HOW TO MAKE AN OLD PORSCHE FLY
The legendary Porsche 356/912 performance guide by Craig Richter is available again
It was out of print for decades.

The original 1983 performance guide for Porsche 356, 912 and air-cooled VW — now fully digitized.
This is not a modern rewrite. This is an exact copy of the original with the raw, experience driven knowledge from both race track and street use. Plus: now with additional index for easier lookup.
- Real world tuning insights
- Period-correct modifications
- Old school techniques still relevant today
Now available as an instant download
To get your personal copy, click the button below. It costs less than many small workshop purchases, yet contains decades of hard-won Porsche 356 performance knowledge.
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👍 What experienced Porsche owners say
“Every 356 owner should have and read Craig’s book.”
“A thorough and spot-on 616 engine tech source.”
“The improvements are brilliant!”
“You'll enjoy reading this even if you are not planning to do any hot rodding”
👉 Read more testimonials
👍 Why this book is different
Porsche 356 information today can be fragmented, second-hand, theoretical or even contradictory.
This book is not.
It was written when these cars were actively being modified, raced, and improved — not restored for shows.
Inside you'll find:
- Practical tuning methods that actually worked
- Insights rarely documented elsewhere
- Hard-earned experience, not internet speculation
This is knowledge you can’t Google.
🔍 Look inside the book
These are original pages from the manual — exactly as written.
No rewriting. No modern reinterpretation.
Just the real material.
💰What this knowledge can save you
Owning a Porsche 356 is expensive.
Modifying one incorrectly is even more expensive.
This book helps you:
- Avoid costly trial-and-error tuning
- Understand what actually improves performance
- Make smarter decisions about upgrades
One correct decision can save thousands.
💎 A rare piece of Porsche history
For decades, this book has been difficult to find.
It circulated quietly among enthusiasts and builders — often shared, copied, and passed along.
Now, it has been carefully digitized and made available again.
Not re-written. Not updated. Preserved.
👤 Who this book is for
This is for you if:
- You own (or plan to own) a Porsche 356 or 912
- You care about performance, in a safe way
- You value original, period-correct knowledge
- You want to understand your car on a deeper level
If you’re looking for a modern beginner’s guide — this is not it.
This is for serious enthusiasts.
📱Instant access — simple process
- Complete your purchase securely
- Download the book immediately
- Read it on your computer, tablet, or phone
No subscription. No waiting. Just immediate access.
📖 Get the book now
This is a rare opportunity to access original Porsche 356 performance knowledge.
Download your copy instantly.
Secure checkout • Instant download • 30-day guarantee
Now available again after years out of circulation
🛠 What this book helps you with
This is not theory - it's practical performance knowledge based on real-world experience.
Engine performance optimization
- Understand performance related Porsche 356 engine variables
- Apply techniques like porting, compression changes, cam timing, and exhaust tuning to boost performance
Practical engine building and modification
- Crankshafts, pistons, cylinders, camshafts, carburetors, and ignition systems.
- Hot-rodding techniques to improve reliability and performance
System-level tuning and integration
- Optimize cooling, fuel, ignition and exhaust components
- Match components depending on street, racing or endurance goals
Strategic decision-making for builds
- Choosing the right performance level
- Balance trade-offs between cost/performance, reliability/power, practicality/extreme builds
💡 Selection of Craig's many insights from his racing period
On Weber manifolds
The Weber manifolds that look like the old Solex manifolds appear to be OK. The area right under the throttle butterfly already accepts 44mm Webers, whereas the Solex is only 40mm and must be opened up to use the bigger carbs. The old “fat” or “dune buggy store” Weber manifolds not only have severe clearance problems, the manifold runners have an odd bend and just won’t produce any horsepower.
On oil pressure realities
It’s really difficult to get too much oil pressure out of a 356. My street Speedster runs 70psi when revved up, even hot. Cold it pegs the gauge. Never had any problems with seals leaking, or anything like that. Racers assemble carefully, sometimes use heavier relief springs, and get over 100psi. On the other hand, old small pump motors seem to run forever on 20psi, and the oil light flickers at idle, about 8psi.
On CDI systems
There are many quality CD systems out there but the good Bosch coil puts out 34,000 Volts, and the 12V Bosch red coil is advertised to deliver 40,000 Volts. Either is quite capable of handling the ignition for racing motors. CD’s do make sense for street use, but there is no convincing evidence that they can increase torque or peak horsepower over a properly prepared points system.
👉 Full explanations and context inside the book
🎬 Watch the book explained
📦 What you get
- Nearly 200 pages
- Digital edition of the original book, printable
- Added index for faster lookup
- Works on desktop, tablet, and smartphone
- Your download is available immediately after checkout
- Personal-use copy for all of your own devices
🛡 Zero risk
30-day satisfaction guarantee
If the guide isn’t what you expected, just contact us within 30 days and you’ll get a full refund.
No hassle.
❓ Quick FAQ
No. This is a digital download.
Immediately after purchase.
Yes. It is workshop-friendly and printable.
The focus is on Porsche 356, with parts applicable to Porsche 912 and air-cooled VW engines.
Yes. We don't see or store your payment details. Secure payment is handled by FastSpring, with offices in the US, Canada and Europe.
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