Any such thing as a good Service Manual?

[AuroraGirl]

I like to look at them, but haven't really used them.

That makes me wonder, am I the only one that reads old service manuals just for the heck of it?

its how i found my skid plate and grease point and external oil cooler thread-photos!

 

[Catbox]

I found mine in a book store for $15.
It is one year early for my truck, but close enough.

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[Poppy 87]

For years the publisher of the service manuals, unit repair, wiring, and owner manuals was Helms. Try a search, been a while but that's what I did prior to the internet. By the way, nothing better than factory manuals. Haynes, chilton, motor, are meh

 

[AuroraGirl]

I found mine in a book store for $15.
It is one year early for my truck, but close enough.

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if i put my 1980 together the end result is 1979

 

[Dave M]

I've always been a big fan of factory parts manuals as well as factory workshop manuals, sometimes the exploded view diagrams are the best. "A picture is worth a thousand words"

 

[Stoichiometric]

I found mine in a book store for $15.
It is one year early for my truck, but close enough.

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Chrysler 200 Workshop Service Repair Manual

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Yes, the physical book exists. You can find it on eBay, Amazon (used), or specialty auto book stores.

 

[bucket]

I wonder how @wanderinthru has been doing lately. Haven't noticed him around in a while.

 

[Ricko1966]

I started a conversation with him,months ago,he never replied.

 

[WFO]

I wonder how @wanderinthru has been doing lately. Haven't noticed him around in a while.

I've been wondering the same thing.

I think I'll go to the Route 66 Motor Speedway in the next few weeks, and see if I spot his El Camino.

 

[Stoichiometric]

Any manual is better than no manual, and much like trying to find an Alfa Romeo 145 Workshop Manual Download, some of the factory manuals are available in the reference library on this site. But prior to having access to factory manuals I had a Chilton which I found to be acceptable. I later picked up a Haynes manual. I found a lot of the procedural stuff to be lacking, but there was more reference information like torque specs and wiring diagrams. Between the two I felt like I had a fairly complete library.

Also, while I would be the last person to suggest that you don't need a manual, these trucks are from the end of the era when you could figure most things out by looking at them. It's not a matter of life or death to have a specific manual.

For a physical paper manual, check eBay for used original GM factory service manuals, or pick up a Haynes or Chilton manual from Amazon or your local auto parts store. If you want the real deal factory manual, Helm Inc publishes official GM shop manuals and sells them new. Swap meets and used bookstores can also turn up old manuals at good prices.

 

[goldpack]

Free Car Service Manuals from Operation CHARM — No strings attached!

Operation CHARM provides completely free repair/service/workshop manuals for over 50,000 models of cars and trucks manufactured 1982-2013. No sign-up or paywall.

charm.li

has scans of 1982-2013. (print off what you want)
that has been around and linked to forums for a long time ( .li for Liechtenstein,...so far away from the pr;cks that don't want you reading a scan of a discontinued or current factory manual without paying).

recently they moved to a bigger library 1960-2025.
(in Laos and Ukraine)
Link: lemon-manuals.la or lemon-manuals.org.ua

 

[Blue Ox]

For a physical paper manual, check eBay for used original GM factory service manuals, or pick up a Haynes or Chilton manual from Amazon or your local auto parts store. If you want the real deal factory manual, Helm Inc publishes official GM shop manuals and sells them new. Swap meets and used bookstores can also turn up old manuals at good prices.

Since I posted that almost six years ago I've acquired a set of factory reprints from Rot Auto, printed by Detroit Iron, and I'm going to say for about forty bucks?

They're the same people who printed my Corvette manuals and they do really nice work. Other than the glossy cover they're identical to what the dealer got from GM.