I believe '75 to '79 uses the same front bumper cover. There are some minor differences in the supports behind it, but as far as I know, those years will bolt up. Any of the aftermarket suppliers(and our C3VR Sponsoring Vendors) would be able to verify what fits what.
The book you are thinking about is the Hollander Interchange.


______________

Joel Adams
C3VR Lifetime Member #56    
My Link


(click for Texas-sized view!)             NCRS

"Money can't buy happiness -- but somehow it's more comforting to cry in a CORVETTE than in a Kia"

Jason, I found Corvette America has evrey stock and custom body part avialable in fiberglass & in flexglass for bumpers. It lists 73 to 79 front bumpers as the same. Go to the website and browse around. They must have a live person to talk to & be sure.

Jason - You'll also want to check Mid America Motorworks.  Both of these companies do some of their own manufacturing (seat covers, carpets, steering wheels, door panels, dash skins, etc) are excellant vendors & give nice offers via email if you sign up for their catalogs.  Their websites & catalogs are very informative.

______________
  LIFETIME MEMBER # 191

I got on all the sites..

______________
1975 Corvette Coupe 

Whats the best book to start out with some say assembly some say chilton manual, some factory serv manual..I just want to get everything working and together in a way... and than worry about everything else..

______________
1975 Corvette Coupe 

kendo2, I know you are simply going by what CA has advertised, but I can guarantee everyone the '73-'74 bumper covers will NOT fit later cars. The '73-'74 covers are straight across the top edge, where it fits against the body. The later cars, '75-'79, have a "notch" for lack of a better term, cut out of the body there, and the bumper cover is also wider in that area, to fit into the notched out area. I see places advertise like that all the time, and it irks the crap outta me. Of course, when you call to order, they may actually ask you what year you need the part for, in order to get the right part. The ad may simply state that they have the part available for those years, but it really looks like they are saying all of those years are the same, when they're not....which explains 90% of the stuff that gets returned to them.
I just wish the catalogs, and  web-sites would have a little more correct info in their descriptions....

Sorry...I'll get off my soapbox now....
Anyway...for this particular case, a cover from '75-'79 would work.


Oh...as far aswhat books/manuals you should have?
Factory Service manuals...don't even bother with the Chiltons/Haynes stuff...they cover too many year models to be of any great help, other than normal maintenance stuff.
AIM(Assembly Instruction Manual) is really nice to have, but dang near a MUST HAVE if you plan on doing any major disassembly of the car....or any section of the car.
You can buy FSM sets, and the AIM from just about any of our C3VR sponsoring vendors, or on ebay. For the Service manual on the '75, you'll also need the '74 manuals, as the '75 manual is more of a supplement to the '74 manual than a stand alone set.

|UPDATED|7/31/2012 7:35:24 PM (AZT)|/UPDATED|


______________

Joel Adams
C3VR Lifetime Member #56    
My Link


(click for Texas-sized view!)             NCRS

"Money can't buy happiness -- but somehow it's more comforting to cry in a CORVETTE than in a Kia"

Welcome to the forum. I'm new as well. I checked out a few corvette books from my local library including the corvette restoration guide. I ordered an AIM. Check your library, read read read. These cars have some true nuances! Man this is fun! Dennis

______________

Thats a good idea about the library, but I live in a Podunk town and no libs... everything I do or

|UPDATED|7/31/2012 8:40:16 PM (AZT)|/UPDATED|


______________
1975 Corvette Coupe 

The "Shop Manual", and the "Service Manual" are two different things. The Shop Manuals are more along the lines of the Chilton's/Haynes manuals, tho the Shop Manuals do cover more specific info on some systems than the Chiltons/Haynes. They were mostly intended for independent shops to use.

The Factory Service Manuals, on the other hand, are the cat's meow. This is what the dealers used back in the day, and were meant to cover everything on the vehicle. Some years do have more than one manual...a Service Manual, Overhaul manual, and even body and electrical manuals. The Service, and Overhaul manuals should be all you need for repair info.


______________

Joel Adams
C3VR Lifetime Member #56    
My Link


(click for Texas-sized view!)             NCRS

"Money can't buy happiness -- but somehow it's more comforting to cry in a CORVETTE than in a Kia"

Heh Joel, I have yet to find a "Service Manual" for the 80's on up just "Shop Manuals"

______________

Click on image for larger view!
LIFETIME MEMBER 151

Yeah Albo...I don't know when they started the "Shop Manual" era, instead of individual year "Service" manuals. I think I have seen an '81 FSM....several times. Apparently, it may be the only one in existence, because the guy that has it thinks it's worth waaaay more than I think it is. Last time I looked at it, I think it was priced at $125....and it ain't in all that good a condition. Next time I'm out that way, I'll check again, and see for sure what year model manual it is.

BTW..the link above is for the correct Factory Service Manual...or at least a "high-quality reprint ". Priced about right, too. Maybe a bit higher than "normal", but it is supposedly brand new. I have some concerns with "reprints" of old stuff...sometimes, they don't always come out right. You might have a page or two that you just can't read, or the pics might be too dark/light to see....
Used manuals are out there...I see them all the time at swap meets, and even antique malls. I bought a '67 Corvette FSM a while back for $15! They are usually around $40, for most of them.

Rock, the FSMs DO cover more than just Corvettes, for most year models. Since a lot of car lines had the same operating systems(engine/trans/steering, etc.), they put it all into one manual, but have different sections in the manual to cover vehicle specific info.

The "Shop Manuals" usually only cover Corvette, but several years of Corvette.


|UPDATED|8/1/2012 9:59:49 AM (AZT)|/UPDATED|


______________

Joel Adams
C3VR Lifetime Member #56    
My Link


(click for Texas-sized view!)             NCRS

"Money can't buy happiness -- but somehow it's more comforting to cry in a CORVETTE than in a Kia"