball Races. The reader finds out that
although the movies tell some of the story, Yates and many of the participants
tell the REAL story behind these illegal races. I fully agree with the
picture of Car and Driver's December 1975 issue: The 55 speed limit WAS
the dumbest law since Prohibition. It was interesting to see that many
of the
characters in the movies were based on real people-and you see some of
them in the book (guys dressed as priests, the fake ambulance crew, etc.,
while some had to be left out of the movies for lack of space, it would
have been nice to see the guys in the Suburban depicted in the movie, or
the
doctors in the Jaguar driving with a Igloo ice chest with a pair of pig's
eyes in the cooler marked DONOR). A good read about a time when the roads
were more open and many had the attitude about the 55 that Yates and company
shared. I only wish that it was possible to run a Cannonball today-to
quote a participant, Robin Miller (Now with ESPN's RPM2Night) "I'd do it
in a New York minute." Now if only I could borrow Mom's new Chevy Tahoe
for
the race...
If you want to do a search for anything on Amazon.com, here is a search box.
This is a neat search, because it looks in Amazon Auctions and Zshops as well as the normal books and videos. If you need an obscure book, enter the name or subject here, and give it a whirl! I found an old, out-of-print Pinto repair manual here.
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