[Z06] DIY Guide Book Finally?
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 1,058
Likes: 5
From: Syracuse New York
DIY Guide Book Finally?
I have been developing and in the process of developing, an picture intensive DIY Guide to C5 corvettes. The book book will have full instructions and VERY detailed photo coverage of each step of:
1. Cam Swap
2. Valve Spring/Rocker Arm/Push Rod/Retainer Replacement
3. Clutch Assembly, Flywheel and Hydraulic Cylinders Install
4. Harmonic Balancer/Underdrive Replacement
5. Rotor/Disc Replacement
6. Shock Replacement
7. Intake Manifold replacement or swap
8. Paint Buffing
9. Tail Light Tinting
10. Exhaust Pipe Polishing/Removing Carbon Build up
Would this be a book or notebook that people would be interested in? I've had a few people ask me about producing this locally, but wanted to see if it is something that the larger scale C5 community would want. Are there things here that people would not want to see or things that are not listed? Also my friends were offering to pay 35 dollars for this. Is this a fair price? Should it be higher or lower? I am not trying to make much money here, but I know there are many DIY corvette owners out there that are scared to work on their own cars. This is due to a lack of pictures and sparse information in the service manuals.
Any Comments are appreciated. The positive and the negative!
1. Cam Swap
2. Valve Spring/Rocker Arm/Push Rod/Retainer Replacement
3. Clutch Assembly, Flywheel and Hydraulic Cylinders Install
4. Harmonic Balancer/Underdrive Replacement
5. Rotor/Disc Replacement
6. Shock Replacement
7. Intake Manifold replacement or swap
8. Paint Buffing
9. Tail Light Tinting
10. Exhaust Pipe Polishing/Removing Carbon Build up
Would this be a book or notebook that people would be interested in? I've had a few people ask me about producing this locally, but wanted to see if it is something that the larger scale C5 community would want. Are there things here that people would not want to see or things that are not listed? Also my friends were offering to pay 35 dollars for this. Is this a fair price? Should it be higher or lower? I am not trying to make much money here, but I know there are many DIY corvette owners out there that are scared to work on their own cars. This is due to a lack of pictures and sparse information in the service manuals.
Any Comments are appreciated. The positive and the negative!
Banned Scam/Spammer
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 15,685
Likes: 1,330
From: Machineguns, because I don’t compromise
I thought about making one when I worked at a Corvette only dealership '53 ~ '08... I could've just hung around the shop and took tons of pictures and voice recorded the steps, later making the voice into captions...
I wish I did it, I KNOW you could put a book like that in Barnes & Noble.. but you need MORE content. You're off to a great start though
I wish I did it, I KNOW you could put a book like that in Barnes & Noble.. but you need MORE content. You're off to a great start though
Drifting
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 1,674
Likes: 2
From: Atlanta GA
Sounds like a good idea.
I would add some of the more common C5 fixes too
Oil pressure sensor
Headlight gears
Window regulators
Column lock bypass
wheel bearings
Fuel sender
Diff seals
HUD install
Basic stereo install (adding an amp, sub, door speakers, or head unit)
Seat rocking fix
Mini Tub install
These are more basic tasks than what you have listed, but are items every C5 owner will have to do or think about at some point in time
I would add some of the more common C5 fixes too
Oil pressure sensor
Headlight gears
Window regulators
Column lock bypass
wheel bearings
Fuel sender
Diff seals
HUD install
Basic stereo install (adding an amp, sub, door speakers, or head unit)
Seat rocking fix
Mini Tub install
These are more basic tasks than what you have listed, but are items every C5 owner will have to do or think about at some point in time
Racer
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 249
Likes: 0
From: Heath Texas
Maybe consider a cookbook type model. You know where people that are members of a club or church contribute recipes for a book for sale to raise funds? With a C5 "cookbook" contribute DIY projects, you be the editing producer (for quality), people receive accolades and credit in the book, and all is wonderful. A lot of work on your part for sure.
I wouldn't mind you keep some of the $margin$ to pay for your efforts. To help sell the concept, maybe a % to the corvette museum? Just bouncing some ideas around.
I wouldn't mind you keep some of the $margin$ to pay for your efforts. To help sell the concept, maybe a % to the corvette museum? Just bouncing some ideas around.
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Good idea.
Safety Car
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 4,977
Likes: 256
From: St. Louis Missouri
Sounds like a great idea except most of that stuff is already available on this forum or LS1Howto.com. However, it might a good idea to expand on LS1howto.com (or create your own site). If you want to create your own site, contact me through PM.
Melting Slicks
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 2,595
Likes: 0
From: Hills of Anaheim CA
True, but he is making a book not a website.
Safety Car
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 4,977
Likes: 256
From: St. Louis Missouri
I didn't miss that detail. 
The OP asked for positive/negative feedback. I think it's just as important to set appropriate expectations. People don't buy things they can get for free. Instead of charging the consumer, perhaps the traffic to the site would be more valuable (advertisers). He could add/change content without the cost of printing and distributing. There is a relatively low start up cost for a web version of the book.
The OP asked for positive/negative feedback. I think it's just as important to set appropriate expectations. People don't buy things they can get for free. Instead of charging the consumer, perhaps the traffic to the site would be more valuable (advertisers). He could add/change content without the cost of printing and distributing. There is a relatively low start up cost for a web version of the book.
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 30,897
Likes: 45
From: Picking on the weakest kid in the yard.
This is a great idea. I would likely buy. Don't forget the simple stuff like how to pull codes with the DIC and how to change the shifter. Also the shortcut way to change the 4 way flasher.
I don't mean to cut your idea, but write ups are online for this stuff. The problem is they are hard to find with searches. If CF would just make a sticky with links to all the best DIY write ups, it would help a LOT.
I don't mean to cut your idea, but write ups are online for this stuff. The problem is they are hard to find with searches. If CF would just make a sticky with links to all the best DIY write ups, it would help a LOT.
Le Mans Master
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 6,366
Likes: 249
From: Fort Lauderdale, Florida
Another sale here. Go for it. It would be nice to have a reference manual you could have in the garage while you're performing one of the tasks in the book. I'd like to do a cam swap myself.
Melting Slicks
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 2,595
Likes: 0
From: Hills of Anaheim CA
I didn't miss that detail.
The OP asked for positive/negative feedback. I think it's just as important to set appropriate expectations. People don't buy things they can get for free. Instead of charging the consumer, perhaps the traffic to the site would be more valuable (advertisers). He could add/change content without the cost of printing and distributing. There is a relatively low start up cost for a web version of the book.
The OP asked for positive/negative feedback. I think it's just as important to set appropriate expectations. People don't buy things they can get for free. Instead of charging the consumer, perhaps the traffic to the site would be more valuable (advertisers). He could add/change content without the cost of printing and distributing. There is a relatively low start up cost for a web version of the book.
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 1,058
Likes: 5
From: Syracuse New York
Thanks for all the feedback guys. I am going to move forward with this. It will be a few months to truly make it detail rich. I am thinking about offering 5 or 6 frequently asked for things in the beginning volume and charge a cheaper price. Then once I see how it does. I will take suggestions besides all the great ones in here and offer a second edition. Let me know if this sounds decent.