TheBlackMoon Posted March 1, 2003 Share Posted March 1, 2003 Okay guys/gals, here's the deal.Also, as soon as I can get all of the pages scanned and in pdf format, I will post the '90 service manual. GM said as long as "you" have legally purchased a copy of the manual, it can be saved electronically (to preserve it) and others who have legally purchased a copy can veiw it (in case parts of their manual is missing). The electronic copy can not, however, be available for cost or profit (basically free) or compressed in such a way as to make it "easily accessible" to those who would download it for profit. The burden then falls on the individual downloading the material to use it only for the sole purpose of repair as a "Reatta owner". Basically, don't try to sell a copy to your mechanic, it's illegal then. Hopefully, I'll be able to post it there in "online PDF" form. I do not, at this time, plan on making it downloadable in it's entirety (to keep them happy), but it will be printable for those who need it. I also plan to hyperlink the "Table of Contents" to the correct section, as I'm sure there will be several of them. Depending on it's size when done, we will see about adding other years. If any of you have already scanned sections of the '90 manual (only the '90, for now), please let me know. It would significantly speed up things. Also, my book is missing the ENTIRE brake section, so if anyone has it, please let me know. I know it's been a while guys, but at least they're apparently going to allow us to do it.Once again, please allow me to stress that no one, and I mean <span style="font-weight: bold">NO ONE</span> can use this to make a profit of any kind! If it happens, our permission gets snatched away, PERIOD! We must also not distribute the site info to anyone outside of the forum. If you have a friend that wants the info, have him join. To that end, I am thinking of giving Tom and Barney the url so that only registered members can view the manuals. I'm sorry, but this was hard fought and I really don't want to lose the priviledge become someone off-site made a buck or two from it, or because the url showed up on Ebay somewhere.Regards, to all. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Barney Eaton Posted March 1, 2003 Share Posted March 1, 2003 This appears to be a momumental task and will be a great help to lots of people.Keep up informed, it could be a great reference on this forum by sending someone to a section and/or page Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sahein Posted March 1, 2003 Share Posted March 1, 2003 Copyright law permitts copying and distribution of factual coprighted material for educational purposes if there is no fee involved. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rawja Posted March 1, 2003 Share Posted March 1, 2003 I only possess the '89 and '91 editions, not '90, but when (if) the time comes, I would be willing to shoulder some of the scanning duties.I can probably host some of the files if it would be helpful.If we had some volunteers, the scanning could be accomplished fairly rapidly by assigning the various sections to different individuals.Let me know if there is anything I can do to help. This is a project with the potential to be a great benefit to all of us. <img src="http://www.aaca.org/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" /> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
padgett Posted March 1, 2003 Share Posted March 1, 2003 I have all four years (88-91) of Buick TSBs that could be scanned with two caveats.1) My insane job makes it impossible for me to do much2) Appear to be complete but may not be, someone would need to check against master list.That said, separating to those relating to either the Reatta or the "C" engine/440T4-4T60-4T60E trans should not be difficult and result in only those TSBs we need (some are not obvious though). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sahein Posted March 2, 2003 Share Posted March 2, 2003 My guess would be that posting the pdf's to this forum could pose a problem unless there are reasonable precautions and safeguards to guarantee that the information will not be accessed or downloaded by someone outside of the educational group. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
padgett Posted March 2, 2003 Share Posted March 2, 2003 Are any number of means to exert "due care". Easiest would probably be to make each section of each manual a different file (pdf or html or ps or whatever) then just use WinZip or PKZip to compress with password protection and an 8+ character password. Then the file could be posted openly so long as the password(s) were transmitted out of band (e-mail).The gov is moving to SSLv3 which is even a better answer but then the server woould have to be set up for it (use 128 bit encryption) and members would need to get certificates. This would provide a record of who downloaded what as well. Could also make available on serialized CDs, last I looked there was no problem with charging a reasonable fee for media, duplication, and postage.This is quite common in the antique radio hobby with CDs of factory schematics commonly available. Of course these are usually over 25 years old. All of Ryder is available this way (5 CDs in PaperPort format) as are those for Zenith through 1948 and Zenith Transoceanics.The "non-downloadable" means of copy protection just does not work as an image must be downloaded to view if you are not going to use something that is military grade, and anything that can be retrieved can be saved. For example, all that is necessary for pdfs is not to use Adobe to open them.IANAL but do not think GM is concerned with hobbyists having manuals, they do not make a dime off those traded at flea markets and such. Their concern is maintaining their copyright to the material, something that gets fuzzier every year, and avoiding liability issues since people who have only the manual often do not have the TSBs that corrects the mistakes in the manual or the P&A to ensure that only the proper parts are used. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shelby Posted March 4, 2003 Share Posted March 4, 2003 I have a copy of the Teves Antilock Brake System Manual GM part # 15005.07-1 Published April 1989 If you would like to use for the project. It is pretty useful and userfriendly. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FlyByNite Posted March 4, 2003 Share Posted March 4, 2003 I have the Helms 6 inch thick 90 manual and a scanner, I'll work on the brakes section if you want. Here is a site for IH Cub manuals you might glean some ideas from for a Reatta manual site. I read my messages on this board daily. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheBlackMoon Posted March 5, 2003 Author Share Posted March 5, 2003 WHEW!!!! <img src="http://www.aaca.org/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/crazy.gif" alt="" /> Okay, to address some concerns. I'm not too worried about "absolute" security of the manual's info. Adobe's PDF standard is based on a proprietary 128-bit encryption method and when the file is "saved properly", meaning with the encryption activated, suffice it to say that anyone who "breaks" through the encryption is committing a federal crime and the responsibilty shifts from the distributing site to the individual. "Reasonable" measures of securance really don't exceed that built into most programs that provide some level of encryption. I could just as easily zip the docs with pk-zip and password protect the file. Any attempt at superceding the program's security would immediately shift the burden.Uh, I should also mention that it's nearly a waste to Zip a PDF. PDF's are compressed so tightly that the 'zip' compression barely provides any gain.Beyond all of that, guys/gals, I think if we make the link available to registered members of this forum, then Buick/GM won't have anything to complain about. They said that their biggest issue is that we don't provide access to the document for the purpose of profit (which basically boiled down to non-Reatta owners from what we discussed).Go figure why the brake section's missing from mine, but it's getting long in years anyway. It's a paperback version. The faster I can get it scanned, the better. Shelby and Padget, hold on to those docs for us. I'll add them after I get the main book posted. I need to know just how much room this doggone book's going to take. It really IS 6" thick! <img src="http://www.aaca.org/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/shocked.gif" alt="" /> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FlyByNite Posted March 10, 2003 Share Posted March 10, 2003 I have the brakes section ( section 5 ) of the 90 Manual scanned and in PDF format. It is 178 pages and the file size is 4536k. This is one of the sections missing from the New Product Information manual. I'm not quite sure how I should go about getting it to folks that need it. I guess for now just email me and I'll send a link to it. It is scanned at 150dpi so it can be printed on most printers. The few pages I did print came out clearer and easier to read than what you see on the screen. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FlyByNite Posted April 1, 2003 Share Posted April 1, 2003 At long last I have finished section 8A Electrical Diagnosis. It is 457 pages, has lots of bookmarks to make stuff easier to find, and is 20 meg. I'm not quite sure how to shuffle around such a big file. Once again it is scanned at 150 dpi. The way I use it is print the few pages I need and if they get greasey or dirty, toss them. Any suggestions on how to make the file available to people would be greatly appreciated. I do have a cd burner but would like to hold off on burning cds until I have the entire manual ready. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
juddev Posted April 1, 2003 Share Posted April 1, 2003 I really could use that electrical diagnosis section. May I please download it from you?ThanksJudd1990silvergrey Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
harry yarnell Posted April 2, 2003 Share Posted April 2, 2003 Dave, what's the link!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FlyByNite Posted April 2, 2003 Share Posted April 2, 2003 Harry and Judd, check your Private Messages. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted April 3, 2003 Share Posted April 3, 2003 Since I'm only semi computer literate and slightly less so when it comes to working on my Reatta, a copy of the complete manual would be more tham welcome and useful. If it could be put on CD's and only made available to members of the Reatta Div. I think that most of us would be more than willing to pay the cost of having it produced in this format. I think that at least 100 copies would be quickly snapped up in Flint at the National Meet. As soon as it is available, put me down for a copy. Up here in the frozen north, most dealers and mechanics do not even recognize a Reatta when they see one, let alone know how to service one, as Bob Fletcher can attest. I've been kinda lucky and found a local mechanic, with a shop way out in the boondocks, who knows about the Teves brake system, and immediatle described the "test & flush' procedure. As soon as the snow disappers, I'll be taking the 'black beast' out of hibernation and hitting the road. To all our American friends, please do not judge us all by the actions of our Prime Minister and his cabinet cronies. Most Canadians support the U.S.of A. in their current undertaking in Irag and the governemnt line does not represent the views of the majority of Canadians. 1990 Black Convertible with slate grey interior & both options Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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