I went into Summit Racing the other day looking for books to learn about building smallblocks, and theres gotta be about 25 of them haha. I was wondering if anyone has any books they like and weather or not they are worth buying at all.

Basically, Ive got an 86 camaro with the 305 TPI, and my goal is to build a 383 to put in it with either a heavily modded TPI or HSR. I actually want to put in an LT1 or LS1 but i think ill be better off building a traditional small block first. Ive never build a motor yet. I do understand engine theory well, and ive build 2-stroke and small motors.


Any suggestions as far as these type books go?

thanks

 

S-A Design's "How to Build the Smallblock Chevrolet" by Larry Atherton and Larry Schrieb is a pretty good beginner book.

 

you really should get these books and read them before going any further, it will help a good deal, while only the basic info is presented it still makes for a good knowledge base, and referance

buy and watch this cd and read this first
http://www.themotorbookstore.com/resmchstvi.html



HOW TO BUILD THE SMALL BLOCK CHEVEROLET by LARRY ATHERTON& LARRY SCHREIB

HOW TO BUILD MAX PERFORMANCE CHEVY SMALL BLOCKS ON A BUDGET by DAVID VIZARD

JOHN LINGENFELTER on modifying small-block chevy engines

SMOKEY YUNICK,S POWER SECRETS

 

anything written or co-authored by david vizard is outstanding. i have a few of his books. i also have power secrets by smokey yunick along with a few others by various people. i prefer the stuff written by vizard.



smith

 

i do remember some of those books when i was looking, and i know ive heard the name Vizard before. the video book is very interesting too, pictures are good, but a video could be so much better if its done right.

thanks for the replies, if i buy any of these ill post back to say how they are and such.

 

get the CD on engine assembly,and the books I listed , its the best money youll ever spend!
know what your trying to do, and how and why the engine goes together the way it does will prevent hundreds of dollars in potential mistakes

you can get EVERYTHING from either

http://www.themotorbookstore.com/resmchstvi.html

or

http://amazon.com/s/ref=nb_ss_gw/102...&Go.x=9&Go.y=9

parts sources

http://www.chevelles.com/forums/showthread.php?t=161485

info you need

http://www.chevytalk.org/fusionbb/sh...hp?tid/131229/

http://www.airflowresearch.com/articles.php#SBC

http://www.ryanscarpage.50megs.com/combos1.html

 

I think I will get that video book, also a book from summit because I have $20 in "summit bucks" expiring tomorrow.

grumpy, those links you posted look great, i havnt read through them since im at work, but later i cant wait to look through those. thanks, i appreciate the help

 

you might want to pick up a copy of this, its fun to play with, answers or at least gives some idea as to what youll expect, points out trends and some mistakes

http://www.autorepairmanuals.biz/sit...product/186010


if you find that useful

http://www.auto-ware.com/software/eap/eap.htm

youll find that this is much more precise , and gives far more info,but a P.I.T.A. to work with, in that it requires a great deal more data

 

David Vizards "How to rebuild your small block chevy" is my favorite.
I used that as my bible while I rebuilt my SBC.

He doesn't go deep into power secrets, but he does go into how to do the building itself. I mean, it's great to know the secrets to get max airflow out of a cylinder head, but if the book doesn't tell you how you know if you've got your rings on upside down or not, or if the piston is backwards, etc, then you feel pretty dumb.

HOW TO BUILD MAX PERFORMANCE CHEVY SMALL BLOCKS ON A BUDGET
is also good as mentioned. Vizard also has spinoff books on cylinder heads and porting, valve train and camshafts, etc. The basic SBC ones are probably what you want now.