service manuals
Thread Starter
4th Gear
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 4
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service manuals
1978 Factory Issued Repair Manual for Chevy Corvette, Chevy Malibu, Chevy Nova, Chevy Camaro, and Chevy Monte Carlo
how good are these manuals? Are easy to follow and understand or just confusing?
how good are these manuals? Are easy to follow and understand or just confusing?
Race Director
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 12,657
Likes: 3,117
From: Shamong, NJ
In some years the Factory Shop Manuals are model specific, which does help in using them. Unfortunately, the 78 Manual covers the full range of 1978 Chevrolet models, making it more difficult to use, than the ones for years when it is a Corvette only book.
Ideally, the best set up is to have both the Factory Shop Manual and the Assembly Manual, for your year Corvette. That way, you have the written technical info you need in the Shop Manual, and the excellent illustrations of the Assembly Manual to see how the part go together!
The Factory Shop Manuals are far more useful than the generic manuals (such as the Chiltons, etc.) out there.
Last edited by gbvette62; Jul 28, 2011 at 08:36 PM.
Team Owner
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 37,637
Likes: 3,116
From: Crossville TN
The Chevrolet Chassis Service Manual is a must have book for the DIY C3 owner. It has details that no other manual will have. If you compare the quality and contect of the Haynes manual vs. the Chevy Service Manual, it would be like comparing a bi-plane to the space shuttle.
The other 'indispensible' manual is the AIM (Assembly Instruction Manual) which is what the Corvette factory used for assembly reference materials.
There are other good reference manuals, but you must have these two, as a minumum.
The other 'indispensible' manual is the AIM (Assembly Instruction Manual) which is what the Corvette factory used for assembly reference materials.
There are other good reference manuals, but you must have these two, as a minumum.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 5,236
Likes: 898
From: Myrtle Beach SC
A great reference for the electrical is the 1978 Corvette Electrical Troubleshooting Manual that is 11x14 and features a Pace Car on the front cover. The schematics are structured by system such as HORN CIRCUIT and includes a chart that lists component location (component and its location) along with the schematic that illustrates its location. There is also a CIRCUIT OPERATION description that describes how a particular works.
Someone on the forum here has scanned it and you can download most of the circuits but the book is nice to have on the bench when troubleshooting. I see these on ebay often and priced anywhere from $25 up to $100.00.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 3,223
Likes: 666
From: Northeast
"Chevrolet also often calls things by names that are different than those used by most people".
In this particular 78 service manual they have an entire chapter on the
"propeller shaft",
Maybe I'm too young. 
It's the one I use and I also go to the top of this forum and use the "search this forum" and look up a problem I'm dealing with. The subject has probably been discussed. This way you might get your help immeditately, rather than posting and wait for a response.
In this particular 78 service manual they have an entire chapter on the
"propeller shaft",
Maybe I'm too young. It's the one I use and I also go to the top of this forum and use the "search this forum" and look up a problem I'm dealing with. The subject has probably been discussed. This way you might get your help immeditately, rather than posting and wait for a response.
Pro
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 533
Likes: 18
From: Boca Raton Florida
I have the printed Assembly manual, factory Service Manual and Overhaul Manual for my '72 and they are definitely must-haves. My Service and Overhaul manuals are falling apart from use and I'm going to put them in binders like the AIM very soon.
Does anyone use the CD version of these manuals? I've seen them offered but very little information about them is provided. If they are converted to PDF format, they would be searchable and I'd be interested in buying them. If the CD version is just a collection of image files, not so much.
Does anyone use the CD version of these manuals? I've seen them offered but very little information about them is provided. If they are converted to PDF format, they would be searchable and I'd be interested in buying them. If the CD version is just a collection of image files, not so much.
