Ok which one is better and more in depth on everything. any preferences.

 

From a Jeeper's standpoint, I would have to say that the Haynes manuals are better. IMHO, they seen to more colsely parallel the Factory Service Manuals. Honestly, both are good for a novice or intermediate wrench-bender. If you have any experience at all, they are just a reference. The Haynes wiring diagrams, again IMHO, seem to be a bit better and more accurate...at least for Jeeps.
Just my $0.02 FWIW.

 

If you want an honest opinion about this, you need to add another block there to include one of the following. "NEITHER" or "GM Service Manual". I have used both haynes and chilton and found them too vague about things and not go into enough detail. Just my thoughts on it.

The Trickster!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

"requires special equipment. have a dealer or specialist repair."



vague...... at the least....

what good is the haynes manual?

 

actually i asked the same question on vancouverfbody.com and people seemed to prefer the haynes over the chiltons. and beyond that the GM shop manual is actually the best. (but its way expensive)

personally i havnt bought any shop manuals. so my vote is for 'none of the above'
-Ive just done my first engine swap and my only reference was this board. Ive had very little prior mechanical experience, and everything went pretty well. (i even changed the clutch disk)

Thirdgen.org is probably a more usefull tool then either the haynes or chiltons manuals.

just my 2 cents....

 

Hell yeah.

 

couldn't have said it any better.......... :werd:

 

I have to agree!

I come here when my Haynes gets vague.....and the fog just GOES AWAY!!!!

As far as a Chiltons....I haven't seen one of those in years.....and when I did, I didn't like the price tag!

 

The Local parts store here only sells Chiltons and they are $19.99
and it is about 50 pages more than the Haynes for 1982-1992 camaro

 

i prefer them in this order
helms
motor
chiltons
haynes

 

i use it as a "padding" for jacking up the oil pan

 

About that order. Real good books if you can find them are Clymer manuals. There real popular with motorcycle owners but the few light truck and domestic car manuals go into details far beyond most others.

 

I agree about the Clymer's manuals. I have one from when I had my 79 T/A, it is a very good manual that covers many things that the others leave out.

 

i never even heard of the Clymer's manuals. do they still print them? u think theres one for an 85 T/A?

 

I looked the Clymers up on the internet last night and the only one they had listed for camaros and firefirds was for the 1st and 2nd gen models from 1967 - 1981. No 3rd gens were listed.

The Trickster!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

I agree that Haynes/Chiltons are nowhere Near as good as the GM Service Manual from http://www.helminc.com . I bought my Helm book a few months after I bought my '86 Firebird, back in 1994.

But I still bought a Haynes, and here's why:

- Torque specs always listed at begining of each chapter
- Lays out procedures for major stuff, like dropping gas tank, removing rear axle, rebuilding brake calipers

I also recommend the Haynes because it's a good Beginner's manual. It gives a section on tools, a section on tuneups (oil changes), and even gives the photo-by-photo (not drawings) procedure of changing the front & rear brakes.

But if you want to diagnose a Service Engine Soon light, rebuild your motor, figure out where your MAF relay is, adjust your Throttle Position Sensor, rebuild your alternator, etc- then you should NEVER pick up a Haynes/Chiltons, that's info that you'll find in the GM Service Manual.

So they all have their good points... but you should never do ANY problem diagnosis with a Haynes or Chiltons. Your best bet? Buy all three... and use them in different scenarios. Most of the time I grab the Haynes just for the easy-to-find torque specs!