Author Archives: Mike Hornok

The Motor Bookstore recently conducted a book review on a book about Ford Mustang 5.0 Performance and Mustang 5.0 Specs. The title of the book is The Official Ford Mustang 5.0 Technical Reference & Performance Handbook, 1979-1993 written by Al Kirschenbaum and published by Bentley Publishers. The book review covers the overall contents of this handbook, the benefits to its readers and a little background about the author. This book review concludes with our rating based on our analysis and feedback we received over the years from our customers about this very popular Mustang 5.0 Performance and Technical Specifications Guide.

The Official Ford Mustang 5.0 Tech Reference & Performance Handbook is the bible for anyone that wants a comprehensive Mustang 5.0 performance guide. This tome is the ultimate resource for anyone lucky enough to be behind the wheel of a Capri or V-8 Mustang.

There may be other books on these beloved models but none of them can save you the money and time that this official guide of reference and performance will.  What distinguishes this book from most other manuals is its author, Al Kirschenbaum, is a neutral third party aficionado. With no affiliation to any auto manufacturer, Kirschenbaum doesn’t merely tackle all the major aspects of Mustang 5.0 specs. He doesn’t only provide critical advice for maintaining and maximizing the car’s potential. In a free form and easy to follow style, the author gives detailed pros and cons of the car’s performance.

Covering all models between the years 1979–1993, the Ford Mustang 5.0 Tech Ref & Perf Handbook will help you master all the vehicle’s secrets. There’s extensive coverage of power adders, intake and ignition systems, suspension, steering, tires, body statistics and upkeep, as well as a Mustang 5.0 performance guide look at current market prices.

You will find the year by year review of the Mustang and Capri both informative and interesting. There is a detailed background of the powertrain. There is extensive and critical coverage of Mustang 5.0 specs, including the GT-40 engine blocks, pistons, rods, cranks, heads, intake, cams, exhaust and cooling systems. The Mustang 5.0 performance guide has complete breakdowns on original equipment suspension alongside the most successful methods for improvement. No tech, regardless of expertise level, should touch a wrench unless they have this guide on the bookshelf. It will make any project that much easier.

The book contains a wealth of modifications and treatment for the V-8 Mustang that are tried and proven by owners. There is a complete guide to understanding the door tag and VIN translations. There is plenty of information on systems and parts, featuring ideas about interchangeability, swaps and conversion techniques. You will find the most efficient and cost effective methods for upgrading the Mustang 5-liter output from supercharging to increased displacement.

The book’s set up makes finding information easy. The sections are clearly and concisely labeled Component Systems, Intake System, Electronic Engine Control, Steering, Rear End and Body. The author can get technical but it’s a not difficult to follow. This is the perfect reference for the rider who wants to keep his Mustang 5.0 specs up to par at all times.

Al Kirschenbaum is a former feature editor for Car Craft magazine and is a technical editor at Hot Rod. This Mustang 5.0 performance guide was born from a passion for these high performance vehicles and their potential. The result, Ford Mustang 5.0 Technical Reference and Performance Handbook, 1979-1993, was awarded the International Automotive Media Award in the Technical Reference category.

To conclude this Book Review of The Official Ford Mustang 5.0: Technical Reference & Performance Handbook, 1979-1993, The Motor Bookstore rates this book 4 out of 5 stars. The handbook is full of outstanding technical and performance information that will surely save you money and enhance your Fox-body Mustang 5.0 bottom line. That said, at a retail price of $49.95 some of our customers feel that this book is priced too high,which is the reason we could not give this book 5 stars.

The Official Ford Mustang 5.0 Technical Reference and Performance Handbook is always on sale here at The Motor Bookstore, and we offer fast and free shipping to all customers within the continental United States. Pick up this book and learn everything you ever wanted to know about Ford Mustang 5.0 Performance and Mustang 5.0 Specs.

The winter of 2014 has been unkind to many, many Americans.  From major snow storms in the north to crippling ice storms in the south.   The temperatures have been the coldest we have seen in 30 years.  I would bet that you certainly don’t want to get out in the cold to repair your motorcycle.

So, how do you beat the winter blues?  One idea is to dream about the warmer days just around the corner.  You know, the kind of day where you can saddle up on your motorcycle, take it for a much needed long cruise and enjoy the freedom that only the open highway can provide.

Here’s a nice video that might get your juices flowing for the nice, warm days ahead. It was the start of a Motorcycle Charity Rally recorded this past summer in Plano, Texas:

So, why not take advantage of the cold days now so you can repair your motorcycle and be ready for the spring days that are just a few weeks ahead. If you can find a warm place in your garage or workshop, it’s really the perfect time to start doing a little service and repair on your bike.

If you need a little help working on your bike, why not pick up one of our step-by-step, comprehensive motorcycle manuals to help you service and repair your motorcycle yourself and save. Here’s a great place to shop for the right motorcycle service and repair manual at the The Motor Bookstore.

So how do you beat the winter blues? The Motor Bookstore recommends that you start working on your motorcycle now so you will be ready to take that well deserved cruise as soon as the weather breaks!!

By the way, Bike Week 2014 in Daytona, Florida is only a few weeks away. If you have never been, we highly recommend Bike Week. It’s a total blast!

The Citroen SM (Sport Maserati) high performance coupe was manufactured in France between 1970-1975.  About 12,900 cars were manufactured and only 2000 of these were sold in the United States during 1972-1973.

We were so happy and shocked to see a 1972 Citroen SM at a local car show in early January 2014 that we just could not help but write about it – what a treat!.

Above: Front view of a nice 1972 Citroen SM (Sport Maseratti)

The Citroen SM won its first competitive Motorsport event at the 1971 Rallye du Maroc.  It quickly became known for its technical innovations during the early 1970’s.  In fact, some of its innovative features are just being introduced in some of today’s cars, like hydropleumatic self-leveling suspension and self-leveling lights that swiveled with the steering wheel – cool.

The Citroen D Series beginning in 1955 introduced slippery aerodynamics into the design. In 1968, Citroen purchased Maserati and the goal was to combine the aerodynamics of the Citroen with the racing heritage of the Maserati V6, and the SM was the result. During its five years in production, variations of the Citroen SM served as ice racers, international rally cars and a presidential limousine. In the early 1970s, the Citroen SM was touted as the car of the future and was known as the fastest front-wheel drive on the market with independent speed tests reaching  145 mph (235 km/h).   In 1972, the Citroen SM won the 1972 Motor Trend Car of the Year award in the U.S.   In 2005, the Citroen SM’s design placed eleventh on the “100 Coolest Cars” list published by Automobile Magazine.

The 1972 Citroen in the photos above and below sported the following component options:

• V6 2.7 liter, 90 degree, quadcam Maserati motor – same one used in the Maserati Merak
• Triple twin choke Weber carburetors: 42DCNF (fuel injected 1973)
• 3 speed Borg-Warner transmission (5 speed sold in most of the cars produced)
• Front wheel drive; transaxle sits in front of the motor
• 3200 pounds with about 60% of the weight in the front
• 7 vane, 2200 psi central hydraulic pump supplies all systems
• hydro-pneumatic suspension (nitrogen/mineral hydrous fluid)
• adjustable ride height – 2.5 inches to 10.5 inches
• 4 wheel disk brakes; button instead of pedal; front, inboard
• self-centering steering; 2 turns lock-to-lock
• variable power assist steering for easy parking and firm at speed
• hydraulic suspension raises tire to change a flat – cool
• the European versions had headlights that turned with steering but in 1972 this feature was not legal in the United States

Here’s a few photos of the 1972 Citroen SM (Sport Maserati) recently seen in early January 2014 at a local Dallas car show.

Above: Front view of a nice 1972 Citroen SM (Sport Maseratti)

Above: Rear View of a nice 1972 Citroen SM (Sport Maserati)

Above: Side view of a well cared for 1972 Citroen SM.

It was a real treat to view this engineering masterpiece up close.  I only wish I had the opportunity to take it for a spin…   If you are thinking about shopping for a repair manual or general automotive book about the Citroen SM at TheMotorBookstore.com, I will tell you that this is one of the few motor vehicles that we don’t yet carry literature about. — Mike References: The owner of this fine car (do not remember his name)