Ford Service Manuals – You Can’t Fix Your Car Without One

Many have stumbled, many are humbled – because they thought they didn’t need their Ford-Specific Service Manual!

You can buy an aftermarket service manual or you can ask someone – but the real info sits in a a factory-issued manual.

We’ve been around the “let me fix up my old car” block for 50 plus years, and each and every day month an year, we hear: “how do I . . .  on my classic and muscle car?” Now surely there are people with lots of hands-on experience who might be able to help you . . . if they have the time or inclination, but many times you need the answer right now or worse, that “expert” is missing in action.

An many times you may find the answer from a forum or even a car club associate, but for just as many times, if you’re like us, you learn that the “answer provided was just plain wrong or incomplete.

That’s where a factory service or “shop” manual is the best tool in your toolbox. Why? Because the factory put (and still does put)  the maximum effort into how to do it because they can’t afford to get it wrong where their reputation ins involved.  So if you’re going to invest in something like this – don’t skimp – get the real deal.

Paper Copy Service Manuals

Now many of you may be old enough to have invested in an original hard paper manual. These are great, especially the originals! The quality of images are as best as possible for the times in which they were created, and the paper and bindings are strong an resilient. But unless you have a ton of money, trying to find an original is going to cost you a bundle. If you pay that kind of dough for one, then there is the likelihood that it may be too valuable to use in the garage – and get it soiled and damaged.

So what to do? Many have searched the Internet or went to a swap meet and found a “reproduction” paper copy.  Some are done real well, others have been manufactured from a microfilm copy. In many cases, the quality of paper and the legibility is suspect. A black and white hi-contrast image from microfilm or poor printing may make how to to a certain operation still a mystery. And this is not to mention that the chance of damage while using it in your garage is still an issue.

Digital Copy Service Manuals

About 30 years ago some enterprising people realized that the paper manual suffered from the ills described above and created CD-based copies of the manuals.  To be sure some suffered the same as those created from microfilm, and others neglected to include color images (like wiring diagrams) when the factory used those rather than black & white. But for the most part, these manuals were  great idea, because, as most of us did (even if we had an original) we’d print up the pages needed for some task, take them out to the garage or shop, and use and discard – preserving our pristine original.

The market stayed pretty much the same until recently when some smart guys, like those we know, decided to make the document a downloadable PDF. Not only did this remove the need for sticking it in PC (that nowadays may not even have a CD/DVD reader) and  printing out the pages. Best, the downloadable file is portable, it can be moved anywhere, even on to your phone or tablet – paper be gone! As far as we’re concerned, this is the way to go.

Some Words of Caution

Some things to consider when you’re considering a download.

• Avoid time-based access to downloads. This is a dollar and cents (and senseless too) rip off. First and foremost, if you are going to reference the manual from time to time, chances are the cost of “renting” access is just not a smart financial decision. And there is always the chance that the vendor will decide it’s not financially meaningful to do it anymore, and you’ve just paid for vapor.  Don’t do it!
• Avoid thumb drive “we’ll mail it to you” PDFs. While, in the end, you’ll get that needed PDF, why wait and why be held captive by postal systems – not to mention customs inspections and even delays while they ensure you’re not receiving porn or state secrets. Cost-wise it’s not any cheaper, and you can buy your own thumb drive for the file at less cost than the vendor will charge you for that piece of “equipment”. Get a “right now” download!
• Avoid manuals that proport to be “factory”, but are really secondary source issues.  If it doesn’t say “licensed” or “approved by” the manufacturer, the chances are it’s not a complete or its been copied form the factory unit or worse, reedited by a secondary source, Stay away from suspect vendors.

Don’t wait! Download These Full and Complete Factory Licensed Shop Manuals in PDF – $16.95 Each – No Restrictions – Click Title to Buy.
More Info on Each Link!