1974 CHEVROLET CAMARO Owners Manual

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine tory with a high-quality, inhibited,
year-around coolant that meets the
standards of General Motors
Spe­
cification 1899-M. This coolant
solution provides freezing protec­
tion to
-20oP (-35°P in Can­
ada), and it has been formulated to
be used for two full calendar years
or
24,000 miles, whichever first
occurs, of normal operation with­
out replacement, provided the
proper concentration of coolant is
maintained.
Cooling System Care
The radiator cap should not be
removed to check coolant level.
Check the coolant level visually in
the 'see thru' coolant recovery tank
at least
as frequently as engine oil
changes. Level should be at the
"full cold" mark on the recovery
tank when the system
is cold. At
normal operating temperature the
coolant should be at the
"full hot"
mark on the recovery tank. Add sufficient
coolant to the recovery
tank.
Use a 50/50 mixture of high­
quality ethylene glycol antifreeze
and water for coolant additions.
If
regular additions are required, see
your dealer for a cooling system
check.
NOTE: If recommended quality
antifreeze
is used, supplemental in­
hibitors or additives claiming to
provide increased capability are
not necessary. They may be detri­
mental to the efficient operation of
the system, and represent an un­
necessary operating expense.
Every year, the cooling system
should be serviced
as follows:
1. Wash
radiator cap and filler
neck with clean water.
2. Check coolant for proper level
and freeze protection.
3. Pressure test system and radia-
54
tor cap for proper pressure hold­
ing capacity (15 psi) .
If re­
placement of cap
is required, use
the special AC cap designed for
coolant recovery systems, speci­
fied for your model.
4. Tighten hose clamps and inspect
all hoses. Replace hoses when­
ever swollen, checked or other­
wise deteriorated.
5. Clean frontal area of radiator
core and air conditioning con­
denser.
Replace hoses every 24 months
or 24,000 miles or earlier if
checked, swollen or otherwise de­
teriorated. Every two years
or 24,-
000 miles, whichever first occurs,
the cooling system should be
flushed and refilled using the fol­
lowing recommended procedure:
1. Remove radiator cap when
engine is cool by:
• Slowly rotating cap counter-

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine clockwise to detent (do not
press down while rotating).
• Wait until any residual pres­
sure (indicated by a hissing
sound)
is relieved.
• After all hissing ceases, press
down on cap while continuing
to rotate counterclockwise.
CAUTION: To ,a~()/d' thedange, .• olbfling "l)~ned;tlo n(Jtl'entoveradiator «aP while
, engipe and radiator are ,stlll hot because $ca/ding ' flU./d·antlsteam' will be blown .
(1utunder pressure.
2. If necessary, run engine, with
radiator cap removed, until nor­
mal operating temperature
is
reached and upper radiator hose
is hot (indicates thermostat
is
open).
3. Stop engine and open radiator
drain valve to drain coolant. (To
speed this operation, the drain
plugs in the block can also be
removed.) 4.
Close valve (install block drain
plugs, if removed) and add suf­
ficient water to
fill system .
5. Run engine, drain and refill the
system, as described in steps
1,
2, 3, and 4, a sufficient number
of times until the drained liquid
is nearly colorless.
6. Allow system to drain com­
pletely and then close radiator
drain valve tightly. (Install
block drain plugs, if removed.)
7. Remove recovery cap leaving
hoses in place. Remove coolant
recovery tank and empty of
fluid. Flush tank with clean
water , drain and reinstall.
8. Add sufficient ethylene glycol
coolant , meeting GM specifica­
tion 1899-M, to provide the re­
quired freezing and corrosion
protection-at least a 44 percent
solution
(-20°F). Fill radiator
to the base of the radiator filler
55
neck and add sufficient coolant
to the recovery tank to raise level
to the
"FULL HOT" mark. Re­
install recovery tank cap.
9. Run engine , with radiator cap
removed, until normal operat­
ing
temperature is reached.
(Radiator upper hose becomes
hot.)
10. With engine idling, add cool­
ant until level reaches bottom
of filler neck and install radia­
tor cap making certain arrows
line up with overflow tube.
It is the owner's responsibility
to keep the freeze protection at a
level commensurate with the tem­
peratures which may occur in the
area of vehicle operation .
• Maintain cooling system freeze
protection at
-20 °F or below
to ensure protection against cor­
rosion and loss of coolant from
boiling even though freezing

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine temperatures are not expected.
• Add ethylene glycol base coolant
that meets GM Specification
1899-M when coolant additions
are required because of coolant
loss or to provide additional pro­
tection against freezing at tem­
peratures lower than
-20°F
(-35°F in Canada).
NOTE: Alcohol or methanol base
coolants or plain water are not
recommended for your Camaro at
any time.
Radi~tor Pressure Cap
The radiator cap, a 15 lb. pres­
sure type, must be installed tightly,
9therwise coolant may be lost and
damage to engine may result from
overheating.
Radiator pressure
caps should be checked periodi­
cally for proper operation.
If re­
placement
is required specify AC.
Thermostat
The cooling system is protected
and controlled by a thermostat in­
stalled in the engine coolant outlet
to maintain a satisfactory operat­
ing temperature of the engine. This
Tires
NOTE: The factory installed tires
on your car are either bias-belted thermostat
is designed
for continu­
ous
. use through both winter and
summer and need not be changed
seasonally. When replacement
is
necessary, Delco parts are recom­
mended.
or optional steel-belted radial tires.
Additional owner information about
steel-belted radial tires
is contained
in the special steel-belted radial tire
guarantee booklet.
CAMARO TIRE USAGE
ENGINE & BODY STANDARD OPTIONAL
All (Except E78 x 14 E78 x 14, F78 x 14 Space Saver Spare
Type LTand Z28) F70 x 14 White Stripe or White Letters
F78 x 14 Whitewall or White Letters
Type
LT FR78 x 14 F78 x 14 Space Saver Spare F70 x 14 White Stripe or White Letters
FR78 x 14 Whitewall or White Letters
Z28 F60 x 15 White Letters F78 x 14 Space Saver Spare
All standard tires are blackwall with whitewall optional. All tires are bias-belted load range B unless otherwise specified. '
56

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine The factory installed tires on
your car as shown in the Tire Usage
chart
on page 56 are designed
to provide the best all around
performance for normal vehicle op­
eration. When inflated as recom­
mended on the tire pressure plac­
ard, located
on the left door of
your vehicle, they have the load
carrying capacity to operate satis­
factorily at all normal highway
speeds.
Tire Care
Tires should be checked regu­
larly for proper inflation pressure,
wear, and damage. The following
information will assist you in prop­
erly caring for your tires:
Inflation Pressure-The tire in­
flation pressures listed on the tire
placard have been selected to pro­
vide the best tire life, riding com­
fort and handling stability for nor­
mal driving conditions. When in-
I! RECOMMENDED TIRE PRESSURES (PSI COlD) VEHICLE LOAD
FRONT REAR
UP TO VEHiClE CAPACITY
RECOMMENDED TIRE SIZE(S) (USE ONLY IN SETS) LOAD RANGE
BECAUSE OF POSSIBLE ADVERSE EFFECTS ON VEHICLE HANDLING, DO NOT MIX RADIAL TIRES WITH OTHER TYPE TIRES ON THE SAME VEHICLE.
VEHICLE CAPACITY BUCKET SEAT .. OCCUPANTS 2 fRONf -2 Rf.A.R 200 LBS TRUNK LOAD
TOT AL 800 L8S
SEE OWNERS MANUAL FOR ADDITIONAL INFORM-A nON c:::::J PRINTED IN USA
Typical Tire Placard Located On The Left Door Of Your Car
flated at the highest pressures
shown
on the placard, the tires
have the load carrying capacity to
operate satisfactorily at all loads
up to and including the vehicle
57
capacity load (total pounds)
which also
is shown on the plac­
ard.
In addition, for those owners
who prefer the utmost in com­
fort, the reduced tire pressures

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine listed on the placard may be used
when loads of
4 occupants or less
are carried.
The use of improper tire
infla­
tion pressures can adversely affect
tire life and vehicle performance:
• Too little air pressure can result
in excessive tire heat, abnormal
tire wear, adverse handling and
reduced fuel economy.
• Too much air pressure can re­
sult in abnormal tire wear, ad­
verse vehicle ride and handling,
and increased susceptibility to
damage by road impacts.
Tire pressures should be
checked when the tires are "cold"
at least once a month (and pref­
erably oftener) or before long
trips or when heavily loaded. The
following points should
be ob­
served when checking and setting
tire pressures:
1. Cold tire pressure ratings are appli­cable when a vehicle has been Inopera­tive for 3 hours or more, or driven less
than 1 mile.
2. Tire Inflation pressure may Increase as
much as 6 pounds per square inch (psi)
when hot (aHer vehicle has been driven
10 miles or at speeds of more than 60 miles per hour). Do not "bleed" or re­duce pressures when tires are hot from
driving.
3. For continuous high speed operation
(over 75 mph), Increase tire inflation
pressure 4 psi above the recommended
pressures up
to a maximum of 32 psi
cold pressure for load range B tires, 36
psi for load range C tires, or 40 psi for D load range tires. Sustained speeds
above 75 mph are not recommended
when the 4 psi adjustment would re­quire pressures greater than the above
maximum pressures.
4. Always use a tire pressure gauge when
checking pressures as the appearance
of a tire can be deceiving. For example,
radial ply fires, In comparison with bias
ply tires at the same pressure, may have
the appearance of being under-inflated.
Vehicle Loading -Do not load
your vehicle beyond the vehicle
capacity (total pounds) shown on
the tire placard. This figure
repre­
sents the design capacity of the ve­
hicle, not merely of the tires.
58
When towmg trailers, the allow­
able pasenger and cargo load
must be reduced by an amount
equal to the trailer tongue load on
the trailer hitch.
(See "Trailer
Hauling"
in Section 1 of this man­
ual.) Station wagon loads should
be distributed
as far forward as
possible. Vehicles equipped with
luggage racks do not have a
ve­
hicle load capacity greater than
specified on the tire placard.
Tire Wear and Rotation -Un­
even or abnormal tire wear is usu­
ally the result of incorrect inflation
pressure, improper wheel
align­
ment, wheels being out-of-balance,
or poor driving habits.
Underin­
flation, incorrect toe or camber
and fast cornering produce
differ­
ent types of abnormal wear which
can be diagnosed by your dealer.
The original equipment tires
in­
corporate built-in tread wear in­
dicators to assist you in determin-

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine ing when your tires have been
worn to the point of needing re­
placement. These indicators ap­
pear as
lh inch wide bands when
tire tread depth
is 1/16 inch or
less. When the indicators appear
in two
or more adjacent grooves,
at 3 locations around the tire
or
when cord or fabric is exposed,
tire replacement due to tread wear
is recommended.
To equalize wear, it is recom­
mended that bias-belted tires be ro­
tated every
6,000 miles (or sooner
if irregular wear develops) as indi­
cated in bias-belted diagram.
BIAS-BEL TED OR BIAS-PlY TIRES
4· WHEELS 5 WHEELS
Radial tires should be inspected for
any irregular wear
and rotated at
least every
12,000 miles and more
often if uneven wear
is noted earlier
according to the radial tire diagram.
Upon rotation, tire pressures must
be adjusted in accordance with the
recommendations
on the tire infla­
tion placard.
NOTE: It is recommended that
disc brake pads be inspected for
wear whenever tires are rotated.
59
RADIAL TIRES
SPARE 4 WHEELS 5 WHEELS
Tire Damage and Repair-Tires
with cuts, splits or cracks deep
enough to expose the fabric,
should be removed from service.
Bulges usually
indi~ate internal
damage, and the tire should be
removed. Tires with questionable
damage should be removed from
the.
wheel and examined by an expert.
If an air loss occurs while driv­
ing, do not attempt to drive on
the deflated tire more than
is nec­
essary to stop safely. Driving even

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine a short distance can damage a tire
beyond repair.
Temporary repairs, such
as
"blowout" patches or any repair
made from the outside of the tire
should not be made except in
emergencies.
Such "stop-gap" de­
vices
as plugs and aerosol-type
sealants are good for no more than
100 miles of driving at speeds not
over
50 mph. A permanent vul­
canized repair, plug or patch ap­
plied from inside the tire, should
be made
as soon as possible. Also,
the installation of an inner tube in
a damaged tubeless tire
is not a
recommended repair procedure.
Replacement Tires
When replacing tires, only the
size, load range, and construction
type (bias, bias-belted,
or radial)
originally installed on your vehi­
cle are recommended. Use of any
other tire size or type tire may seriously
affect ride, handling,
speedometer/odometer calibration
vehicle ground clearance and tire
clearance to the body and chassis.
The following also should be con­
sidered when replacing tires:
• To achieve best all around ve­
hicle performance, belted-bias
tires and bias tires should not
be mixed on the same car.
• Because of possible adverse ef­
fects on vehicle handling, do
not mix radial ply tires with
other type tires on the same
vehicle (such as bias
or bias­
belted snow tires).
• It is recommended that new
tires be installed in pairs on the
same axle.
• When replacing only one tire, it
should be paired with the tire
having the least wear, to equal­
ize braking traction.
• When replacing original tires
with an optional recommended
60
size of different diameter, the
speedometer must be recali­
brated by installing the correct
speedometer driven gear.
Snow Tires
If you equip your vehicle with
snow tires, they should be inflated
4 psi above the recommended
pressures shown on the tire pla­
card up to a maximum of 32 psi
( cold) for load range B tires and
40 psi for load range D tires. It is
recommended that vehicle speeds
be limited to a maximum of 75
mph if snow tires are installed.
If
your car is equipped with radial
tires, use only radial snow tires.
Replacement Wheels
When replacing wheels for any
reason, care should be taken to in­
sure that the wheels are equiva­
lent to those removed in diameter,
rim width and off-set.

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Warranty
Tires are warranted by the tire
manufacturers as covered in the
New Vehicle Warranty and
Policy
on Owner Service folder furnished
with your vehicle. However, for
the added convenience of owners,
many Chevrolet dealers are
equipped to handle tire warranty
adjustments
on certain makes of
tires provided
on 1974 Chevrolet
cars.
Tire Traction
A decrease in driving, corner­
ing, and braking traction occurs
when water, snow, ice, gravel,
or
other material is on the road sur­
face. Driving practices and
car
speed should be adjusted to the
road conditions.
When driving
on wet or slushy
roads, it is possible for a wedge of
water to build up between the tire and
road surface. This phenom­
enon, known
as hydroplaning,
may cause partial
or complete loss
of traction, which adversely affects
vehicle control and stopping abil­
ity.
To reduce the possiblity of
traction loss, the following precau­
tions should be observed:
1. Slow down during rainstorms or
when roads are slushy.
2. Slow down if road has standing
water
or puddles.
3. Replace tires when tread wear
indicators are visible.
4. Keep tires properly inflated.
For temporary assistance when
traction
is lost on ice or snow, the
use of
AC Liquid Tire Chain is
recommended.
REMINDER: Cars equipped with
front disc brakes have a built-in
61
wear indicator that is designed to
make a high frequency, squealing
or cricket-like warning sound when
the linings are worn to where re­
placement
is required. The sound
will occur intermittently
or con­
tinuously when wheels are rolling,
but will disappear when the brake
pedal
is applied firmly. See also the
various brake checks listed in the
Chevrolet maintenance schedule
folder.
Space Saver Spare Tire
The Space Saver Spare tire is
designed for emergency purposes
only. Continuous use
or operation
at speeds in excess of
50 mph is not
recommended. The Space Saver
Spare tire warranty
is void if any
inflation device containing sealants
is used. Approved inflation gases
are air, carbon dioxide, nitrogen,
and Freon 22.