When you're setting up training for automotive powersports repair, engine repair is usually one of the first topics you need to cover. The decision is not just which book to buy. It's about how you learn: do you want to watch an engine get torn down and rebuilt, follow a manufacturer's training folder, or study a full textbook in the classroom and shop? Each format changes the price, the depth, and how quickly you can find an answer.
Quick Take
If you want to see an engine rebuilt from scratch, the DVD course is the direct visual option. If you need a textbook for classroom and shop use, the 7th Edition of Automotive Engine Performance is the substantial printed resource. The GM STG Folder is a low-cost, GM-specific training binder for someone interested in that program. And the Automotive Service hardcover is a broader service reference covering inspection, maintenance, and repair.
Listed Price Comparison
| Product | Listed Price | Price Bar | Format | Good For |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Automotive Engine Rebuild (DVD) Course | $26.95 | DVD | Visual step-by-step engine rebuild walkthrough | |
| GM STG Folder - Engine Repair Course | $26.95 | Binder folder | GM-specific training material | |
| Automotive Service: Inspection, Maintenance, Repair | $64.99 | Hardcover | Broad service reference | |
| Automotive Engine Performance (7th Edition) | $70.00 | Trade Paperback | Deep classroom textbook |
Decision Matrix
| If you need... | Consider... | Why it fits |
|---|---|---|
| A full teardown and assembly walkthrough | Automotive Engine Rebuild (DVD) Course | Four two-hour DVDs cover disassembly, components, machine shop, and assembly |
| A GM-specific training binder | GM STG Folder - Engine Repair Course | Used GM folder with the engine repair course material |
| A hardcover covering inspection and routine service | Automotive Service: Inspection, Maintenance, Repair | Like-new hardcover with a broad service scope |
| A deep textbook for formal study | Automotive Engine Performance (7th Edition) | 1,184 pages designed for classroom and shop settings |
Product Notes
AUTOMOTIVE ENGINE REBUILD (DVD) COURSE
If you learn best by watching, this course gives you the full process on four two-hour DVDs. Jason explains how an engine works, shows the individual components and the common problems they develop, and then walks through a complete disassembly and reassembly. The instruction also covers organizing parts for cleaning, dealing with a machine shop, ordering a master rebuild kit, and handling measuring, gaskets, seals, and lubrication. The limitation is the format: because it's a DVD course, you're watching a linear video rather than flipping through a written manual, and you'll need a DVD player or drive to use it.
Automotive Engine Performance (7th Edition) By Ken Pickerill - Classroom & Shop
This is the roomiest printed reference in the group, with 1,184 pages in a revised trade paperback. Ken Pickerill's seventh edition is written for classroom and shop settings, so it can serve as a study text and as a reference while you're diagnosing engine performance problems. Its coverage includes technology, engineering, education, and transportation topics, which makes it a substantial resource for formal training. The trade-off is that it's a thick textbook: you'll need dedicated reading time, and if you only want to watch an engine come apart, a video course can get you to the workbench faster.
GM STG FOLDER-ENGINE REPAIR COURSE AUTOMOTIVE SERVICE TECHNOLOGY -WEBER RONDO 93
If you're curious about how General Motors structured its engine repair training, this binder is a direct look at that material. It's a used training folder from the GM Service Technology Group, labeled as the Engine Repair Course and tied to the Weber Rondo 93 reference. The item is described as used, and you get the exact item pictured, so expect the normal handling marks of a working training binder: possible damage, writing, stains, or blemishes. That's the limitation: this is a well-worn working document, not a clean new book, so it's suitable for someone who values the specific training content and doesn't need pristine pages.
Automotive Service: Inspection, Maintenance, Repair (MindTap Course List)
Tim Gilles' hardcover takes a wider view of automotive service. Instead of going deep on engine rebuilds alone, it covers inspection, maintenance, and repair, which makes it a useful general reference to keep in the shop. The condition is Like New, with a firm page block and clean binding, so it should hold up to regular handling. The limitation is scope: because it covers the full service picture, someone focused strictly on engine rebuilding will find less engine-specific depth here than in a dedicated engine performance text or a rebuild video course.
Final Recommendation by Use Case
Start with the DVD course if you want a visual walkthrough of an engine rebuild at the low end of the price range. Choose the 7th Edition textbook if you need a substantial printed reference for classroom and shop study. Pick the GM STG Folder if you want GM-specific training material and can accept a used binder. Keep the Automotive Service hardcover in mind if you need a broader service reference that covers inspection, maintenance, and repair. For most people doing an actual engine rebuild, the DVD course is the direct starting point; for formal study, the 7th Edition gives you a lot to read.
