Ill be choosing a manual soon,to navigate through the mess I have under my hood.It looks so far off I need something to compare it to, to put everything back together and make it right again .I had some basic questions,What manuals do you guys prefer? Chiltons? Or Haynes? Or neither? I've read there is also a REPAIR manual ?what's that? What do you guys favor and WHY?I prefer something easy to read because I'm a beginner mechanic. Some of the questions I have I'm having a hard time surfing the web finding.2 = Also , what is a good website (or book if the manual dosent cover tuning) for basic engine tuning/timing combinations and tune up stuff? She just isn't running right and is in need of some care. Thanks all
CK5
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2 qestions= Choosing a Manual and
- Thread starter groovy75
- Start date
Chiltons and Haynes both suck, they teach you the basics and thats it. Buy a factory service manual for your year , they are well worth the money
Nope, well, technically you would find them at the dealers, but they are going to be seriously p*ssed if you walk off with them..........Would I find that at the dealership? I need somethin basic lol. To educate myselfis the one your reffering to more thorough? Like I said I need somethin easy to read.
As far as I know, without going to one of the aftermarket shop type setups where you pay a yearly subscription for DVDs for all the vehicles in certain categories, the only place to get actual shop manual is Helms.
http://www.helminc.com
You haven't posted what vehicle you have, but they should have a manual for it. Every new vehicle I ever bought, I ordered the shop manual for it the same day I took delivery.
Its saved me a lot of grief over the years.
Well, dealers make their money on fixing your car, not helping you fix it.I have a groovy 75 k 5Thanks for the link! I'm suprized the dealer wouldnt have one right there for sale.
I think this might work.
http://www.helminc.com/helm/product...rom=result&Style=helm&Sku=ST33075K&itemtype=K
The only way I could find your vehicle was to look in "light trucks up to 1986"
This outfit might have what you want, but if Helm has it, its more likely to be genuine GM.
http://www.autorepairmanuals.biz/site/573683/page/863434
I wonder witch. -factory service manual- alf444 was referring to? Probobly the Helms? If that's what the concensus is ill get Helms. I've had my choice of a project to take on in the last few months it was either ,car,motorcycle,sand rail, or a boat, I chose the k5. Its what it all boiled down to!
TY
TY
Helms is THE BOOK to own (even though I don't yet own one, but then again I probably know just about as much if not more than what's in that book). 
ccarley
1/2 ton status
Yeah, I'm going through the upgrade path of manuals. I don't have the Helms stuff yet.
I started with the Hayne's, it's what they had at Autozone for me. Worked OK, but I'm somewhat of a mechanic to start with & know how most of the vehicle works anyway. It's OK; the schematics are really what I needed.
Then, while up in Tahoe, I picked up a Chilton's. It's what I used to read when I was a kid, and Mom & Dad were shopping (I would stay in the car & read). The new Chilton's manuals are nice in my opinion, but yeah they are not as good as a factory manual. It is a step up from the Hayne's manual though, for sure. The diagrams look like they have been copied & miniaturized though! Also, owning an '89, I was torn between the manuals they had: '80 to '87 1/2 (or something like that), and '88 to something. I went with the '80 to '87 1/2 (or whatever it was), and it's got good info.
Good luck in your decision. FYI, if you don't mind throwing away $20, a Chilton's might be a good starting guide.
Clay
I started with the Hayne's, it's what they had at Autozone for me. Worked OK, but I'm somewhat of a mechanic to start with & know how most of the vehicle works anyway. It's OK; the schematics are really what I needed.
Then, while up in Tahoe, I picked up a Chilton's. It's what I used to read when I was a kid, and Mom & Dad were shopping (I would stay in the car & read). The new Chilton's manuals are nice in my opinion, but yeah they are not as good as a factory manual. It is a step up from the Hayne's manual though, for sure. The diagrams look like they have been copied & miniaturized though! Also, owning an '89, I was torn between the manuals they had: '80 to '87 1/2 (or something like that), and '88 to something. I went with the '80 to '87 1/2 (or whatever it was), and it's got good info.
Good luck in your decision. FYI, if you don't mind throwing away $20, a Chilton's might be a good starting guide.
Clay
DrkZide
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Didn't Haynes have more pictures?
Helms is just a retailer, the books are written by GM. Just watch ebay for them, I did a quick search and only found supplements but they're helpful too. I've never paid over $10 for mine
http://shop.ebay.com/?_from=R40&_tr...tory+service+manual&_sacat=See-All-Categories
http://shop.ebay.com/?_from=R40&_tr...tory+service+manual&_sacat=See-All-Categories
sixb
1/2 ton status
Helms is THE BOOK to own (even though I don't yet own one, but then again I probably know just about as much if not more than what's in that book).
So all one really needs is your phone #
So all one really needs is your phone #
Pretty much, some of you on here already have it and use it from time to time.
I decided to just come in here and just be honest about my mechanical ability . I figured instead of posting up about every little mundane annoying dilema I had , I'd just get a book. Curious about one thing tho. Ive seen guys get told to= - do a search- lol but the questions had to be asked before to be in the database to begin with . Right? How does that work?Because I have a lot of questions .This 75 project has a lot of work to get done, and needs to be totally gone through.It RUNS tho ! 
Buy this it will be close enough to what you need,
http://cgi.ebay.com/Chevrolet-1974-...335?pt=US_Nonfiction_Book&hash=item19bf31672f
http://cgi.ebay.com/Chevrolet-1974-...335?pt=US_Nonfiction_Book&hash=item19bf31672f
The "Do a search" response is usually only aimed at questions that get asked literally everyday. Will 35's fit on a 4" lift is a classic...
Rene
Rene
Rene, here I am again, sticking my nose in where it doesn't belong, but I have a suggestion.
Back in the dark ages, when CompuServe ruled the roost for professionals, I used to hang out in the automotive forum.
You guys would have loved it. Not only did we have GM techs show up from time to time, but often if a bunch of folks bitched about a certain design, the actual engineer who did it would pop in to defend himself.
Many times he would have good reasons for what he did.
But there were several questions that got asked over and over.
The two biggies were timing belt and water pump/timing belt.
The cars were just making the switch to belts from chains, and everybody figured they were getting ripped off when someone told them that their engine, which was running fine, needed a new timing belt.
Especially since their old car ran forever without changing one.
On top of that, they were thinking they were being lied to when told it would wreck their engine if they didn't.
The sysops created a series of small files which gave that kind of information clearly and concisely. Explaining the reasons, their options, and what would happen and why.
After that, when someone posted one of those questions, they were given the link. It saved tons of time, and there was no searching.
The timing belt and water pump/timing belt were separate for a little while but were quickly merged.
People just could not understand why a shop would recommend changing the water pump at the same time as the belt.
Personally I don't see as many repeats as on that forum, but I don't see as many posts as you and the other modulators do.
I was just thinking if you could pick out the top ten or so repeats, and get someone who knows better than me (and writes shorter explanations) to write up a reply then that link is all needs to be said.
And the search part is eliminated.
Don't misunderstand, I am not trying to lay work off on somebody else, I would be honored to write one, but in most cases, there are lots more knowledgeable folks here than me.
Just a thought.
Back in the dark ages, when CompuServe ruled the roost for professionals, I used to hang out in the automotive forum.
You guys would have loved it. Not only did we have GM techs show up from time to time, but often if a bunch of folks bitched about a certain design, the actual engineer who did it would pop in to defend himself.
Many times he would have good reasons for what he did.
But there were several questions that got asked over and over.
The two biggies were timing belt and water pump/timing belt.
The cars were just making the switch to belts from chains, and everybody figured they were getting ripped off when someone told them that their engine, which was running fine, needed a new timing belt.
Especially since their old car ran forever without changing one.
On top of that, they were thinking they were being lied to when told it would wreck their engine if they didn't.
The sysops created a series of small files which gave that kind of information clearly and concisely. Explaining the reasons, their options, and what would happen and why.
After that, when someone posted one of those questions, they were given the link. It saved tons of time, and there was no searching.
The timing belt and water pump/timing belt were separate for a little while but were quickly merged.
People just could not understand why a shop would recommend changing the water pump at the same time as the belt.
Personally I don't see as many repeats as on that forum, but I don't see as many posts as you and the other modulators do.
I was just thinking if you could pick out the top ten or so repeats, and get someone who knows better than me (and writes shorter explanations) to write up a reply then that link is all needs to be said.
And the search part is eliminated.
Don't misunderstand, I am not trying to lay work off on somebody else, I would be honored to write one, but in most cases, there are lots more knowledgeable folks here than me.
Just a thought.
That's one option I suppose, however I'm a big believer in n00b's having to work a little for what they want. Lord knows I've written the reply to most of the major questions about a hundred or more times each.
A search isn't a bad thing...and it means I don't have to pop into every n00b's thread and post a link.
Rene
A search isn't a bad thing...and it means I don't have to pop into every n00b's thread and post a link.
Rene
Does anyone know off the top of their head if the GM service manuals cover the A/C vaccum diagram by chance. I am wanting to hook mine back up but some of the hoses are missing i believe. At least i can't find a vaccum supply for the controls. Thanks in advance.
The Helm is the book but if you want the better of the 2 chilton or haynes, haynes is actually better, it's based on an actual tear down of the vehicle, that's why their pictures and diagrames are bigger and clearer.
They aslo have an easier to follow sequence when they explain something.
And if you ever need help in person, let me know.
I don't have tons of time but I do like to help and I am not that far from you in Lincoln, CA.
We could probably share the help too, I could come over help you with your project ( I rebuilt a 75 from ground up, tore it appart to the last bolt and put it back together) and you could come over and help me with one of MY PROJECTS.
