1996 Camaro Convertible

So, here's a quick peek at my '96 Camaro Convertible that I bought about 2 months ago. It's been here at the shop since I bought it. I'm just finishing up a few things today, and just about to align it (as you can see).



It's a "base" 3.8L Auto with 94k on it. Extremely well maintained and garage kept. I finished up the OP gasket, Trans Output seal, Rear Diff Pinion seal, and a few other little high-mileage repairs last night. Come to find out, when filling the rear diff, that it has the locking Posi rear end in it. That kind of geeks me a little bit, because this might be my next project (after the Riv of course). I'll post some more pics once I get her all cleaned up! She's a bit dirty from sitting outside for so long....I'm going to have it wheeled out and completely detailed.

Looks nice! Sold mine about a month ago. They're a blast to cruise around in!

I remember the first 4th gen Camaro I saw, when it came into the dealership in town.  It blew my mind with how futuristic it looked.  A few days later some of my high school classmates went and beat the crap out of it.  They were from good families so nothing happened to them.  

I'm not sure I'd trade my Riviera in on one, but I like to see them  

BTW isn't amazing that it was once possible to design cars without a bazillion creases in them?

I still partially regret not taking our '99 V6 instead of the Rivi. Initially I had the choice of either it or our truck, but instead the Camaro got traded in and 3 years later we got the Rivi. If it was the V8 I never would have met any of you guys

I've always wanted a Camaro. I was in J.H.S. when this body came out. Never could afford one.

The PO put new struts/shocks, and brakes on it. The top is also new. I'm guessing they got an estimate on fixing the leaks, and just decided to trade it in. What a PITA to replace the OP gasket. RF camber was wayyyyy off. Luckily, the LCA's have slots at the mounting points. I spent a good hour straightening out the front end. Every bolt came loose better than most newer cars. I actually DROVE it yesterday. Found out that the front tires are bad. It has a pretty wicked radial pull to the left. Other than that, it drives beautifully.

I have to find a Convertible Top switch. It only goes "up". I knew this when I bought it. We reversed the polarity at the pump itself, and the top works perfectly. Unfortunately, the switch is discontinued and unobtainium. I'm hoping I can take the switch apart and repair it. Either that, or I'll wire in an old school window switch in its place...One that can handle the current.

I've just been fixing/cleaning all the little things to bring it up to my standards. Next thing to go is the factory air intake. What a joke that is....

It gets wheeled out and detailed on Monday.

Nice car!
I test drove a 95 Z28 in 95, wow that was a fun ride!
You don't see many of those on the road anymore, if I see one its usually quite beat. Great find.
Jbird

Fixed the Convertible Top Switch today  

Took the switch completely apart. It's a weird one. It's a 4-wire ON/OFF/ON/OFF toggle switch. The contacts were a little dirty on the "down" side. Cleaned them up with some thin emery cloth, cleaned with solvent, and tested with my Ohm-meter. It worked. Put it back in the car and YAY!

Ordered a CAI for it today too. Didn't bother to have the car cleaned. It's been raining off and on all day. No sense in having it cleaned up just to drive it outside in the shit.
Talked to our paintless dent removal guy today. He's going to come in on Wednesday and "repair" the door dings in the rear quarters for me.

All cleaned up! New tires on her. CAI will be here today. The car is coming home for the weekend, then on to project strip-transfer-crush the gold Riv! The van next to it is the "dent guys". He fixed the all the door dings in the rear quarters this morning.

wow! clean!

camaro looks nice and clean! I've always kinda liked those earlier 4th gen headlights. They are much meaner than the 98-02.

Sorry to hear that the gold Riv is getting crushed. Another one bites the dust . . .

turtleman wrote:

camaro looks nice and clean! I've always kinda liked those earlier 4th gen headlights. They are much meaner than the 98-02.

Yes they are, the refresh was doofy looking. Same with the TA. But one has to wonder why GM couldn't include a plastic light cover for aerodynamics on the early headlights. They are a bit iffy looking.

Jack the R wrote:

Sorry to hear that the gold Riv is getting crushed.  Another one bites the dust . . .

Yeah. I've driven it year-round for the last 13yrs. I've managed to keep the body clean, but unfortunately, the underbody is literally falling apart. There are only 5 cradle bolts that are secure. The 6th one (under my feet) is rattling and just spins. I'll toss up the giant rust hole pics when I get it up in the air.

Dropped the top and took the Camaro out to lunch. It's actually a beautiful day today. Damn this car is nice. I'm glad I jumped on it when I did. It was an hour away from going to auction the day I pulled the trigger. The CAI woke it up a little bit. Perfect car for the woman. I mashed it to the floor a few times, and well, it just isn't fast enough for me lol. As long as she takes care of it, it might be my next project (turbo 3800?). Time will tell. The Riv is first.

I agree this model looks better than the 98-02s. Saw one on the street today and they look like sharks. Much more aggressive than than the model after.

Camaros > mustangs but Riv over everything.

98-02=catfish

I've always really wanted to take a 3800 and t5 out of one of these and drop it into a g body regal (althought I doubt it would just "drop in" lol)

I'm about ready to murder somebody I come in this morning, and a co-worker of mine asks "who hit the Camaro?" I IMMEDIATELY get red faced, ears burning. We walk outside to where it's parked, and sure as shit, somebody hit the fucking thing in the rear end. Scuffed the rear fascia, cracked the paint, and now it bowed out where it wraps the RR corner of the quarter panel. I can realign the fascia, and have the detailer get most of the scuffs out, but that's not the point.
If I fuck somebody's car up, I'm telling them about it, period. I'm soooooo pissed right now I'm having a hard time working. I got it insured Monday night, and the plate should be here today. Figures.....

FUCK!

Jesus somebody give Abaddon a break. You wouldn't happen to have cameras set up would you?

seek and destroy

Nobody manning up.....detail guy got the paint off of it, but you can still see the scuffs in the fascia. EVERYBODY knows it's my car. It's only been on my hoist for 2 weeks getting fixed. I pull it out and park it AWAY from employee parking to be out of the way, and some douche hits it.

Dang dude, that's just shitty luck. Sorry to hear it. Possibly narrow down your search by seeing who drives a car the same color as the paint left on your bumper?

could it have been a customer who is long gone now? Or are you sure it's someone that works there?

charlieRobinson wrote:

could it have been a customer who is long gone now? Or are you sure it's someone that works there?

It's employee parking. We're in a giant gated lot. I doubt it was a customer. It could've been a wholesaler or something like that. Who the hell knows. Word is around that I'm looking to twist someones head off. I doubt I'll find out who did it....

Man up and move on with your life. That's how I was raised.

I am with you but I can tell you from what I see at my work place that integrity and honor is a lost value. Sad but true.

Detective Abaddon is on the case (damn I thought there was a detective emoji....).

People generally suck more than you like to believe.

I'm going to guess it wasn't a regular employee if no one has noticed matching damage on another employee's vehicle.

Sorry to hear about it. I'll beam some good karma at you fwiw.