1982 CHEVROLET CAMARO check engine

GM – CAMARO 1982-1992 – Repair Guide (Checked by WxMax) 508

Fig. 11: Install the pistons with the notch facing forward and the oil bearing tang
slots facing the opposite side of the camshaft

Fig. 12: Piston-to-rod relationship; V6 & V8 engines

GM – CAMARO 1982-1992 – Repair Guide (Checked by WxMax) 509
1. Before installing the
piston/connecting rod assembly, oil the pistons,
piston rings and the cylinder walls with light engine oil. Install connecting
rod bolt protectors or rubber hose onto the connecting rod bolts/studs.
Also perform the following: a. Select the proper ring set for the size cylinder bore.
b. Position the ring in the bore in which it is going to be used.
c. Push the ring down into the bor e area where normal ring wear is
not encountered.
d. Use the head of the piston to posi tion the ring in the bore so that
the ring is square with the cyli nder wall. Use caution to avoid
damage to the ring or cylinder bore.
e. Measure the gap betw een the ends of the ring with a feeler gauge.
Ring gap in a worn cylinder is normally greater than specification.
If the ring gap is greater than the specified limits, try an oversize
ring set.

Fig. 13: Checking the piston ring-to-ri ng groove side clearance using the ring
and a feeler gauge

GM – CAMARO 1982-1992 – Repair Guide (Checked by WxMax) 510
f. Check the ring side clearance of the compression rings with a
feeler gauge inserted between the ring and its lower land
according to specification. The gauge should slide freely around
the entire ring circumference wit hout binding. Any wear that
occurs will form a step at the inne r portion of the lower land. If the
lower lands have high steps, t he piston should be replaced.

Fig. 14: The notch on the side of t he bearing cap matches the tang on the
bearing insert
2. Unless new pistons are installed, be sure to install the pistons in the
cylinders from which they were removed. The numbers on the
connecting rod and bearing cap must be on the same side when installed
in the cylinder bore. If a connecting rod is ever transposed from one
engine or cylinder to another, new bear ings should be fitted and the
connecting rod should be numbered to correspond with the new cylinder
number. The notch on the piston head goes toward the front of the
engine.
3. Install all of the rod bearing inserts into the rods and caps.

GM – CAMARO 1982-1992 – Repair Guide (Checked by WxMax) 512
5. Make sure the ring gaps are pr
operly spaced around the circumference
of the piston. Fit a piston ring co mpressor around the piston and slide the
piston and connecting rod assembly do wn into the cylinder bore, pushing
it in with the wooden hammer handle. Pu sh the piston down until it is only
slightly below the top of the cylinder bore. Guide the connecting rod onto
the crankshaft bearing journal carefully, to avoid damaging the
crankshaft.
6. Check the bearing clearance of all the rod bearings, fitting them to the
crankshaft bearing journals. Follow the procedure in the crankshaft
installation above.
7. After the bearings have been fitted, apply a light coating of assembly oil
to the journals and bearings.
8. Turn the crankshaft until the appropria te bearing journal is at the bottom
of its stroke, then push the piston a ssembly all the way down until the
connecting rod bearing seat s on the crankshaft journal. Be careful not to
allow the bearing cap screws to stri ke the crankshaft bearing journals
and damage them.
9. After the piston and connecting rod assemblies have been installed, check the connecting rod side clearance on each crankshaft journal.
10. Prime and install t he oil pump and the oil pump intake tube.
CAMSHAFT, LIFTERS AND TIMING ASSEMBLY 1. Install the camshaft.
2. Install the lifters/followers into their bores.
3. Install the timing gears/chain assembly.
CYLINDER HEAD(S) 1. Install the cylinder head(s) using new gaskets.
2. Assemble the rest of the valve tr ain (pushrods and rocker arms and/or
shafts).
ENGINE COVERS AND COMPONENTS
Install the timing cover(s) and oil pan. Re fer to your notes and drawings made
prior to disassembly and install all of the components that were removed. Install
the engine into the vehicle.
ENGINE START-UP AND BREAK-IN
STARTING THE ENGINE
Now that the engine is inst alled and every wire and hose is properly connected,
go back and double check that all cool ant and vacuum hoses are connected.
Check that you oil drain plug is instal led and properly tightened. If not already
done, install a new oil filt er onto the engine. Fill the crankcase with the proper
amount and grade of engine oil. Fill the cooling system with a 50/50 mixture of
coolant/water.

GM – CAMARO 1982-1992 – Repair Guide (Checked by WxMax) 513
1. Connect the vehicle battery.
2. Start the engine. Keep y
our eye on your oil pressure indicator; if it does
not indicate oil pressure within 10 se conds of starting, turn the vehicle
off.
WARNING - Damage to the engine can result if it is allowed to run with no oil
pressure. Check the engine oil level to make sure that it is full. Check for any
leaks and if found, repair the leaks be fore continuing. If there is still no
indication of oil pressure, y ou may need to prime the system.
3. Confirm that there are no fluid leaks (oil or other).
4. Allow the engine to reach nor mal operating temperature (the upper
radiator hose will be hot to the touch).
5. If necessary, set the ignition timing.
6. Install any remaining components such as the air cleaner (if removed for
ignition timing) or body panels which were removed.
BREAKING IT IN
Make the first miles on the new engine , easy ones. Vary the speed but do not
accelerate hard. Most importantly, do not lug the engine, and avoid sustained
high speeds until at least 100 miles. Ch eck the engine oil and coolant levels
frequently. Expect the engine to use a littl e oil until the rings seat. Change the
oil and filter at 500 miles, 1500 mile s, then every 3000 miles past that.
KEEP IT MAINTAINED
Now that you have just gone through all of that hard work, keep yourself from
doing it all over again by thoroughly maintaining it. Not that you may not have
maintained it before, heck you c ould have had one to two hundred thousand
miles on it before doing this. However, you may have bought the vehicle used,
and the previous owner did not keep up on maintenance. Which is why you just
went through all of that hard work. See?

GM – CAMARO 1982-1992 – Repair Guide (Checked by WxMax) 537
ENGINE CONTROLS

EMISSION CONTROLS

CRANKCASE VENTILATION SYSTEM
OPERATION
The Positive Crankcase Ventilation (PCV ) system is used to control crankcase
blow-by vapors. As the engine is running, clean, filtered air is drawn through the
air filter and into the crankcase. As the air passes through the crankca\
se, it
picks up the combustion gases and carries them out of the crankcase, through
the PCV valve, and into the induction system . As they enter the intake manifold,
they are drawn into the combustion chamber where they are reburned.
The most critical component in the system is the PCV valve. This valve controls
the amount of gases which are recycled into the combustion chamber. At low
engine speeds, the valve is partially clos ed, limiting the flow of gases into the
intake manifold. As engine speed incr eases, the valve opens to admit greater
quantities of gases into the intake manifold. If the PCV valve becomes clogged,
the system is designed to allow excessive amounts of blow-by gases to back
flow through the crankcase tube into the air cleaner to be consumed by normal
combustion.

Fig. 1: PCV flow on 4, 6 and 8cylinder engines
SERVICE
Inspect the PCV system hose and connecti ons at each tune-up and replace any
deteriorated hoses. Check the PCV valve at every tune-up and replace it at
30,000 mile intervals.

GM – CAMARO 1982-1992 – Repair Guide (Checked by WxMax) 538
TESTING
1. Remove the PCV valve from the intake manifold or valve cover.
2. Run the engine at idle.
3. Place your thumb over the end of the valve. Check for vacuum. If there is
no vacuum at the valve, check fo r plugged valve or vacuum lines.

Fig. 2: Check the PCV valve for vacuum at idle
4. Shut off the engine. Shake the valv e and listen for the rattle. If valve
doesn't rattle, replace it.
REMOVAL & INSTALLATION
PCV SYSTEM FILTER
1. To replace the PCV filter discon nect the hose, if equipped, attached to
the filter at the air cl eaner and remove the air cleaner cover. Slide the
spring clamp off of the filter and re move it from the air cleaner.
2. Inspect the rubber grommet in the valve cover and the hose for signs of \
deterioration, brittleness and cracking. Replace as necessary.
3. Installation is the reverse of removal.

GM – CAMARO 1982-1992 – Repair Guide (Checked by WxMax) 539
PCV VALVE
1. Disconnect the hose or pi pe from the PCV valve.
2. Gently pull the PCV valv e out of the grommet in the valve cover or intake
manifold.
3. Installation is the reverse of removal.

Fig. 3: PCV system on Tuned Port Injection equipped engines

Fig. 4: PCV filter location on most carbureted and throttle body injected engines