Shop manuals

[Steve Turino]

I want to purchase the best 356 shop manuals for general info but most specifically for engine rebuilding. My 61 T-5 super engine is asking for some attention. I have a Porsche factory manual from Stoddard circa 1994, but want more detailed info and specs. I've seen people mention the Harry Pellow books.
I would love to see the experts list of books (or videos) in order of effectiveness, that is, quality of information, procedural descriptions and photos.
A list from best to worst ( well I guess I would skip the least helpful books) and where to procure them, would help me out immensely.

I would be doing the work with an experienced mechanic/engine builder friend of mine. It seems there will be a lot of grunt work that I can do and leave the more technical work to him with me watching and learning. At this point I am trying to read up as much as I can.
Any help is much appreciated.
Steve

[Jon Schmid]

I have found the Porsche Technical Manual by Henry Elfrink to be a great source of information. I have the 4th edition (1968) so it covers all 356 models.

[David Aronson]

If you can find a "The Maestros Workshop Manual (356/912). By Harry P. It is dedicated to the takedown, analysis, and build of the 4 cylinder Porsche Engine. It is titled THE ABC'S(AND 912'S) OF PORSCHE ENGINES OR PORSCHE ENGINES AND THE FUTURE OF THE HUMAN RACE. A 610 page PHD candidate's thesis on the science (at the time) of the engine that powers our wonderful cars. It may be hard to find and pricey but well worth it. The Elfrink book is good, pictures are better. I learned form Harry P's books and have found they are still relevant. More of a textbook for educational purposes. The stories are quite interesting as well. JMHO.

[Alan Hall]

It has been a while since I have looked at Harry's books, but I think his "Secrets of the Inner Circle" is the more step-by-step manual for engine tear down and rebuild. I recall ABC's having a lot of detail info on each part but was not really a step-by-step type of manual.

[Norm Miller]

The factory manuals assume you have been to their training schools and leave out a lot of general information.
Especially the use of special tools you likely don't have.
Norm

[Jim Clement]

it is Secrets of The Inner Circle.
Let me know if you can find a copy or not.
lots of good info to supplement the workshop manual.

[Mike Wilson]

Steve: PM sent.

Mike

[David Aronson]

Yup, Just got out my Pellow stuff. I stand corrected, the Secrets of the Inner Circle is the step by step manual. Wouldn't it be nice if the family would consider a second run......Hmmmm..

[David Aronson]

I wonder how many "Gentle Readers" there are in our community.

[Ron LaDow]

When I (and many folks here) first spun wrenches on these, they were common enough that most of us had some 'tribal knowledge' to help us along, so Elfrinks was enough for a lot of us. Count me lucky; Alan, Dema running his machine shop, Lukes and Shorman, EASY Jim; who needed manuals?
Now, given the 'evolution' of the particular engine you might be looking at, and the 'migration' of various parts over the years, I think you need Elfrink, Pellow's "A,B,Cs" and "Secrets", and the factory manual, and you ought to read them all before doing any work.
Some of Harry's data can be a bit misleading, especially regarding compression ratio (and horsepower claims), but "A,B,Cs" will tell you if that part will fit with those parts; "Secrets" and Elfrink will tell you where to start working and not have you taking it back apart to fit that part you found in the plastic bag over there.

[Martin Benade]

Once Elfrink didn’t tell me to put in all eight lifters, I was on my own to find 4 still on the bench.

[David Jones]

I think that one of the finest books I ever read back in about 1970 that gave one the basic knowledge you need to build a 356 engine is probably the John Muir book even though it is about the VW type 1 engine originally it transfers in many ways to the 356 and that includes suspension, brakes and electrics. Take that and the factory or any other manual and a decent set of tools and as long as one has a modicum of mechanical expertise you should be ready to build.
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/p/how-to ... i4EALw_wcB

[Paul Ahnell]

+1 on Pellow's "Secrets of the Inner Circle". I've used it to do a top end job and other tasks on my '60 Normal engine and it hasn't blown up yet. Nice Step-by-Step instructions. I'd also recommend the Factory 356B Ersatzteil-Katalog (Catalog of Spare Parts) which shows you the relative orientation of parts when they go together. Very helpful.

[Steve Turino]

Thanks all for your help. I have ordered the Elfrink book and am looking for Secrets, and some of the others. I remember my brother having the John Muir book back in the seventies as a poor college student trying to keep his Bug alive.

[Adam Wright]

I dropped my first 356 engine using Pellow manuals. Yes, he is a bit wordy and quirky, but the info is there. More importantly, the manuals speak to the average dude who works on his car, not a master mechanic. I highly recommend Secrets if you own a 356.