What should be in my early car technical library?
 

With the impending arrival of our 73E, I was thinking I need a few books for my technical library. What I have to date are:

-Wayne's 101 Projects
-Waynes engine rebuilding book (preview copy)
-Haynes restoration manual
-Johnson's restorer's guide to authenticity (65-73)
-PET CD

Thanks!

The factory Shop manuals. They are worth every penny. The good news is that you don't need to buy as many volumes for the older cars as you do for a later model Carrera. The only weaknesses with the factory shop manuals are in regards to tuning the MFI (Which Pelican's site fills in perfectly) and the backwards-german logic in which they seem to be written some time. After you've read through them a few times, you get used to it.

I've heard that you can't buy them new any more. If this is the case I'd keep my eye on Ebay.

Just to reiterate - I consider the factory shop manual the primary resource for technical information. The little Tech Books are handy, but they just contain a few high lights from the manuals. Haynes is nice as a second source, but it doesn't hold a candle to the wealth of information in the factory shop manuals.

John gave you a good tip on getting the factory manuals. And you need to print out every part of the MFI tech article that is found here:
http://www.pelicanparts.com/techarticles/911_MFI/TipMFI.htm

In addition to the shop manuals, the factory parts catalog is invaluable. Also, the Stoddard catalog. For books: 'Carrera RS' is excellent not only for RS's, but pretty good for early cars in general. Frere's 'Porsche 911 Story' and Ludvigsen's 'Excellence Was Expected' are also necessary. -- Curt

As to the factory manuels, I had a conversation this past weekend with my local Porsche dealer parts guy. Pursuant to an email from Germany, if the manuels are not in stock Porsche will not reprint the manuels until they have 50 backorders. At that time Porsche will request 100 copies from the printer. So if you guys order a copy, when the magic number of 50 is reached they would be reprinted.

Not true, I received mine yesterday. I think Pelican have them in stock, too (yeah, sorry, I didn't get mine from here, the price difference was just too much :( )

I have a set of appropriate factory shop manuals ending on ebay today. A lot cheaper than new, but one volume is missing. Certainly could pick it up by itself if you kept your eyes open. I could even have it photocopied from our complete set for you, but it might take me a few weeks and wouldn't be delivered with the rest of them.

If a pelicanhead wins the auction, I'll cover the shipping. Just let me know you are a pelican bbs user.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=10076&item=1873239 577&rd=1

Thanks,

Hi Dave,

you have PM...

Well, you already have my top two in there. I'll add:

- Pelican Parts CD-ROM
- Factory Workshop Manuals
- Early Spec book (if you can find it)

-Wayne

Duh, I forgot I also have the Pelican Parts CD-ROM
:D