David Vizard's How to Build Horsepower: Proven Methods for Increasing Horsepower in Any Engine (S-A Design)

My hobby is building and restoring classic hot rods and Corvettes. I have read countless articles and books on the engine subject and have garnered many tid-bits along the way...But this book takes all those tid-bits (plus many more) and puts them in 144 picture and chart filled pages!Vizard is my new favorite author because he explains very complex subjects and makes them much easier to understand. Each chapters focus is explained in detail on how you can pull more horsepower from it: 1-The Basics, 2-Induction, 3-Fuel Delivery, 4-Intake Manifolds, 5-Supercharging, 6-Cylinder Heads, 7-Porting and Flow Testing, 8-Ignition Systems, 9-Camshaft 10-Cam Events, 11-Valve Train, 12-Short Block 13- Exhaust Manifolds, 14-Mufflers & Tail Pipes.He even explains how to build a great head flow bench (that will rival a pro bench) with a shop-vac! Just built mine for about $10 and can't wait to pull the heads off my '34. I just ordered his other book ""How to Port & Flow Test Cylinder Heads" for even more detail.Vizard also gives equal time to in-line 4 cylinder and V-8 engines in the text (although the pics lean toward V-8's). He explains when the engine science is the same and when different for your cylinder configuration.I really feel that I have learned so much more than I knew (and realized the mistakes I have made) just by reading this book. The chapters on Cams and the one on Carburetors finally made these items less of a trial and error exercise, and more of a "get it right the first time" for me.Can't rave enough on how stoked I am. Beginner or shop pro, you will learn something.P.S. This is not a shop manual on how to assemble an engine. It only explains how to determine the best components to use for your horsepower and torque needs.

If your interested in small blocks just buy it. David Vizard is one of the best writers out there and this book has so much useful information that it is a "must have" for any SBC fan. I borrowed and read twice in a week it before decided that I had to have a copy of my own. Its that good! His book, Building SBC's on a budget is another one that everybody needs to have. I would say buy it first and this one second though. David is a Writer, Engine builder, Racer, Machinist, owns a dyno and has done it all his life. Not like most books that are written by Geeks that have never got there hands dirty. This guy speaks to us,,, the gear-heads. He is the modern day Smokey Yunick but instead of drinking, smoking, and chasing whores, (not that there is anything wrong with that), David has spent much time writing what he has learned so that we all can use it. Order it and don't look back. If all the Small Block Chevy books out there these are the first two that you need.

Very informative, I recommend this book to anyone looking to increase there knowledge. This book opened my eyes to the right way of doing things. Great read.

All of David Vizard's books and videos are fantastic. He is a bit Chevy and Cosworth heavy, but he writes from a generic perspective so even a Mopar guy like me can find useful pieces of information.

the real deal

All the information is laid out in a clear straightforward method.

David Vizard is THE WIZARD when it comes to how to build horsepower in an internal combustion engine. The man knows the physics and science of building an engine to PERFORM, not throw a bunch of parts together and see if they work, like automotive magazines do. I guess that you learn SOMETHING after building thousands of engines of various makes and sizes.

Vizard's explanation of how to pick a Cam is the stupidest process you could ever follow. He literally has it completely backwards. He fails to realize that Duration is a product of the Intended Peak RPM of the motor, and then tried to convince you that the first step is to pick a cam based on degrees of overlap. He uses this retarded example of 500 CID Pro Stock engine having a 112-114 Lobe Separation Angle, and his similarly sized Big Blocks using 106 LSA. He explains this away by stating because the Pro Stock Engines run Higher Compression Ratio that requires a wider LSA. Here is a free clue David a Pro Stock Engine needs 290+ degrees at 0.050" so that it can turn 11,000-12,000 RPM, and as duration increases so does Degrees of Valve Overlap at a given LSA. So, Pro Stock builders have to widen the LSA to keep from over scavenging. Compression Ratio effects Thermal Efficiency and has no bearing on scavenging, and LSA controls Scavenging. Also, Why won't David get on board with the industry standard of 0.050" being the place to start measuring Duration?

The level of detail is presented very clearly and logically with such a depth of technical knowledge. From formulas to diagrams David shares his incredible wealth of knowledge and allows you to comprehend it in a way that is readily usable. Highly recommended.

Really good book. I read a lot of book about engine building and car mod. David Vizard is a really good writer and the explanation are clear with nice graphic. It's not a book that will make you fall asleep after 3 pages like a lot of technical book. To me, that's a must if you want to reach the next level. There's a lot of interesting trick and exemple too improve your knowledge.

ce livre(tout en anglais)vous expliquera comment améliorer sérieusement vos moteurs v8 le plus simplement possible sans exagération,les schémas sont tout en couleurs, très simples et logiques a comprendre.

Ist ein sehr interessantes Buch und bringt dieses Materie einem verständlich näher.Leider gibt es dieses Buch nur auf englisch aber nichts desto trotz ist essehr zu Empfehlen

David Vizard has many decades of practical experience of engine building, modification and research. He has had a lot of success with his modified engines on race track in the UK and USA. This seems to prove that his techniques work for modifying engines to reliably give more power. This book appears to reveal his successful engine modification methods. The book is approximately A4 in size and 144 pages. It has lots of very clear photos, diagrams and graphs, and all of them are in full colour. I have not had time yet to read the whole book, but I have read several chapters. The book was written primarily for the USA market and concentrates mainly, but not exclusively, on USA V8's (I knew this before I ordered it) and the engineering is applicable to other engines (David Vizard is one of the world's leading experts on BMC A-series engines). Mostly the book is written in a clear, easy to read style. Although USA terminology is sometimes different to UK terminology, it's not difficult to pick up. This book contains excellent information for engine modifiers and designers, as well as for those who just want to understand the subject for their own interest.