Description
Author: Larry Shepard, Softbound, 122 Pages, ISBN: 075478014316, HP-1431, 1st Edition, August 2004
- A Step-by-Step Guide to Rebuilding Magnum Series Engines to Factory Specifications -
Covers - 1992-and-newer Dodge Ram and Dakota; 1998-and-newer Durango; and 1994-1998 Jeep Grand Cherokee 5.0L and 4.9L V8 Engines
-
Writing a book is a pretty big project and this one is no exception. An all-new engine family meant all-new information and photos, and I had a lot of help gathering the data, running the tests, installing the parts, fabricating, tooling and design.
An engine book starts with engine builders like Bill Hancock, Bob Kammer, Ken Black, Dick Landy, and Ray Barton, an all-star list. There are hundreds of Mopar racers involved in DaimlerChrysler race programs of the past 10 to 12 years and everyone has had a helping hand. Once NHRA and IHRA opened the door to drag racing trucks, these Stock truck racers have been led by McCormack Motorsports and Judy McCormack, Jennifer, Jason, and John.
Anytime that a manufacturer introduces a new engine family, customers have many, many questions. Therefore, the key to that engine's success is to answer as many questions as possible and the best way to do that is with hands-on displays. The Mopar displays at the tracks and SEMA and PRI have been done by McCormack Motorsports and Jack McCormack—the best! And show engines take better pictures thanks to Chris Sniesak and Jason.
The largest thanks and gratitude go to Daimlerehrysler's Engineering and Mopar Performance departments, to my managers Greg Reexes and Lee Carducci; and to engineers Jim Szilagyi, Jim Bratten, Mark Malmstead, and Larry Henry. Many thanks go to the Mopar
Performance Techline and Jeff Kotulak and the guys at Arrow Racing Engines, especially Dale Matthews, and Mancini Racing, especially Rob Cunningham.
And perhaps most of all, I owe a great deal of thanks to my editor, Michael Lutfy, who made all this technical information readable and helped me fill in the holes that I missed.
Finally, a very special thank you to my wife, Linda, for her enduring support, assistance, and patience during the writing of this book!
- The Author's Note, 2004
