I want to start learning about the insides and outs of cars so I can start working on my 240 without the help of my father or brother. They both own or owned 240s. It's really funny like a family thing; my dads first car was a Datsun 240z, my moms first car was a Datsun 240z, my brothers car was a 89 240sx but now has a 91 240sx and my first car was and still is a 93 240sx SE. Do any of you guys know any textbooks I can purchase to start studying the ins' and outs' of a car.

 

You mean just cars in general? Go hit up books a million or barnes and nobel. Lots of books about machine work, motors. I get a peek every once in awhile. There is always the internet as well. Some good info out there when you hit the search button.

 

The best book of them all is the world wide web!

 

^
that's not always so because there is a lot misinformation and opinionated views.

 

Seriously hit up Barnes and Noble, Borders, or wherever your local bookstore might be. They are becoming the new libraries. On that note...you could still also go to the library, lol.

If you're looking at boost, I can recommend a good read: Maximum Boost. It is one of, if not the holy grail on forced induction (mainly turbocharging).

 

The only problem with learning off the internet is that I won't know what to look up where as in the textbook the table of contents would just list all the sections of the engine and so forth.

 

If you have some money, why not take an automotive course at a local community college

 

The Engine Builders Handbook by Tom Monroe,
Maximum Boost by Corky Bell,
Street Turbocharging by Mark Warner,
Chassis Engineering by ...
How to Tune and Modify Engine Management Systems by Jeff Hartman

Start with Maximum Boost or Street Turbocharging because they are very easy to read and filled with information.

Hope that helps.

Ohh yeah, read your FSM too. It has lots of diagrams to help you visualize things as well as almost step by step instructions on maintaining you car.

 

The book you need is called Basic Engines. That's the book my dad gave me to read when I didn't uunderstand how rotary engines work, i ended up reading it for like 6 hours. I dont know who wrote it or if you can even get it anymore, but if you can find it that is the book you need.

 

^+ 1 for Steve schooling your ***.

But yeah just get out to your local booksellers and browse the automotive section, there are always an abundance of various books there to study. IIRC they even have some text books at certain stores which is cool too.

 

Get the FSM for your car and read it from cover to cover.

 

Actually, I just looked up ME majors classes at the university I am attending and found an "automotive engine class" and although I can't enroll in the class (as I am a biology/pre-vet major) I still plan on sitting in on the class.

 

go for it Read