TAREK

I purchased the book and I think it's great...really. Especially with those color photos. I hope it would be considered constructive criticism to state that some projects were covered too generically, or not enough details/specifics were included. Yes we understand it was never meant to replace factory manuals, but then again why even include the subject if the reader is supposed to go to the factory manual anyway?

I would gladly pay for a next, revised edition.

Thank you

Bill Gregory

Wayne,

Have you looked at the second printing of the Bentley manual? As you pointed out, there were a few things that needed correcting in the first printing. I provided input to Bentley who made most of the changes for their second printing. I believe they also added a section on their web site for corrections.

While you dismiss the book as Bentley trash (if I may paraphrase), I've found the book to be a very good resource for working on my 911SC, and at $75-$80, a price performer over the $350 factory manuals (which I also own).

BTW, kudos for your 911 engine book. Certainly no small undertaking!

nostatic

neither stupid nor petty...I've met Wayne and he's neither. Merely reality. His point was that the number of professional mechanics who can also write well is a very small number. The number of those who have the time and resources to do it is smaller still (approaching zero). Anyone who has to write for a living knows the difficulty involved.

What never ceases to amaze me is the attitude of people along the lines of "I paid $29.95 for this and it doesn't solve all my problems or answer all my questions." Funny, but there is no free lunch, and one must engage their brain when trying to solve a problem. A book is a resource, not a cure-all.

GMS

All how-to books are guides. You should have the basic knowledge to look at the part you're working on a decide on how things were assembled and the proceedure to remove or repair that part. Bolts seize on ALL cars and to not accept that is being unrealistic. Wayne's book is excellent and a great resource to a Porsche owner.

dial911

Reread my post. I never called Mr. Dempsey "stupid" or "petty".
I said that in reference to his comments.

HarryD

I have read both of Wayne's books and while, in my dreams, I am an expert mechanic, I often defer to my profesionnal wrench for many of the jobs I need done. His books allow me to understand what he isgoing to do and allows me to ask intelligent questions to ensure I get the outcome I expect. Like most reference books in my library, his books fill a variety of needs but still require me to decide how to use the information.

All I can say is: Thanks Wayne for a great resource.

r911

2 degrees? what's the other one in?

One thing about 101 book -- the range of projects is very "diverse" -- i.e. a large range of ability is required for them -- some are very easy, others pretty involved. Nontheless, I'm gald you wrote it. I just hope you will someday write a 911 repair book _before_ I do my project. Seems like the book comes out after I'm done. This guy may not have been able to judge when he is in over his head and when he is wading in shallow water.

Best, - Randy

Zeke

What's the difference?

I have been working on cars as a hobby for about 40 years. I have fabricated parts for cars and race cars in fiberglass as an employee and as an owner of a design/build shop. I am only now becoming a specialist in Porsches. Three in the stable now and 3 previously owned. I find Wayne's book to be light in some areas and very useful in most. At the least, it's a reminder, and at the best, it's a complete how-to-do-it manual.

I always have a second manual open for reference. I have the 911 factory manuals 1 and 2. There are many areas in those that are light on description as well. And with those, you need the spec book which I don't have currently. My collection won't be complete w/o the Bentley.

101 Projects is biased towards SC's, but it's a valuable resource. Mat, or what ever your name is, take Wayne up on the refund. Somebody else will want that book even if it's used. Come to think of it, I'll take it and give it to a friend of mine.

PelicanParts.com

Hmm, Rennlist seems like it's rapidly becoming a nasty and unfriendly place. Interestingly enough the people slinging the nasty comments only have a small collection of posts to their name...

I don't want to sound presumptuous, but there is a big difference between "could" and actually investing the 1200+ hours it takes to write a book of this magnitude (don't believe me, multiply 101 projects by about an average of 10 hours per project, including photos, edit, and review and you approach this number pretty quickly). I'm very proud of the book, I put a lot of time and effort into it, and I think that it's quality shows and stands for itself. As for criticism, I am more than open to constructive criticism. I used a lot of feedback from the 101 Porsche Book to write the 911 Engine Rebuild Book. I learned a whole lot of lessons from the process and from feedback from my readers. The 101 BMW 3-Series book will be even better still, as "practice makes perfect."

As for the Bentley manual, please don't paraphrase me. I love the Bentley manual, and I think it's an excellent replacement for the factory manuals. I did offer to proof the manual for them once a long time ago, and I sortof got blown off. But my relationship with them has improved lately (we're going out to dinner at the German AutoFest). I just thought that the first edition (didn't realize they had printed the 2nd edition) was a good start, but had lots, and lots, and lots of scary, blatant errors that would cause people to put things together backwards, etc. if they followed the instructions. I'm glad to hear that they have fixed the typos. I also did suggest to them that they have a webpage with the typos and corrections listed, like I have at www.101projects.com.

On a subject as broad as the Porsche 911, it's nearly impossible to write a book that will appeal to everyone, and everyone's skill level. I realize that the 101 Book is a broad overview of 911 Projects - heck I could fill five volumes just by expanding on the projects. I took the generalization of 101, and turned it on its head with the Engine Rebuild Book - that book contains just about every single piece of information you could possibly need in exacting detail...

Anyways, I'm tired of this. I'm going back to my forums http://forums.pelicanparts.com

-Wayne

Steve Weiner-Rennsport Systems

Hi Wayne:

With all due respect, I'd take issue that Rennlist has become a "nasty place",.....

This thread is simply a polarizing subject that has brought out the passions in the fine people that populate these Forums & Boards.

Like ALL internet BBS's, its simply a microcosm of the human race and some Porsche owners who choose to participate. I'd venture there are far more people who read these things and never or rarely post a thing.

Its probably a bit harsh to label this or any place "nasty", since we really cannot "see" everyone who reads all, or some of these threads,...

911pcars

I'm not sure where I'd place myself on the hierarchy of wrenches, but I have taught the subject for a few years and write in the industry professionally. From that perspective, as a suggestion to those who want to work on your car, engine or whatever; attempt to do some research on the subject first rather than plunging head first into a project - especially something like resetting rear ride height (I'd give that a 6 out of 10 skinned knuckle rating Wayne). This could mean consulting more than one resource. There are several books that take the DIY approach along different paths. Wayne's book is one that's highly recommended, but there are others (Haynes, Clymer, Bentley), some more, some less successful/thorough/well written/illustrated, etc. than others). Take the best info each one has to offer to round out your tech. knowledge on a process or project, especially if you're lacking in experience (a universal situation for many DIY owners).

If you're more serious, the factory manuals are available. They're pricey and contain lots of info, but some of the info is difficult to locate, understand and or assumed (written for professionally-trained Porsche techs). Most of us are not in that target audience. And then there's the internet which includes many knowledgeable, experienced and generous people (among others ) who contribute and share on this Rennlist forum, Wayne's PParts forum and other sites to help fill in that missing piece of data, often with immediate and subject-specific digital images that communicate more than several hundred words of explaining can provide. That's good.

Maybe one day, the perfect DIY book on any subject will be published. Until then,

Best wishes,
Sherwood Lee
http://members.rennlist.org/911pcars

bones

Wayne you've have every right to be justly proud of your 101 book, congrat's. You'll always get negative criticism from some quarters but as nostatic says, '...... one must engage their brain when trying to solve a problem'..... At twice the U.S. price in Britain, it's still a steal!

Drew Theodore

101 Projects has taken me from always paying a machanic to work on all my cars to now attempting to do things myself. It's easy to follow and so far I have been able to finish what I started on all my projects. If the books instructions take you the long way around, thats fine with me because I will learn the next time to take a short cut. Thats part of learning.
This book has not only gotten me working on my Porsche but I am now doing some of the minor work on my other cars. I just wish i could find a book like 101 Projects for a Yukon, BMW 540, BMW 525 and a GMC Jimmy.

BGCarrera32

When people start ranting about the BBS that they post on of all things (and I have done this myself) its time to go drive and get a life.

Yup, and anybody that has ever picked up the book AND READ IT can see Wayne's little "5 wrench guy" diffculty rating that he puts at the beginning of each project...

I bought a POS Carrera a year ago. One of my first purchases was Wayne's book. By far and away some of the best money that I've spent, and it saved a lot of hours. I think its a little overboard to slam somebody's work just because you've had some issues with your project. Sure, I've found stuff I would have worded differently, but so what, some of its been invaluable. Also a heck of a sales tool on his part too as I've found all this stuff I could do and replace...

The point, nobody is going to happy with everything. Deal with it.

Kurt V

Getting in here late, but what the hell. Wayne put a lot of long hours in on his book and he has the right to be defensive about it. However it is only a guide to projects and there is a presumption that the user has some mechanical abilities. I agree with Wayne in that using shortcuts in this guide is not a good idea. On the other hand, having been a member of this and the Pelican board for a number of years I know that Wayne can get riled easy, but calms back down just as quick. Such is the life of an artist (pronounced ar teest)