Reccomend an Engine Building book

I have a friend who would like to tackle rebuilding their own engine. I need to get them a christmas present so I figured a nice dial indicator and a beginners guide to engine rebuilding would do the trick. They have reasonable skills, and have most of the tools needed. I'd like more of general, non-denominational text. There is no shortage of Chevy small-block specific stuff... but he isn't building one of those.

My own experience is based on a lot of time, reckless abandon, mistakes and help from pros. I don't know that I've ever come across a good generic how-to.

Give him a two year subscription to GRM instead.

http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_ss?url=search-alias%3Dstripbooks&field-keywords=david+vizard&x=0&y=0

Something there might do the trick.

I had a video on rebuilds until I loaned it out. 45 minutes of the basics and what are common sense items, lessens the intimidation factor. I don't recall where I got it, but there are plenty out there.

Dan

I was hoping for a recco from people who read and approved of one... I already had the link to Amazon. Heck, I even have google on this newfangled box. Sheesh.

914Driver... thanks for the suggestion - hadn't thought of videos.

Look, I've always heard good things about Vizard's books. GRM even had him write or help provide a lot of information for an article about this sort of thing. I'm sorry I wasn't more helpful but I don't think you could go wrong with a book of his that focuses on the engine you are interested in.

If this isn't what you want, get a subscription to Car Craft, I find it to be an excellent guide for this thing, plus their real world approach to things like body work.

Shop manual for the particular engine they want to rebuild, period.

Like you said there are several domestic engine rebuild books out there and they will serve as a general reference but honestly a shop manual will give them exactly every measurement and everything else they need to know about not only rebuilding the engine but also how to remove and reinstall it from the car. Which to me is always harder than the actual rebuild.

I ordered this: http://www.amazon.com/Engine-Builders-Handbook-Tom-Monroe/dp/1557882452

and this (might keep it for m'self if its any good ):

http://www.amazon.com/Racing-Engine-Builders-Handbook-RacingEngines/dp/1557884927

I'll make the reccomendation that he buy the mfg. book but I ain't springing for BMW shop manuals. His wife can do that.

I'll post a review after they show up in case anyone else is interested. I have always just done it with specs in hand... I'll be interested to see what you are "supposed" to do. Mine never broke... well, not all of them anyway