The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area General Truck Talk shop manuals

At present, do any of our old truck parts suppliers make paper shop manuals that aren't a photocopy of a copy of a copy...to infinity? Won't mention the name of the place I just received a 1954 shop manual from. It's horrible. Pics below compared to the reprint of the '52 manual I bought back in the 1980's. You can even read ruler to 32nds of an inch in the '52 manual...and that's from a cellphone pic.

Are owners manuals pretty much the same story?

Faxon makes excellent licensed reprints for just about every make and model of car. I highlighted licensed because they are not ripoff photocopies but are of original quality.

They're usually available from Rock Auto, among others. Dave Graham and Detroit Iron

https://www.rockauto.com/en/catalog/chevrolet,1954,truck,3.8l+235cid+l6,1326473,literature,repair+manual,10335

https://www.faxonautoliterature.com/

Please tell us where you got the one you're talking about and show some pics. I'll gladly name a company that makes crap products. As long as its true you don't have anything to worry about.

I've sent them a tactful email with pics and will give them a chance to respond before naming them publicly. Overall, I like their stuff and have always been pleased. Thanks for the Faxon tip.

Faxon even sells original manuals in various conditions as well as Master Parts Catalogs.

I purchased a 1966 Mustang shop manual from Rock Auto. It was a Detroit Iron brand and was clean and crisp.

Turns out Faxon's only $3 more (net) for a reprint of the 54 shop manual.

Couple more pics to go with those above. If you can't see them Otto you might wanna check your settings or something.

Ya, those are horrible!

Does crappy one have a publisher on the back or anything?

Faxon reprints I have purchased over the years include 1956 Cadillac owner's manual, dealer options manual, 1956 Ford F100 owners manual, 1964 Galaxie 500 shop manual.

They all look as good as various original manuals I own.

The Detroit Iron one is really good, too.

Detroit Iron Factory Shop Manuals are licensed reprints and are second to none. While some companies utilize very thin paper (newspaper quality), the Detroit Iron licensed Shop Manual reprints are printed on 50 pound or 60 pound paper and are scanned from original shop manuals using the latest scanning technology, which results in very high quality image reproductions. You want to be sure that the shop manual you depend on in your garage will not tear when you turn the page. With a Detroit Iron Shop Manual reprint, you will get the highest quality manual on the market!

Nothing printed on the back. Just the typical "reprinted with permission..." stuff at bottom of section index. Good looking glossy cover though.

Yes, the cover and index look really good.

With today's modern laser scanners, there's no excuse for a nearly black photo reproduction. It looks like a Xerox version.

Skooter I like to read and compare and use the old shop manuels,they all tell you some different way to do all service work,then you develope your own way or learn from your pals. My best teacher would rod his 51 (car) till he heard trouble...immediatly shut it off get someone to pull him home onto a clean place in the yard. Then spend all week fixing babbitt rods,he'd say " chevrolet pull 'er home let 'er set" I reaaly learned from him !! Great driveline teacher he really knew how to patch em up !!

I bought a shop manual on DVD that's pretty good.

The problem with DVD is that you can't flip through it from section to section conveniently while you're working on the car.

The man speaks much truth.

I have a DVD for my daily driver truck, but find myself printing out sections for particular jobs.

Can access the database of automotive manuals (Chilton I believe) through my local library's website. It's great for more modern vehicles. Unfortunately nothing for the AD years.

I've got an Ipad and read many books on it, but for books with pictures and diagrams, nothing beats a bound printed version IMO. Never needs charging, never times out to save battery, you can drop a transmission on it and not break it. You can leave a service manual and an Ipad in the passenger seat of your car, and if a thief breaks in guess which one gets stolen.

BTW, got an immediate reply to my email to the supplier about the manual saying they'd forward it to their parts department to see what they can do. Oh well, guess I'd be happy with a refund or credit but would also like to see them change whatever process that caused them to ship a lousy reprint in the first place.

Did you include pictures of the manual with your email to them?

Yep.

That's good. They can't argue with the side by side photos of your original manual and the one they sent you.

I bet the printer didn't even look at them when they came off the press. They pop out of the presses and get bound. Everything looks fine.

Probably had the contrast set wrong on their scanner

Ok, it's all resolved. Vendor is Classic Parts. They're giving me a refund, plus letting me keep the manual. Return cost really isn't worthwhile on a $19.95 item. They've been good to deal with and prompt responses to emails. I'm happy and will continue buying parts from them (although will be using Faxon for any manuals from now on).
Just wanted to let everyone know how it turned out. No indication they're changing the printer or supplier, or anything along those lines. They made it right, so I can't complain.

That's good.

I hope they get to the bottom of the printing problem. I'm sure you aren't the only one who had this problem.

I just ordered a CD loaded with Shop manual, Manual addendum, Parts catalog and some other OE literature from Jackson Automotive. It states it is Detroit Iron and has all the information about the truck including wiring diagrams.
Hopefully you guys have had good luck with the Detroit Iron stuff. I need to do some base electrical work in order to see if she will fire up, not much in the engine compartment right now as far as power harness.
Just wanted to share as well as it seems like a decent value at 37.95 with free shipping.

I know most like to have the actual manual next to them while working on the truck, but I chose the digital version because I can have my laptop/Ipad next to me as well as print out any pages needed. It also gives me the ability to ALWAYS have a fresh page, if one gets all greased up, print another!

https://www.jacksonautomotiveproduc...-cd?_pos=18&_sid=ccb5e1495&_ss=r

I have a Detroit Iron hard copy for a '66 Mustang. It's as good as an original manual with good quality paper and printing.

Rovertech Have several original manuels,ones I bought new,junkers that came to me. My favorite is a "59 Chilton,no front cover ,is a "greaser"but mostly all there. It explained in detail how to change 235 main bearings being careful to mark the timing gears while the shaft is lowered. The shaft wont just fall down,you have to pry it down,but you can lose your place. they all are different on insructions,read em all,then develope your own procedure. My teachers all done stuff different ways,so did I !! My truck is running good today,no expensive noises 40$ mains in there,over the counter rod bearings in there.

You can try a Canadian version of the manual I don’t think they are reproduced ,I have the gmc manual as the US gmc is different with the motors and the Canadian version has the 235 .The gmc would be the same as the Chev.

Beware of ordering reprints from anywhere, including Faxon. The '54 truck shop manual reprint from them looked the same poor quality as the one from Classic Parts. Returned/refunded no problem, so that's good. Went ahead and ordered an "original" not reprint, due to arrive next week. Cost twice as much though.

For anyone with a decent printer getting the manual on CD is starting to look like a great option.

That sucks. I've always had good quality stuff from Faxon.

I don’t think the Canadian versions are reprinted here is one for 30 Canadian Origional.

The Faxon person I spoke with on the phone said the reprints are outsourced. So my guess is, a few if not all suppliers are using the same bad quality source. At least for that particular manual.

Must be. You'd think they'd be getting enough complaints about it to redo it.

That's a great price for original, assuming "fair" condition doesn't mean terrible.

Skooter Found my 1951 Motors manuel that reaches back to 1935,it tells you in detail how to do a lot of general service and the brand sections tell specifics on like bearing changes and all that. Was given to me by my neighbor (an old chevy mechanic) with the iron hand. 3/3/23

How's this for an old shop manual? My sister just found this and gave it to me.

That's cool. I have an Audel Guide from 1966 that my mom got at a book fair for $1.00. It's exactly the right era for nearly all the vehicles I own. I use it all the time.

I should look for one like yours since the 1939 Packard shop manual is next to useless. It's written in a way that presumes anyone using it is a heavy line mechanic who already knows how to do everything.