Resources: Books, Rennlist, Porsche Club of America

Author: Bill Gregory (sansho@rennlist.com

Original date: August 2, 2002

Porsche 911 Performance Handbook, by Bruce Anderson. This book covers 911 history, purchasing considerations, and 911 major assemblies, i.e., engine, brakes, suspension. It has quite a bit of information on modifications that have worked and not worked.  If you are going to rebuild your 911 engine, there is a wealth of helpful information.

Porsche Workshop Manual 964, 7 volumes, Porsche part number WKD-482-520. The 964 workshop manuals aren's cheap, at around $350.  While they have information you won't find anywhere else, there are also missing gaps in the information provided.

Porsche Carrera 964: Without Guesswork - Technical Data, Bentley Publishers. This recent publication covers all varieties of US-spec 964's, including Turbo's, 1989-1994. It covers specs and some procedures for the major systems: Engine, engine management, drivetrain, chassis, heating and a/c, and electrical. Well illustrated. Not intended to be a replacement for the factory manual, although much of the information and diagrams were drawn from the factory manual and technical specs booklet. List $70.

 Porsche Technical Specifications. These small booklets are indispensable for specs as well as torque settings on almost all the major fittings on each model covered, including ROW and US models. While Porsche has discontinued some of them, independent vendors still stock them. Around $30.

Up-Fixin der Porsche, Porsche Club of America (PCA). This is a collection of technical articles from the monthly PCA publication, Porsche Panorama, from 1956 - 1998.  Volumes are $16 each from PCA (the complete set with index is $145). The Volume 1-8 index is also available separately for $5. Joining PCA (see below) gets you a subscription to Porsche Panorama.  964 owners would be most interested in Up-Fixin volumes 9, 10, and 11.

How to Tune & Modify Bosch Fuel Injection, by Ben Watson.  Covers many Bosch systems, including  Motronic.  A bit less technical and more down-to-earth description of systems and troubleshooting.

How to Understand, Service, and Modify Bosch Fuel Injection & Engine Management, by Charles Probst. Another solid reference on Bosch fuel injection systems. A bit more technical discussion on fuel injection theory and troubleshooting.

Original Porsche 911, by Peter Morgan.  This book describes in detail the growth of each Porsche model. It has ranges of chassis and engine serial numbers, as well as all colors and options offered for each year.

Porsche 911 Story, by Paul Frere. This book surveys in detail the growth of the 911 line. The author was a factory race driver, and incorporates factory study results into the text.

Porsche 911 Engine History and Development, by Tobias Aichele. Reviews the development and growth of the 911 engines through time. It has complete specifications on each engine, using German market 911/Turbo engines.

Excellence magazine, published by Ross Periodicals, PO Box 1529, Ross, CA 94957. Published 8 times a year, Excellence covers old, new, and unique Porsche's, has how-to articles, and the Market Updates by Bruce Anderson which lists recent values for different Porsche models each issue. A good source of current advertisements and vendor specials. Available at Barnes & Noble and Borders, amongst other retail outlets, and by subscription.  No web site.

911 & Porsche World, is a monthly publication averaging 104 pps and is the UK's only independent magazine devoted entirely to the Porsche marque. Each issue contains a wealth of Porsche knowledge from people like Mike Cotton whose past experience of being Porsche (GB)'s head of public relations, provides an insight into the depths of the Porsche world.  Global contributors keep the reader abreast of the latest models and variants to come from Stuttgart, or which tuning company is doing what, as well as the racing scene, at both club level and the International arena. On the web at the EWA Website.

Rennlist at www.rennlist.com. This is the premiere Porsche support community on the web, with over 65,000 subscribers.  There are over 50 email discussion lists, 27 web discussion forums, classified ads, access to technical advisors, retail car locator, a technical library, price guides, over 250 member web sites, and much more. At the home page, click on "About...." for a more complete description of all that's available. There is a fairly active 964-specific web discussion forum at forums.rennlist.com.

A European-based web discussion group is active at www.smartgroups.com/groups/964porsche. At last count there were around 500 members.

There are many 964-focused web sites on the internet. One of the more comprehensive is John Miles 964 site at www.porsche964.co.uk.

If you are intested in the RS America version of the 964, there is a web site that may be of interest at www.rsamerica.net.

Porsche Club of America has more than 140 regions all over the US, Canada, and Germany. You can participate with other Porsche enthusiasts in activities such as autocross, rally's, concours, tours, drivers education, restoration and technical sessions, and social functions. In addition, you receive the monthly magazine "Porsche Panorama", and many regions have their own publications.  More information can be found at www.pca.org. If you click on the regional directory, you can check out the activities of the region covering your area.

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