Just curious. I guess it's off-topic so if anyone wants to lock it, I won't feel isulted.

 

just recently got it. Havent used it but for one or two things. If I would have gotten it sooner, it would already be falling part.

 

I only have the haynes. It sucks.

 

I just own basic Hanyes manuals for all my car- just need to reference torque specs now and then.

 

I have the ol haynes... but I have access to the official shop manuals should I need them. The bonus of having a father as a professional mechanic :P

 

just a haynes manual, i know how to do almost everything, the haynes manual is mostly for torque specs or wiring help.

 

I bought the CHILTON's 2 years ago, but, today I can read the complete scanned Chilton's manual in www.autozone, Repair Info section (the same pictures, diagrams, etc., all is a big copy).

Denis V.

 

yeah..I've got a Chiltons. It just happens to be in 2 parts now. It also conveniently leaves out *minor things* i.e. how to put intake manifold gaskets on, I almost crapped myself when I saw the pushrods in the way and the gasket said DO NOT CUT.

 

The reason Tom is asking is because he needs to buy a new one off of someone. He lost his under his bed.

 

Man, I have a helms, a haynes, and two different chiltons!

 

I have a car manual and a manual car!

 

By manual car, do you mean Flintstone powered, or does it run on its own?

 

The helms manual is great for DIY use but nothing beats mitchel on demand software. Makes the other manuals ALL look like toilet paper.
I use haynes for tq specs just like Lee7.

 

I have a GM manual for an '86 Cav, that is pretty close to my '87 Sunbird, or at least close enough in what I need.

I also have Haynes manuals for many other vehicles, some I have duplicates of, I have about 12 or 13 Haynes manuals. LOL

 

For my Firebird I have the factory owners manual (eaby for $20 w/shipping) & the factory shop Helms manual ($40 swap meet) and the mentioned 1985 Mitchell ($5 swap meet) Electric book, too.

I have Helms shop manuals, 1967 Fisher Body shop books, Corvette P & A (parts & accessories counter book) for all my 5 rides.
Even Honda shop manuals & parts books for my old 1972-75 Honda motorcycles.

IF ya ever in question about a mission on your car?
Go to the local dealer & ask them to print out the exploded parts diagram of the area you are working on.
BIG HELP, like XRay vison!
Buy the parts guy a soda in return!

 

You can also access a lot of those exploded diagrams at gmpartsdirect.com.

 

I have the haynes, for torque specs and other specs ie. fluid capacities, etc.

 

The main point of this message was to try to get people to buy the real GM service manual... if it cost $300 (it's much less!!), I'd still be telling everyone to get one.

 

Why would we do that when we can just ask resident genius TomP, I'm sure you can explain it better than any book can
Thanks for all the help by the way...I can now spin them through a good part of first gear from a stop even with the subs and sub box back there.

 

I have had 4 camaros, 2 85s, and 86 (current) and an 87. The 85 only came with a huge shop manual with a blue cover, but the cover is ripped off, so i dont know what it is, but it seems like GM.

 

I wont even bother voting because I have both.......... Haynes manaul sucks unless you have no clue on what you are doing!

 

i have a mint condition manual from hayes, STILL IN THE PLASTIC WRAP
never have needed it to work on the car

 

I have the Chiltons along with the original GM shop manuals that are the size of phone books in a large city

 

SO WILD I WAS BORN AT PLAINFIELD HOSPITAL!

 

No kidding? was it called Muhlenberg back then?

 

I Don't recall, it was a busy day for me!
It's on a piece of paper I keep hidden (birth certificate)
Lived in Westfield for a bit, too.

 

I have the GM service manual not from that place. Also have the older Haynes manula & Haynes for 93-97 F-bodies

 

Agreed. Haynes is a Beginner's manual.

You want to do troubleshooting, buy the GM manual.

Haynes is also good for:
1. quick torque specs at beginning of each chapter
2. most diagrams are exact same as gm (ex: caliper rebuild)
3. some procedures are laid out easier (ex: dropping gas tank)

And as for the exploded diagrams at gmpartsdirect, they won't tell you how to diagnose a computer error code.

Frankly I don't understand why we all don't have the http://www.helminc.com book yet. Then again, I guess if someone's not serious about their car, they won't buy one...

 

Well Haynes isn't useless, although you'll get a hell of a lot more out of the GM service manual than you will the Haynes. Thanks to disagreeing diagrams in the service manual, I put my rear brakes together wrong. I had to look at the pictures in the Haynes manual to figure it out. There are some little things like that that are useful in the Haynes.

 

i have access to online versions of different manuals though work ( i'm a sears shop tech) it works out really good for me cause it's free and i can print out anything i want

 

give me enough time, and the motovation, I could do the whole book. Garunteed 100% accurate fro 1985 Firebirds only

thinks" how many pages are we limited too on cardomain?