The Quintessential 914 Library?

[PeteD]

The more I read this forum, the more I enjoy it, but the more I see questions that are in my "basic" 914 library. Seems we all should own a supporting library for our cars.

Some of these books are rapidly disappearing, so if you want to have them in your library, you might want to find and buy them now.

Here is my choice for books that need to be in every serious 914 owners library. Please comment on ones I might have missed:

- Hayne's Manual (two copies, one to get greasy, one to read in the living room while planning your projects)

- 914 Technical Specifications Book (most specs are in the Hayne's Manual, but this is a complete reference and a collector's item as well). I understand it is out of print and out of stock from the suppliers, so whatever copies you find, may be the end of the supply.

- Wilson's book, Rebuilding Your VW Air-Cooled Engine. Has lot's of specific info on working on 914 engines. Covers all of the differences between VW air-cooled engines and what parts can be interchanged.

-Dr. Johnson's, The 914 and 914/6 Porsche: A Restorer's Guide to Authenticity. This book covers all of the differences between year models of 914s, paint codes, options, etc. Although you may not be doing a total restoration, this is great reference when you are trying to buy used body parts to make sure they will work on your year of 914.

-This one may be controversial, but I will explain why I picked it... The Automobile Atlanta Catalog. Though they can't compete with Pelican for service and price, the catalog has lots of exploded parts diagrams which can really save your show when you are trying to reassemble your car after pulling the parts out of the box after a few weeks in hiding (either the parts or you, in hiding that is). (Also a good reference on what not to pay for parts...)

-Finally, if you have carbs, get a good reference book for the carbs you have. Tomlinson's book on Dellorto's is excellent. Similarly, the Bosch books on injection systems would make sense for those who have managed to maintain their original injection systems.

Maybe, we can come up with the "right" list and get Tom and Wayne to offer a package for new owners.

[JP Noonan]

I like the Lash international 914-4 914-6 manual better than the Haynes, but it is hard to find. I think it is a reprint of the Clymer manual, the first contents page is the same anyway.

Haynes is better for someone new to automotive repair. The LAsh is more advanced and complete IMHO.

[jmcleod]

i agree with your comment on the auto atlanta catalog. i was lucky to find a factory parts book at a swap meet for $20 and the diagrams in the aa catalog are from that book, but the book lists each part number, description (just like the aa catalog) unfortunately the parts book is for a 70-73 and i have a 74 but it's the best $20 i've spent. pp diagrams are of a similar idea. i would say another thing to have in your library is a pelican parts cd!

[rich]

Haynes has the right and left cylinder head swapped. (Head temp sender) Ask me how I know,*#^T. Lash has some great fuel line routing diagrams.