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What is the best repair manual you can buy??

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Sutton185

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Hey guys,

Im new to the k5 world and just bought my first one! 1988 GMC Jimmy. Ive already ordered a LMC catalog (AKA there goes a paycheck soon LOL) and am now looking for a repair manual for the truck. The truck needs some work behind the dash, some a/c work, floor work, and a couple other things. Just figured id ask you guys what you recommend for a manual.

Thanks!
 
CK5 is better than any repair manual. The people on here know these trucks better than GM. Just post up whatever problems or questions you have. :thumb:
 
All these guys are right. Although, once you join and start gathering info to fix your rig... you end up stuck on the computer for way longer than the repair would have taken. Still well worth the member fee
 
GM manuals do rock,none of the usual names like Clymer,Chilton,Haynes,Motors or similar shop manuals seem to tell you all you need to know,or omit steps,or tell you to do things that you didn't need too,if you follow their instructions...one thing I hate about many of them is the'll say "CAUTION"--"DONT DO THIS" on the next page,when you are taking something apart,by the time you read it,its too late...(like the first time a friend tried replacing drive axles in his 80's Escort...he followed every step,and he got to the "remove shafts by prying against the case with a pry bar--on the next page where the instructions continued,it says "CAUTION"!!--DO NOT REMOVE BOTH AXLES,DO ONE SIDE AT A TIME"...

That heavy "CLUNK" we heard when the second axle came out,was the sound the differential case made,when it fell to the bottom of the tansaxle case!...:eek: :doah:....he ended up having the car towed to a shop,and buying a used transaxke at a salvage yard,rather than have a tranny shop "fix" his...was cheaper and quicker...

The best service manual you can read is the one you wrote yourself,after making every "mistake" possible after years of tearing apart and reassembling your trucks,and reading others experiences here online!..
 
OEM are best as everyone said. I bought the ones for our GMT400s off Amazon for a better price shipped than evilbay had for just the manuals. Shop around. They are pricey but worth every penny. A membership here is also well worth it.
 


So far I've only used the wiring diagram book when working on my gauges....but-------I also got a wiring diagram and most of the mods and repairs for my K5 from the CK5 family. All you have to do is search, read, ask questions and post pics.

I think posting pics is first.
 
The main downside to the GM manuals is that you have to buy 3 or 4. I have an 88 with a TBI- there is the main service manual, a unit repair manual (for rebuilding A/C compressor, etc, I think the T-case is in there, too), a Fuel Injection supplement because the main one only deals with carbs, and a Wiring Manual. I still don't have the wiring manual, haven't needed it yet. But they're worth the money- I buy a factory manual for any car I own now. I've used chilton's/haynes in the past, and they're garbage.

It annoys me though that GM breaks everything up. It's not like the other three manuals are all that big, it wouldn't make the main manual overly large if they just included everything in it.
 
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