Suggestions for manuals?

[SixSh00ter]

I'm asking for suggestions on what manuals to buy and where to get them?
I'm a parts swapper, my level of expertise is well below that of a shade tree mechanic, so I need to be spoon fed. Something with lots of diagrams and exploded views.

My main problem (besides inexperience) is accurately naming or describing the parts that I'm talking about so the forum members can help me. Which they have on many occasions.

I searched the forum and found a post that has the link to the search.ebscohost.com site. Logged in and checked it out. And I've searched google and found the alldatadiy site, and one that sells cds theautobookstore.com, etc.

 

[Original_Ranger84]

Well I would say a haynes just cauuse they are cheap and easely found... but they kind of lack in every way shape and form. I have one from my 84 that was exactly what you are discribing... I'll have too hunt around and find the name though.

 

[Jay FX4]

I would get something like this:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/2005...30269023631QQptZMotorsQ5fManualsQ5fLiterature

It's what they use at the dealerships.

 

[Jay FX4]

Found some for a '98:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/1998...Motors_Manuals_Literature?hash=item53dd4a5bef

From what I hear, this is the Ranger BIBLE.

I've been meaning to get one for mine.

 

[daniel3507]

I have two manuals for my truck like the last ones jay linked too and they are awesome. tons of diagrams, step by step everything, and they have the part numbers for everything you would ever need.

 

[Mac]

I'm with Jay and Daniel with going with them shop manuals. Got one for the Ranger, Explorer, Ranchero, Fairlane and Mustang. All come in handy all the time.
Dave

 

[snake]

I have all three for my 2002... took several months of searching ebay until someone posted all three in the right year... I think I paid about $80 or so. They are over $200 from an independant source and I wouldn't even want to know how much from Ford. All three books are probably 5 inches thick stacked together.

 

[SixSh00ter]

Thanks guys, and Jay thanks a bunch for digging up that link.

 

[Bent Bolt]

Found some for a '98:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/1998...Motors_Manuals_Literature?hash=item53dd4a5bef

From what I hear, this is the Ranger BIBLE.

I've been meaning to get one for mine.

+1

You'll be disappointed with anything less than a factory manual.

Just a fact of life.

 

[OilPatch197]

I was looking on Ebay and found a '85 Ranger shop service manual. Now, I got a '84 and a '87, will this manual cover the other trucks since they are all the same body?