The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area General Truck Talk Was there ever a 1953 shop manual?

I know the 48-51 Chevy truck shop manual has a 1952 supplement but was there ever a shop manual that also covered 53?

No. The 1948-1951 manual is all there is. They usually have a 1952 supplement. 1953 was the same as 1952 so GM just used the 48-52 manual.

As far as I can tell, Otto seems to be correct. Faxon Auto Literature offers a GM authorized reprint of what's listed as a 1948-53 Chevrolet Truck Shop Manual.

From their sales description:

"This is a reprint of the manual that a Chevrolet dealer mechanic would use to work on pickups and larger trucks. It contains complete information on the construction, maintenance, and repair of Chevy trucks. You will find step-by-step instructions for lubrication, body, frame, shock absorbers, front suspension, rear axle, universal joints, rear springs, brakes, hydrovac, engine, fuel system, cooling system, clutch, transmission, fuel & exhaust, steering gear, wheels, tires, chassis sheet metal, and the electrical system. You will also find the 1952 supplement to the 1948-51 manual in the back of the book, and it covers all of the changes made for the 1952 model year. Since the 1953 pickups were almost identical to the 1952s, Chevrolet continued to use this manual for the 1953 models also."

Thanks to all, pretty much what I thought.

an article here on the 'bolt that is all about the manuals for that model style:

Chevy Truck Manuals : 1947-1955 1st Series
The Advance-Design Trucks

Thanks to tclederman for writing it.

-Woog

I don't believe that there were any mechanical changes between 52 and 53. Quite often GM only printed a supplement to the previous shop manual if there were only limited mechanical changes. The only cosmetic changes were that Stainless trim and chrome trim was either hard to get or non existent as far as actual 53 pieces went. I'd think that some forward thinking dealers stocked up on chrome grills, hubcaps and bumpers the day they found out that they were not available from the factory.

I have an original-looking single-volume manual in not very good condition that lists Chevrolet Trucks "1948 to 1951 Models with 1952 Supplement." Its copyright date is 1950 and on that page says reprinted with permission of General Motors. Go figure.

Just as a comparison I have the manuals for 1998 GMT 400 models through 3500 series that comes in four volumes and makes a stack about a foot high.

Then came S.I.
I should have bought stock in printers & paper!

I also have that 48-51 with 52 supplement, was just wondering if I had missed something out there.

A wee bit off topic, but I have a manual for 1948 to 1951 Models. It does not have anything in it about 1952.

There's a 1952 supplement in the last section of the 48-51 manual in later printings and reproduction printings.

It's only about 15 or 20 pages.

Otto - Just a note that not all 1948-51 Shop Manuals contain the 1952 supplement. I have an original (not reprint) 1948-51 Shop Manual, printed in 1951, that does not have the supplement.

This being said, I think we've answered Woodcmiami's question and it's time to move along to another topic or question.