The Complete Handbook of Motor Vehicle Engines

It's a solid reference, no doubt. I've been turning wrenches for 20 years and there's nothing here that's wrong, and the troubleshooting section is well-organized. I just thought Chapter 1 was a bit too long building a foundation for stuff I already knew. For a total newcomer, it's probably great, but I was hoping for more depth on the newer variable-compression engines in the types chapter. I'll keep it on the shelf, but I didn't learn a ton from the first half.

I picked this up for my shop's office, and it's quickly become the reference the younger techs go to first. The chapter on choosing the right engine is very practical—the comparison of cost-per-mile for different crate motors was eye-opening. I do wish it had more color diagrams, but the writing is clear and it explains the 'why' behind the specs, which is something service manuals never do. A solid, dependable handbook that earns its place on the bench.

I'm a weekend restorer, so I'm not a pro, but I'm not a novice either. This book is a good middle ground. I appreciated the detailed section on installing a standalone wiring harness and the caveats about matching sensors. The business chapter felt a little speculative to me, though, and didn't quite apply to my hobby. The glossary is a lifesaver, too. It's a good, earnest book that covers a lot of ground, even if it starts a little slow.

The maintenance and troubleshooting chapter is worth the price of the book alone. I had a persistent intermittent misfire on my truck that had two shops stumped. The flowcharts in Chapter 5 helped me trace it to a failing crank position sensor, which I then replaced myself. It's written clearly and doesn't assume you have every special tool under the sun. I just wish it had more specific torque specs for popular engines, but you can't have everything. Highly, highly recommended.

This is the book I wish I had when I first started building engines. It has saved me from making stupid, expensive mistakes on my current project. The way it explains the real-world driving feel of different displacement and gear ratio choices is spot on. The installation chapter with its checklists for wiring and cooling is pure gold. It's comprehensive and written by someone who clearly knows their stuff—not a word of fluff in it. This is a must-have for any serious garage.

As a fleet manager, I bought this for my staff, but I read it myself, and I'm glad I did. It gives a very realistic framework for comparing diesel options versus gasoline for our work trucks, including maintenance cycle costs, not just purchase price. I found the book to be very thorough and practical. My only real complaint is that it's a hefty tome for the glovebox—you'll want it on the desk, not in the cab. Very good, sensible information without any of the usual hype you see in automotive media.

I've been rebuilding engines for a living for years, and I'm always skeptical of handbooks like this—they're usually full of generic filler. This one is the exception. The detail on different crank configurations and piston materials is exactly the kind of serious, technical info that respects the reader's intelligence. The section on business opportunities made me reconsider how I price my services. It and the glossary got the corners bent in my copy already. Just what this industry needed.