lets talk shop manuals

[baggedk5]

Im sure its been covered before, might even get flamed for not using the search feature...but im lazy, and would rather post...

So what shop manulas do you have? What do you preffer, and why? Good informative websites (besides here of course)? Any good manuals, that are performance based, not about returning to stock?... I know of chiltons, and haynes~ I have both with no prefference. Ive looked around on the web, there are thousands, but like anything else, you never really know what your gettin until its yours. so voice that opinion on the matter here, and teach me something..

Thx~J

[Captkaos]

The original Helm's manuals are by far the best.  I also use Haynes manuals.

[monte85]

i've never used the helms manuals before. but if someone offered me a haynes manual i would throw it back at them. those are the worst manuals when you want to find out anything. i have one for the truck and for a 1990 honda civic. the civic book only seems to tell me stuff about the old 85-86 civics and not the newer ones. the truck book seems to have all the wrong info. i'll only use gm service manuals that i've got off ebay or i'll pick my uncles brain(he worked on gm stuff most of his life).

[Redneckchevy]

My Chilton book is OK....Its got wiring and vacuum Cant say i care much for Haynes

[Blazin]

I have Chiltons, Haynes, and Helms manuals. The Chiltons is better than the haynes in my opinion for any make car. I only have a few Helms manuals for 73 - 87 Chevy trucks, but they blow the Chiltons away. I also have a a few 1952 -1958 GM service manuals that cover my car.

[Dave Kay]

Helm's books are, IMHO, about the best and most accurate if you can find the originals, and Chilton would be my second choice. But beware that the Helm's books they're printing for older vehicles now have a disclaimer about misprints and missing pages (maybe they're made in China?) and some of the wiring diagrams are really hacked-up -- almost worthless, or so was the one I got on eBay.

[werewolfx13]

My haynes manual has provided me with most of the information I needed..I've never used any of the others..

[77c15]

I always jump on EBay and check to see if anyone has an original factory service manual for all of my vehicles. Most of the newer ones are on CD, but some of the CD's on EBay are a joke. Absolutely nothing beats finding a used but excellent condition factory manual.

[Dave Kay]

I always jump on EBay and check to see if anyone has an original factory service manual for all of my vehicles. Most of the newer ones are on CD, but some of the CD's on EBay are a joke. Absolutely nothing beats finding a used but excellent condition factory manual.

Here here! I second that motion but nothing beats scoring an Illustrated Parts Catalog for your model-year to boot! Priceless!

[86 chevy silverado]

I have not seen a lot of the Helms, but grew up on Chilton and still feel they are more 'user friendly' compared to the Haynes that I learned to dislike. My newest Chiltons manual I bought (Amazon.com) for my little Nissan says 'Haynes publishing' on the inside cover, so it seems they are one now. I have not used this one much yet but I haven't had any problems finding info I'm looking for so far. I'd recommend it.