Famed Mopar performance guru Larry Shepard offers a comprehensive guide on modifying Chrysler's popular Magnum V-8, used in 1992-and-newer Dodge Ram and Dakota; 1998-and-newer Durango; and 1994-98 Jeep Grand Cherokee 5.2L and 5.9L V8 engines. Includes sections on the cylinder block, piston/rods/crankshafts, cylinder heads and valvetrain, induction, exhaust, ignition and lubrication systems, engine swapping guide and horsepower calculations.

The venerable Jeep 4.0-liter inline-six engine has powered millions of Jeeps, including CJs, YJs, Wranglers, Cherokees, and Wagoneers. The 4.0 delivers adequate horsepower from the factory, but many off-road drivers want more horsepower and torque to conquer challenging terrain, which means these engines are often built and modified. The Jeep 4.0, or 242-ci, is affordable, abundant, exceptionally durable, and many consider it one of the best 4x4 off-road engines. In this Workbench title, veteran author and Chrysler/Jeep engine expert Larry Shepard covers the rebuild of an entire engine in exceptional detail. He also delves into popular high-performance modifications and build-ups. Step-by-step photos and captions cover each crucial step of the engine disassembly. He shows the inspection of all critical parts, including block, heads, rotating assembly, intake, and exhaust. Critical machining processes are covered, such as decking the block, line boring, and overboring the block. The book provides exceptional detail during the step-by-step assembly so your engine is strong and reliable. Installing a larger-displacement rotating assembly or stroker package is one of the most cost-effective ways to increase performance, and the author covers a stroker package installation in detail. With millions of Jeep 4.0 engines in the marketplace (which are subjected to extreme use), many of these engines require a rebuild. In addition, many owners want to extract more torque and horsepower from their 4.0 engines so these engine are also modified. Until now, there has not been a complete and authoritative guide that covers the engine rebuild and build-up process from beginning to end. Jeep 4.0 Engines is the essential guide for an at-home mechanic to perform a professional-caliber rebuild or a high-performance build-up.

Identifying the Jeep CJ series vehicles as the most popular off-road vehicles of all time may actually qualify as an understatement. They really are that popular. The CJ series arguably started after World War II with the CJ-2A being introduced to the masses, and while the early CJs have their share of enthusiasts, the largest group of enthusiasts began their love affair with the AMC-powered Jeep CJ-5s beginning in 1972. Joined by the longer-wheelbase CJ-7 models introduced in 1976, the CJ models were wildly popular through their discontinuation in 1986, when the Wrangler was introduced. These were the only models originally equipped with V-8 engines in any meaningful way. This era combined the ruggedness of the early Jeeps with some of the advancements and horsepower of a more modern era; it makes a platform that is both fun to own and to modify. Jeep guru Michael Hanssen covers all of the systems that can be upgraded to improve your Jeep's performance. Upgrades include suspension components such as springs, shocks, and steering modifications; driveline components including differentials, transmissions, transfer cases, and axles; engine upgrades including engine swaps; wheel and tire upgrades; aftermarket accessories; and armor such as skid plates, bumpers, brake upgrades, and more. Whether you are looking to get into serious off-roading or just want to make your classic CJ a little more fun, this book will be a valuable tool in your shop or library. p.p1 {margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Arial}

Information for the performance enthusiast on hot rodding the Chrysler mopar small-block engine imparts guidance, instruction, and illustrations

Whether you’re seeking movie gifts or something for the history buffs in your life, this comprehensive guide to animation and cartoons has it all. In this one-of-a-kind definitive history of American animated cartoons, renowned film critic and historian Leonard Maltin presents the most extensive filmography on cartoons ever compiled. In this revised and updated edition of Of Mice and Magic, Leonard Maltin not only recreates this whole glorious era from the silent days through the Hollywood golden age to Spielberg’s An American Tail, he traces the evolution of the art of animation and vividly portrays the key creative talents and their studios. This definitive history of American animated cartoons also brings Maltin’s many fans up to date on the work being done today at the Walt Disney and Warner Bros. studios, and other developments in the world of animation. Drawing on colorful interviews with many of the American cartoon industry’s principals, Maltin has come up with a gold mine of anecdotes and film history. Behind the scenes were genius animators and entrepreneurs such as Walt Disney, Chuck Jones, Tex Avery, Mel Blanc, and a legion of others. In all, Maltin has put together a glorious celebration of a universally loved segment of Americana.

Feel like somebody hit the brakes on your Diesel Brothers cravings? Discover how you can keep the gas going with this rip-roaring ride behind the scenes of Discovery Channel's popular series Diesel Brothers. In the world of monster trucks, no one builds bigger and more extreme rides—and has more fun in the process—than Heavy D, Diesel Dave, and their crew at DieselSellerz. Their larger-than-life creations and awesome truck giveaways are legendary, but for those less fortunate who haven’t had the opportunity to experience a Bros’ souped-up truck, this thrill-ride of a book is the next best thing. Learn the epic and inspirational stories behind Heavy D and Diesel Dave’s business and personal lives, from the guys’ first meeting, to their early adventures building DieselSellerz, to their successful business venture with Redbeard, Muscle, and the rest of the fearless staff. In addition to learning about the Bros’ two-year Mormon missions, humble beginnings, and world travels, you’ll also get the unforgettable details of their hilarious, most well-known pranks, and the remarkable stories behind the personalities that have made Diesel Brothers one of the fastest growing and most popular reality TV shows. But wait—there’s more! The book is chock full of essential advice for anyone who’d like to get in on the action. Whether you’re a die-hard monster truck fan or just looking for inspiration to upgrade that piece of junk in your garage, Heavy D and his crew are here to show you how it’s done. You’ll learn how to find the best bargain in the junkyard, how to play hardball with tough-talking dealers, and how to turn that sad sack heap of parts into a badass diesel vehicle. What are you waiting for? Get out there and let diesel freedom ring!

The LA-series small-block Chrysler engine is a powerful, efficient, and quick-revving engine that has dutifully powered millions of Chrysler/Dodge/Plymouth cars and trucks from 1964 to 2003. And it's also a power unit for many renowned Mopar muscle cars, including the Charger, Barracuda, Challenger, Dart, and others. The LA designates the small-block as "Lightweight A," which was a huge improvement over the previous Ageneration engine. With its compact size, 50-pound weight savings, thin-wall casting, and polyspherical heads, it cranked out a lot of torque and horsepower, which made it ideally suited for the street and a formidable opponent on the track. Although this venerable small-block has delivered impressive performance in stock trim, it can be easily modified to produce much greater power for almost any application. The LA was offered in 273-, 318-, 340- and 360-ci iterations, and a full range of aftermarket products are offered for these engines. Mopar engine expert and author Larry Shepard identifies the best parts and clearly guides you through the specific techniques to extract maximum performance from this platform. In particular, he delves into the heads, cams, and valvetrain products and modifications that will achieve your horsepower goals. In addition, he provides in-depth build-up instruction for other essential components: blocks, cranks, pistons, rods, ignition systems, intakes, carburetors, and exhaust. If you own an LA small-block–powered Mopar car or truck, this invaluable guidance and instruction will allow you to optimize performance and maintain reliability. Whether you're building an engine for street, street/strip, or racing, this vital information saves you save time, money, and delivers results. Add this to your Mopar library today!