1982 CHEVROLET CAMARO Repair Guide

GM – CAMARO 1982-1992 – Repair Guide (Checked by WxMax) 505
b. Install cap and tighten bolts to spec
ifications. Do not turn crankshaft
while Plastigage® is in place.
c. Remove the cap. Using the supplie d Plastigage® scale, check width of
Plastigage® at widest point to get maximum clearance. Difference
between readings is ta per of journal.

Fig. 8: After the cap is removed again, use the sca le supplied with the gauging
material to check the clearance
d. If clearance exceeds specified lim its, try a 0.001 in. or 0.002 in.
undersize bearing in combination with the standard bearing. Bearing
clearance must be within specified limits. If standard and 0.002 in.
undersize bearing does not bring clearance within desired limits, refinish
crankshaft journal, then inst all undersize bearings.
5. If equipped with a rope or two-piece r ear main seal, Install it now.
6. After the bearings have been fitted, apply a light coat of engine oil to the
journals and bearings. Install the rear main bearing cap. Install all
bearing caps except the thrust bearing cap. Be sure that main bearing
caps are installed in original locati ons. Tighten the bearing cap bolts to
specifications.
7. Install the thrust bearing cap with bolts finger-tight.
8. Pry the crankshaft forward against the thrust surface of upper half of
bearing.
9. Hold the crankshaft forward and pry the thrust bearing cap to the rear.
This aligns the thrust surfaces of both halves of the bearing.
10. Retain the forward pressure on t he crankshaft. Tighten the cap bolts to
specifications.

GM – CAMARO 1982-1992 – Repair Guide (Checked by WxMax) 506
11. Measure the crankshaft end-play as follows:
a. Mount a dial gauge to the engine block and position the tip of the
gauge to read from t he crankshaft end.
b. Carefully pry the crankshaft towa rd the rear of the engine and hold
it there while you zero the gauge.
c. Carefully pry the crankshaft toward the front of the engine and read the gauge.
d. Confirm that the r eading is within specifications. If not, install a
new thrust bearing and repeat the procedure. If the reading is still
out of specifications with a new bearing, have a machine shop
inspect the thrust surfaces of the crankshaft, and if possible, repair
it.

Fig. 9: A dial gauge may be used to check crankshaft endplay

GM – CAMARO 1982-1992 – Repair Guide (Checked by WxMax) 507

Fig. 10: Carefully pry the crankshaft back and forth while reading the dial gauge
for endplay
13. Carefully pry the crankshaft toward the front of the engine and read the
gauge.
14. Confirm that the reading is within specifications. If not, install a new
thrust bearing and repeat the procedure. If the readi ng is still out of
specifications with a new bearing, have a machine shop inspect the
thrust surfaces of the cranks haft, and if possible, repair it.
15. If equipped with a one piece rear main seal, install it now.
16. Rotate the crankshaft so as to posi tion the first rod journal to the bottom
of its stroke.
PISTONS AND CONNECTING RODS

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) 511

Fig. 15: Most rings are marked to show which side of the ring should face up
when installed to the piston
4. Install the rings to the pistons. Inst all the oil control ring first, then the
second compression ring and finally the top compression ring. Use a
piston ring expander tool to aid in installation and to help reduce the
chance of breakage.

Fig. 16: Install the piston and rod assembly into the block using a ring\

compressor and the handle of a hammer

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.