I'm currently looking for a parts book for a 1969 coupe. This book would contain information regarding the parts numbers that are found in the assembly manual. For example, a bolt of part number 394#### is a 5/8" captured washer hex head bolt that's 3/8" diameter and 18 pitch. Or washer 389#### is a flat washer 1/2" ID and 1" OD.

Does a book/manual like this exist for our cars? If so where can I find one?

I have several Chevrolet GM Parts and Accessories Catalogs. The newest one was issued in 1972. The important bolts and sizes are listed in them. The average fender bolt, steering column bolts and such are listed as being in Group 8.900. None of my books have this group number. In my old Cadillac Parts Catalog, it listed that bolts in 8.900 were to be obtained locally.

There are good Chevelle GM parts books available on eBay. They are expensive. Usually they go from group 0.000 to 15.6XX. Some early ones include the fastener groups 16.00- 17.XXX. These two groups also come in a seperate book and are common across the GM line. Not too many of these around.

There are reproductions of these parts books but the sellers want $150-200 dollars for them. I'm sorry but if it's a copy, then it is NOT rare and has no business being over $40. As soon as you buy it, it is worth $40. :mad:

Parts books are tough to get for a good price, I've had the best luck at swap meets.

If you search for Chevelle parts catalog on eBay, you will see what I mean.

Tom, that's interesting information. Sounds like it wouldn't be a bad idea to watch for a swap meets. How about a little more information to know what to look for. For example:

Are they model year specific or will a manual cover a series of years?
Physically, what to look for. Perfect bound? Drilled? Stitched?
Are they brand specific (Chevrolet), model specific (Chevelle), or perhaps cover all of the GM divisions?Any other input would be appreciated.

Pick up a Hemmings Motor News. They have a section devoted to Auto Literature. I pick mine up at Barnes and Nobles.
The parts catalogs are brand specific (Chevrolet, Pontiac, Cadillac, and etc) but are multi product line (Chevelle, Nova, Passenger, and ect). The Corvette has its own parts book.
My Chevrolet car catalog is a ’72 printing and goes back to ’65. My Corvette catalog was printed in 1971 and goes all the way back to 1953.
The originals are three-hole punched for the binders that were in the parts departments counter. My reproduction of the ’72 Chevrolet catalog is bound with a plastic lace backbone. It has four volumes of double-sided sheets in the set. When I stack them on top of each other, they are about 8 inches tall.
If you buy one dated close (same year or within two years) to your cars year model, it will have all the parts listed. If you buy one that was printed five or more years later, not all the part numbers will be listed. It is very important to make sure you are also buying the illustration sections. The illustration section will go beyond the Assembly Manual on exploded views. The backside of buying an earlier edition is that if GM changed (superseded) the part number, you will not know it.

I pretty much agree with Dwight but will add the following:

There are several types of parts catalogs. Since this is a Chevelle site lets talk about Chevelles first.

There is an American catalog and a Canadian catalog. These catalogs were initially combined with Novas and Corvairs for some reason. So the first catalogs were 1962-64. The American is green the Canadian is yellow. Not much difference other than the references to the trim tags are the Canadian style. I think both books are equivalent.

Illustrated parts books are best. They include exploded diagrams or illustrations that are unique to parts books. This really helps like an A.I.M.

GM then published a book each year after that, 1962-65..66...67 you get the drift. The part numbers were subject to changes and supersedence so getting a parts book close to your model year is great for finding the actual part numbers used on your car. This can lead you astray when your 1975 parts book says part X fits 66 Chevelles when it really came with part Y and part X was a substitution in 1968. This is not a common problem though, and for almost all applications and nice book from 1975 is great.

In 1967 the Camaro was added to the Chevy line up and new parts books series were added. There was another series that was the "everything" book Camaro Chevelle Impala and Nova. A line was drawn in the sand in 1975 and this book was published a few times, the -1975 book was last published in 1983. If you wanted later than 1975 parts; it came in a new series book 1976-(year published).

There are also one year only books. like 1970 Chevelle only. These are most common in 1970,71,72. Although I have seen them in other years too.

The Chevelle / Nova book continued and Monte Carlo was added. this series went to 1975. The yellow Canadian versions are really nice because they seperate Nova and Chevelle into two books in one. Each has it's own numerical and alphabetical index and are fully illustrated. $$$ :thumbsup:

I am still surprised from time to time with a new parts book I haven't seen before. GM was a big company.

Thanks guys. That's really great information!

Before buying elsewhere, I always check with my GM parts guy. Sometimes I get lucky and GM still stocks what I want. No shipping charges, and usually next day delivery.

Ditto to what Keith said. You'd be surprised at the trinkets GM and the dealers still have.

Also, you want to look for what's called the GM Standard Parts Catalog, which is where a lot of the typical GM part numbered nuts and bolts are listed (aka 8.900+ group) Some dealers have them in paper still, most should have it on thier computers now. The best way to use it (since it isn't according to model) is to know the bolt size, pitch, length, and style, then use the standard parts catalog to obtain the GM part number. After that, you can ebay, google, shop a dealer, whatever.