azruss wrote:brad, will this book double as a repair manual.
Interesting question, in some respects yes, as it has diagnostic procedures that I believe exceed anything FIAT provided, both in clarity and procedure. You can, for example, more thoroughly test the fuel injection system using the process I describe. For the most part you can diagnose everything commonly problematic on the cars. I delve farther into the drivetrain than I thought I would (transmissions and drivetrain being not often serviced by the owner, except us half crazed ones.) I think the best way to describe the book is the organized ramblings of someone who spent too long with FIATs, and is trying to write it all down before the mind slips into decay or I mistakenly buy another marque.
The carburation and fuel injection system stuff is expanded well beyond anything I produced before, though I'll admit some of the diagrams I wanted to use (from FIAT) there is this lingering question of which vendor will threaten to sue me (as several claim to own the copyright of FIAT materials, yet none of them actually do). FIAT, for what its worth, couldn't care less, they seem almost eager to help (very different from ten years ago). So if you compare to the free guides I put on the public domain there is more procedure and less diagramming. Which may be better, those Weber/FIAT diagrams would make you nauseated after a while.
The descriptions on Amazon are still evolving, but the table of contents will give you a glimpse into what is in the pages. It is not a picture-heavy book, though it has a lot of pictures, there are something like 60,000 words of wisdom between the very plain covers!
The TOC:
1. Introduction 2
1.1. Assumptions 4
1.2. Safety 4
1.3. “Fix It Again, Tony” 5
1.4. Errors 5
1.5. Mechanics 5
2. Identification 7
2.1. Production Estimates 11
2.2. Engine Identification 13
3. Model evolution 19
3.1. Marketing by Displacement 21
3.2. Model Year changes 21
3.3. Researching parts 22
4. Driver controls 26
4.1. Instrumentation 26
4.2. Ignition, throttle, and choke controls 31
4.3. Lighting 32
4.4. Steering column controls 33
4.5. Steering wheel 34
4.6. Floor controls 34
4.7. Gear shift 35
5. Interior 37
5.1. Rear interior 37
5.2. Center interior 39
5.3. Front interior 46
6. Exterior 53
6.1. Bumpers 53
6.2. Grilles 55
6.3. Spoiler 56
6.4. Headlamps 56
6.5. Marker lamps 57
6.6. Striping and door guards 57
6.7. Fenders and fender liners 58
6.8. Hood and cowling 58
6.9. Windscreen 60
6.10. Doors 60
6.11. Rockers 60
6.12. Fenders and wheel wells 61
6.13. Trunk lid 61
6.14. Rear section 62
6.15. Convertible top 63
6.16. Emblems 64
6.17. Tires and wheels 66
6.18. Basic service items 68
7. Weber Carburetors 71
7.1. Weber 71
7.2. How carburetors work (short version) 72
7.3. How carburetors work (long version) 73
7.4. Carburetor visual reference 82
7.5. Carburetor identification 84
7.6. Common issues 90
7.7. Visual inspection 92
7.8. Cleaning 94
7.9. Factory settings 98
7.10. Tuning 99
7.11. Mixture problems 100
7.12. Fuel and vapor lines 102
7.13. Air filters and filter assemblies 106
7.14. Where to find schematics 107
8. Bosch Fuel Injection 109
8.1. The fuel injected spider 109
8.2. How fuel injection works (short version) 111
8.3. How fuel injection works (long version) 111
8.4. Tuning 122
8.5. Diagnostics 125
8.6. Component reference 139
8.7. Modification 141
9. Electrical System 143
9.1. Welcome to the wires 143
9.2. Dwight’s rule 144
9.3. Fuses and the fuse box 145
9.4. The battery and primary leads 150
9.5. Power distribution 151
9.6. Voltage regulation 152
9.7. Alternator 153
9.8. Instrumentation and illumination 154
9.9. Headlights, blinkers, and marker lamps 156
9.10. Ignition system 157
9.11. Upgrades 165
9.12. Component age 167
10. Cooling system 169
10.1. The simple and the temperamental 169
10.2. Diagnostics 174
10.3. Filling and bleeding procedures 177
11. Lubrication 179
11.1. Types of oil 179
11.2. Filtration systems 180
11.3. Common issues 181
12. Drivetrain 185
12.1. Transmission 187
12.2. Flywheel 193
12.3. Clutch 193
12.4. Driveshaft 195
12.5. Differential 197
13. Suspension 200
13.1. Rear Suspension 200
13.2. Front suspension 201
13.3. Shocks 203
14. Powerplant 206
14.1. A simple and elegant design 206
14.2. Engine and Head Numbers 207
14.3. The engine block 209
14.4. The cylinder head 211
14.5. Head Gasket Replacement Tips 217
14.6. Common Issues 221
15. Braking system 224
15.1. Why stop? 224
15.2. Braking system overview 224
15.3. Brake service 225
15.4. Hand brake adjustment 227
15.5. Common issues 228
16. Tune up 231
16.1. Preparation 231
16.2. The “Italian tune up” 231
16.3. Comprehensive tune up 232
16.4. Maintenance intervals 244
17. Convertible top 248
17.1. Types of convertible top 248
17.2. Basic care and maintenance 249
17.3. Top inspection 250
17.4. Adjustment 250
17.5. Replacement tips 251
18. Performance 254
18.1. First steps 254
18.2. Cylinder Head 260
18.3. Camshafts 263
18.4. Camshaft wheels 265
18.5. Big valves 266
18.6. Intake manifolds 266
18.7. Ignition 267
18.8. Exhaust and emissions control 269
18.9. Stock and replacement Carburetors 271
19. Paint 274
20. Figures 279
