Hows everyone doing today?

It is about time that I do something about my Camaro! Its been sitting too long because of a sub engine frame and lower control arm problems!

I recently took it in to a South San Francisco Body shop called Agundis and they told me what my problems were. They mentioned that I have:

1) A bad sub-engine frame
2) NO bolts holding my right side up except for a SINGLE BOLT.
3) Leaking rack and pinion
4) Bent right side lower control arm

They said that I was lucky enough to not be dead by now!

So I went out and used their help to buy parts. So far I bought:

-a used sub-engine from that came off of a 01 SS
- two lower control arm that came off of the same car
- also got a used rack and pinion.

All parts were removed from a body shop and purchased from the same body shop that removed them- I bought these in person and inspected them with the help of a Camaro enthusiast.

NOW my question is what bolts/washers do I need and what bushings should I get. I have the measurements and they are:

M12 x 60 1.75 GRADE 8
&
M12 X 40 1.75 GRADE 8

""I DONT KNOW HOW MANY OF EACH WILL BE NEEDED""

IF THESE ARE WRONG PLEASE CORRECT ME!

I need bushings/washers and bolts so that I can get the work done on my car..

So far i searched auto zone and oreily for a bushing kit and found some, but I'm not to sure on what to buy.

i really need help;any help or information will greatly be appreciated!!!

Thank you so much!!


-Vic M

ALSO IF THERE ARE ANY PEOPLE FROM THE SAN FRANCISCO AREA OR SOMEWHERE LOCAL TO ME, PLEASE LET ME KNOW... I AM WILLING TO LISTEN AND HELP IN ANY WAY POSSIBLE.

 

Craby posted a parts manual, but I can't find it at this time. However, you can stop at your local Chevy dealer and they will have pictures and part numbers for what you need. Most likely you will have to buy the parts from them, as some such as the bolts have special shoulders and washers which are only available from the dealer.

 

If they removed them from a another vehicle why not use the bolts they removed from the other vehicle?

 

You want to get GM parts used or new. Frame bolt have a calculated strength and with those bolt the car reacts a certain way when it is torque and if the car is in a bad accident. Weaker/ stronger/ more flex/ less flex can all cause problems. The last thing you want in a head on collision is for a bolt that is suppose shear off to not-shear. Also under the stress of hard cornering the bolts may need to stretch. Some stronger steels will not return to their original length and will end up coming lose.

FYI Hardware store Grade 8 bolts are not grade 8. They are cheap China made bolts with the grade 8 symbol on the head. The bolts where so much cheaper then ones I was using at work I picked up some and tested them. The Grade 8’s failed at about the level of a grade 4 should and they were very inconsistent on how a where they failed.

There are good body men out there but most are not trained mechanics. I cannot tell how many times I have gotten “repaired” cars from the body shop that just needed “aligned” that were not safe to drive(at a dealership). Body men make cars pretty, your better off dealing with a mechanic to fix mechanical issues. If the body shop you are dealing with has an alignment machine then they have a trained person. Not a frame machine but an alignment machine. If they send their alignment out to be done they can bolt the parts on for you but you want the repairs checked by a suspension tech.

 

93-02 parts manual is in the how to and faq sticky at the top of this section. number 1 in the 3rd post https://camaroforums.com/forum/93-02...62/#post557639 whats wrong with the bolts you took out?