Shop Manuals, everyone?
 

I've noticed a lot of questions posted that can easily be answered in a shop manual. It's not like I don't like talking trucks with anyone, just ask my wife. I also helping out whenever I can. It's just that I can't see how anyone can expect to do any work on these old trucks without a shop manual. They are invaluable for the information they contain. They have 99% of all the information you need like fluid capacities, torque specs and disassembly and assembly instructions. They're easy to find, almost any place that sells reproduction parts sell reproduction shop manuals. Reproduction, and original manuals, also show up on eBay on a regular basis. New manuals are cheap, around $35-40, they're worth every penny, IMO. On eBay I have seen original manuals go for as low as $15. I have manuals, one I keep by my computer in the shop to scan and post pictures here, one in my house that I keep clean and one in my garage that's kind of beat up and dirty from using while working on my trucks.

I would strongly suggest the first purchase you make after buying your truck is a shop manual. You will not regret it.

I agree, I could not have finished my 53 without one. I just saw on at a local flea market this past weekend, like new for $55.00. I came very close to buying it, but I have one already. Joe

Oh, common Bob. Next thing ya know, you'll want us to READ the damned thing.
It's just easier to type dum questions over here then hang out til someone answers it!:-X05:-missingt:rolleyes:slim

I got the chassis service manual, as I needed pics of the body, etc, but the ones I've found don't seem to cover the '48 - '52 well... is this information in the Factory Service Manual?

I'm looking for pics like in the LMC Truck catalog - exploded drawings, etc.

~Jason

Mine is the '49-50-51 Ford F-series Trucks. It's RED.

I'm pretty sure they are there for later models, as well...slim

The 48-51 Shop Manual later had a 52 Suppliment. I have an original manual that doesn't have it but the reprints do.

Also Invaluable is the 48-52 Chassis Parts Catalogue - it has all the exploded diagrams you see folks posting here.

There is a 1948-1956 Parts Illustrations Catalogue as well that is just exploded diagrams.

The Body Parts Manual is mostly text and in my opinion not worth the $45 they are asking for the ones on e-bay. Also the originals of that were 8 1/2 x 11 the reprings are reduced to ( I think ) 5x8. So they are a little hard to read.

Also with tons of info is the Operators Manual - available on e-bay for $6.

If you really want to get intensive (and spend some $$$$-like $150) you can get a Truck ("Salesmans") Handbook. That's where we get the line drawings with all the dimensions.

It seems like no one book has all the info - that's why I bought all of those. The books are great for out in the shop, but the CDs are nice because they are clean, enlargeable, and storable.

Now all we have to do is teach you guys to read!

Of course there is a different tactic we could use:

Bill (Number Dummy), do you have a pool and a garage refer for Frostie Beverages? !!!!!! Party at Bills House!

best money I've spent so far... 56 Ford Truck Shop Manual...

JB

Can you post a pic of the '48 - '52 chassis parts catalog cover?

I got that CD-ROM off the 'net with the '28 - '56 Chassis Parts Catalog... and it wasn't what I expected. :(

~Jason

I first saw the title, and I thought everyone was getting free shop manuals! Boy was I wrong. If nothing else, having all those manuals on the shelf next to your 48 f1 diecast just looks cool.

I have the CD parts manual, and it's handy, but I still find it faster being able to thumb through the actual book. :)

This is the one i got:

1928-56 Ford Truck Chassis Parts and Accessory Catalog

~Jason

Mine:
1948-56
Ford Truck

Master Parts and Accessories Catalog
Form FD-9460 & FD-9465

And then I have the shop manual w/1952 supplement

Hmmmm... FD-6465 was included in my CD, but I have FD-9464, not FD-9460 included with it. I wonder what the difference is?

Bob knows what I've got - maybe he can chime in here.

~Jason

I bought an original factory service manual on ebay, I think it was about $20. I also have a factory manual for my 65 Falcon but I'm going to have to replace as the dog gnawed on it back in her puppy stage.....aaagh.
I also have the factory manuals for my 94 Roadking, 1981 Honda CB900 Custom, a 79 Yamaha XS1100. Several GM chassis service manuals from the 60's through the early 80's, Caddy service manuals for all lines from 1984-1991 and a few others. I also have a set of Motors Manuals from a variety of early years. I bought a whole stack of them at an antique store for fifty cents each. I also have a couple of books titled "How To Fix Your Ford" dating from the late 50's early 60's.

I think I also have several Ford parts manuals on CD

I've found that a great source for diagrams for our trucks....I mean, besides bobj49f2, is the catalogs from the various vendors.

Bobby

We do this every Spring - make the plea to get your manuals.
Then we wait for the "I tried the procedure in the manual, while it worked it took two people and a cat to get it done".
At This point one of the bright old men/ladies will step in and say
"OK now that you did it the right way here's how to do it the easy way.
Now can you see the importance of you having the correct manuals?

Hi Jason,

What it sounds like you got on CD was the "Ford Chassis Parts and Accessories Catalogue - Ford Passenger Cars 1928-1948 and Ford trucks 1928-1947" but maybe a later version that goes through 56.

Here's a picture:

http://i.ebayimg.com/17/!BPMGDPQCGk~...(jiu0w~~_1.JPG

The one I was refering to and is really the one you want is the "1948-1952 Ford Truck Chassis Parts Catalogue"

Pictured here:

https://www.ford-trucks.com/user_gal...id=212372&.jpg

And then there is the Ford Truck Parts and Accessories Illustrations & Text Catalogues which come in pairs - one book has pictures the other has text (lists of parts numbrs and descriptions. The ones pictured below are for a car, but were the best picture I could find of both books. The ones for our trucks cover 1948-1956 (with body parts for 53-56 only)

Here is a picture of the auto catalogue that is similar (followed by the truck catalogue:

http://i9.ebayimg.com/07/i/001/2e/2c/18e5_12.JPG

https://www.ford-trucks.com/user_gal...id=212370&.jpg

And the "1944-1952 Ford Body Parts Catalogue":

https://www.ford-trucks.com/user_gal...id=212371&.jpg

And the Operators Manual (which is 3x5 and year specific - this one is for 51):

https://www.ford-trucks.com/user_gal...id=212369&.jpg

I found the Body Parts Catalogue to be almost useless and the 1948-1952Ford Truck Chassis Parts Catalogue to be priceless.

Ditto the others. And I'll add. When I was at that place in life a restorer advised that I should buy an original '48 to '52 Chassis Manual (Jan 1952 version) rather than the '48 to '56 reprint version from 1964. Like the red one Julie shows above. He explained that in the reprint version Ford consolidated part numbers and eliminated some parts all together since they were NLA. You might find the picture, but there won't be a number for it in the 1964 Text version. Naturally, I already had the 1964 reprints by that time (wouldn't ya know). Since having both versions, I have found examples over the years that have confirmed his advise.

Not to mention that the '48 - '56 only has like 5 illustrations of the '48 - '52 body... well, that I found, anyway.

My '50 F2 came to me as a basket case, and I seriously am needing exploded drawings of how the body goes together...

~Jason

Hey - never underestimate the importance of cats. On a cold day, they not only are considerate enough to perch on top of your chest when you're under the car to prevent heat from leaving your body, but they also are nutritious (if a little gamey)!

~Jason

LOL...I like it!!

I too like cats, they taste alot like chicken...........

Bobby

This is the trickiest book to get. It has to have to the June, 1956 edition, I bought the June 1952 version and it didn't have the illustrations for the '48-52 trucks I wanted. I also mistakenly bought the reproduction of the June, 1956 when I saw it on eBay. It's like Julies said, it's reduced in size so it's useless to scan images out of:

https://www.ford-trucks.com/user_gal...id=212371&.jpg

Jason,

The manuals you have pretty much cover everything, including the above catalog. I also have a parts catalog that has a few more diagrams that I haven't found in other catalogs. I bought in on eBay quite a few years ago for around $5. It didn't have a cover and the binging has deteriorated. The pages are getting dry so I have to handle it with care. What diagrams are you looking for? If I can find it in the books I have I'll scan and post them. I am trying to scan all of the diagrams one image at time, as people ask for them.

I would recomend checking ebay.

I wanted to get the two volume set of the 1949 - 1959 ford car illustration and text catalog. Every place I found wanted $200 for the two book set.

Went on ebay and got a PDF file digital copy of the same exact thing both books for $20.

I also got a 1956 Ford Car shop manual off ebay came out of a ford dealership for $10.

I am looking for a digital copy of the manual in PDF file. I hate opening that shop manual cause the thing is so close to falling apart. The spine is good but its thin.

I am also looking for orignal 1956 Ford-O-Matic Ford shop manual as well as the A/C manual. Car doesnt have AC but I like to have complete sets. Dont know of anyone offering digital copies of those but I know a few automotive literature sites that sells the orignals fairly cheap.

I would how ever recomend getting a digital copy though it would be cheaper and you can print out the exact page you need. Or you can do like I plan on get a cheap notebook computer and you can take it to the car and dont have to worry about the pages flipping while your doing the work.

I'm pretty much lost when it comes to the the front end - especially gravel shields and inner fenders, etc. I mean, I can figure out the sheet metal, etc, but I'm just wanting to make sure I can get the front end on 100% correct when the time comes, you know?

~Jason

Jason,

Are you looking for something like this?

http://www.fatfenderedtrucks.com/sca...0frontclip.jpg

http://www.fatfenderedtrucks.com/sca...rontclip02.jpg

These are both in the catalogs you have.

This is one of the more daunting jigsaw puzzles I have ever undertaken... my '63 Wurlitzer I wasn't daunted by (and it was the biggest electro-mechanical nightmare, ever), but this is a different story!

Those are exactly the printouts I needed - if I can print 'em out and put them up to stare at at work for a while, and have assembled things in my head about a million times, then the actual bolting together of the real parts won't be a big deal at all!

Thanks, Bob!

~Jason

Those (Bob's print outs above) are in the "48-52 Ford Truck Chassis Parts Catalogue" - as will be most of the other assemblies. It's the Tan one with the red circle on it I posted earlier. That would probably be the most valuable book you have if you are re assembling. Bed things are hard to find but they are out there. I have some if you can't find them.

Also, a lot of those drawings are posted on this site:

http://www.vanpeltsales.com/FH_web/f...ings_links.htm

Jason,

that front clip is a real fun thing to put together. There are about a gadzillion and one bolts holding it all in place, most of them can only be reached by tiny little goblins. The first step of the process is to hang the grill out in space somehow (I'm not sure how this is done since my magic wand ran out of batteries) and then start bolting everything else to it...no problem

Bobby

Oh come Bobby, it's not that bad. First you hang the inner fender panels and the grill to the radiator support. After that it all goes together. The fun part is taking the old sheet metal off with all of the rusted bolts. I usually remove the 6-8 bolts that hold the clip to the front sheet metal, remove the clip, flip it over and soak everthing with oil. If it doesn't come off with a socket wrench the gas wrench come out.

Here's a couple that I use. The red 49-52 is a re-print found on ebay. The binding was so cheap that the glue all came loose quickly. I recommend an old greasy original, if you can find it. The operators manuel is also a reprint but was SO new-looking that I dunked it in water for a second, then left it out in the sun to dry. Lol. NOW it looks like a useful book with some experience...slim:-X05

http://i122.photobucket.com/albums/o.../3-4-09119.jpg

http://i122.photobucket.com/albums/o.../3-4-09120.jpg

I got some reproduction books but I havent dipped them to make them look aged. I use the reproductions for use and I collect the orignals for looks. Half of them are too old to be safely used without falling apart.

I do how ever got alot of orignals the photo below shows the orignal 1956 Ford shop manual that came out of a dealership, the five volume 1978 Ford shop manual set, as well as orignal dealership brochures for my 78 and my 63. Still trying to find dealer brochures that covers my model for the 56. The binder to the right though contains a 1963 assembly maual, accessory assembly manul as well as restoration companies. The silvery grey book to the left of the 56 shop manual is a Jim Osborn reproduction 1956 Ford body & interior trim/sealant assebly manual. Have to say that one is nice but the scanned images are not that great. Text is sometimes small and hard to read and one one of the large oblong sheets are sometimes two pages pieced together.

http://i148.photobucket.com/albums/s...n/HPIM2729.jpg

This is one that I have yet to see a reproduction of anywheres its an orignal new car questionaire that still has the mail in card attached and not filled out.

http://i148.photobucket.com/albums/s...re-Front-1.jpg

If one of you guys sees the '48 - '52 Chassis Parts Catalog out there, somebody tip me off, will ya?

~Jason

Obviously that's how Ford did it in the first place - just look at the pictures! I mean, all the parts are floating in the air!

The Claycomo plant (where my truck was built) is still operating a few miles down the street, and you should see the parking lot when all the goblins get off work and head to the bar across the street - it's like freakin' Gremlins 2: The New Batch.

~Jason

OK, so I exagerate a bit (just a wee bit). It has been my experience that its often easier to tighten (and break) the old rusted bolts rather than trying to loosen them....lol

Years ago I once removed a grill from a 48 F1 that I found in an old wrecking yard. the truck was at the bottom af a large pile of cars and all I had was a couple of wrenches......it took me forever. It was worth it, The guy charged me $10 for it

Bobby

Whenever I've gone junkyarding I take some basic tools but I always take a sharp chisel and big hammer. I've been able to remove a lot of parts by cutting the metal around the part I want. Don't worry, I don't cut into the surrounding sheet metal unless it's in rough shape. I can't bring myself to chop up good sheet metal, the little that's left.

BTW, this thread has kind of wondered a bit, who cares, we're all just sitting around jawing anyways.

Manuals...
 

...NOW..I understand why the P.O. of my '56 never got much more
than an engine and transmission swap completed...

...don't get me wrong...I am gratefull for that...

When I purchased my '56 Effie...he not only included a stack of
waaaaay outdated catalogs...but also these two manuals...:-missingt...


http://i88.photobucket.com/albums/k2...n/100_1604.jpg

...and this one...

http://i88.photobucket.com/albums/k2...n/100_1606.jpg


SOOOOO...I picked up THIS ONE on EBay for a few bucks in MINT
condition...I keep it in the house...wrapped in plastic, no less, 'cause
we all know what happens to "garage" manuals...right???

That way I can just copy individul pages to take to the garage IF needed..








http://i88.photobucket.com/albums/k2...n/100_1603.jpg

At least this way I know I'm workin' towards getttin' the "right" truck
on the road...8D...

Johnny Cash would be proud, lol.

mouse scrolling up and down rather fast on Rusty's collection of manuals, makes it look like they're moving. Weirded me out for a second.

That shouldn't take a lot of effort:)

Hey Bob,

I didn't know they were printing books back in the old days when these trucks were made.

J/K

lol didnt know that till I tried it. Thats just a small section of my personal "library". Theres still 10 or 15 hardcover books from my day of being a streetmachine member as well as magazine holders.

God I need to find a place to move those magazines, would open up room for getting more manuals.

Never does, lol.

Am I the only one whose truck is so highly modified, that the shop manual is nothing more than a coffee table book? I bought mine almost 10 years ago and it is in pristine condition. It has been about as useful as a Steven King novel for assembling my truck.