G body performance upgrades book

[GP403]

I know quite a few of you have ordered this book through the links on this site (and thanks!)....

Originally Amazon stated this would be released on 7/15... now it jus says "ships in 1 to 3 months." I dunno what's up with that, but you can be sure I will post once I receive and read it, whenever that may be. Anyone know Mr. Hinds? (Heck are you on the site?) Maybe he knows whats up. The publisher drop the ball maybe?

 

[84dragcutlass]

I ordered mine yesterday and it said it would arrive anywhere from sept. 5th to oct 5th

 

[BulldawgMusclecars]

I know quite a few of you have ordered this book through the links on this site (and thanks!)....

Originally Amazon stated this would be released on 7/15... now it jus says "ships in 1 to 3 months." I dunno what's up with that, but you can be sure I will post once I receive and read it, whenever that may be. Anyone know Mr. Hinds? (Heck are you on the site?) Maybe he knows whats up. The publisher drop the ball maybe?

I'm a site member (though I don't post much), and the author of the book in question. The last time I had checked, the date listed was still 7/15, but I'll check with my publisher to see if that has changed. I would think not, since they sent me my first copy of the book last week.

This book has been a long time coming...at least 3 years in the works, and I am at least the 2nd person to attempt it. I have been working on it since the summer of 2011, and just finished it up a few months ago. I hope everyone will enjoy it, and learn a few things from it.

 

[GP403]

Cool. Thanks, Joe. I know I'm looking forward to seeing it. I just realized that Amazon put some pages up into the "Look Inside" feature and it looks to be much more than I was expecting (go check it out)... I did see that CarTech Books has a p-date of 7/19... so maybe its just a matter of wires crossed.

I'm a site member (though I don't post much), and the author of the book in question. The last time I had checked, the date listed was still 7/15, but I'll check with my publisher to see if that has changed. I would think not, since they sent me my first copy of the book last week.

This book has been a long time coming...at least 3 years in the works, and I am at least the 2nd person to attempt it. I have been working on it since the summer of 2011, and just finished it up a few months ago. I hope everyone will enjoy it, and learn a few things from it.

 

[BulldawgMusclecars]

I don't know if anyone has seen this but it looks like there could be useful info in it. I'm going to pre-order and see how good it is. http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/161325 ... tag=sfr-20

I'm guessing its pretty general stuff ya already know if ya been on a forum like this for a month or more.

I have read lots of books of this type over the years, and many of them are just that...a re-hash of information that anyone who has owned the cars in question, and worked on them for any length of time, would know. I didn't want my book to be like that, and hopefully it will be appreciated even by the more advanced guys here. I was limited to 143 pages, which may sound like a lot to write, but it does limit the depth that each subject can be covered in. I tried to base the book around questions, projects, and requests that came up in my own shop; things like affordable big brake swaps, LSx swaps, and suspension upgrades (both home-brewed, and aftermarket). If you want ideas on how to build a 305, or other basic SBC tech, you won't find it here. There are too many other good sources for that type of information. I tried to concentrate on things you probably haven't seen in a similar book. I'll note that I am not an author by profession: I am a shop owner who was asked to write a book on G-body modifications.

 

[BulldawgMusclecars]

Cool. Thanks, Joe. I know I'm looking forward to seeing it. I just realized that Amazon put some pages up into the "Look Inside" feature and it looks to be much more than I was expecting (go check it out)... I did see that CarTech Books has a p-date of 7/19... so maybe its just a matter of wires crossed.

You'll probably recognize a lot of the cars; Scott Walkowiak's "GN X-Ray" from GNS Performance is the cover car, and there are lots of shots of Doug Lutes' "Sic Monte", Dan Howe's Monte Carlo SS (Schwartz Chassis), and SRD Art's "Pumkinator" are some of the better know ones.

 

[oldtinsmith]

Mr. Hinds,
Glad to hear you didn't get into engine building!!!! That said, 143 pages can be enough to plant the seeds of thought (Mark Savitske's book is 144 pages and that includes the afterward and source guide!). I'm not going to say what topics I think should be written in the book and I'm not expecting many of my questions to be covered in it either. I have ALOT of these types of books that I've bought over many years and I can honestly say I have learned something from every one of them (most information I've learned was right/true but, a few,,,,,,,,,,,,, not so much). ....I'm sure I'll enjoy reading your book as well as learn some things and I won't prejudge it!

Doug

 

[BulldawgMusclecars]

I could have done a whole book on LSx swaps in these vehicles alone; same goes for chassis and suspension options. I tried to stay away from theory as much as possible, but explain what works, and why, in a way that hopefully anyone picking up the book can understand. Some things didn't get the detail I'd like, and others got more than I thought was really necessary, but overall I feel it is a good balance. I tried to also give several options for ways to do things, to let the reader decide which method best fits his needs and budget.

 

[oldtinsmith]

Joe,
I'm certain you did a superb job following your format. If I find something that gets jogs my interest (and I'm sure I will!) I end up researching it as much as I can!

Doug

 

[Clone TIE Pilot]

I don't know if anyone has seen this but it looks like there could be useful info in it. I'm going to pre-order and see how good it is. http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/161325 ... tag=sfr-20

I'm guessing its pretty general stuff ya already know if ya been on a forum like this for a month or more.

I have read lots of books of this type over the years, and many of them are just that...a re-hash of information that anyone who has owned the cars in question, and worked on them for any length of time, would know. I didn't want my book to be like that, and hopefully it will be appreciated even by the more advanced guys here. I was limited to 143 pages, which may sound like a lot to write, but it does limit the depth that each subject can be covered in. I tried to base the book around questions, projects, and requests that came up in my own shop; things like affordable big brake swaps, LSx swaps, and suspension upgrades (both home-brewed, and aftermarket). If you want ideas on how to build a 305, or other basic SBC tech, you won't find it here. There are too many other good sources for that type of information. I tried to concentrate on things you probably haven't seen in a similar book. I'll note that I am not an author by profession: I am a shop owner who was asked to write a book on G-body modifications.

Doesn't help that most of the performance parts for G bodies are discontinued except for the turbo V6s or LSX swaps. Even 5 years ago there were alot more G body stuff still avaible than now. Only new performance stuff coming out now for G bodies are LSX swap parts but that is such a grey area with emissions legality and the cost. Stock replacement parts for G bodies are being discontinued like crazy in recent years too. In a few years alot of us will be forced to go LSX just to keep the cars running, shame LS parts seem to cost 3x as much as SBC. The money is no longer at with SBCs anymore, it is with LSX now which makes sense fo the book to cover about LSX instead.