Hello we just purchased a 1986 Camaro. It needs quiet a bit of work at this time. My Husband replaced the spark plugs and changed the oil and a few other normal maintenance type things and the car runs quiet well. Fires up good and drives pretty well.

It has a V6 engine in it and I am curious how good this engine is. Also it seems to need some transmission work due to a leak. I guess my question concerning this part is how durable is the V6? And how durable is the particular transmission that is in it?

Next I need some advice on where to find some interior parts. I have searched and searched the internet, but have come up with nothing. I need at least a new drivers seat or a kit to somehow fix the old. The seat does not stay in an upright position and seems to fall back about 2 notches to lay back some. While it is still easy to drive, we are a bit concerned of what part might be broken and if it could fall back even more. At some point we are wanting redo the upholstry and interior on the car, so getting new seats is an option, but the least cost is the best option for us at this time

I also am on a search for some bushings for the drivers side door, and the cover for the horn on the steering wheel. For some unknown reason the cover is missing for the area where the horn is at. I believe it is called a horn cap, but due to the fact that I an not on the up and up with all my car terms yet, please bear with me. We are also trying to find a mirror for the passanger side of the car. For some reason the part were the mirror should be there, but there is no mirror on that sad.

As I said the car needs quite a bit of work and through the next couple years we plan to work on it budget premitting. Any advice on how to get started or where we might be able to find some of these parts would be great. I am pretty sure I can get the bushings locally, I am mostly concerned about the seats and what to do there.

And if you all do not mind I plan to come here with more questions and search for advice from some of you that have Camaros and worked on them already. I have lurked and read messages on this board for over a week now and have found some interesting information.


Thank you....

 

Welcome !!!!

Well as for trim pieces... They are very readily available.. The best place to get a good deal on interior trim pieces are on here or

www.thirdgen.org

In the classifieds.. Find someone who is parting out a 3rd gen and ask if they have the trim pieces to sell you usually they do and you can pick them up cheap.. On here go to the marketplace and go to car/parts for sale and again look for anyone parting out a car.. Or do a search for parting out 3rd gen or 3rd gen interior peices..

Try here also..

http://www.tacreationsusa.com/

http://www.hawksthirdgenparts.com/home

As for seats you can use old or new camaro seats.. Buy some new 3rd gens or buy some used 4th gen camaro seats.. which ever you perfer.. On my camaro it rocked for some reason and I had the gangsta lean going on that your speaking of.. You could also get aftermarket seats..

Sagging doors are problems and most likely the paint is worn off on the bottom ground effect near the back of the door cause of the sagging.. Go here this is about the best place to get a replacement..
http://andyz28.com/

IF all else fails go to www.ebaymotors.com and do a search for 82-92 camaro look for the parts you need, but beware you will pay aliitle more than looking through the classifieds..


If you need to know anything else just ask there are alot of people on here who like to help..

Sorry I don't know much about V6's ... I'm a 305/350/400 V8 guy I know them like the back of my hand but never really owned a V6 except on a 92 S-10 that I bought and sold to make some money.. V6 HO Vortec.. But maintenance, changing oils and filters will help make it last longer.. hoses and brakes and suspension fixes will happen those parts wear so you have to keep up with them.. I assume your going to only be using this as a daily driver and your probably not going to be hitting the track any time soon..

K

 

No we do not plan to take it out on the track. I would love to drive a car on the track, but I want to fix this one up so that it is in more of a show condition. Depending on how well that goes we may drop a V8 in the car and get it a new transmission.

Truth be known I am the one in love with the Camaro. My husband is the one working on it. He has more passion for trucks than cars. But knows I have been dreaming of owning a Camaro for a long time. If he ends up driving it at all he will put a V8 in it. He has already mentioned this a few times.

Thanks for the links. I will head out to see what I can find at them.

 

Check out yearone.com then go to '82-'02 F-body under the "next generation" section. Last time I looked, they had a lot of interior parts. As far as the seat, my '88 driver's seat leaned back pretty far when I first got it - my dad put a bolt through the metal brackets and its held up for years...though it may be a bit too upright for some. Its a good temporary fix 'till you redo the interior. I haven't looked at it in a while, but I believe when you open the door, pull the plastic cover off the seat (right behind the seat belt housing) and there's metal brackets there...he just drilled a hole and put a bolt in there. GM is known for junky seats and radios. Driving my parent's '94 Bonneville, the radio volume **** is very "touchy" and once driving down the road, it just started blasting for no reason...I reached for the volume as fast as I could. With the seat, I also unbolted the seat (there's 4 bolts - 1 in each corner - under plastic covers) and put a couple washers under the mounts to raise the seat up...you can put more in front/back - left/right - to adjust it to your taste. Have fun & good luck.