I am not really making a true project out of this thing just yet. I just kind of want to keep a record of things done to it.

So far in the last three weeks or so:

Replaced all gauge and switch backlights with LED
Replaced the loosely tossed into the dash opening stereo with a properly mounted on with Bluetooth
Resoldered the BCM
Fixed the high beam switch (some guy left out a screw when mounting it and it slid out of alignment)
Replaced the broken front blinker
Put LEDs in both front blinkers an replaced blinker relay with a HD LED-compatible one
Replaced the broken fog light with an OE from the junkyard
Replaced the offensively white HVAC panel face with a black one to match the rest of the interior


Replaced hood and hatch gas springs
Replaced upper radiator mount bolts, removing the broken ones

Extracted the broken IAC screw and replaced them both
Replaced the cracked in half EGR valve
Replaced the rotted vacuum hoses in the EVAP system
Replaced the Evap vacuum switch, purge switch,and purge valve
Replaced MAF
This set of fixes cleared the three codes lighting the Check Engine light



The MAF replacement cleared the MAF code, the Evap tubing also made idle smoother and more stable, and EGR replacement actually made it idle properly and stop blowing exhaust into the interior when stopped in traffic.
P1441 got a lot less frequent with replacing underhood tubing, but didn't go away completely until I fixed the rotted out hoses behind the left back wheel.

Replaced the drivers door hinge pins and bushings, realigned the door
Clipped the loose weatherstrip back in
Repaired the cracked inside handle bezel
Fixed the wobbly headlight (someone messed up the tension spring)

Replaced rear sway bar links. One was old, and one left the chat completely.
Replaced alternator
Replaced idler and tensioner pulleys

Temporarily fixed a pinhole leak in the return line by the tank. Cut it out and threw some hose on it. Will replace the line eventually.

All in all, the car now smells, sounds, runs, and looks better. Also drives better.

To be continued...

 

Replaced a section of the windshield washer tubing between nozzles with some hose. I had thi cool little fountain going straight up. The plastic pipe apparently got porous.

Also replaced the rotted foam on the underside of the cowling. It probably isn't super important, just some noise dampening, but still. BTW, this is pretty good stuff for that.




They sell it at home stores.

 

Yesterday was brakes.

Front brakes had uneven rotor wear - inboard worn lots more than outboard. Weirdly, pads were OK and caliper pins not seized, almost new looking. Kinda looks like someone replaced seized pins and pads and left old rotors on.
Rears, drums looked OK, so I left them, but threw in new shoes and springs.

Fresh pads and rotors make for pretty decent braking.

While I had the car up I checked the PS leak. I think it's the pump shaft seal, it's crusty inside the pulley. So that would be the next big thing.

Also noticed a kink in the Panhard bar. No idea how you would bend it, but I have to replace it now. Obviously with a quality performance part.

 

Today was brake hoses and power steering pump.

The hose thing came out of the fact that after replacing the pads and rotors I still had some dragging. This is likely why the old rotors were uneven. I had a similar issue on a different GM car, and the cause was hoses that looked fine on the outside, but swelled internally.
So, I put in braided vinyl-covered hoses. I usually do this on my bikes, too. 30 year old rubber isn't very good.


As a bonus, I discovered my brake fluid was pretty gross. Replacing hoses results in a flush anyway, and I flushed a little longer to get it clear.

I think the drag is fixed, and the braking is much improved. I know people talk about upgrading brakes and whatnot, but I feel like a lot of the improvement comes from replacing malfunctioning brakes with good ones.

The steering pump was leaking from the shaft seal, as evidenced by the inside of the pulley being caked with greasy mud. Again, as a bonus, my PS fluid was gross and brown. I drained the reservoir a couple of times and used up a bottle and a half of fluid. Not wholly clear, but way better than it was. I will probably do that some more. I did find out that the hose from the bottle to the pump is unobtanium, but the one I have seems to not be leaking, even though it feels harder than it should be.

The pump requires the use of the puller/installer for the pulley. I have one, but haven't used it in like a decade, and it turned out that the threads on the tip were boogered, and I had to fix that first. Also, the dumb thing is that because this whole steering system was designed in the 50s or 60s the tool is all SAE. Annoying on a mostly metric car.

I should wash the engine and see what else leaks.

 

Washed the engine. Seems to be staying pretty clean.

Transmission was a quart low, so there might be a small leak somewhere. That's a "get it up on a lift" kind of check, though.

Finally decided to look at the spare tire. Tire was flat and everything was tossed into the well. Wirebrushed the well, painted it with POR15, cleaned the hold down bolt, now it is all in place and won't rattle. Apparently, I am missing the lug wrench. Pretty sure I have a correct one in the garage somewhere...

 

New dash today.

https://camaroforums.com/forum/93-02...acement-88032/

 

This week was AC.

I got the kit with the compressor and accumulator, but when I cracked the system open I found metal flakes. So, condenser had to go.

As a result of this I now have pretty much brand new AC that is super cold and the compressor does not make noise.

 

This week was

Valve cover gaskets
https://camaroforums.com/forum/93-02...gaskets-88072/

Also, water pump.
It hasn't failed, but it was leaking (loose bolt combined with an over-siliconed paper gasket) and, apparently, was the last one of the things making noise.

This makes for every accessory on the serpentine belt replaced now.

Sounds tons quieter than it did before.

 

you remember to use good thread sealer on them pump bolts.

 

I used a bolt kit that had sealer on the bolts.

Think that might not be adequate?