Manuals

[fest]

shopping for manuals

400i Workshop Manual 338/85
400i Parts Manual 179/79

http://www.ferraribooks.com
has some originals
but reprints of the 2 I am looking for
(albeit 'original' marpart repros)
Workshop: $195
Parts: $189
expensive, but look like the real thing
(good pics on web site)

http://www.italiancarparts.com
Workshop: $139
Parts: $79
(no pics on web site)
phone call reveals
cheap 8 1/2 x 11 repros,
bound with plastic spines (no binder)
no thanks

http://www.books4cars.com
Workshop: $149
Parts: $99
no pics on web site
phone call reveals
blue 4 post binder
A4 Paper, etc
I'll take em

got em quick (2 days)
do not know it they are 'official' reprints (marparts)
but they look pretty good
good quality reproductions, but some pages marked
blue binder good quality, even has clip to hold pages down

the Parts manual, much to my surprise (and delight)
also contained the Body Parts Manual (Pininfarina)
3rd edition, Feb '84
(this was not mentioned on line, or on the phone)
this is not such a great reproduction
(but it looks like the original was not so hot, either)

this looks like to be the bargain
as the 'other guy' gets $155 for a reprint Body Parts

for quality product and service
and price
I recommend books4cars

have not bought from ferraribooks
but if you have to have originals
(which are always a good investment)
they may be your best bet

ferraribooks has some other esoteric manuals
which may be harder to find such as
Electric 291/83
Auto Transmision 157/78
Fuel Injection 178/79
and some nice brochures as well
I will pick these up as time, budget, and need dictate
(I have not yet comitted the parts and shop manuals to memory yet)

(yes, I DO in fact read them most every night)

[Yale]

I don't know about you guys but the folks on ebay who sell their xerox copies of manuals, calling them "Official Marparts Reprints," for more then $100 piss me off. At this point I don't believe any of these reprints are really "official" and I assume they just get a bunch of blue binders and silk-screen the correct type on the cover. Here "Fest" bought a blue binder with A4 paper where as if he bought the "official" American binder it would be 8 1/2 x 11. I did get some sort of "official" 330GT mechanical parts book from Ferrari of UK, yellow, A4 paper cover, it was free for the asking. Unfortunately it was of the Series 2 cars, they sell the Series 1 reprints for about $50.

Otherwise you can all download your own "reprints"of the 330GT manuals from Kerry's site. - Yale

[lukek]

Yale is right. I was one of the fools. The ebay seller assured that the 250 GTE/GT/Lusso parts manual was different than what I described I already had. I did not even bother complaining...
If anyone is interested in the parts listing and drawings for the 250 cars, I can let it go SUPER CHEAP to recoup a small portion of my idiotic purchase.
Contact me off list with an e-mail.

Luke, 1963 250 GTE

[Tom Wilson]

I purchased a 250 GTE Users Manual ("Ferrari 250/GTE Coupe' Pininfarina 2+2 Uso E Manutenzione") on ebay a while back. I talked to the seller (an individual out of Texas) who said it came with a car he purchased in the mid 80's. I don't know of its authenticity, but it looks old and does not seem like the kind of work done by somebody using a modern copier.

It is a collection of Maintenance information loosely collected and bound with a clear cover. Ferraristuff.com (http://www.ferraristuff.com/en-us/p_763.htm) is currently selling one for a lot more than I paid and says that it was put together by Chinetti Motors in the 60's. Anybody know the history of this thing? Even if it is not authentic, the information was worth the price!

[fest]

this last post brings to mind
an earlier purchase:

"Ferrari Tuning Tips and Maintainence Techniques"
Roush & Apen, 1977
originally distributed by FAF

this is a pretty good read
(the crude graphics and many typos can be a bit maddening)
some of the 'period' tips are amusing as well
(if not horrifying e.g. castor oil!?!?)

it answered the questions I had
mainly, how the @#$%& do you tune a car
with 2 distributors, 4 sets of points, and 3 carbs
I found the tip on using a degree wheel
to time the points most illuminating

('luckily' my car has electronic ign, inj, etc)

highly recommended