Showing posts with label classic cars. Show all posts
Showing posts with label classic cars. Show all posts

Automobile Digest Review

Automobile Digest
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I restore older vehicles. This publication is a collection of articles written in 1933. It is fun reading for anyone that likes to know how automobiles were repaired "back in the day". I have found it useful in syncing multi-carburator setups. I have built a few Ford flatheads. A lot of speed equipment was manufactured for these engines. Matter-of-fact, Ole Henry furnished most of the engines for early hot rods. Whether he intended to do that or not is left to further discussion.
I recommend this Digest for any "old car" buff.


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Ultimate Performance Cars (Five-View) Review

Ultimate Performance Cars (Five-View)
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My twelve-year-old son reads this book constantly. He is not a big fan of reading but likes this book because he loves to think about what kind of car he is going to get when he is 16. I hate to break it to him that he is most certainly not getting any of the cars in this book! There are detailed pictures and descriptions of the cars. Not my idea of GREAT reading, but for a car lover I am sure it would be a nice gift.

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Comprehensive coverage of more than 75 super high-performance cars from the AC Cobra 289 to the Hemi 'Cuda to the Vector W8-M12
Illustrated with over 500 full-color, specially commissioned photographs detailing every aspect of these radical sports cars, supercars, and muscle cars

Includes comprehensive specification panels giving detailed technical and performance information

Describes the design and engineering modifications of each vehicle


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VW Beetle Restoration Handbook: How to Restore 1949-1967 VW Beetles to Original Factory Condition Review

VW Beetle Restoration Handbook: How to Restore 1949-1967 VW Beetles to Original Factory Condition
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If you really intend to "restore a beetle into factory condition" you should probably look out for a better "handbook" than this one. Thats the summary of my impression (or should I say: depression?) after reading this book. I own a beetle built in 1965, which has come to the point where it's necessary to strip it down completely, because the heaterchannels have rusted away (their bottoms) and it doesn't make any sense to try any "quick-repairs", but a complete rebuild is needed.
So I bought this book, full of hope to find needfull information, but was disappointed in a very cruel way, when I got it. For example there is a chapter dedicated to a beetle, which needs no restoration at all, because it has gone less then 50.000 miles (if I'm not mistaken ..sorry, but I can't look it after. Reading this book makes me angry!), a fact, which is very interesting but doesn't help me in solving my restoration-problems at all! Another thing is, that problems, you are surely involved in, when restoring (and that means: "RESTORING"!), are not mentioned by a single word, or are solved by using new parts. The beam is one of the most impressing examples! As the authors say:" We decided to get the complete unit,.., so all the work was already done. We just had to bolt it in." Fine! But I missed some words of how to restore this section... The No.1 rust point of the beetle, the heaterchannel, is not mentioned and it seemed to me, as if beetles in the US don't have to be splitted into frame and chassis even after 50 years of use. Welding seems not to be necessary to "american" beetles. The highlight of this book is (in my humble opinion), when it tells you to fill small holes in the floor-panel by using bodyfiller! Thats what I call a real "Restoration into factory conditions", though I've never heard about any beetles leaving the factory with bodyfiller on their floorpanels;-) I was deeply impressed, when reading the 4th chapter (Installing power windows & doorlocks), but still wonder in which years beetles left the factorys with power windows and door locks between 49 and 67? But thanks God I'm told, that this is no job "for the inexperienced enthusiast". My conclusion? If you want to restore your beetle yourself, don't buy this book! Especially, if you want to see it in original factory condition after all that work....

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The fully-illustrated guide to making classic Beetles look like new again!This handbook is designed to make restoring a vintage Volkswagen as simple and cost-effective as possible. Sections include Teardown of the unrestored vehicle Part evaluation and buyer's guide Engine rebuilding and restoring Assembling the bodywork Vintage accessories Custom modifications and more

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Original MGA: The Restorer's Guide Review

Original MGA: The Restorer's Guide
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I bought this book for my Dad, who got out of the Army in 1959 and went to Manhattan (dealership that no longer exists here in the DC area) to buy one with cash. He loved the car, but it plagued him with problems because it was so tiny, compared to the giant American cars that were the standard of the day (he got hit a few times). He continues to talk about it, and often, so I thought I would surprise him with it for his birthday. Ours was paperback (maybe they all are?). It's got a lot of detail for the restorer and shows nice photos. Likely talks about what to look for if you're seeking a candidate for restoration, but I didn't read it before giving it as a gift. Talks about correctness, etc. and I recall seeing some prototype shots of models that were under study.

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The definitive guide to one of Britain's best-loved sports cars, Original MGA is indispensable for all owners, restorers, buyers and enthusiasts. Drawing from factory records, parts lists and catalogs, as well as the accumulated knowledge of respected restorers and dedicated enthusiasts, this book provides the most comprehensive survey of the MGA ever published.Reissue - Previous ISBN 1-870979-31-1

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How to Restore and Modify Your Porsche 914 and 914/6 (Motorbooks Workshop) Review

How to Restore and Modify Your Porsche 914 and 914/6 (Motorbooks Workshop)
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"How to Restore & Modify Your Porsche 914 & 914/6" doesn't tell how to do either. Its best section describes the many places to look for rust when buying a 914. Most of the rest is filled with generalisms and pablum, much of which is not even specific to 914s. The book is filled with annoying technical errors that individually seem minor, but are collectively inexcusable and indicate insufficient research. Example: the author claims that compared to the stock 17mm master cylinder, the larger (19mm) master cylinder's "main advantage is to increase the brake pressure of the system." In fact, for a given force applied to the brake pedal, it does the oppposite. Another example: the author cautions us that the terms "backspacing" and "offset" of wheels are often confused, then he gives an incorrect definition of "offset." Thanks for muddying the pool of knowledge!
On modifying the cars, we are advised that certain components can be replaced with better ones, but the author does not tell what parts to buy, how to install them, or what gains in performance we can expect.
There are many better books on 914s available. "914 Tech Tips 700" by George A. Hussey, IV, gives practical maintenance advice. "The Porsche 914 & 914/6" by Dr. Brett Johnson gives an excellent model year history and shows what parts are original. Neither of these books was mentioned in Mr. Paternie's list of suggested reading. Neither of these books goes into modification in any depth. For that, buy "Up-Fixin der Porsche" (11 volumes) from the Porsche Club of America, or subscribe to Grassroots Motorsports magazine.

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This information-packed guide tells you what to look for when buying a 914, and helps you decide what to do with it once you have it! Whether your goal is a restored stocker, a modified street car or a club racer, this book covers both restoration and modification to body and trim, interiors, lighting and electrical, suspension, brakes, engines, fuel systems, transmission, wheels and tires, and detailing for concours participation. A history of the model traces the evolution of the VW/Porsche collaboration to its demise in the mid-1970s.

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The VW Beetle: A Production History Of The World's Most Famous Car, 1936-1967 Review

The VW Beetle: A Production History Of The World's Most Famous Car, 1936-1967
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The story of the Beetle never changes, but in this case, it gets more interesting to read. This book contains the production history of the "People's Car" combined with a section called Volkswagen by the numbers, which details year-by-year model changes. VW Beetle is a must read for anyone that doesn't know the story of Volkswagens' rise from the ashes of W.W.II. Author Ryan Lee Price makes the story as interesting as a novel and doesn't get stuck on minor details that tend to make this chapter in Volkswagen history tedious. The first nine chapters follow the Beetle from Porsche's dream to Hitler's reality. The Beetle then goes off to war and is rescued by the British. The tale continues as the Beetle crosses the ocean and comes to America. This rocky ride makes you realize that we are very lucky that the Beetle ended up staying on our shores.
Once you move on to Part II you can follow changes that turned the little car from Wolfsburg into a world-beater. Years 1945 - 1967 are covered with meticulous detail to even the smallest change. Each year is broken down by chassis numbers, engine numbers and the actual dates that the Beetle was produced. A paragraph discuses the particular production year in general and it is further detailed month by month with all the modifications and improvements that took place. I.E.. August 4, 1955 - Chassis/Unit Number 1-0929746 - The generator pulley is secured with a 31mm bolt instead of a 36mm bolt, making the 36mm ring wrench obsolete and allowing the spark plug wrench to do double duty. After reading this book you'll be able to go up against almost any VW historian in the world. This book is an amazing accomplishment that you just won't be able to put down.

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How To Build Classic Hot Rod V-8 Engines (Motorbooks Workshop) Review

How To Build Classic Hot Rod V-8 Engines (Motorbooks Workshop)
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The book gives what it promised in its title, and includes essential specs, torque figures, etc. It is very specific to 4 engine builds: Chev 348 and 409, and 2 flatheads (Lincoln and Ford 60). I found his discussion of alternative parts (complete with number references and prices) very useful. The text does a fair job of step-by-step descriptions of each build, but it still needs experience that can read between the lines. I was disappointed by the absence of a gallery of photos of the fruit of his labours... the finished engines. This would have made a useful book truly excellent.

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Model T Ford: The Car That Changed the World Review

Model T Ford: The Car That Changed the World
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This book is the culmination of years of research and corrects known mistakes in "From Here to Obscurity", the other major research book on Ts. (in spite of "Obscurity's" mistakes, it is still a good companion book to be perused with this one!). It is a "must have" for anyone working on their T and wondering, "Just what year is this part anyway?" The writing style makes for interesting and enjoyable reading. In fact, this book is so good you'll want two copies; one for in-the-house, and one for out-in-the-shop, where it's likely to get dirty and well-worn from use! -David Dewey

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Vintage Cars (Five-View) Review

Vintage Cars (Five-View)
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Very nice pictures of a variety of cars. Not artistic photos like Dennis Adler presents, but clear photographs against a blank white background. Not a lot of substance in the written material, but the photographs are worth the price of admission.
My one criticism involves the rather broad choice of cars. The cars are presented alphabetically, rather than being organized thematically. It would not have taken a great deal of effort to provide some sort of overview information that helped illustrate the evolution of car design within this period, rather than just present an apparently random collection of cars.
Finally, I was hoping to see more of the glamorous cars from the 30s, and there were some surprising omissions (such as the Le Baron Cadillacs) from this period.

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Vintage Cars looks in detail at over 45 of the most collectible and desirable vintage cars from the UK, Europe, and America, providing a unique reference guide to the greatest pre-war automobiles ever built. Each car is presented in 5-view format with key technical innovations and styling features annotated including highlights of the powerplants. Lively text details the car's development and handling while a comprehensive specifications panel provides technical information. Lavishly illustrated with over 400 color photographs, this book will appeal to anyone with a love of the classic motoring era.

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914 Porsche: A Restorer's Guide to Authenticity Review

914 Porsche: A Restorer's Guide to Authenticity
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Brett Johnson has done a wonderful job with his combination of pictures, text and reference tables in his look at the 914 family tree of the 914/4, 914/6, 914/8 (yes, there were 2) and the 916. He pays great attention to the details that are required to return a 914 to its true "factory new" state.
Additionally, such items as options for a given year, paint color codes and even which logo/ident badges should apply make sure that the items you find on your 914 are really meant to be there.
If you own a 914, want to restore a 914 or just want to learn more about this marvelous, mid-engined Porsche, Brett's book is a must own.

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Recognized by Porsche enthusiasts, concours judges, even the Porsche factory as a definitive guide to Porsche 914 authenticity. Get a detailed look at the year-to-year changes in body, chassis, exterior trim, luggage compartments and interior components of your 1970-76 Porsche 914. Virtually every part is described and photographed allowing owner and restorer to determine 100% originality. Rev. ed.

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Hemi: The Ultimate American V-8 Review

Hemi: The Ultimate American V-8
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This is the latest in a long line of very good automotive-related books from author Genat. The photos are top-notch and the text informative, if a little simplistic. The overview of the early and late hemi's origins at the beginning of the book is top notch. The chapters on the many Mopar bodystyles that featured the hemi option are also quite good. My only quibble is that the book often does not show the featured cars' engines in the make and model chapters.
However, if you're a Mopar enthusiast or a hemi nut, this book will "light your fire." Despite the minor quibbles above, it's a great book and I can heartily recommend it.

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"Gentleman start your engines." Take a high octane tour through the evolution of this legendary engine. Robert Genat's vivid photographs bring these engines and the cars that housed them racing to life. Chock full of facts and fascinating details on this remarkable engine and the muscle cars it powered: Charger, Road Runner, Superbird, Challenger, Barracuda, Super Bee and the rest.


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VW Type 3, 1500 and 1600, 1963-1973 (Haynes Manuals) Review

VW Type 3, 1500 and 1600, 1963-1973 (Haynes Manuals)
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I recomend this book. It has specific data that I didn't find in other manuals. This manual has good pictures and figures and could be very useful if you want to rebuild a Type 3. Almost every thing you want to know about VW Type 3 is in this book.

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Haynes disassembles every subject vehicle and documents every step with thorough instructions and clear photos. Haynes repair manuals are used by the pros, but written for the do-it-yourselfer.

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Ford Y-Block: How to Repair and Rebuild the 1954-62 Ford OHV V-8 Review

Ford Y-Block: How to Repair and Rebuild the 1954-62 Ford OHV V-8
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Finally a book on Fords Y Blocks, Fords "forgotten V-8". I say forgotten because it is easy to find info on Ford's flatheads, FE's, small blocks, etc. but very hard to find info on the Y Block, especially as informitive and well writen as Mr. Eickmans Book. I enjoyed reading the history as well as the pitfalls of this engine. There are a few mistakes in the book and a few "controversial" tips on rebuilding the engine, but overall it is an excellent source of info. Good Stuff. I highly recommend this book to anyone who is interested in Y Block Fords. Besides, there doesn't seem to be any other books out there about Y Blocks.
PS If you are REALLY interested in Y Blocks, subscribe to Y Block Magizine!!!

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Subtitled: How to Repair and Rebuild the 1954-62 Ford OHV V-8. The best source for historical, technical, and rebuilding informationavailable on the popular Ford Y-Block. Detailed photographs andillustrations accompany the easy to follow tear-down and assemblyinstructions. Includes full specifications, parts numbers, service bulletins and more. Sftbd., 8 1/2x 11, 12 pgs., 16 ill.

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How to Build a Flathead Ford V-8 (Motorbooks Workshop) Review

How to Build a Flathead Ford V-8 (Motorbooks Workshop)
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Not a lot of real in depth info, experience, or tricks and tips. The text reminds me of lots of magazine build-up articles, "disassemble this part, check clearance on that part, we used XYZ heads, etc." I would rate the information just average. On the other hand, the photography is EXCELLENT and all in color. The book is almost worth the price just for that, but don't buy it with the idea of learning a lot. Frank Oddo and Tex Smith's books are better in that regard.

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Ford's Model T put America on wheels. His flathead (valve-in-block) V8, introduced in 1932, was durable, powerful, and extremely adaptable and is the engine which inspired three generations of hot-rodders and put America onto the race tracks. "How to Build a Flathead Ford V-8" was written with machine-shop experience and features all the parts and procedures for three distinct engine build-ups. Detailed information features all clearances and machining procedures and includes 250 photos in full color.

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How to Hop Up Ford and Mercury V8 Engines Review

How to Hop Up Ford and Mercury V8 Engines
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Though published in 195i by Floyd Clymer, there's a lot of interesting material here. For a 50 year old tome, much of the coverage is still applicable today, and the mentioned prices you're going to pay for your "hot road job" make you wonder what happened to the value of the greenback. Chapter 10, "What'll She Do", gives a suprisingly accurate means of back of the envelope estimating what you can expect from your flatmotor as far as horsepower and torque, long before the availabity of a flowbench. The igniton and supercharging sections make you appreciate our present day technology that much more. Keep looking, some copies seem to be coming available!

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Speed tuning theory and practice, costs, horsepower and torque for all 1932 and later Ford & Mercury Flathead V8s. The performance fundamentals: power, cam, carburetion, compression exhaust and ignition are all covered in this 1951 classic handbook. Details planning the modifications, fitting the block, boring an stroking, flathead and over head-valve cylinder head, scams, pistons, rings, intake manifolds, exhaust headers and special ignitions. A special chapter discusses superchargers.

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Ford Flathead V-8 Builder's Handbook 1932-1953: Restorations, Street Rods, Race Cars Review

Ford Flathead V-8 Builder's Handbook 1932-1953: Restorations, Street Rods, Race Cars
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Thinking of modifying that old flathead V8? If so, pick up this book, lots of really good hot rod stuff to help that flathead perform bette than before. Good tips on fuel, oil, heads, and all other aspects of building a hot rod flathead. Written by Frank Oddo, of Street Rodder magazine fame, this book is similar to the year long buildup they had a few years ago in Street Rodder. Excellent reference for building a non stock flathead

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101 Projects for Your 1964-1/2 - 1973 Mustang Review

101 Projects for Your 1964-1/2 - 1973 Mustang
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While the graphic presention in this book is excellent, the content is sorely lacking in detail. This is more of an idea book than an instructional one. Their rating system for degree of difficulty is completely innaccurate. Removing front coil springs is rated as more difficult than tasks like replacing the upper control arms (which require removing the front coil springs!) or even front rack and pinion conversions, which are extremely difficult. If you are looking for ideas on some possible projects, this is an OK book, although the information is widely available elsewhere. If you are looking for in depth instruction, this one is all sizzle and no steak.

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Nearly forty years have passed and almost 3 million owners and enthusiasts still worship the classic beauty of the Ford Mustang.101 Projects for the earlier models developed between 1964 and 1973 are the focus of this book.The book is broken out into projects that concentrate on specific aspects of the car, including engine, drivetrain, chassis, suspension and steering, brakes, wheels and tires, body, and interior.Features:, High-performance modification procedures, Restoration and maintenance tips, Details realistic and reliable shortcuts, Identifies the best and most current products on the market or a particular job.

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