The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area General Truck Talk Chilton book

I'm looking for some information on who has an original Chiltons repair book, that covers the 1950 3100 chevy pickup trucks.
I see some on ebay and other sites but not sure if they are what I'm needing. Can anyone chime in with pictures of the cover and the glossary pages .
Thank you

Is there a specific reason you want a Chilton manual?

If not, you can pick up a Chevrolet factory service manual on ebay for $20.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/256164392138

Chilton repair manuals, in my experience, covers everything except what I need. I don't understand why anyone would ever purchase another one after they experience the lack of thoroughness of information in the first one which they bought.
There is a reason why Factory Service Manuals are as thick as a New York City phone book.
Chilton manuals are synonymous with The Readers Digest versions of manuscripts.

I agree with Carl.
Aftermarket repair manuals (Chilton and Haynes) are next to worthless and a waste of money. That Chevy shop manual that Ottto posted the link for is an original, but reprints are readily available on Amazon, along with the Factory Assembly Manual. A guy restoring an AD truck should have a copy of each. Amazon link

Spot on!

Don't forget their are also factory unit repair manuals for many transmission, etc.

Otto and fellow bolters,
Already have the manual that Otto sent link for, just looking for other info, to make comparisons and possible different images.
Sorry if I struck a nerve.

What!?? Why NOT have one. ??? I remember my older brother having a Chiltons. It was a manly, greasy mess. He read it more than his school books. He ended up working his way up in "engines" when in the Air Force. He was a good gearhead.

Cheapskate, I say get one (and get it greasy). Even if it's just for casual reading (not greasy then) ... go for it. I read a lot of different stuff when I'm doing research. A little nugget here, little nugget there. All knowledge, in my book.

I just looked online for a Chiltons manual for a 47-53 truck manual. All I could find was manuals for cars in that range. They do have manuals for newer trucks.
The manuals for the 49-53 cars are reprints of The Chevrolet Factory Repair manual. So if they do have a Chilton manual for our trucks, they would likely be reprints of what most of us already have and they cost more money to download (they don't seem to offer printed versions) than what we pay for a printed Factory manual.

Cheapskate1229, If you are really serious about finding manuals other than the original/reproduction GM publications, there are a few still out there like this one if you search enough. If you check out the linked book, there is a picture of the "Condensed List" of vehicle info packed into that book. The vast majority being car info with a smattering of truck and even tractor info.

FWIW, When I first started working on cars and trucks in my teens, Chilton's books were the cheap and easy to find "go to" for repair reference material. You could even find them at the public library. I still have several from back in those days, although I haven't used them in decades because as others have said, they are very limited on the details and information as they tried to cram so much into each book.

I too am a firm believer in getting GM original or reproduction Shop/Operators Manuals, Factory Assembly Manual and I would also suggest you consider getting at least 1 Master Parts Catalog that covers your truck. Many times the exploded diagrams that can be found in a Master Parts book can provide more details and understanding of how parts and assemblies go together and have helped me identify stuff that was missing or incorrect for my truck.

On that note, there are lots of resources on line where you can get "free" access to these very same publications. Keith Hardy's "OLD ONLINE CHEVY MANUALS" web page is just one example. It has links to tons of reference material to help you work on your truck. You just need to take to the time to click through the various offerings and look for the details you need. If all else fails, keep asking questions in the forums as its more likely than not that someone has dealt with whatever you may need help with!

How about the old blue Motor Manual? I still use mine.

....but I do agree that sometimes it's good to have more than one resource.

The Green Motor's Manual covers trucks, I have a few, so I'm covered from 1946 thru 1978. I don't think I've ever seen a Chilton Book for the older trucks. The Flat Rate Manuals don't go into much detail on repairing things, it's mainly for telling you how long the job should take.

Mike B

Don't forget "Fix Your Chevrolet". I have a couple of them along with a Motor's Manual.

John

Do you all have these books? John's got a book review (that link) for Tom Brownell's "How to Restore Your Chevrolet Pickup."

This one is not exactly a repair manual, but more technical and detailed than an owner's manual. It's for cars, but most of the things discussed are the same for trucks. If you search on bookfinder.com, there are several copies for under $20. There's a 1952 version and a 1958 version.
Manual For Chevrolet Owners by C.E. Packer