Service and repair manuals for 7 model years of the GMC General, 1982 to 1988. Each manual is matched to one exact year — the specifications and procedure sequences are the ones GMC published for that year's engine and trim, not values carried across the whole production run.
Engines across the range: 14.0L I6 — 855 cu in, turbocharged · 9.3L V8 — 568 cu in · 14.6L I6 — 893 cu in, turbocharged · 9.0L V6 — 552 cu in · 12.1L V8 — 736 cu in · 7.0L I6 — 426 cu in · 10.0L I6 — 611 cu in, turbocharged · 12.7L I6 — 774 cu in · 11.1L I6 — 677 cu in.
Federal safety record, all years: 4 recalls, 0 owner complaints and 0 technical service bulletins are logged for the General. Refreshed 2026-08-21.
01 / Model yearsChoose your General year
| Year | Price | Recalls | Engines | Trims | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1988 | $29.99 | 1 | 14.0L I6; 11.1L I6; 14.6L I6; 9.0L V6; 12.7L I6; 12.1L V8; 10.0L I6; 7.0L I6 | N9F042 Straight Truck - Long Conventional · N9F064 Straight Truck - Long Conventional · N9E042 Straight Truck - Medium Conventional · N9E064 Tractor Truck - Medium Conventional +7 | select |
| 1987 | $29.99 | — | 14.6L I6; 14.0L I6; 9.0L V6; 12.7L I6; 12.1L V8; 10.0L I6; 7.0L I6 | N9F064 Straight Truck - Long Conventional · N9E042 Straight Truck - Medium Conventional · N9F064 Tractor Truck - Low Tilt · N9E064 Tractor Truck - Medium Conventional +6 | select |
| 1986 | $29.99 | 2 | 14.0L I6; 9.0L V6; 12.1L V8; 14.6L I6; 10.0L I6; 7.0L I6 | N9F042 Straight Truck - Long Conventional · N9F064 Straight Truck - Long Conventional · N9E042 Straight Truck - Medium Conventional · N9F064 Tractor Truck - Low Tilt +8 | select |
| 1985 | $29.99 | 1 | 14.0L I6; 12.1L V8; 9.0L V6; 9.3L V8; 14.6L I6; 10.0L I6; 7.0L I6 | N9F042 Straight Truck - Long Conventional · N9E042 Straight Truck - Medium Conventional · N9F064 Tractor Truck - Low Tilt · N9F064 Tractor Truck - Long Conventional +9 | select |
| 1984 | $29.99 | — | 14.0L I6; 9.0L V6; 12.1L V8; 14.6L I6; 7.0L I6 | N9F042 Straight Truck - Long Conventional · N9F064 Straight Truck - Long Conventional · N9E042 Straight Truck - Medium Conventional · N9E064 Tractor Truck - Medium Conventional +4 | select |
| 1983 | $29.99 | — | 14.0L I6; 9.3L V8; 14.6L I6; 9.0L V6; 12.1L V8; 7.0L I6 | N9F042 Straight Truck - Long Conventional · N9F064 Straight Truck - Long Conventional · N9E064 Tractor Truck - Medium Conventional · N9F064 Tractor Truck - Long Conventional +3 | select |
| 1982 | $29.99 | — | 14.0L I6; 9.3L V8; 14.6L I6; 9.0L V6; 12.1L V8; 7.0L I6 | N9F042 Straight Truck - Long Conventional · N9F064 Straight Truck - Long Conventional · N9E042 Straight Truck - Medium Conventional · N9E064 Tractor Truck - Medium Conventional +4 | select |
02 / Other yearsOther General years
1988 GMC General · $29.99 select →
Engines: 14.0L I6 — 855 cu in, turbocharged; 11.1L I6 — 677 cu in; 14.6L I6 — 893 cu in, turbocharged; 9.0L V6 — 552 cu in; 12.7L I6 — 774 cu in; 12.1L V8 — 736 cu in; 10.0L I6 — 611 cu in, turbocharged; 7.0L I6 — 426 cu in. Trims: N9F042 Straight Truck - Long Conventional · N9F064 Straight Truck - Long Conventional · N9E042 Straight Truck - Medium Conventional · N9E064 Tractor Truck - Medium Conventional · N9E064 Straight Truck - Low Tilt · N9F042 Tractor Truck - Long Conventional · N9F064 Tractor Truck - Long Conventional · N9E064 Straight Truck - Medium Conventional · N9E042 Tractor Truck - Medium Conventional · N9F020 Gliders - Long Conventional · N9E020 Gliders - Medium Conventional.
- Service Brakes, Air — controls, pedals and linkages: The rear axle brakes may not release in the timesspecified by fmvss 121.
1987 GMC General · $29.99 select →
Engines: 14.6L I6 — 893 cu in, turbocharged; 14.0L I6 — 855 cu in, turbocharged; 9.0L V6 — 552 cu in; 12.7L I6 — 774 cu in; 12.1L V8 — 736 cu in; 10.0L I6 — 611 cu in, turbocharged; 7.0L I6 — 426 cu in. Trims: N9F064 Straight Truck - Long Conventional · N9E042 Straight Truck - Medium Conventional · N9F064 Tractor Truck - Low Tilt · N9E064 Tractor Truck - Medium Conventional · N9F064 Tractor Truck - Long Conventional · N9F042 Tractor Truck - Long Conventional · N9E064 Straight Truck - Medium Conventional · N9E042 Tractor Truck - Medium Conventional · N9F020 Gliders - Long Conventional · N9E020 Gliders - Medium Conventional.
No recalls on federal record for the 1987 General.
1986 GMC General · $29.99 select →
Engines: 14.0L I6 — 855 cu in, turbocharged; 9.0L V6 — 552 cu in; 12.1L V8 — 736 cu in; 14.6L I6 — 893 cu in, turbocharged; 10.0L I6 — 611 cu in, turbocharged; 7.0L I6 — 426 cu in. Trims: N9F042 Straight Truck - Long Conventional · N9F064 Straight Truck - Long Conventional · N9E042 Straight Truck - Medium Conventional · N9F064 Tractor Truck - Low Tilt · N9E064 Tractor Truck - Medium Conventional · N9E064 Tractor Truck - Low Tilt · N9F064 Tractor Truck - Long Conventional · N9F042 Tractor Truck - Long Conventional · N9E064 Straight Truck - Medium Conventional · N9E042 Tractor Truck - Medium Conventional · N9F020 Gliders - Long Conventional · N9E020 Gliders - Medium Conventional.
- Steering — steering wheel/handle bar: A clamp pinch bolt securing the upper steering shaft to the lower steering shaft may loosen.
- Vehicle Speed Control — springs: The throttle return spring assembly may fail and prevent the throttle from returning to the closed (idle) position when the accelerator pedal is released.
1985 GMC General · $29.99 select →
Engines: 14.0L I6 — 855 cu in, turbocharged; 12.1L V8 — 736 cu in; 9.0L V6 — 552 cu in; 9.3L V8 — 568 cu in; 14.6L I6 — 893 cu in, turbocharged; 10.0L I6 — 611 cu in, turbocharged; 7.0L I6 — 426 cu in. Trims: N9F042 Straight Truck - Long Conventional · N9E042 Straight Truck - Medium Conventional · N9F064 Tractor Truck - Low Tilt · N9F064 Tractor Truck - Long Conventional · N9E042 Tractor Truck - Medium Conventional · N9F064 Straight Truck - Long Conventional · N9E064 Tractor Truck - Low Tilt · N9E064 Tractor Truck - Medium Conventional · N9F042 Tractor Truck - Long Conventional · N9E064 Straight Truck - Medium Conventional · N9F020 Gliders - Long Conventional · N9F064 Straight Truck - Low Tilt · N9E020 Gliders - Medium Conventional.
- Steering — steering wheel/handle bar: A clamp pinch bolt securing the upper steering shaft to the lower steering shaft may loosen.
1984 GMC General · $29.99 select →
Engines: 14.0L I6 — 855 cu in, turbocharged; 9.0L V6 — 552 cu in; 12.1L V8 — 736 cu in; 14.6L I6 — 893 cu in, turbocharged; 7.0L I6 — 426 cu in. Trims: N9F042 Straight Truck - Long Conventional · N9F064 Straight Truck - Long Conventional · N9E042 Straight Truck - Medium Conventional · N9E064 Tractor Truck - Medium Conventional · N9F064 Tractor Truck - Long Conventional · N9E064 Straight Truck - Medium Conventional · N9F020 Gliders - Long Conventional · N9E020 Gliders - Medium Conventional.
No recalls on federal record for the 1984 General.
1983 GMC General · $29.99 select →
Engines: 14.0L I6 — 855 cu in, turbocharged; 9.3L V8 — 568 cu in; 14.6L I6 — 893 cu in, turbocharged; 9.0L V6 — 552 cu in; 12.1L V8 — 736 cu in; 7.0L I6 — 426 cu in. Trims: N9F042 Straight Truck - Long Conventional · N9F064 Straight Truck - Long Conventional · N9E064 Tractor Truck - Medium Conventional · N9F064 Tractor Truck - Long Conventional · N9E064 Straight Truck - Medium Conventional · N9E042 Tractor Truck - Medium Conventional · N9F020 Gliders - Long Conventional.
No recalls on federal record for the 1983 General.
1982 GMC General · $29.99 select →
Engines: 14.0L I6 — 855 cu in, turbocharged; 9.3L V8 — 568 cu in; 14.6L I6 — 893 cu in, turbocharged; 9.0L V6 — 552 cu in; 12.1L V8 — 736 cu in; 7.0L I6 — 426 cu in. Trims: N9F042 Straight Truck - Long Conventional · N9F064 Straight Truck - Long Conventional · N9E042 Straight Truck - Medium Conventional · N9E064 Tractor Truck - Medium Conventional · N9F064 Tractor Truck - Long Conventional · N9E064 Straight Truck - Medium Conventional · N9F020 Gliders - Long Conventional · N9E020 Gliders - Medium Conventional.
No recalls on federal record for the 1982 General.
03 / OwnershipOwn it — don't rent it
| Option | What you pay | After a year |
|---|---|---|
| eManualStore General manual | $29.99 once | Still yours |
| Per-vehicle online subscription | from $29 / year, renewing | Pay again or lose access |
| Library membership services | $33 / month, capped | $396 spent, nothing kept |
| Professional shop databases | $499–$2,388 / year | Renew or lose access |
Competitor figures as published on their sites, August 2026.
FAQQuestions about the General manual
Which General years does this manual cover?
Every year from 1982 to 1988 — 7 separate manuals, one per model year. Pick your year in the selector; the manual you receive is matched to that exact year, engine and trim.
Is this the OEM GMC General manual or an aftermarket guide?
The OEM version. It carries the procedures, specifications, torque values and wiring diagrams GMC published for the General, organized by system — not a condensed aftermarket summary.
Does it include General wiring diagrams?
Yes. Full wiring diagrams are part of every General manual, alongside repair procedures, specifications and diagnostic information.
Does the manual cover General recalls?
4 recalls are on federal record across the 1982–1988 General, listed by year below. The manual carries the manufacturer's diagnostic and repair procedures behind the systems involved; the recall repairs themselves are performed free by GMC dealers.
Why do some General years cost more?
Every General year is $29.99.
Is this a subscription?
No. One payment, and the manual is yours to keep — unlike per-vehicle subscriptions that renew every year.
How do I get the manual after purchase?
It is a digital manual — nothing ships. Access details arrive by email right after checkout, and you can use it on any device.
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