The review which follows is written from an amateur viewpoint - precisely that for which the book is aimed.
From the recent and excellent Speedpro series by Veloce Publishing, this is yet another that will be a useful addition to the Mini engine builders references. It has been written by an expert to illustrate the theories and techniques which will help the enthusiastic amateur to modify a cylinder head for enhanced performance, with a strongly practical approach. It covers a range of heads to modify, from our beloved A-series, through to Rover V8s, but with considerable practical detail, and has specific Mini content. Its both comprehensive and clearly written. This is a good companion to How to Blueprint and Build a Four-cylinder Short Block for High Performance
First Impressions:
Very good. A strong card cover with contents on nice quality paper. Good
layout, many clear illustrations, and detailed sharp photos. There is
some clearly related basic theory; practical and up-to-date advice
(the included unleaded discussion is very useful), laced with plenty
of real experience case history. Extremely detailed and complete with
airflow graphs for several types of cylinder head, but still well
explained and understandable for the layman. It also includes handy
translations into American to ensure its worldwide comprehensibility!
Section contents:
Introduction, and Using the book (3pp)What is Horsepower? (3pp)
What it is, and where it comes from.Types of Cylinder head (3pp)
Squish, swirl and tumble through combustion chamber design.Theory and Thoughts (3pp)
Airflow requirements and fundamentals.The Flow bench (7pp)
How to make and use, with practical examples as well as the calculations.Development Pointers (4pp)
From valve throats to shrouding, and potential for improvement.Head Work (13pp)
The practicalities; what to check before you start, safety, types and use of grinders, burrs, stones and flap wheels. Polishing, valves and insert examples. Practical advice like this from the experts will save expensive mistakes by the beginner.Modification work (6pp)
An excellent step-by-step series of photos (24 in all!), showing how practical port modification is carried through.Valves, Blueprinting, Buretting, CR and 'Unmodified' Class Heads (10pp)
Just as it says - with very useful specifics on valve guides, unleaded conversions, and practical detail.Valve train components (7pp)
Springs and rockers covered carefully, from installed heights to collets.Camshafts (3pp)
How they work, and how to apply them, including bedding in on new engines.Fuel & Fuel Supply (7pp)
SUs and others in practice, as well as fuel supply flows and pressures needed.Exhaust (4pp)
Theory and practice.Ignition (3pp)
Why and how, with useful stuff on the dreaded pre-ignition.Head Cases (13pp)
Good, practical photos in closeup detail of 11 different heads, from Ford to Fiat, as well as the A-series. And each complete with flow charts and data. Very useful...Appendix (11pp)
Crammed full of yet more stuff, from fuel supply calculations to great detail on how to time in a cam - exactly.
Verdict:
BUY IT - if you are intending to do any work on cylinder
heads yourself, or even if you just want to learn the practicalities. There
is so much experience showing through, that every reader will pick up
something to enhance their understanding as well as their cars performance.
As a practical manual on how to do your own, I know of no better right now.
For Mini owners, this book compliments and to some extent supercedes parts
of the 'bible' by David Vizard - not because it
is better, but simply as more detailed and bang up to date.
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Copyright © 1998, Greg Fripp - validated (3.2s)