Art & Inspiration Whats in Your Library?

I was running some errands today and stopped into Graffiti Alley. Its a local parts house that specializes in the good stuff. I scored an original 50/51 Olds shop manual.

I've been looking for a good deal on one (this one i scored for 30 as it was missing its binding) for a while as I am sticking a 303 into my 33 dodge 5 window and wanted a little extra reference material on the plant. As I stuck the days score up on my shelf I smiled at my growing hoard of old and new literature.

Some of my favorites are the old ones that break down the simple and not so simple tasks on 20's, 30's and 40's rods (im their stock forms at least) One of my favorites is this steering and alignment book.
All of "the big men" of the auto industry came together at a hotel and agreed to compile the required information to fill these pages. It will tell you all you want to know about a 1927 chevrolets or a 1933 dodges suspension and alignment, diagnostics of those components and repairs.

Some of that information may be mundane for some of you old timers with a lifetime of experience in such things but to a youngster like myself these things weren't covered in my automotive tech program at the local junior college.

Another favorite of mine is the 1943 7th edition of the MoToRs Auto Repair Manual.

This thing will break down everything that the first book missed about dang near ANY car. Need to tune up a hupmobile? Sure


Swapping a u-joint on a nash? No problem


Tearing down a packard trans? Got that too.


Coolest thing to me about the old books is they are the same texts...the same pages that many hot rodders back in the day learned and built from... So I raise the question. How many of you have a library in your shop? What are your favorites?

 

No pictures now but I have a collection Motors Manuals. They are the BEST reference manual for old cars repairs.

 

They're pretty amazing! Bob down where I picked up my shop manual has em from 48-79 I believe. For mine I have the corresponding book that shows mechanics how many hours to bill for each repair

 

Called Flat Rate Manual.

 

Every Hot Rod Magazine from 1948 through 1977, minus a few 48's and 49's. Every Rod & Custom Magazine. Every Hop Up Magazine. And many other titles. I'm more of a periodicals kinda guy.

 

Over 20 shelving units full.

 

Makin me drool.... crazy part is...go on down to St. Vinnys or Goodwill and I find good stuff all the time for 2-10 bucks. I would have to agree about the value of books from the era over peoples opinions online! At least for certain info

 

Souping the stock engine just went onto my list!!

 

Leo Sanducci's chevy straight six book.
Awesome read!
The 250 chevy six was the first engine that I worked on.

 

Old speed equipment catalogs come in very handy.

 

And, of course....

 

I as well have a library. Or rather, a large collection of books. I always thought mine was bigger. Turn out once again, I'm embarrassed to say with a grin, it's not.
Ok...I'm bragging a bit but if the 40 year old shoe fits, a 45 year old shoe must be tighter.


When I was a child I liked to read. And know how things worked. I didn't like learning. Well not until much later anyways. Still, it never came easy. While I'm sure some bought for the pictures, I bought them for the tech. My share of car mags condensed.


I did buy quite a few magazines along the way. Then during a massive undertaking I started tearing pages. You have to control the size of the library some how.
And far be it for me to say stop the madness, I encourage it. Books are great. Books are yours when the internet is void of a signal.


While most of my book collection is useful, some is well beyond the common interest.



Past and present, I was inclined to buy a factory set for everything I own. But one discovers you reach a point where you don't need that much information any more.



My favorite is the CEG below. OH yea, flip that open and you do realize the over charging in getting work done.


Yea, they have it on the computer now. Some one has a book you'll take a look but who offers to show you the screen these days?

I can see I'm behind on this. Just don't let it get out of hand is my advice. Like old car parts, someone will end up dealing with it and boxing it up.

 

Hot Rod! My favorite book of all time!

 

Just over bid on a online auction to add these to my library tonight. Probably have 200 or so hardcover automotive books.

 

Got my first car book for Christmas in 1961, Ralph Stein's the Treasury of the Automobile, keep adding to the collection, Vintage Race Car stuff Pre WWII is my main interest, along with Ford Speed Equipment. Most stuff is in a 4 draw file cabinet, I need to organize the books that are on shelves in a closet.

 

Just a beginner really. A few workshop manuals and how to books. However my one gem is an original 1939 Mercury Reference Book for owners.

 

3 book shelf full. And a medium size magazine rack.

 

You can’t beat the info in those Motor manuals. My earliest Motors and Hollander manuals is 1940 edition.

 

How early did they make em? Some 30's editions would be saweeeet!

 

Are books newer than 65 off topic?

 

If theyre about traditional hot rodding, youre safe

 

Nothing beats a good library of Automotive Manuals.

 

A good part of my 63 year old magazine collection got ruined when my storage area got flooded. I've still got quite a bit including just about every modern book written on flatheads and both of Vern Tardel's books. A few go to things to answer questions including a 1946 motor manual ..

 

Still working on my collection, 13' of new bookcases plus another in my bedroom. Yes, as you can see, I even gave My Wife some spaces

 

Just in case there is an Allison V-1710 that needs attention.

 

Heck, I still have factory service manuals for Peterbilts left over from my dad.
I don’t think I’m setting the jakes up on a small cam Cummins anytime in the future.
But I don’t even know what I have anymore, I just stuff and pile them in a metal locker. Spend an hour looking for “the one I need”. I really gotta organize some stuff around here.
Who am I kidding. Not happening.