[Keith Seymore]

Originally Posted by dataway

Well a 69 assembly manual is 550 pages, both sides .... and I'm sure it's missing a lot of the non essential stuff that was in the factory floor publications. So I can see how the factory issued examples might have filled three binders.

What's great about assembly manuals that is not seen in the illustrated parts manuals are the little assembly notes. That a bolt can go in this way, or that way depending on options, such and such as to be done first, small fixes for assembly problems and such, locations of clamps, cables, wires etc.

Unfortunately my 68 illustrated parts book (and number book) are the 1975 issue ...which is already at that point very weak on 68 pictures and numbers. I've seen the original 68 parts books on ebay (not reprints) but they run about $300.

Typically most years have these:

1. Illustrated parts book with matching part number reference book (big thick books)
2. Yearly service manual
3. Yearly Fisher Body Manual
4. Assembly Manual
5. Yearly Diagnostics Manual

Not sure if the "Trim" manuals or "Wiring" manuals were separate or included in other manuals.

Ours were one sided prints.

You are correct that the main usage was for little nuances about the build: which direction a bolt was supposed to go, or for torques or part numbers (neither of which remain on modern PAD sheets, btw. Made too much sense I guess).

They were also helpful in defining "in process" activities like wire routings or cable routings. If those weren't positioned correctly along the way then they might come up short or be blocked from the correct routing in the final steps, resulting in additional repair.

K