Is a service manual that helpful?

[vethead]

I have an assembly manula, and it sure looks like it covers absolutely everything. I have a buddy who purchased a GM service manual for his 57 Chevy, and he says it is so much better than the AIM he has. In my situation, I was wondering just how helpful, or unnecessary a GM service manual would be for me. I have a 78 Vette, but I will be using a late model engine, a Richmond 6 speed, an entirely new suspension like one from Vette Brakes, and other little changes here and there. So, would the service manual be of much help to me, since so much will not be stock, or is it still a valuable resource. If I could just see what is in one, I could answer my own question, but the only way for me to read one is to buy one. Please help.

 

[Lee74C3]

Hard question to answer given the extensive changes to your car.

The AIM and Shop Manual are quite different. Function of the AIM is to depict parts for vehicle assembly. Shop manual... well I think you can figure this out yourself.

Where the shop manual is valuable is in assistance to diagnose vehicle systems, assembly/disaasembly, wiring diagrams, etc.

T don't know about the 1978 manual but, in 1974 there is an entire section devoted to the Corvette body. In my opinion, this section alone offsets the cost of the manual and is still completely applicable to your car even after all of the changes.

 

[JohnZ]

Get the factory Shop Manual - like Lee says, your car is full of systems that are neither explained or diagnosed in the Assembly Manual. Nobody who works on their own car should be without one.

 

[Montana]

Never Enough

Good advice, there are so many systems in your ride and it seems there is never enough info.. (Or maybe that's just me being soooo anal) You might want to consider that your not talking about a capital investment, you're just buying a book. My favorite book to read every night before I nod off is any book on Corvettes. I love manuals, catalogs, history and my personal favorite "How somebody did something I'm about to do". All of the manuals give us a better insight into the beasts parked in our garages. Sooner or later, whatever the manual covers is something your car will need because everything wears out and/or someday you might want to restore it closer to original condition. Just my thoughts.... Good luck

Montana 65' Roadster

 

[crause]

I bought the assembly manuel (it has not come in yet) and picked up a copy of Chilton's for Corvettes at my local auto parts store. The first time I needed it (fuse problem) it was useless. It didn't show my fuse panel and didn't give me the exact info I needed. Is the factory shop manuel better than Chilton and where do you get one if it is?

Andy

 

[Lee74C3]

NCRS (www.ncrs.org) is one place... you don't have to be a member. In the Portal section here at CAC are other resources for books and manuals. You can also find it on E-Bay.

I have the Haynes Manual and the official shop manual... Chevrolet Chassis Service Manual. Haynes is very high level with broad/general solutions across multiple model years. It can be pretty vague in some areas. Overall, it is worth the costs to buy one.

On the other hand, The Chevrolet Shop Manual is very in-depth in specialized areas. However, sometimes, it is pretty vague in areas that DIY's or enthusiasts need most. You have to keep in mind that this manual was provided by the factory for professional dealership technicians who had a broad knowledge of basic systems. It is also supported by other manuals, in-dealership training, GM Training Center Training, etc.

I have not found any single manual fits all of my needs, all of the time. Frequently, forums here at CAC and other sites are the most valuable in filling in the blanks.

 

[BeaterShark]

Compared to the new car's Helms service manuals, my '69 service manual is not good for diagnostics at all. It does do a fairly good job of disassembly/assembly once you learn how to weed through all of the other GM cars it covers. I bet in '78 there was a Corvette only service manual, so you would probably not feel some of my pain.

With that said, I have the '69 service manual, AIM, and Haynes. Each of those were less than $20. I don't believe you can have enough reference books.

 

[vethead]

I appreciate all the replies. I agree you can't have too much reference material, but the 78 Service Manual is not Corvette specific, it covers all the Chevy makes, and I just wonder how much useful info is in there for a guy like me who is changing a vast majority of stock components, who already has the wiring diagram manual for the car, and the vacuum manual. Keep the replies coming though, one of these days I will make a decision.

 

[KenSny]

Agreed that the GM service manual is not for Corvettes only. BUT it does cover Corvette specific items in detail during the description of the item, if necessary. Personally I think that if you are going to be doing any major mechanical work on the car, you should have one as reference.

For the '75 I got the '74 with the '76 updates, and it covers the changes from '74 to '75.

In later years I know HELMS changed the way they do manuals. My '86 Camaro has it's own book, not other models are included in it.

IMHO all the other Haynes (and the like) manuals are only good for outhouse paper!