Mad_IROC-Z

This is both a product and vendor review

One of the most inportant part ot tool you should have is a good shop manual. Many of us know that the best would be a factory service manual from Helminc.com. I purchased a manual from them for another car when it was new. The cost was not bad then. Now you can get reprints from them but the cost is outragious and their shipping is no better.
Chilton's, which used to be very good, have become Chilton and are nothing more than a haynes on the inside. Open to the first couple pages and you will even see they are printed by haynes. Their wire diagrams are nothing!

I stumbled across this site,
http://www.lloydsautolit.com/
Lloyd's also sells reprints of the factory service manuals by Helm along with owners manuals and a few other items that may be of interest.

I purchased a shop manual for my 89 from Lloyd's. Standard shipping through the USPS (media mail) is free.
What I got was a manual printed on good quality paper and maybe about 2 1/2 reems of it. The heavier papaer made it a lot bigger than the Helm. Its bound tightly and looks like it can be easily take apart if wanted to be placed in a binder (or two or three). Not many, but a small amount of the pages are printed off center so some parts of word may be missing. Nothing really bad though.
ooks like this
The manual was $86ish shipped out the door. You can also buy the manuals on CD. I think the were around $35. Not bad because you can print the pages you need when you need. (so you don't get your computer greasy)

I also just ordered a reprint of the owners manual. $24.20 shipped. Helm sells reprints and the total cost shipped would have been over $50 last I looked.

red rock

iTrader: (2)

Very good information. If more people had repair manuals, there would probably be less redundant questions being asked. And then there also would be more accurate answers to questions asked.

Mad_IROC-Z

I noticed there have been a number of cooling fan threads going on at the verys same time right now. lol
And even if you still have to ask, having people respond here and a manual to look in at the same time helps out that much more.

And if anyone thinks it, I am in no way part of Lloyd's or gaining anything from this. I was just so happy with the find I thought I would share.

Tobias05

I purchased the GM licensed shop manual on cd off ebay. very handy. makes the chilton and haynes variety look like nursey coloring books.

avilla20

when i was in school i bought a chilton manual, and always felt incomplete with little to miss information.im a tech at a ford shop and felt that i had no information on my on cars compared to what ford offers, so i went on ebay and got an original gm manual for my 86 for $32 with shipping,its in good condition with only the cover showing its age.also got one for my 90 camaro for $14 shipped, not as in great condition, with the bind falling apart and pages folded with some grease stains on it.but hey it was used and abused in a shop and both are loaded with information that takes any guessing out of working on or diaging my cars, feels like i was handed the knowledge of the gm gods or something, have no idea whats in a helms manual but to me the factory shop manuals are the way to go and highly recommend!!!!

Mad_IROC-Z

Manuals from Helm are the factory service manuals. If you have ever looked in an owners manual, there will be a page that is an order form that you send to Helm to purchase a factory manual.

Look around Helminc.com

JamesC

iTrader: (5)

A GM shop manual and a Parts & Illustration Cat. are indispensable to our hobby. I've picked up shop manuals at swapmeets for $5.00. Recently I bought two Parts & Illustration Cats for $35. Find'em and buy'em--you won't regret it.

BTW, there are a couple of manuals for sale on site:

https://www.thirdgen.org/forums/misc...ird-gen-stuff/

JamesC

VA1991Z28

iTrader: (1)

I have a Parts & Illustration Catalog for sale here:
https://www.thirdgen.org/forums/misc...n-catalog.html

Thanks,
VA1991Z28

Mad_IROC-Z

I ordered on the 24th and my owners manual arrived today via the free USPS shipping.

Manual does not look bad at all. The binding has a couple wear spots on it but nothing to write home about. Brite white good grade of paper used in both the owners and service manuals (seen behind the owners manual). And it has a normal binding too so it looks like an original manual.

(note: my camera sucks. I just resized the pics but did nothing for the blur..... maybe I am just poor at taking pics!)