Piston Slap: Repair manuals for restoring the Roaring Twenties?
Robert writes:
I have just finished restoring my 1926 Dodge (pictured), and I’m starting to work on a very rusted-up 1927 Chrysler. Where do I get a Mechanic’s Instruction Manual for the ’27?
The information in the reprinted 1914–1927 Dodge & Graham Bros. Repair Shop Manual that I used for the Dodge looks to be somewhat similar, which is OK, but I was hopeful that a manual for the 1927 Chrysler was easily available. If you find a manual that may be useful, please let me know.
Sajeev answers:
Since you already have the Dodge/Graham repair manual, your best bet is two-fold: join the WPC club, and periodically check this eBay link for 1927 Chrysler print material. While eBay has no perfect match, there are a few titles that might assist you in the restoration. Feel free to paste these titles in an eBay search; odds are the auctions are still running after this gets published:
- 1924–1933 Chrysler Master Parts Book
- 1924 1925 1926 1927 1928 Chrysler Wiring Diagrams
- 1927 1928 1929 1930 1931 1932 1933 1934 1935 Chrysler Interchange Manual
- 1931–1938 Chilton Original Flat Rate & Tune-Up Manual
It’s unfortunate that none of these are “repair manuals,” by our modern definition, but the steps/tasks to repair components on a pre-war vehicle are somewhat universal (i.e. just like how your Dodge book overlaps). Perhaps all four of the above are worth buying, but I suspect nos. 1, 2, and especially 4 are gonna get your Chrysler up and running like a champ.
To be honest, I might bid on one of those Chilton manuals just to add it to my library! That said, I’ve never had to work on anything older than mid-century iron, so perhaps someone else has further insight?
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