It sounds like you’re looking for a SAE J1939-71 PDF (the standard for Vehicle Application Layer for J1939) — but with a “lifestyle and entertainment” twist, as if reviewing it like a feature article.
J1939-71 defines what the data means. Without this document, a raw CAN bus message like 0x18FEF100 is just gibberish. With J1939-71, you know that message is "Electronic Engine Controller 1" reporting engine speed at 1500 RPM.
If you are reverse-engineering a vehicle, these are the "hot" tables you look up first in the PDF: sae j193971 pdf hot
This article serves as your complete roadmap to understanding J193971, why it matters, and the legal path to obtaining the current "hot" revision.
Q: Is there a free version of SAE J1939-71? A: No official free version exists. SAE provides only a "Preview" (first few pages). Free PDFs online are almost always illegal copies of obsolete revisions. It sounds like you’re looking for a SAE
J1939/71_201404 : Vehicle Application Layer - SAE International
Conclusion
Think of it this way: