Service Manual Idea

[TTA579]

Does anyone have a spare service manual? Preferably one that is not in good condition, maybe one where the cover is falling off?

I'd like to make an attempt to digitize the service manual. I have, at my disposal, a very nice machine that can scan a high volume of pages to PDF, and with a little Adobe Acrobat magic I can even make the text searchable. However, I'd need the pages loose leaf, meaning unbound. So if someone has a service manual that they wouldn't mind parting with for the greater good.

I have a service manual, but it's in fair condition and I'm not about to remove the pages for this project. (Just so nobody thinks I'm trying to bum a service manual from anyone.)

There might be some concerns from people with original literature they would like to sell. I don't think this effort is going to devalue that literature. Original hard copies are always going to be more valuable.

PS. I could do this for any other literature out there (Owner's manuals, etc). I'm willing to scan in just about anything (I have a very high resolution scanner as well for photos), and I'd be happy to return originals.

 

[89MNTTA]

That's a cool idea. I have two, but they're both in really good shape.

 

[Jan Larsson]

You really need one in good shape (inside pages) but cut the spine off ... one issue might be the really thin papers using a automatic feeder ... those pages are so thin and you might also end up with the image from the opposite page showing due to the thin paper; not tried but this might be an issue.

I think the version Helm Inc sell these days are just photo copies loose pages so that might be one option if someone got one you can use ..

As this is just the TTA supplement you would really need the much thicker 89 Firebird manual scanned as well :-(

I have the microfiche for both of them however not sure if a scanner of some sort would be able to create a PDF from these or not?

 

[TTA579]

You really need one in good shape (inside pages) but cut the spine off ... one issue might be the really thin papers using a automatic feeder ... those pages are so thin and you might also end up with the image from the opposite page showing due to the thin paper; not tried but this might be an issue.

I think the version Helm Inc sell these days are just photo copies loose pages so that might be one option if someone got one you can use ..

As this is just the TTA supplement you would really need the much thicker 89 Firebird manual scanned as well :-(

I have the microfiche for both of them however not sure if a scanner of some sort would be able to create a PDF from these or not?

Yes, I'd need good pages, but the cover itself doesn't need to be good.

I don't think the thin paper should be an issue with the feed, and I've considered page-bleed through. A simple contrast adjustment can be made post-scan to eliminate that problem.

If I could purchase even bound pages from Helm I might have done that. But I've been to their website and I haven't been able to pull up the 89 Firebird manual or the TTA supplement.

My 89 Firebird Manual should arrive soon. Again, I could easily scan this and produce a high quality PDF, but I don't want to destroy a good copy. I also have the 88-89 Service Bulletin book.

A slide scanner would work on the microfiche, but I don't have one of those.

 

[kymmee]

This is a great idea for those that dont have one. I purchased a "supplement" copy for a very reasonable price. Someone copied all the pages and put them in a heavy 3 ring binder. Not an orig, but serves its purpose. I still need the regular 89 Firebird manual.

 

[Mike Arrigo]

We can all pitch in $1 each and buy one to scan in. Many scanners these days have a bleed through removal mode which would help with the thinner pages. I would suggest using a Canon (wink wink), but then again I might be a little biased since I work for them. You could set up Chapter bookmarks and hyper links too once it is done to make it easier to use. A project for a rainy day I guess. Someone could do it and sell the PDF file for $10 each and make their money back easily I bet.

 

[TTA579]

We can all pitch in $1 each and buy one to scan in. Many scanners these days have a bleed through removal mode which would help with the thinner pages. I would suggest using a Canon (wink wink), but then again I might be a little biased since I work for them. You could set up Chapter bookmarks and hyper links too once it is done to make it easier to use. A project for a rainy day I guess. Someone could do it and sell the PDF file for $10 each and make their money back easily I bet.

Yes, I had planned on doing that kind of modernization of the document.

I'd happily use a Canon machine if I had one. I'm a photographer and my gear is all Canon.

I suppose if nobody has one to part with, I could try to find another to purchase.

 

[Kman1971]

It sounds like we are talking about two different set's of Manuals. There were two "Owners Manuals", one was a general Firebird and the other one was a TTA Supplemental Owners Manual, these came with the car and are relatively small compared to the "Service Manuals". The "Service Manuals" did not come with the car. There were two "Service Manuals" too, one for the general Firebird and a Supplemental Service Manual that is TTA specific.

I have a scan in PDF format of the "TTA Owners Supplemental Manual". It is not a professional scan version but an easy read and serves the purpose. I tried to attach it to this post in both pdf and zip format but it said I need a security token to do so. I can email it to Jan if he would like to post it to the site.

I do have both "Service Manuals", but they are huge and would be a huge job scanning them as compared to the "Owners Manuals."

 

[TTA579]

It sounds like we are talking about two different set's of Manuals. There were two "Owners Manuals", one was a general Firebird and the other one was a TTA Supplemental Owners Manual, these came with the car and are relatively small compared to the "Service Manuals". The "Service Manuals" did not come with the car. There were two "Service Manuals" too, one for the general Firebird and a Supplemental Service Manual that is TTA specific.

I have a scan in PDF format of the "TTA Owners Supplemental Manual". It is not a professional scan version but an easy read and serves the purpose. I tried to attach it to this post in both pdf and zip format but it said I need a security token to do so. I can email it to Jan if he would like to post it to the site.

I do have both "Service Manuals", but they are huge and would be a huge job scanning them as compared to the "Owners Manuals."

We who? I'm talking about the full service manual, not the owners manual. Yes it would take some work. I'm volunteering to do it all if someone has a spare.

 

[Kman1971]

I knew what you were talking about Scott, but through the thread the owners manual was mentioned a few times, so I just wanted to clarify.

I agree with you. It would be awesome to have all the manuals in a pdf version.

 

[TTA579]

I've purchased a second Service Manual Supplement. Now I just need to convince IT to give me a full copy of Adobe Professional. (I have software at home that will work, but it's not as powerful.)