Good Manual for C4?
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: May 2011
Posts: 262
Likes: 1
From: Central New Hampshire
Good Manual for C4?
I was wondering if anyone knew of a good manual for the C4's?
I was hoping to find a free online one I could download.
I've had Haynes manuals in the past and I loved it, but it was for a Corolla not a Corvette, wasn't sure if there was something better out there, or if Haynes is where I should go.
I don't own a Corvette, I'm just looking into them. I really want to get one, and I've been looking around and posting questions and doing some online research, and it looks like the C4's is what I'm going to end up getting (if I do). I'm deployed, but have a lot of down time and I'd love to get familiar with the car. I'm a firm believer in preventative maintainance which is what we're taught here, but it's something I practiced with my own vehicles back home. So if you know of other resources that would help me, I'd greatly appreciate it. I'm pretty much a beginner when it comes to cars, with the exception I had to to fix my front end of my car after an accident I was in, but that was learning via internet, videos and phone calls.
I was hoping to find a free online one I could download.
I've had Haynes manuals in the past and I loved it, but it was for a Corolla not a Corvette, wasn't sure if there was something better out there, or if Haynes is where I should go.
I don't own a Corvette, I'm just looking into them. I really want to get one, and I've been looking around and posting questions and doing some online research, and it looks like the C4's is what I'm going to end up getting (if I do). I'm deployed, but have a lot of down time and I'd love to get familiar with the car. I'm a firm believer in preventative maintainance which is what we're taught here, but it's something I practiced with my own vehicles back home. So if you know of other resources that would help me, I'd greatly appreciate it. I'm pretty much a beginner when it comes to cars, with the exception I had to to fix my front end of my car after an accident I was in, but that was learning via internet, videos and phone calls.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 7,999
Likes: 14
From: Life is just one big track event. Everything before and after is prep and warm-up and cool-down laps
Cruise-In III Veteran
Cruise-In IV Veteran
St. Jude Donor '12
Can't beat the factory service manual for working on the car.They are year specific, you want the ones with red covers. You can often find them used for under $100
You can find the owners manual online in PDF format. Do a search here and c4 gen and you should find a link.
If you want to figure out if a c4 is for you contact local Corvette clubs and folks that hold car shows. VISIT with the owners and find out the quirks and what owning one is all about.
Then set a budget, buy the newest best shape c4 within that budget.
Oh - one more thing, read all the historical posts here. There is a wealth of information with lots of pictures and instructions for most repairs.
Last edited by jaa1992; May 24, 2011 at 08:36 PM.
Max G’s
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 2,751
Likes: 79
From: Monroe OH
NCM Sinkhole Donor
Can't beat the factory service manual for working on the car.They are year specific, you want the ones with red covers. You can often find them used for under $100
You can find the owners manual online in PDF format. Do a search here and c4 gen and you should find a link.
If you want to figure out if a c4 is for you contact local Corvette clubs and folks that hold car shows. VISIT with the owners and find out the quirks and what owning one is all about.
Then set a budget, buy the newest best shape c4 within that budget.
Oh - one more thing, read all the historical posts here. There is a wealth of information with lots of pictures and instructions for most repairs.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 6,842
Likes: 285
From: Palmdale CA
Regarding the FSM or Service Manual. There is a huge difference between the 'Early' C4 FSM and the Late C4 FSM. We have both models, an 87' and a 95' and I can tell you from experience, the 95' FSM is far more comprehensive, complete and helpful, than the 87'.
Race Director
Joined: Jun 1999
Posts: 14,924
Likes: 9
From: Merritt Ils Fl
Everyone who says FSM is square on target. What they did not tell you is the FSM is like drinking water from a fire hose. FSM assumes you have more than a general knowledge of wrench turning and the tools to back up that experience. IF you wish to do much more than change spark plugs the FSM is essential. If you are a beginner in the Corvette/automotive fun game lay hands on a Haynes, read/use it until you understand what wrench bending is all about. If you are set on a C4 find a copy of Corvette Fuel Injection by Probst. Best reading you can do.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: May 2011
Posts: 262
Likes: 1
From: Central New Hampshire
Everyone who says FSM is square on target. What they did not tell you is the FSM is like drinking water from a fire hose. FSM assumes you have more than a general knowledge of wrench turning and the tools to back up that experience. IF you wish to do much more than change spark plugs the FSM is essential. If you are a beginner in the Corvette/automotive fun game lay hands on a Haynes, read/use it until you understand what wrench bending is all about. If you are set on a C4 find a copy of Corvette Fuel Injection by Probst. Best reading you can do.
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
Le Mans Master
Joined: Feb 2000
Posts: 9,061
Likes: 214
From: Epping NH
But since you don't know what year you'll be getting, no sense in getting the FSM right now as they are specific to each year. Apparently everyone has missed the fact that you don't own a vette right now.
Last edited by bac22; May 25, 2011 at 07:53 PM.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: May 2011
Posts: 262
Likes: 1
From: Central New Hampshire
Just hang in these forums...you'll learn more about these cars then you ever will with an FSM or any manual for that matter. When you do get a vette, then I can't recommend getting the FSM enough...well worth it. You can pick them up on ebay or here in the FS section cheap.
But since you don't know what year you'll be getting, no sense in getting the FSM right now as they are specific to each year. Apparently everyone has missed the fact that you don't own a vette right now.
But since you don't know what year you'll be getting, no sense in getting the FSM right now as they are specific to each year. Apparently everyone has missed the fact that you don't own a vette right now.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 7,999
Likes: 14
From: Life is just one big track event. Everything before and after is prep and warm-up and cool-down laps
Cruise-In III Veteran
Cruise-In IV Veteran
St. Jude Donor '12
Some of the "one year only" parts are a little difficult to find.
Everything else except the dual mass flywheel and 92/93 ECM are fairly easy to find.
The DMF and 92/93 ECM are currently unobtanium new. You can find used, but the DMF is problematic as it gets miles on it.
Everything else except the dual mass flywheel and 92/93 ECM are fairly easy to find.
The DMF and 92/93 ECM are currently unobtanium new. You can find used, but the DMF is problematic as it gets miles on it.
Intermediate
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 36
Likes: 0
From: Chagrin Falls Ohio
Haynes vrs Chilton !!!
I have both, the Haynes and the Chilton. Compairing the two, the Chilton is by far much more comprehensive than the garbage Haynes. I was going to use it to start fires in my wood burner.Can't beat the FSM though.
,, I am not