I have bought a Chilton manual for most of the older cars I own... I always said this thing is about useless but I keep buying the damn things, Now (with the help of this forum) I have come to the realization that they truley are useless and the "Shop Manual" for your respective year is the only way to go.

I noticed the Altenator belt was looking a little tired so I went to the local O'reillys to purchase a new Belt. By the way is it just me or do they only hire Kids... 17-21 no offense I just noticed that. (probably some kind of deep seeded jealousy on my part) anyway, I didn't check the size of the belt, I thought of this as a small task and didn't think it would be difficult to get a altenator belt for a 79 L48 w/ AC.

I take the belt home and wait till the weekend to put it on... After realizing I got to remove the power steering belt to take of the old altenator belt I pull out the Chilton's and try to find the diagram of the power steering pump and look over there "removal procedure". So any way it is at this point that I realize that the diagram os about useless... 2 bolts have to be loosened in order to slide the PSP back in order to remove the belt. The diagram shows one bolt at bottom and one at the top... top one easy enough... botttom one is actually a small bolt threaded into the pump bracket and on the rear of the pump there is a threaded stud with a nut on it... to the untrained eye (that would be me) this looks like a 6 inch bolt that runs all the way through with a nut on the backside. On the contrary... In actuallity it is impossiblre to run a bolt through the resevoir... once I finally realized this, no problem. Thanks Chilton's! (NOT)

Okay I the try to install the before mentioned alt belt... too small... honest mistake, unfortunate but not the end of the world. I go back and take the original belt this time. Kid at the counter gives me the right belt this time or does he? Still to small, not by much but still too small... I go back I say what I have here is a 55 1/8 in. belt, old ,worn , and probably stretched out pretty good... Give me a 54 5/8 in. belt please... all he has is a 54 1/8 belt. I say what the hell I can probably make this work. It's a **** hair too small, and the valve cover isn't helping matters at all.

I learned long ago if it soesn't fit ... IT DOESN'T FIT!! trying to make things fit usually ends up in something gettting broken or somebody getting hurt. Both cost money and I like my money so I will take the belt back and spend my money elsewhere.

Sorry about the rant, but for the love of God and all that is Holy! I just wanted to change the Altenator belt, a tak I've done numerous times through the years with little or no trouble.

I'll try again tommorrow, this time with a cold one by my side.

 

Go ahead and put on 54 1/8 belt on you Know you want to Sorry! Chilton manuals are some what vague at times and wrong at times I agree

 

The manual I buy with each used car I purchase is Haynes. They even show photos of the greasy parts as they would appear on your ride.

 

Go to www.helminc.com They reproduce the OEM service manuals for your spacific year model complete with all wiring and vacume diagrams, assembly breakdowns and tech info. They arn't cheap but no other manual compares.

 

Your right they aren't cheap but I am sure in the long run I'll appreciate it. Hmmnnn, Fathers day is coming up!!!

I went to Auto Zone and got a belt that fits. 54 1/2 (Goodyear Gatorback) made in Mexico Got everthing tightened up... How long of a "break in" period for the new belt before I need to check tension? No mention of this in the Chiltons.

In my experience the Haynes is basically the same thing as a Chiltons.

Beautiful day here 75 deg. Fire it up and drive it like you stole it!!!

 

that and their wiring diagrams are a pretty easy to read!

 

I learned a long time ago that chilton's is a poor svc manual. The chapters are repetitive are repetitive are repetitive and have not changed much in 25 years. Haynes is only minimally better. The best source for information is this forum IMO.

 

and also use it with the Corvette Assembly Manual