I've had the dubious pleasure to get a few of the loose-leaf editions at various revisions. The history of the Big Blue Book is kinda like so...
- First copies appear in 1 binder in 1960, give or take.
It is very thin, with the minimum tasks needed to service the car at that time. For instance, there is nothing for the rear end, since it shouldn't need service.
- First binder is quickly filled at or about revision 9.
- 2nd Binder is filled by revision 20.
- Revisions are published to #40.
- A special single binder edition is republished at revision 38. This big book starts full and gets revision 39 & 40, most of the time. This special revision is missing about 8 sections, including the Hydraq intro.
- A paperback is printed that covers most of the missing sections from the single binder.
- This paperback is reprinted a zillion times. Each printing looses quality of the pictures. I am not aware any paperback revision having more pages than any other.
- For each of handling a 2 volume paperback appears. I've not handled it, so I don't know what's in it.
-CTH