Haynes Repair Manual: Ford Pickups F-100, F-150, F-250, F-350, Bronco 1980-1996 2WD & 4WD Repair Manual - Haynes

Chilton Repair Manual: Ford F-100, F-150, F-250, F-350 Pick-up Trucks, Bronco Repair Manual 1976-1986 - Chilton

I have a 1985 Ford F-150. It's got a C6 transmission with a 300 CID Straight Six Engine.

Now I have to decide: Haynes or Chilton.

Some people say Haynes, some people say Chilton....

What do I choose!?

 

Like you said, Some like Haynes, Some Like Chilton... Personally I was raised on Chilton so I'm a little prejudice.

They both have their differences, they both have their uses.

-Enjoy
fh : )_~

 

have both, prefer Chilton, although what one doesn't have, the other does sometimes.

 

You should get a chiltons. Or a Haynes would be a good choice.

 

I have both.I find that the wiring diagrams in the newer Hayne's are more beginner friendly,but they do leave alot of stuff out.Now,the older Hayne's manuals are really good.

I was raised on Chilton's,so I prefer them,but I see alot of stuff missing in their books too.As somebody else said,what one leaves out the other has,so I just got both.

 

I just picked up a new Haynes to replace the one that is still missing after I moved and was really disappointed in the wiring diagrams. They're not anywhere near as detailed as the old manual. I may look for a Chilton's and see if the diagrams are any better, or get off my duff and find the old Haynes manual.

 

The older the manual,the better it is.That's what i've concluded.My dad has an 8th gen only Chiltons manual from 1992 and it was huge.I have the newer 8th and 9th gen combined Chiltons manual,and it's half the size of my dad's 8th gen manual from 92.

Age is definitely a big factor.I have two of the Haynes manuals for 80-96 that look exactly alike.One is older than the other.I never noticed until I started to look,but the older one has alot better wiring diagrams than the newer one.Yet the books look the same on the outside.I don't know if Chiltons and Haynes have gotten lazier,or if printing and publishing costs have risen,or if they just think we're all stupid and can't figure out the advanced stuff so they just make it so kindergarten children can understand it.Whatever the reason,it's a shame.

This is the best Haynes Manual...

 

Score one for getting off my duff, I found the old manual. It's hard to believe the wiring diagrams were published by the same company...

 

I prefer to get the factory shop manuals, way more detail then any general repair book. I think it was around $85 for a set of three books. My next choice would be motors.

 

I prefer factor manuals as well, you can find them used all over the internet, or you can still get new ones from Helm.

 

IMO: the 'repair' manuals are a waste of hard-earned money. They are not complete and sure 'nuff what was left out will be exactly what you need to know. ebay has Ford Factory Service Manuals for sale all the time and a little time spent shopping will be worth it. The Ford manual I get the most use out of is the Ford EVTM (electrical/vacuum/troubleshooting manual) If you need to know something about either of these systems, this is the manual to have.

 

WE, make friends with your parts guy (seriously). My O'Reillys guy has Ford trucks the same year as mine, and he loves to talk about them

 

theres a factory repair manual (singluar lol) on amazon for sell as of 15 minutes ago if any of you really want/ can afford one lol

 

heck honestly with access to this forum you don't really need a manual if you have a working printer. any thing you need to know some one on here has already had to deal with and by searching or asking nicely you will get the answer that you need.

 

The factory service/repair manuals are the best. You can usually find good copies at
fairly reasonable prices on E-bay. Thats where I got mine.