I've downloaded the factory service manual several times. It does have its uses but you are correct. The photos and text can be fuzzy. Perhaps this is just me, but I far prefer a printed book to reading on a computer. I have several reproduction manuals from Faxon. They aren't cheap, but they also aren't outrageous either. This is an excellent resource for working on your car.
For rebuilding a slant I highly recommend Doug Dutra's book. You can find it easily on Amazon.