Factory Service Manual
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Team Owner
Joined: Oct 2004
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From: Bergen County, NJ Democrats, doing for the country what they did for Michigan
Factory Service Manual
You guys find these useful? Should I pick one up before starting any mods?
Are they useful?
Thanks
Are they useful?
Thanks
Team Owner
Joined: Dec 1999
Posts: 34,873
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From: Lacey WA RVN 68-69
NCM Sinkhole Donor
Make sure they have the red covers 
White covers are the preliminary versions.
The FSM's are well worth the money. Good step-by-step info and if you need to do troubleshooting, they are invaluable.
White covers are the preliminary versions.The FSM's are well worth the money. Good step-by-step info and if you need to do troubleshooting, they are invaluable.
Race Director
Joined: Sep 2000
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From: The Top of Utah
Absolutely. It explains how different systems function, besides directions on making a repair. When you run into problems or get trouble codes, the FSM has trouble shooting charts to help lead you to the cause of the code or the problem and help save you from throwing parts at it. I don't know why you specifically as about getting one before doing mods. Remember, too, this is a FACTORY service manual, intended for professional mechanics. It presupposes some prior automotive knowledge and skills. It doesn't include all the A.B.C.s of automotives. It doesn't cover the intake, compression, power, and exhaust strokes. It isn't "Automotives For Dummies", but it is an invaluable aid for those that don't know it all. I have learned a lot from mine.
RACE ON!!!
RACE ON!!!
Last edited by CFI-EFI; Aug 27, 2007 at 08:42 PM.
Thread Starter
Team Owner
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 35,065
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From: Bergen County, NJ Democrats, doing for the country what they did for Michigan
Absolutely. It explains how different systems function, besides directions on making a repair. When you run into problems or get trouble codes, the FSM has trouble shooting charts to help lead you to the cause of the code or the problem and help save you from throwing parts at it. I don't know why you specifically as about getting one before doing mods. Remember, too, this is a FACTORY service manual, intended for professional mechanics. It presupposes some prior automotive knowledge and skills. It doesn't include all the A.B.C.s of automotives. It doesn't cover the intake, compression, power, and exhaust strokes. It isn't "Automotives For Dummies", but it is an invaluable aid for those that don't know it all. I have learned a lot from mine.
RACE ON!!!
RACE ON!!!
Are the ones at Mid America any good? Are they real FSMs? They're $150. Is that right book/price?
Le Mans Master
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 7,839
Likes: 22
From: San Diego, Ca
Some Years, like the '89, have mistakes, which were corrected by Service Bulletins, so you might want those too. I don't think they're available through Helms. You can take a 1 year membership at Alldata - www.alldata.com - and download them. Some of the original manuals also had the schematics in color. If you can find a good used set, that might be a better deal. The last reprint I bought (and it was directly from Helms) wasn't a good copy with some of the schematics not showing the wires. Sure wish they'd put this stuff on CD - but even Toyota is still pumping out big bound manuals for everything they're building.
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2001
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From: Athens AL
C7 of the Year - Unmodified Finalist 2021
C4 of Year Finalist (performance mods) 2019
They do have occasional mistakes, but since some mods tend to screw other things up if you dont think things through, its better to have one if youre going to mod things.
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Thread Starter
Team Owner
Joined: Oct 2004
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From: Bergen County, NJ Democrats, doing for the country what they did for Michigan
I am considering not putting back the Air pump system. I want to know what I can safely remove.
Electrical problems, etc....
Race Director
Joined: Sep 2000
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From: The Top of Utah
Originally Posted by jsup
Your link didn't work.
Are the ones at Mid America any good? Are they real FSMs? They're $150. Is that right book/price?
Are the ones at Mid America any good? Are they real FSMs? They're $150. Is that right book/price?
Aboatguy's link is valid, too. I don't know what Mid America is selling. Wherever you buy, don't get any thing other than the GENUINE Chevrolet Factory Service Manual. The links are to Helm Inc. which is the company Chevrolet hires to produce their FSMs. You may be able to get one from your dealer, eBay, or even our own, C4 Parts For Sale/Wanted, section. They are year specific. One manual covers one year only, as opposed to some of the generic repair manuals. Sorry about the link
RACE ON!!!
Safety Car
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From: The reason time exists is so everything doesn't happen at once
Le Mans Master
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 7,839
Likes: 22
From: San Diego, Ca
Helms or any Service Manual isn't going to explain what the parts do. They assume you know that. If you want to learn how fuel injection works, then I recommend you pick up Ben Watson's Chevy Fuel Injection. It will tell you why things like EGR need to be there - it's more than emissions.
Thread Starter
Team Owner
Joined: Oct 2004
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From: Bergen County, NJ Democrats, doing for the country what they did for Michigan
Helms or any Service Manual isn't going to explain what the parts do. They assume you know that. If you want to learn how fuel injection works, then I recommend you pick up Ben Watson's Chevy Fuel Injection. It will tell you why things like EGR need to be there - it's more than emissions.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 5,858
Likes: 7
From: Santa Maria CA
Then the FSM is for you. Each wiring section gives an explanation as to how that circuit is supposed to work and how it works. There is a section that explains where each connector is located on the car, etc. It also explains how other systems of the car are supposed to work and how they work. There are good break away illustrations throughout that show where everything goes. The electrical diagnosis charts and wiring diagrams alone are worth the price.
Racer
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 457
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From: Cincinnati Ohio
The prliminary manuals for all years are useless..
Ebay always has used ones... I just looked for 1990 and there are a dozen or so of the 2 book sets listed. They're all under $100
My $.02 worth
Thread Starter
Team Owner
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 35,065
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From: Bergen County, NJ Democrats, doing for the country what they did for Michigan
The only exception to this that I know of, are the 1987 manuals.. ST-364-87 The final version of this year have a white cover..
The prliminary manuals for all years are useless..
Ebay always has used ones... I just looked for 1990 and there are a dozen or so of the 2 book sets listed. They're all under $100
My $.02 worth
The prliminary manuals for all years are useless..
Ebay always has used ones... I just looked for 1990 and there are a dozen or so of the 2 book sets listed. They're all under $100
My $.02 worth