Which manual would you recommend ?

 

Chilton hands down!...I've been working on cars for over 25 years..

 

I owned both manuals for my third-gen firebird and I felt the Chilton was by far the most accurate and detailed.

 

i own both, i bought the chiltons and got the haynes for free

at first i liked the chiltons over the haynes
but now i'm neutral, i like both equally, they have their ups and downs

i like the chiltons pictures and step by step instructions for everything while the haynes only has it for like drum brakes and stuff

but i like the little troubleshooting section in the haynes

i dont remember which one has better wiring diagrams

i feel that when they cost about 16 bucks each, just get both

 

I have both as well and would recommend either one. To be perfectly honest, it's pretty rare I read it anymore though, most guides on the internet are 10 times better than any guide they have in the book.

 

Chilton's is notorious for inaccurate information. One guy on Thirdgen.org screwed up his new cam, lifters, and starter after following their valve lash adjusting procedure exactly. Turns out they had written to turn the rocker 2 1/2 times instead of 1/2 turn. I have found numerous mistakes in their wiring diagrams as well. To be perfectly honest, I don't care much for it. ITs not very specific or detailed with respect to our cars.

As far as Haynes.... I only use it to put between the jack and the transmission pan when I need to raise it. That way you don't dent the pan.

If you are at all serious about working on your car, you need a GM service manual. Its a huge book, and covers only one model year. They are expensive, but once you try it, everything else will look like garbage.

 

Where can I get one and how expensive is it?

Thanks
Pat

 

www.helminc.com

They have sales every now and then. Once you get a factory service manual, you'll never know how you went so long without one. I have all 3 for my Camaro, a Haynes, Chiltons, and a service manual, and I use all 3 of them constantly. Most of time the service manual is all I need, though.

 

You can also get a factory service manual on EBAY for pennies on the dollar. Stay the heck away fram Haynes and Chilton's......there crap.

Frat

 

neither, go to ebay and get a helm manual for your year and model. i even bought a helm set for my 86 S-10.

 

I have the Chilton 1982-92 Camaro repair manual right in front of me. It's over 2 1/2" thick. And it says 1 1/2 turns after "0" lash, that's what I've always used and have built some 400hp+ motors, all worked fine..
I've used the wiring diagrams too, , never had a problem...

Haynes does have a decent troubleshooting guide in the front, kinda a quick reference. But the jack use is a good one!!

(btw, I have a factory manual as well, hard to find things in there, but very complete. I use it only for tough problems..

 

I got them both finally and swisscheese is a friend of mine, so we are trying to get a factory manual too.

Thanx for giving advice

 

What preload to use depends on what kind of lifters you're using and what kind of cam you're using. If you're going with a bigger cam than stock, but using stock lifters, I would not go over 1/2-3/4" of a turn from zero lash. [/hijack]

 

If you mean stock roller lifters, I always have went 1 full turn, and never had a problem, but you do have to be careful not to bind a lifter in this situation, not fun to bend a pushrod...

 

As far as where to get a service manual, HelmInc.com carries them. They vary in price depending on the year, some get as high as $135 ( I think the 95 manual is at this price now). I carry them in my store... www.tpiparts.net for $75 each, but I don't have the wide range of years that Helm has.

I am fairly certain that Chilton ended up correcting the mistake on the valve lash. Several people that I have heard from had a manual which called for 2 1/2 turns after 0 lash. Even for a stock cam though, 1 1/2 turns is too much. GM set them to a full turn to keep from needing any adjustments for a long time. Most engine builders use between 1/2 to 3/4 turn. Some racers like to stay under the 1/2 turn, but that requires adjustments more often.