5 comments about Mercruiser: Stern Drive Shop Manual 1986-1994 : Alpha One, Bravo One, Bravo Two & Bravo Three.

1. I have found this manual very helpful, I am just about finished restoring a Mark Twain 165 it is a 1986 model with 140HP engine and a Alpha I mercruser stern drive. This manual has saved me many hours.



2. This book, no manual is the best for your mercruiser, it has everything spec's, wiring diagrams, procedures, troubleshooting.
   If you do your own work on your boat, you need this book.



3. Excellent purchase, cheaper than Ebay and I recieved a new book!



4. Well written with fine hand-drawn & photo graphics. Too many models covered in the book so that my section was only ten percent of this big volume, but the information was badly needed and most helpful....



5. 
   Does the job but readers will want to be aware that this manual is about the engine only - 90% of the mechanics and electrics.
   
   just Jack

3 comments about Haynes Kawasaki Bayou 220/250/300 & Prairie 300 ATVs Owners Workshop Manual: 1986-2003 (Owners Workshop Manual).

1. The manual is quite comprehensive but the differences in the 220 and 300 engine are substantial and the book focused on the 300 engine. It will say something like, "do this procedure, but if you are working on the 220 engine there will only be one screw instead of two. The engine pictures are of the the 300 so they don't necessarily match. Book is great if you own a 300. Only OK if you own a 220 like me.



2. The level of maintenance I was to perform had me apprenhensive about buying a maintenance book that is less comprehensive than factory manual. This book actually surprised me and took details down to levels that were more than adequate. Very little was left to imagination. Comprehensive enough for the back yard mechanic.



3. this product cost me less than if I tried to buy it in a store. The shipping was very fast and the item purchased was exactly what was promised.

5 comments about Car Hacks & Mods For Dummies.

1. This book has a lot of information on someone who has just read an auto mechanics book. He touches ground on a lot of things, and could possibly change the way you would like to modify a car. I have no real bad things to say about this book except that it could go a lot more in detail.



2. I wasnt sure what to expect with this book purely because of the inappropriate title,which doesnt do this book any justice.However,the book is better than I had hoped.Here's why:
   
   This book is about customizing your car.Its a comprehensive-detailed book explaining how to customize your car. It covers so many things,which make this book a rarity.It tells you what to consider as well as what to avoid.
   
   There are 2 faults with this book:
   1)the innapropriate title.It should have been titled something more specific.
   2)These series of books dont have photographs,just drawings.And,thats the bad news.
   
   The good news is this book offers great advice on customizing your car.Its great value and a great book.Highly recommended.
   Ignore the title.Its a book on customizing your car.



3. Very Well written and informative, all basic modifications, but nonetheless well documented. So things were a little clunky and seem like instructiosn were an after thought but it was still worth the money.



4. review:
   I could post and prove 100 inaccuracies, but I will cover just one point, let me review chapter
   VII, p189-197; INTAKE mods.
   
   He is only trying to get you to buy expensive induction mods.
   He never mentions the down sides. oop's ( that is the smoking gun )
   
   First of all, he fails to mention that these changes only improve the breathing of
   the engine at wide open throttle. A place that most people never reach.
   He make blanket statements about gaining 8HP , but he never said on what size engine,
   a 50HP smart car with 1000cc or 7 liter monster truck engine. Funny huh?
   Blank statements are almost always wrong.
   
   Consider this:
   
   messing with the inducting will most likely foul up the function of the MAF sensor.
   Removing the screen (a laminar air controlling device really) or any changes can
   cause the MAF to read incorrectly and to read wrong at different RPM.s
   This is really foolish.
   
   or
   Bad #2:
   Oil soaked washable open air filters will coke up the MAF sensor with oil.
   
   
   Greater HP is an outright fallacy.
   The MAF sends the AIR flow values to the ECU the Oxygen sensor brings the engine to NEAR
   the best combustion point 14.7 (A/F ration by weight) 15.6 is best MPG on most cars.
   So, no matter what you do (save damaging the MAF readings) the car will always give the same MPG if these two sensors are working to spec.
   Many false statements and many fibs by omission.
   feeding air straight in to the throttle body will defeat the purpose of the MAF.
   ALL MODERN ENGINES USE A MAF SENSOR. ( There are exceptions ,like a Jeep 4 Liter i6)
   
   The #1 biggest restricting device to power, is the Throttle valve ,it is restricting at 70%
   while drive down the highway at 60 MPH. ( in fact, that is its job, it controls power)
   The #2 is the Size of the Intake valves.
   A larger Throttle body will not increase power with out major engine changes.
   Nor will silly throttle plate adapters .
   
   Before you change anything, My I recommend that you review other peoples work using a dyno where they have worked hard and proven all the myths , true or false, on your exact car.
   
   
   You can tune for power or MPG but not both. Read the Forums of MegaSquirt (tm).
   (but a custom ECU can do both "the dual map trick") ( not on your ECU)
   
   An Otto cycle automobile engine is an air pump; in order to pump more air , one only needs to study where the REAL restrictions are located and there magnitude.
   Once that is learned , you can begin experimentation.
   
   The book is very good in its coverage of what can be done but is weak on facts.
   
   I check to Manufactures TSB data bases and found both to contain the order of not
   honoring the warrantee with MODS to the engine. He calls this "Scrutiny", with a light mention. Not to mention the Smog station.
   
   I have studied many TRACK tests that show no so called COld air induction kit improvements, with the exception of building a funnel box in the front of the car to scoop up air , or by taking the naturally pressurized air from the vent cowl below the windshield (if you have one).
   this test must be done on a track because the car is not moving on a Dyno.
   
   I hope I open some eyes on how to get to truth. ( testing , with control groups).
   jtgh



5. This book is great for an aspiring gear head. The content is easy to comprehend even if you are just starting off and have little or no knowledge on the subject. You do not need to know any specific background information or terminology beforehand, which is what makes this book great! This is the book for you if you want to distinguish yourself from the majority of self proclaimed "tuner experts" that don't actually know what they are talking about. David Vespremi will have you talking the "lingo" in no time, and you will feel comfortable hanging with any "tech talk."

5 comments about Formula 1 in Camera 1960-69 (In Camera).

1. This is a wonderful book with great photographs documenting a very dangerous time in motor racing. Eventhough it was during "my era", I think anyone with an interest in the sport would appreciate and truly enjoy the photos and information presented on some of the world's greatest drivers. This is a book you will open often.



2. I've just got the book and unfortunately I have to say this.
   Quality of printing is VERY low. All pictures are blue (some red or green), no black color at all. It's inadmissible. I longed it for a month, but now I wish I hadn't bought it.
   
   In other aspects I fully agree with previous reviewers.



3. After buying and reading the 1970s and 1980s Formula 1 in Camera books, I could hardly wait for the third edition of this great photo album. Even though I've read a slightly disheartening review here about the poor picture quality of the latest edition, I must say I can't share them. Of course there are some pictures that aren't pin-sharp, but what can one expect from the photo machinerey of the 1960s? Same time, lots of them are so sharp and colourful, which makes this album really exceptional amongst historical Formula 1 books.
   Talking about pictures: in total there are 316 photos in the book but there are only around 50 showing non-British (or non-American) teams/cars/drivers. Which means that the book has a quite strong bias towards Anglo-Saxon F1 teams and drivers. But in the era of great British and Australian race car constructors, such as BRM, Lotus or Brabham, this is hardly a surprise! That is the only reason for my 4-star rating.



4. This book contains great photographs from a by-gone era, many of which I had not seen before. Good coverage of the usual superstars - Clark, G. Hill, Surtees etc, but the lesser lights of the grid are also well represented. Highly recommended.



5. I thought this book was an excellant record of Formula One's bygone days when the photographer could practically stand on the track during the race. Many of the pictures are taken when the car and driver are working their hardest at the apex of the corner. The photos are of high quality considering they were taken over 40 years ago. There are also pictures of the drivers out of the car and interacting with the public and other crew members. There's lots of color photos at a variety of tracks. Definately worth the price.

3 comments about The Karting Manual: The Complete Beginner's Guide to Competitive Kart Racing.

1. I got this book for my husband who recently bought a go kart for the whole family to enjoy. He really thinks it is written well, and very informative



2. Although The Karting Manual was written primarily for a European audience, it gives great deal of insight on how a modern sprint kart works and more impotently to me, how to drive them. I bought the book for 12 year old son just starting in karting, I have raced them on and off for more then 30 years. I did find it was more general and seemed to be geared for the new kart racer, which is what I was looking for. I was very happy with the explanations on driving the book had, many where the points I had tried to make with my so, but the book did a better job explaining the concepts in a clear concise manner that even younger readers can understand. The book has excellent photography, the only drawback is since it was written for European karting, some of it's contents do not apply to North American karting. Nevertheless, if your a new kart racer looking for a book about modern karting and techniques, I would recommend it. It is not a technical manual, however.



3. This is easily the most comprehensive and well-rounded karting book for beginners and intermediate karters currently available.
   
   Everything from the types of events, karts, the equipment you need, flags, race day procedure, racing line, tyre and chassis dynamics, driving techniques (including a full chapter dedicated to wet weather racing), all aspects of racecraft, race strategy, physical and mental preparation, set-up fundamentals, even sponsorship acquisition and more are included.
   
   Not only that, everything is backed by excellent photography and clear, helpful diagrams throughout.
   
   It has been written for the European karting scene, as other reviewers have pointed out, meaning one or two elements won't apply to North American audiences. However, the vast majority of the book is universal and will be of great use for any karter, regardless of where they race.
   
   All in all, an essential book for anyone taking up karting or even experienced karters hoping to improve their skills.

5 comments about The Official Ford Mustang 5.0: Technical Reference & Performance Handbook : 1979 Through 1993 (Ford).

1. Now here is a book that can save you money. On the shelf behind me are about 15 books on Mustangs - Mods, Tuning, Rebuilding, Projects, Upgrades, and a complete set of Shop manuals. Many were not worth the time to read, much less the money, I took a chance and purchased a copy of The Offical Ford Mustang 5.0 book. Here is a book that covers all the years, and gives the good and bad points of each. What worked, and what did not.

   A case in point - There is a lot of books out there that tell you to go out and get a set of 24# or 30# injectors as a start. This book at least give pros and cons, 19# will work just fine up to 300HP@39psi, or 330HP@60psi, using a larger injector reduces atomization of the fuel, and can cause problems with low speed driveability response, oscillating idle, and loss of fuel economy, without any HP gains.
   In my case I am in the process of rebuilding a 1995 GT-40 Cobra engine for my 1986 stang, I do not expect more than 300HP with the mods I am using, so the injector may have been a waste.
   This book is a gold mine of information on what went in which year, Ford Part numbers, and Ford Racing upgrade parts. There is a section on each component part, most with history, There was even a section on which parts I would need to change my '86 brakes for '87-later, with additional upgrades of which year/make Ford had larger calipers and rotors interchange with OEM brakes. This book will not tell you how to install a mod or rebuild, but at least you will know which parts you should use.
   I would recommend this book to anyone about to start a project. It will save you time and money. I find I now have a lot of parts that I did not need, and should not use. The book is geared to people like me who are looking to improve their existing car/engine. but are not building a drag/strip car. A car that will perform, but still take a trip to the store, (if it make the trip a bit more fun, so be it).




2. This is a great book,however I did find some errors.On page 223 the author states that all OE 5 liter cams have five 2.081 inch diameter bearing journals.Sorry,all 5 liter cams have five different size cam bearing journals as stated in my official Ford Mustang shop manuals from 1989,1972 and 1966.Page 209 states that oversize valves up to 1.94"intake will work with OE notched pistons,while page 212 says valve reliefs in 87-93 production pistons will accomodate 2.02"intake valves.Which spec is correct?Page 32 and 268 states that the 83-85 dual snorkel air cleaner was used on mid eighties 429-460 v-8`s.1973 was the last year for the 429.And finally,the OE roller cam specs on page 228 don`t make sense to me.If the revised E8ZE-CA cam for late 1988 handicaps the engine by three horsepower compared to the original E5ZE-AA cam,why does the revised cam have better specs?



3. Don't exepect this book to have step by step instructions like a haynes manual. But it does have alot of detailed technical information that reads like a normal book. If you ever had questions like how big of an injector for 300 hp or before you get a 90mm MAF, read this book first.



4. For over 15 years, I have been modifying engines for more power. However, most of my experience is with turbocharged FWD Mopars and none of it was with anything by Ford. Recently, I decided to undertake a new project: buying an early Miata and replacing its engine with a Mustang 5.0L EFI V8. While I understand the general workings of a computer-controlled engine, I knew nothing of the peculiarities of this new-to-me V8 powerplant. Thus began my quest to learn about the 5.0L, and it ended with the purchase of this book.
   
   To put it succinctly, if you want to know the ins and outs of any Mustang V8 from 1979 to 1993 then this is the book you MUST read. The first half contains individual chapters for every model year; each one goes into great detail to explain every minute change that took place to the Mustang's V8 engine (and the rest of its driveline as well). If the book contained nothing but these first chapters, it would already be worth every penny. (Indeed, it has already saved me untold hundreds of dollars by preventing me from trying to bolt together hardware which would have caused certain engine disaster.)
   
   But that's not all. The second half of the book then breaks down the entire driveline, with individual chapters for each component in the system (and even brakes, suspension, steering and more). Each component is discussed in great detail; as the Ford hardware varied over the years, the different pieces are compared and contrasted thoroughly. Rather than simply saying "piece such-and-such is the best," the pros and cons of each item are listed so that you can decide which one best suits your specific application. The author does give occasional warnings about hardware combinations which will not work together properly (or perhaps not even work at all), and these warnings are based on years of experience.
   
   If you're looking to become familiar with Ford's 5.0L V8s of the 1980s and 1990s, BUY THIS BOOK. You'll be very glad you did.



5. I have a 1989 mustange gt, and this book really did teach me a lot about the car. The book is really going to help me down the line when a problem occurs with my car. It is the best 5.0 reference book i have found.

No comments about Toyota RAV4 1996 thru 2005: All models (Haynes Techbook).

5 comments about Car Buyer's and Leaser's Negotiating Bible, Third Edition (Car Buyer's & Leaser's Negotiating Bible).

1. The "fax attack" method for purchasing a new car is genius. I not only got my 2007 Honda Civic for the least expensive price out of the 18 dealerships I faxed in Illinois (darn near the whole state, excluding some northern Chicagoland dealers), but I was able to sleep at night. Not ONCE did I wonder, "could I have gotten this at a lower price?" because I knew for a FACT that the price I got was not only the lowest at that time for that model, but was also fair. Ever get burned by a dealership? (Don't lie, everyone has, even if it was just a waste of time.) Well, buy this book, study it well, and you won't get burned again.



2. This book provides good practical advice for buying or leasing a car. It is clear and easy to understand and takes all the mystery out of the process. I also learned about my own motivations for buying a new car and how car stores are ready to separate me from my money. The book, however, is a couple of years out of date. It's not critical but more up to date data and more info available on the internet should in my opinion be included. The techniques offered for saving money are sound.



3. James Bragg has made a successful career out of helping people through the intimidating process of buying cars. And his success is well-deserved. I just recently bought my first new car. I had put off the process for a long time, because:
   (1) I'm young and could be seen as an easy target by car salesmen
   (2) I was intimidated and had how idea how to even approach the car buying process.
   
   So I began to do my homework, researching car buying on the web. I found a lot of advice out there, much of it conflicting. One thing people never disagreed upon was the value of the Fighting Chance, the information service by James Bragg. When I finally decided that the time was right, I ordered the Fighting Chance and bought this book. Armed with the all of the knowledge and preparation I needed, I now knew exactly what I needed to do to launch a successful "fax attack" on dealerships surrounding me. I knew exactly how to field every response from car dealers. I knew how not to fall into their traps. I knew how to defend myself and control the situation. I was doing everything on my terms and not letting the salesmen know too much or dictate any of the terms. I got a great price on a car (way below invoice price). And when I went to the dealership to sign all of the papers, I knew exactly what to do and what to look out for. I drove away feeling happy, satisfied, and NEVER taken advantage of.
   
   This book will arm you with all of the knowledge you need to buy a new car. You'll know exactly what to say in every situation. And you'll know how to not fall into playing a car salesman's games. Whether you've done it before or not, you will be amazed by how effective the techniques taught in this book are. James Bragg's writing is entertaining; you'll breeze through and thoroughly enjoy this book. As one reviewer said, this book does somewhat play out like a long infomercial for the Fighting Chance service. But it fleshes out a lot of areas that Fighting Chance doesn't. And for someone like me who has never done this before, it helped me walk into the dealership with full confidence that I would get what I want.. with no surprises. It is a vital companion piece to the Fighting Chance package.
   
   If you're in the market to buy a new car, you need this book. If you think you can get a great deal by walking into a dealership (or a few) and negotiating well, you are greatly mistaken. Buying a car is like a high stakes game of poker. And the dealership is holding most of the cards most of the time. This book will give you a chance to level the playing field. And it will enable you to have the upper hand in getting the best price for the car you want.



4. If you are reading this review then your must be considering buying a new car. Don't even think about walking into a dealership and talking to the salespeople. Except of course to test drive and see which one you really want. After that run out of the showroom. I highly recommend using Mr. Bragg's strategy for buying a car. It is so easy and stress free and you will have the dealers eating out of the palm of your hand. I also highly recommend visiting his web site fightingchance.com and purchasing his information package. Actually if you get the package you may not even need the book. But the book is a good read in any event. I was looking for a compact car which typically doesn't have a lot of wiggle room for dealers because they generally don't come with expensive extras like leather seats, real wood trim etc.... I was able to get mine for $1150 under dealer invoice and maybe could have even gone a little lower but I had to stop the dealers from chasing me at some point. It was crazy. I finally just said enough. It works that well. Before finding Mr.Bragg's information I probably would have been happy to get a couple hundred of the MSRP. I can laugh about that now. One word of caution would be if you use this method and have a trade-in the dealers might try to really stick it to you on your trade. They won't be making much if any money on the sale of the car to you so they will most likely try to make it by low balling you on your trade-in. That was my experience until I told them I'd take it some where else and sell it. Bottom line is if you think you can walk into a showroom and negotiate the best deal, you're CRAZY. Buy the book or buy the info packet. And pocket the rest of your hard earned money.



5. After reading this book and doing what it said, I saved over $4,000 on my new Camry. If you're looking for a new (or even used) car, this book will teach you what discounts the dealers receive, what the kickbacks are, what you should expect to pay for your new car and how to get the best deal possible. The book will teach you how to pit the dealers against each other and give you the upper hand when it comes to negotiating. No more sitting in a dealership for hours while they play their waiting games, no more high-pressure sales, no more haggling. The "fax attack" portion of the book tells you where to get the information about your car, how to present your deal, and who to fax your information to. It's that simple. With just a little research on your part, you can make a really great deal. Simply put, do the research, create your fax, send to the dealers in your area (the more the better), wait for the phone to start ringing with great offers on the car that you want. Take the lowest offer and call the dealers who will, in turn, try to beat the offer. Do this until all of them are done bidding. Go pick up your car.

No comments about VW Transporter 1700, 1800 and 2000, 1972-1979 (Haynes Manuals).

5 comments about Advanced Custom Painting Techniques.

1. This is a great book for people who want to learn about show car custom painting. I like the fact how much the book talks about spray booth setup and safety issue. Personally, I would like to see more about the spray gun technology section as well. I need a little more depth about different guns features and capabilities. Jon did mention a few of the guns but not detail enough, as least for me. I also like how the book take you through the entire painting process step by step from body work to lay down the final coat. It's amazing how much is involve. One more section I was hoping to see is how to paint the under carriage for normal day to day driving cars. It would be nice to see how to prep and paint rust proof coating. I guess that might be out of the scoop for the subject of this book. All in all, I do like this book very much.



2. this was a very helpful and useful book that helped advance me to a higher level of painting !
   Thankyou !



3. This book is really detailed out to everything from the setup of your equipment to spraying kandies!!
   good knowledge for starting out on a project.



4. Very very good manual, will be purchasing more books by John,
   
   Thank you
   
   
   Noel C



5. Great foundation to learn the right habits and methods to do a quality paint job. Well written and great photos.