Very informative book, had fun reading through and looking over the changing you can make.

A good general review of smallblock chevy engine building John Lingenfelter on Modifying SB Chevy Engines

I wanted a book on modifying V8 engines and this is it.The author is known for his performance and racing engines.John explains which modifications are ideal but more importantly,explains why.

This book is ideal for all petrol engines not just Chevy engines.The tips and techniques can be applied to any petrol engine.

Plenty of photographs throughout and its a great read.Most engine builders and amateurs will enjoy this book.

I purchased this book when it was released in 1996. I had just finished a 355 and had it running. I learned so much more than all the magazine how-to articles I read that I had to pull the motor and change the oil pump and file-fit the rings. So much of what I read in this book made too much sense. This book was reviewed in one of the Chevy rags and the first thing mentioned was the misuse of high volume oil pumps. Every street engine buildup story seems to use a high volume pump and this guy tells us not to for a good reason. There is something to learn in every section of this book. You may even sound like you know what you're talking about on your next visit to the machine shop. John's legacy lives on. He was highly regarded in drag racing, his company is still turning out fabulous street cars, and I think he was the hot rod hero for everyman. Anyone need a high volume oil pump?

Another book that I had high hopes for, only to be let down. I was looking for some real insider secrets from a leading engine builder. I spent 10 years in the engine rebuilding business and now do it only as a hobby. I am always on the lookout for great books on the subject. This book is not one of them. Smokey Yunick's Power Secrets is a much better buy, although it doesn't talk about fuel injection. If you are a beginner in the engine building world, then by all means read this book, then read Smokey's Power Secrets.

Finally, someone wrote a book for me. The book "John Lingenfelter on Modifying Small-Block Chevy Engines: High Performance Engine Building and Tuning for Street and Racing" is the book I have been looking for.
In the past I have bought and read several books on this particular subject and believed them to be quite good. John Lingenfelter's version of small block rebuilding is a refreshing view and goes into detail that makes the "how and why" simple to follow and understand without over explaining. Maybe it's just that I needed a more advanced book, but, this book is the one that exceeded my expectations. I look forward to John Lingenfelter on Modifying Olds Rocket Engines.

Wow, where do I begin? John Lingenfelter is like the god of small block Chevy's. I love his approach of bigger isn't better. It's how everything is in tune with every component of the car. He dispels a lot of myths and sets a lot of things straight. I don't want to give anything away about the book. It's a good read and a wealth of knowledge.

I felt this book was worth the money. If you want to learn about SBC's and more of WHY to modify them (as opposed to how) then get this book.

I really think John Lingenfelter didn't get into enough detail on certain subjects such as heads, one of the most vital aspects of an engine. Also, there seemed to be a self promotion for his products in many articles. While this is understandable, I understood it was a good product from the first refrence to it.

The dyno charts in the back were nearly worthless. There were a total of around 7, and 2 were on an LT5. This is a very rare (and extremely expensive) engine with a DOHC configuration, so the info didn't have any application to standard SBCs.

Do not buy this book to build a powerful engine. Buy it to gain more understanding on what you want to do, but go with another for more specific refrences. I recommend it, just be prepaired to purchase additional books for more enlightenment.

In a day when we have many "how to" magazines and books, this book is a refreshing venture into the "how come". With that point in mind and despite other mixed reviews, I have to give John Lingenfelter's book on Modifying Small-Block Chevy Engines five out of five stars.

John leans more on the reason to build and modify various engine parts and touchs on the various parts and choices we as engine builders have. He thoroughly discusses which engine components should be given ample attention and which parts are just as well left alone. He also talks about how various parts work together to create a powerful unit.

In summary, if you are looking for a "hold my hand" walk through engine disassembly/assembly than you may be happier with author David Vizard or many other fine automotive writers. But, if you're looking for something different; maybe to gain the knowledge to begin to make your own engine assembly choices, than this is a fantastic read.

THIS BOOK IS VERY GENERAL, POSSIBLY FOR THE NOVICE TO FORM A BASIS FOR BUILDING AN ENGINE. IT'S NOT FOR REFERENCE, NOT ENOUGH DETAILS.

I consider this book to be an excellent source for understanding terminology related to the subject. It's comparable to an extended glossary. It has great explanations, but it lacks the specific detail that I wanted. Also, some of the advice seems a little silly. For instance, he says that it's okay to experiment with a camshaft because they're so cheap to replace.

A great book from one of the masters! This book is concise and is clearly laid out for reference. Great for any Chevy builder!!

A very interesting book in spite of the fact that there didn't seem to be an editor involved. Many successive paragraphs were completely redundant. On the whole, I'd have to estimate that roughly 30% of the book could have been eliminated. Why didn't the editor catch and eliminate these blatant redundancies? I cannot stress the importance of eliminating redundancies. In addition, redundancies should be eliminated. Hah!

Fun to read because you know you're getting advice from THE MAN himself, John Lingenfelter. It's a great overview of the details, but doesn't get very detailed. Make sense? Ok, I'm glad I bought the book.

A good general review of smallblock chevy engine building and engine combinations. Primary focus is on late model electronic fuel injected engines. Disappointing lack of specific details and technical information, but a good book nonetheless.

John Lingenfelter is as well known among Chevy fans as Caroll Shelby is among Mustang fans. The reason? He works miracles on engines. If you want to know how to modify your fuel injected engine for the ultimate in performance, John Lingenfelter is the man. If you wish to see some of his work, point your browsers to www.lingenfelter.com. There you can see his handiwork; eleven second ZR-1's, twelve second Z-28's, and a 600+ cubic inch big block Suburban. J.C. Lan