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question about "the shop manual"

burnout289

burnout289

Member
Sorry for my n00b-ness, but when everyone refers to "The Shop Manual," are they talking about this?

http://www.fordmanuals.com/estore/scrip ... roduct=176

And since I'm determined to take advantage of the CJPP sales, I'm going to get the Osborn assembly manual kit:

http://www.cjponyparts.com/67-assembly- ... 7/p/BKAM4/

But it looks like they only have the shop manual available in another kit with books I don't need for more than I want to spend on it. $17 for a digital copy is fine by me, I can print all I want at work!

Any other good reads you'd recommend? I already printed a copy of the Boss Chassis Mods book. It's a poor copy, but good info in there.

Thanks in advance.

-Matt
 
Those are the correct books. I much prefer the hard copy Shop Manual: easier to thumb through it and mark it up with your own notes and comments. The assembly manuals are for those hard-core folks who want to see how the car was made, how things are installed properly, etc. Lots of good info, but most is never used by some. The electrical schematics in the electrical assembly manual are incomplete: they do not contain any good info on the tachometer wiring and associated changes.
 
I was thinking I'd print it out with 3 hold punch and stuff it in a binder. It's about double the cost for a printed version.

If the osborn manuals aren't really that useful, would you say the shop manual contains all the necessary info from those? I don't want to spend money that I don't have to, but anything that will make my life easier would be worth it.

And since I have Midlife in this thread, I was also considering the color electrical diagrams. What do you think of this one?

http://www.fordmanuals.com/estore/scrip ... roduct=210
 
I disagree and would tell you the Osbourne manuals (especially a full set at that price) is a must have. I like to think I could put a 65 together in my sleep but will admit to having turned to one or another a time or two. Especially if you have never disassembled/reassembled one before. Also handy when your 6 month project turns into a multi-year adventure.

If you are doing a restoration, it is very helpful to determine just how the factory did things as well.
 
There are a lot of pages to print out in the FSM. The paper it's made out of is about as thick as bible paper, so it'll take you quite a bit of printing and several binders full of normal paper to cover the entire thing. Personally, I think it's worth the $40 to have a paper copy handy.
 
I have both of these in the electronic form. I would reccommend the shop manual in print, it's much easier. Also, you con't print the whole thing at once, so printing the whole manual is going to take ALOT of time. I can reccommend the colored electrical diagrams. They are much easier to see and trace than the B&W. Also, not near as much to print. I printed a set in 11x17 format and use them all the time.

Well, all the time when i actually get to work on the stang that is...
 
The colorized wiring diagrams are OK, but are not nearly as complete as the Osborne Electrical Assembly Manuals. They are based upon the wiring and vacuum Diagram (11x17") books provided to the mechanics, and cover only the bare essentials.

As I tried to state in regard to the Osborne manuals, they are very good for restoration and re-assembly projects, but not very useful for day-to-day troubleshooting.

My personal recommendation (since it is your money and not mine!) is to buy every manual there is; there is no one-stop for information.
 
"Midlife" said:
; there is no one-stop for information.
Click to expand...

.....except StangFix.com.......because even if it ain't broke, we will tell ya how to fix it.
 
Haha thanks guys. Yes, Stangfix has most of the answers. I just have a lot of parts I took off years ago and all the bolts are in a can together. No idea what goes where at this point, so I need the reference.

I'll go ahead and get the manual kit since it's on sale and I feel the need to save 20% on something.

Guess you have a point about the big manual. Guess I'll end up getting a printed version of that one.

Hmm what else should I add to my CJPP cart? Just got the books and a trim removal kit so far. Was thinking of getting a new battery apron but I guess I can hold out on that until I actually get a welder... :shrug
 
I had the Osborne manuals when I was restoring the 66. They were very useful as well! I've since passed them on to others in need.
 
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