[MD79TA]

For those of you that have rebuilt both how much good information can I get for my 68 from the 69. I'm well aware of the cosmetic changes vent window front emblem on bumper and many other minor changes. My concern is more the assemble of the highways ? Front fender inner and out mounting. Front end suspension .Are they the same any different hardware? What will be useless in this book ? I know some of the electronic and under dash are different but I can handle that. Last question why do you think the 68 was never made? Or was it and someone somewhere has one. Thanks Doug

[Keith Seymore]

There was a 68 manual made. A manual was put together for every model year. We still use them.

We used to throw them away when there were updates to individual pages or when the new model year manual arrived.

You don't find a 68 manual simply because either nobody thought to save one or it hasn't turned up yet (65 is the same way).

K

[marxjunk]

i have both..completely diff..so much diff..i wouldnt spend the money to buy a 69 if i had a 68...

so much diff...theres similarities..but not enough

[MD79TA]

Mark you have both cars or both manuals. I talked to restoration shop who does quite a few GTO and he told me headlight assemble almost identical and inner and outer fenders are the same mounting, is this bad in formation I'm getting thanks Doug

[dataway]

Mark, I've found the 69 to be pretty helpful on my 68 .... why? Because my other choice is NOTHING. Entire chassis and line routing is almost identical, electrical is close, Hideaways appear identical except for grills and valance (horns?), side window mechanics, very close, dash completely different, not much help on trim, AC close enough to help .... sure a lot of the PARTS are different, but the way they go together is almost exactly the same.

And .... remember, for us 68 guys ... our other choice is ...well ... nothing.

[marxjunk]

manuals..and cars...i own both years

i didnt realize the 68 literature was so hard to get....

i guess, if you put it that way, its prob worth using the 69 for 68..

[dataway]

Mark ... if you have an actual assembly manual for a 68 Tempest ... it's worth a fortune. To my knowledge none exists or are in print. You could get $100 a copy easy.

I'd love to just see the cover of it.

Would the 68 Fisher Body manual be any additional help to MD79? (assuming he doesn't already own one).

Yeah, Mark ... post a pic of that 68 Assembly Manual ...they are like Unicorns.

[MD79TA]

Dataway I had a long talk with Ames before I bought and got the same answer. It's better than nothing and I know there are difference but for the most part what I need it's good . Anyone think they did make a 68 ? Would it be out there somewhere? Guess we may never know but Us lonely 68 owner will have to make do. Got the 68 service manual also so hoping this get me through. Doug

[MD79TA]

Also want to thank ts3189 on letting me take some picture of his 68 ragtop. Thanks todd nice meeting you and a real nice car . Doug

[MD79TA]

Don't have that fisher manual think it would help up front on assemble of highways . It's all there I know just not sure how it all goes together. Ames said they have offered big money to anyone who can produce that 68 book. My gut tells me it was never made just don't know why. Doug

[dataway]

MD,
I don't have the Body Manual either, just looked. I probably need to get one. Thought I had one but evidently not.
Yep I have never seen so much as a picture of a 68 Tempest Assembly Manual. That exploded diagram in section 35-T of the 69 assembly manual is about the best explanation of a hideway system I have ever seen.

Just noticed I have a original print of a 68 dealer diagnostics manual, has some good stuff in it, pictures you don't see in some of the other literature.

[dataway]

Pisses me off, somewhere out there, in some guy's closet that used to work at Pontiac is a pristine 68 Assembly Manual.

[marxjunk]

i agree...some of the 69 stuff is so close to a 68 it would work..i didnt realize there was no "real" 68 assy manual

i have 4 68 GM manuals..i know i have a 68 body by fisher...a 68 chassis and a parts manual for 68..its a parts and illustrations manual...the illustration part is the rare part...not all parts manuals have illustration to details..mine is an early 69..so its current for 68 and 69...


it has every assembly in a 68 in an exploded view..and its 2 books 6 inches thick each...so i never really pursued the 68..and just assumed they where available... ive pulled so many 68s and 69s apart..to me..they are really different...and to be honest..if i have a prob.i usually grab the GTO resto guide...then the parts and illustrations catalog..its my 2 go to books

i didnt realize theres no "real" 68 assy manual.. the parts and illustration manual and the other manuals have it covered..i know i have a 69 assy manual...let me go thru what i have..i will post pics...

to be honest the best of them i have is the parts and illustrations manual..the illustrations manual...and all the assy manuals i own, have the same drawings...ive put them side by side...

i will dig thru them here in a day or two...

[MD79TA]

Guys thank you for your time . I'm down to that front clip bumper and hideaway and fenders assemble. I'm confident as I go I will pcs it together because I took it apart and have all the parts. But any pictures you have in any manual other than 68 service and 69 assemble would be great. I will put my email on here as it easier for me to expand and print from that format . Have a great holiday and thank you in advance. Just think if you are the one to have that 68 if it'd was made? I font think it was. You could name your price. [email protected] Doug

[Keith Seymore]

Originally Posted by MD79TA

Last question why do you think the 68 was never made? Or was it and someone somewhere has one.

Originally Posted by MD79TA

Anyone think they did make a 68 ? Would it be out there somewhere?

Originally Posted by MD79TA

My gut tells me it was never made just don't know why.

I already answered this line of questioning, with authority, in post #2. They made a ’68 manual. We make them for every model year. We still make them today. We just finished them for the project I am currently working on (2018 model year).

Originally Posted by MD79TA

Just think if you are the one to have that 68 if it'd was made? I font think it was. You could name your price

This is exactly the case with the ’65 manual. The local GTO club president has a copy stashed in his extra bedroom/storage room but has refused to let it get published. The word on the street is that he has now donated all his literature to the Gilmore Car Museum in Hickory Corners MI but Gilmore reps will not confirm if that is the case.

K

[Keith Seymore]

One other comment about the assembly manuals: there wouldn't be just "one" book.

They were so large that they spanned across several three ring binders (with the UPC subgroups spread out in multiple books). Each assembly plant would get their own set, and each build area within the assembly plant would get their own set (ie, one in the body shop production office, one for the trim area, one for final). Plus one within the engineering group, and probably a couple working/updated copies at any given time. So there's a dozen or so complete sets right there.

Back then hourly assemblers themselves did not reference the books. If they had a question they would ask their supervisor and he (or the "quality man", his right hand man) would make the trek to the appropriate production/inspection office and research the question. Today we post the sheets right at the assembly station, on the job.

K

[MD79TA]

Keith I'm not saying your wrong but no one in the country has or seen a 68 assemble manual . If you said it was maid someone has to have one yet not one company or person has come forward. Ames told me they had spoke to everyone. I guess I won't believe to I see one . Doug

[MD79TA]

69 manual is three inch thick and fits nice in a single three ring binder would think the same would be for the 68 if it were made. I will say if it was made then they were told to destroy them? Not one escape how many assemble plants? Keith did not mean to offend you but people have been looking for one for thirty years? Doug

[PurelyGTO68]

Attachment 432040

Originally Posted by MD79TA

For those of you that have rebuilt both how much good information can I get for my 68 from the 69. I'm well aware of the cosmetic changes vent window front emblem on bumper and many other minor changes. My concern is more the assemble of the highways ? Front fender inner and out mounting. Front end suspension .Are they the same any different hardware? What will be useless in this book ? I know some of the electronic and under dash are different but I can handle that. Last question why do you think the 68 was never made? Or was it and someone somewhere has one. Thanks Doug

I am certain a 68 assembly manual existed since it was a fairly major design change from the previous year. Like you, I expected to be able to find a copy from the various reproduction sources but no such luck. However, I am surprised to find many great illustrations in the 68 Service Manual (which I think is still available). The 68 Service Manual and Fisher Body Manual should give you most of the info you need. Might be helpful to have the 69 Assembly Manual around for a backup just in case you run into a situation that isn't covered in the Service or Fisher Body books.

Here is a photo of the page from the bumper section of the Service Manual.

[Keith Seymore]

Yes - we were supposed to destroy them at the end of the model year, or individual sheets as new sheets were provided for updates.

I have personally thrown out dozens of assembly manuals (full size trucks), in the late 70's and early 80's.

It never occurred to me to save any of them back then.

K