Ooooppsss. I sent it before I finished my thoughts. Here is the amended
post...
> I received my copy on Friday from Barnes&Noble.com I have the 2nd Edition
> and have read it multiple times cover to cover, so my comments are
> comparing that edition to the 3rd Edition (I have also read the 1st
> Edition, but not thoroughly enough since I don't actually own a copy).
>
> The amount of reused information is much greater than I expected. Areas
> where I was hoping that there would be some significant improvement (carbs
> and intake manifolds) are total rehashes of old information. Performance
> Filtration is the same (not much that could be improved on this section).
> Carbs are the same. The huge disappointment for me was the total lack of
> any new or revised info on intake manifolds. While there might not be a
> lot of new manifolds out there, continuing to cover the VS1, which is
> unobtainable, is a travesty. The failure to adequately compare single
> carb manifolds with attached carb, to multiple carb manifolds with
> attached carbs, to modified stock manifolds with attached carb(s) is
> significant, in my opinion, and should have been addressed in this
> revision. Yet again the carb & manifold stuff gives no definiitive
> information regarding the appropriate choice for different circumstances
> (what do we give up or gain with single carb HIF 6 on a Titan or Russell
> Engineering manifold vs. the stock dual 1.25" manifold modified as per the
> book?, How about other combos? How about different combos with different
> sized engines & different heads?). Continuing to cover manifolds which
> are NLA, only increases the frustration of the reader (like the Janspeed
> manifolds). Also, where is the Russell Engineering Manifold or the APT
> manifolds? The APT manifolds have been out for years and are produced by
> his friend and business associate David Anton, but are not mentioned at
> all???!! This was a huge, HUGE disappointment to me...
>
> The one area that does receive a fair amount of attention is head
> grinding. This section has been revised and new work is presented in this
> area. I have no doubt that this is important information for anyone
> working on the top end of the motor. Cams also have been revised, not
> much in the way of new designs have been presented, just more information
> about interaction between lift & flow, how it interacts with head design,
> and how compression affects it. Maybe one day I'll put this stuff to use.
> There is also a bit more information regarding exotic heads, but again a
> real lack of comparable data between some the available (hard to find and
> expensive) 8 port designs and his 5 port moded heads. Inclined heads was
> one thing that was mentioned as needing more research in the 2nd Edition
> and there was really not much more on it in this edition (although Longman
> has been doing these for years, come-on and get one to test! You've had
> 5-8 years!).
>
> General impressions (from a weekend read) are that unless you are going to
> do a head, I would not purchase the 3rd edition. The amount of new
> information in all other areas is substantially lacking. Even the head
> information is a disappointment considering more than 10 years have passed
> since the last edition was written. Where is the information about some
> of the exotic material valves? Where is the information about some of the
> new exotic piston designs and their potential benefits (Accralite (sp?) 2
> ring pistons for very high rpm motors)? Give me more information with
> available stuff, not old info on NLA stuff. Still, its a great read even
> if I was expecting more....
>
> Anyone one else read the book and have different opinions? Tell me what I
> have missed in my quick read through it!
>
> Jackson Zimmermann
> jzimmerm@albemarle.org
> '64 A-H Sprite
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