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| | | Forums66 Topics128,075 Posts1,056,279 Members48,441 | | Most Online14,466
Apr 26th, 2026 | | AD Chevy Trucks  Over 6,000 pictures Brad Allen has an awesome collection of Chevrolet factory pictures that he has set up from film strips. Check them out!
Lots of work on Brad's part ... pure enjoyment (and references) for you!
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For helping keep this great
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on the Internet for over 30 years! and not clogged down
with Ads!  Again, thanks!
| | | | Joined: Mar 2008 Posts: 21 Apprentice | | Apprentice Joined: Mar 2008 Posts: 21 | I am fixing to disassemble my truck and begin restoring it. Which one of these books would be more valuable to me?
The Shop Manual or the Factory Assembly Manual.
Instinct says the Assembly Manual but the Shop manual says it includes the construction of my truck. | | | | | Joined: Feb 2008 Posts: 829 Shop Shark | | Shop Shark Joined: Feb 2008 Posts: 829 | The assembly manual will be worth the money. The shop manual can be found on-line for free. | | | | | Joined: Oct 2006 Posts: 9,671 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Oct 2006 Posts: 9,671 | The shop manual initially, but if your looking for the details to an original factory restoration I would get both eventually. The shop manual is going to show you the mechanical side of it and the assembly is going to feature the body and chassis portion. Why don't you fill us in a little more on what your working on? The guys here are really a big help if this is your first time round on a vintage Chevy truck.
Denny Graham
Sandwich, IL
Denny G
Sandwich, IL
| | | | | Joined: May 2006 Posts: 8,351 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: May 2006 Posts: 8,351 | Well, that would depend. Not all shop amnuals are online. The site only goes up to '55 for trucks. I would say you'll want both, especially if the 'puter isn't handy for you to look stuff up. Plus, the shop amnual tells you how to repair things, where the shop only tells how they were supposed to be put together. I do feel that both are really needed if you're tearing one down to bare frome, though.
Bill Burmeister
| | | | | Joined: Mar 2008 Posts: 21 Apprentice | | Apprentice Joined: Mar 2008 Posts: 21 | Its a 52, 3100. Im not a purist but would like to keep things pretty much the way they are. It has a LOT of rust so im going to get that under control first, hence the disassembly. Ive looked on line for a free manual that covers the '52 truck only to find it dies at '51 and starts again around '55. Found the 52 passenger car though  And yeah im going down to frame. So I should buy both? | | | | | Joined: May 2006 Posts: 8,351 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: May 2006 Posts: 8,351 | Would be best to have both.
Bill Burmeister
| | | | | Joined: Mar 2008 Posts: 21 Apprentice | | Apprentice Joined: Mar 2008 Posts: 21 | Thanks for the quick replys guys, im just gonna grab both.
Im that guy who has to have a wrench in one hand and the manual in the other LOL | | | | | Joined: May 2001 Posts: 7,438 Extreme Gabster | | Extreme Gabster Joined: May 2001 Posts: 7,438 | The reprint assembly manual says '47-54 but all the drawings are '54.
My reprint shop manual says '47-51 with '52 supplement.
Anyway, both are handy to have. I also like to check the Motors Truck Manual. It sometimes has tips you won't find in the shop manual. The shop manual was written by tech writers, the Motors manuals are written by working mechanics. | | | | | Joined: May 2006 Posts: 8,351 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: May 2006 Posts: 8,351 | Are those Motors manuals still available? The only old manuals I've ever seen still in print are the Chiltons that cover all brands, and then the truck manual only goes from '61-'71, cars go back to '41-'53, '54-'63, and '64-'71.
Bill Burmeister
| | | | | Joined: Feb 2002 Posts: 12,029 Cruising in the Passing Lane | | Cruising in the Passing Lane Joined: Feb 2002 Posts: 12,029 | the older MoToR manuals are only available used, Amazon, Ebay, swap meets, last reprint editions of the type was about 1980-82, I think, then they seem to have changed their approach - now newer stuff only onlineBill | | | | | Joined: May 2004 Posts: 920 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: May 2004 Posts: 920 | I have used both and am glad to have them. Knowledge is power. | | | | | Joined: Mar 2008 Posts: 21 Apprentice | | Apprentice Joined: Mar 2008 Posts: 21 | The shop manual was written by tech writers, the Motors manuals are written by working mechanics. This made me LOL! I used to work in the construction business and I know how an architects ideas sometimes dont apply in the field.  I ordered both books last night but, Ill check that out Thanks! | | | | | Joined: Oct 2006 Posts: 4,983 Master Gabster | | Master Gabster Joined: Oct 2006 Posts: 4,983 | I use to have to go to the local library to look at the Motors Manual. You couldn't check it out so you would have to make drawings and notes to take home with you. I wonder if local libraries still carry the old ones.
~Jim
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