Assembly manual Seriously?
Thread Starter
Advanced
Joined: Jul 2013
Posts: 86
Likes: 0
From: Yukon OK
Assembly manual Seriously?
Ordered an assembly manual from paragon sales. Is this seriously what you guys use to disassemble/assemble your vettes with? The illustrations suck as far as copy quality goes and they didn't format the copies correctly so you have to continually to turn the binder 180 degrees to read it!
Maybe it's just the rum / coke that I had before opening the package but I'm not impressed at this point.
Maybe it's just the rum / coke that I had before opening the package but I'm not impressed at this point.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 5,948
Likes: 72
From: Oxford MA-----You just lost the game!!!!
The Assembly Instruction Manual is not a document that was ever intended to be used by people like us. It was intended to be used by the workers on the assembly line, as a reference material ti ensure a certain level of uniformity while building the cars on the assembly line. New guys, replacements for people on vacation or called in sick, or whatever, could reference the AIM if they were unsure about anything while working the assembly line. As far as quality, what you have there is probably a copy of a copy of a copy of a copy of a mimeograph of a raggedy old copy of the AIM. Yeah, it's tough to use, but it contains info that you just plain can't get anywhere else. We are very lucky to have the AIM, as flawed as it is for the way we use it.
Scott
Scott
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 31,274
Likes: 4,366
From: Westminster Maryland
Hi a,
Remember this manual is 40+- years old and it was drawn by hand which was the only technology available then.
The copies we have now are copies of copies of copies; so the readability on some pages is poor, BUT, it's all we have.
If it's too much trouble to turn the page 90 degrees then I guess you'll learn to get along without it.
It has proved absolutely invaluable to thousands of people that have taken one of these cars apart and successfully gotten it back together.
I still use it almost everyday to help me answer people's questions.
If you don't want to take it seriously you really don't have to.
Good Luck!
Regards,
Alan
Remember this manual is 40+- years old and it was drawn by hand which was the only technology available then.
The copies we have now are copies of copies of copies; so the readability on some pages is poor, BUT, it's all we have.
If it's too much trouble to turn the page 90 degrees then I guess you'll learn to get along without it.
It has proved absolutely invaluable to thousands of people that have taken one of these cars apart and successfully gotten it back together.
I still use it almost everyday to help me answer people's questions.
If you don't want to take it seriously you really don't have to.
Good Luck!
Regards,
Alan
Last edited by Alan 71; Aug 9, 2013 at 07:13 AM.
Drifting
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 1,839
Likes: 45
From: nassau co. new york
i never bought the aim and really found i did not need it.99% of my questions were answered on this forum through past posts.i am not an engine guy so i did come for help a few times and was never disappointed.
Instructor
Joined: May 2012
Posts: 119
Likes: 2
From: Kennebunk, ME
Documentation
I have both an AIM and an original Shop Manual that I bought of E-Bay. The Shop manual helps fill in some of the gaps and has some great pictures. I also supplement with threads from the forum on specific areas where the poster has provided pictures and documents. Wilcox also has a section of their webpage that has papers on specific items and areas too. The AIM is just one tool use.
Racer
Joined: May 2012
Posts: 259
Likes: 11
From: Kennesaw GA
Three book other than the AIM I have found to be most helpful are the Chassis Service Manual, Chassis Overhaul Manual and the Chassis and Body Parts Catalog with illustrations. They all seem to work together with the AIM.
Don
Don
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
Top 10 Most Expensive Corvettes Ever Sold on Bring A Trailer
Brett Foote
10 Things Every Corvette Owner Needs (2026 Edition)
Michael S. Palmer
8 Most "Only Corvette Owners Understand" Quirks and Problems
Pouria Savadkouei
10 Reasons the C6 Z06 is Still A Performance Benchmark After 20 Years
Joe Kucinski
How Much Horsepower Every Corvette Engine "LOST" in 1972
Joe Kucinski
Top 10 DOs and DON'Ts for Protecting Your Convertible Top!
Michael S. Palmer
Top 10 Most Explosive Corvettes Ever Made: Power-to-Weight Ratio Ranked!
Joe Kucinski
150 hp to 1,250 hp: Every Corvette Generation Compared by the Specs That Matter
Joe Kucinski
8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time
Verdad Gallardo
Team Owner
Joined: Jun 2000
Posts: 38,923
Likes: 1,482
From: Southbound
Cruise-In II Veteran
...you have to continually to turn the binder 180 degrees to read it!...
What model year AIM did you purchase? If it's one I need to round out my AIM collection, and if you take PayPal, I'll buy yours. I need 1970, 1973, and 1977.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 2,091
Likes: 40
the format is strange , but it was not intended or designed for end user uses.
you probably need to invest in a factory shop manual , if you plan to,do precise extensive work.
AIM is helpful and I ve. relied on them for years .
not sure it would all go,in a normal binder. if it was not printed on both sides.
I use to mark and high light certain pages , even pull them out and put them in a order that is logical to my thinking.
you probably need to invest in a factory shop manual , if you plan to,do precise extensive work.
AIM is helpful and I ve. relied on them for years .
not sure it would all go,in a normal binder. if it was not printed on both sides.
I use to mark and high light certain pages , even pull them out and put them in a order that is logical to my thinking.
Team Owner
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 37,637
Likes: 3,118
From: Crossville TN
The "presentation" of the AIM is NOT why we buy/use/like/need the manual. The "content" is indispensible and unavailable by any other means.
Yes, folks can 'bum' off others who have an AIM to get the info they want. But wouldn't it be better to just buy one?
Once you get familiar with the AIM's format, and you begin to understand what it is and how to make use of it, there is no substitute for its value to the DIY owner. But, you do have to LEARN how to use it.
Yes, folks can 'bum' off others who have an AIM to get the info they want. But wouldn't it be better to just buy one?
Once you get familiar with the AIM's format, and you begin to understand what it is and how to make use of it, there is no substitute for its value to the DIY owner. But, you do have to LEARN how to use it.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 945
Likes: 10
From: Winston Salem NC
I agree but it is a tremendous help with figuring out what went where. I recommend a pdf version. It is searchable for terms like shifter, window etc.
Trust me, the Vette guys have it easy. No such document exists in the Mopar world. Same for the Ford guys.
Trust me, the Vette guys have it easy. No such document exists in the Mopar world. Same for the Ford guys.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 2,520
Likes: 11
From: Hinckley OH
Whether the AIM is useful depends on your level of experience, your desire for originality, your attention to how it was before you took it apart and how organized your storage of parts, bolts and fasteners was.
I did a body off refresh on my '74 without one and pretty much only referred to a shop manual for torque specs during reassembly. I did use the assembly instructions for the Rack Attack that I installed.
I did a body off refresh on my '74 without one and pretty much only referred to a shop manual for torque specs during reassembly. I did use the assembly instructions for the Rack Attack that I installed.
Melting Slicks
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 2,590
Likes: 403
From: Nashville TN
St. Jude Donor '09
You'll appreciate more as you use it and start tearing into your car. It's crude, but effective. We can help you fill in the blanks, but a picture is worth . . . . I use mine all the time for a reference and it helps me figure out what Bubba did wrong.