Hi guys. Just picked up a '69 chevelle that I'm planning on restoring and I guess I'm wondering if anyone has any recommendations on some good books to read up a bit on the restoration process and familiarize myself a bit with rebuilding the 400 sbc that's in it. I found one by Motorworks titled "Restor your muscle car". Any input on the accuracy contained in that book?

Usually I'm the kind of guy that tears into it and "figures it out", but I want to at least know what I'm getting myself into. Any feedback would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks,

Dan

Dan,
Probably the best books are the part, assembly and shop manuals for your '69 Chevelle. This site is also a great source for tips and information with great people.:thumbsup:

Ethan

Dan,
Probably the best books are the part, assembly and shop manuals for your '69 Chevelle. This site is also a great source for tips and information with great people.:thumbsup:

Ethan

that and www.chevelles.com will give you everything you need :)

No doubt this site is a great resource. I guess what I am really wanting to do though is to read up a bit so that I am not asking how to "change blinker fluid" if you know what I mean. I ahve been doing a lot of reading on this site and it has been tremendously informative, but I also like to have a hard copy of something I can refer back to.

What are some good places to get the factory assembly manual and shop manual. I am a bit leary of buying the stuff on e-bay as it seems all of it is on CD's and just a crappy photocopy out of a manual.

Factory Assembly Manual, Fisher Body Service Manual, and Chassis Service Manual will be your best friends, a Chilton manual would come in handy also. I always get all my manuals off ebay just for convienence, they are always listed on there rather inexpensively.

Getting all the catalogs from the various suppliers will help, too. GroundUp, Year One, NPD, OPG have books, and most have the factory manuals available.

I bought mine a few years back used from this guy, and they were just like new, don't know if he's still out there yet, but here he is.

Bob Johnson Manuals 508 872 9173

Rob

I slept with this manual many nights.

http://www.chevelle.com/catalog/product_info.php?manufacturers_id=&products_id=743

'cept it was the one for a '70 :O)

Excellent source if you're looking to do things the way "the General" did it.


Here's a good trio:

http://www.ss396.com/mm5/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Store_Code=chevellecamino&Product_Code=HMS-69A&Category_Code=MANUALS

Appreciate the help guys. I'll feel a bit more confident putting things back if I can refer back to a manual.

I just added another link in my post above :thumbsup:

The factory assembly manual is probably the best book you can have for a resto. I wouldn't buy one over the internet though. Get one where you can actually look at it first. There never was an "official" assembly manual that they passed out to people on the assembly line. Individuals just got a single sheet showi ng thim how to do whatever simple operation they were doing. The manuals are just collections of these sheets reproduced, and some of the repros are not very good quality. It took me a while to find one I could actually READ.

Don't forget Rob's website. http://www.1969supersport.com

There is a TON of great information, hints, and tricks on there. :yes:

If you're trying to get accuracy in restoration, I've found this book to be very helpful. Lots of pictures, drawings, paint colors for various parts, etc.
Paul A. Herd. (author) Authentic Restoration Guide Chevelle SS Restoration Guide: Guide to authenticity for all Chevelle Super Sports 1964-1972, Encyclopedia of original parts, options, serial number and more. Published by MBI Publishing, www. motorbooks.com. ISBN 0-87938-569-3. I think I got it at Barnes & Noble?

If you're trying to get accuracy in restoration, I've found this book to be very helpful. Lots of pictures, drawings, paint colors for various parts, etc.
Paul A. Herd. (author) Authentic Restoration Guide Chevelle SS Restoration Guide: Guide to authenticity for all Chevelle Super Sports 1964-1972, Encyclopedia of original parts, options, serial number and more. Published by MBI Publishing, www. motorbooks.com. ISBN 0-87938-569-3. I think I got it at Barnes & Noble?

And lots of inaccurate info in that book, too. :sad:
BillL

If you're trying to get accuracy in restoration, I've found this book to be very helpful. Lots of pictures, drawings, paint colors for various parts, etc.
Paul A. Herd. (author) Authentic Restoration Guide Chevelle SS Restoration Guide: Guide to authenticity for all Chevelle Super Sports 1964-1972, Encyclopedia of original parts, options, serial number and more. Published by MBI Publishing, www. motorbooks.com. ISBN 0-87938-569-3. I think I got it at Barnes & Noble?



:noway: :noway: :secret:

I appreciate all the responses and all the help I am getting on this. I am in the planning stages to make my chevelle into a pro-touring car and as such I am not too terribly concerned with the accuracy in parts from the era (I hope I don't alienate some of you by saying this). I am building a car with all the modern tech but old school looks. Looks like ground up has what I am looking for. Thanks for now and I will be back with plenty more stupid questions. I'm just getting started.

If you're trying to get accuracy in restoration, I've found this book to be very helpful. Lots of pictures, drawings, paint colors for various parts, etc.
Paul A. Herd. (author) Authentic Restoration Guide Chevelle SS Restoration Guide: Guide to authenticity for all Chevelle Super Sports 1964-1972, Encyclopedia of original parts, options, serial number and more. Published by MBI Publishing, www. motorbooks.com. ISBN 0-87938-569-3. I think I got it at Barnes & Noble?

That book's only function should be a paperweight. Many, many, many inaccuracies in it.

That book's only function should be a paperweight. Many, many, many inaccuracies in it.

I actually had that book in my hands while I was down at B&N. For some reason I just seemed to recall reading someone posting that it was very inaccurate and put it back. I settled with buying the trio of books for body, chassis and assembly manual. Again thanks for all of your help.