
GM – CAMARO 1982-1992 – Repair Guide (Checked by WxMax) 318
Fig. 1: Torque arm removal
Fig. 2: Flywheel cover removal
4. Remove the transmission oil dipsti ck. Unbolt and remove the dipstick
tube.
5. Raise the vehicle and support it safely with jackstands.

GM – CAMARO 1982-1992 – Repair Guide (Checked by WxMax) 322
CAUTION - The transmission must be secu red to the transmission jack
17. Remove the transmission from the vehicle. Be careful not to damage the oil cooler lines, throttle valve cable, or the shift control cable. Also, keep
the rear of the transmissi on lower than the front to avoid the possibility of
the torque converter disengagi ng from the transmission.
To install: 18. Position the transmission and converter into place.
19. Install the transmission -to-engine mounting bolts.
20. Connect the throttle valve cable and oil cooler lines to the transmissio\
n.
21. Install the transmission cro ssmember and secure with bolts.
22. Install the transmission mount bolt.
23. Matchmark the torque converter-to-f lywheel. Install the torque converter-
to-flywheel attaching bolts.
Before installing the converter-to-flywheel bolts, be sure that the weld nuts on
the converter are flush with the flywheel, and that the converter rotates freely by
hand in this position.
24. Install the flywheel cover.
25. Install the torque arm-to-transmission bolts.
26. Connect the speedometer cable, el ectrical connectors and the shift
control cable from the transmission.
27. Connect the catalytic converter s upport bracket at the transmission.
28. Align the matchmark m ade earlier, then install the driveshaft to the axle
pinion. Bolt the universal joint straps to the pinion flange.
29. Lower the vehicle.
30. Install the dipstick tube using a ne w dipstick tube O-ring and secure with
the bolt. Install the tran smission oil dipstick.
31. Connect the throttle valve (TV) c ontrol cable at the carburetor.
32. Install the air cleaner assembly.
33. Connect the negative battery cable at the battery.
DRIVELINE
DRIVESHAFT AND U-JOINTS
The U-joint is secured to the yoke in one of two ways. Dana and Cleveland
shafts use a conventional snapring to ho ld each bearing cup in the yoke. The
snapring fits into a groove located in eac h yoke end just on top of each bearing
cup. The Saginaw design shaft secures its U-joints in another way. Nylon
material is injected through a small hole in the yoke and flows along a circular
groove between the U-joint and the yoke , creating a synthetic snapring.
Disassembly of the Saginaw U-joint requi res the joint to be pressed from the
yoke. This results in damage to the be aring cups and destruction of the nylon
rings.

GM – CAMARO 1982-1992 – Repair Guide (Checked by WxMax) 370
2.8L AND 3.1L ENGINES
Fig. 2: Valve cover removal for the V6
1. Disconnect the negative battery cable.
2. For the left side valve cove r removal, proceed as follows:
a. Remove the accessory drive belt.
b. Remove the transmission dipstick, if required.
c. Remove the air management hose and air conditioning bracket, if
equipped.
d. Remove the intake plenum and throttle body assembly, on fuel
injected engines.
e. Remove the valve cover reinforcements and nuts.
3. For the right side valve cover removal, proceed as follows:
a. Remove the EGR valve adapter with the EGR valve and shield
from the exhaust manifold.
b. Remove the coil and coil mounting bracket from the cylinder head.
c. Disconnect the crankcase vent pipe.
d. Remove the intake plenum and throttle body assembly.
e. Remove the valve cover reinforcements and nuts.
4. Remove cover. If cover adheres to cylinder head, shear off by bumping end of rocker arm cover with palm of hand or rubber mallet. If cover still
will not come loose, CAREFULLY pry until loose. DO NOT DISTORT
THE SEALING FLANGE.
To install: 5. Clean the sealing surface on cylinder head and intake manifold of all old
RTV or gasket. Make sure no oil or ol d gasket is present when applying
new RTV or gasket.

GM – CAMARO 1982-1992 – Repair Guide (Checked by WxMax) 391
8. Remove the plenum attaching bolts and plenum. Discard the gaskets.
9. Remove the fuel rail.
10. Label and unplug the wires
from the spark plugs.
11. Label and unplug the wires at the coil.
12. Remove the distributor cap and spark plug wires.
13. Mark the distributor position and remove it.
14. Label and disconnect the emission canister hoses.
15. Remove the valve covers.
16. Remove the upper radiator hose at the manifold.
17. Unplug the coolant switch and sensor.
18. Remove the heater inlet pipe from the manifold.
19. Remove the center intake manifold bolts.
20. Remove the center intake mani fold and gasket. Discard the gasket.
21. Remove the transmission dipstick.
22. Remove the manifold bolts.
23. Remove the manifold. Discard t he gaskets and remove the RTV sealant
from the front and rear ridges of the block.
To install: 24. Apply a
3/16 in. (5mm) bead of RTV sealant on the front and rear ridges of
the block. Make sure the surfaces are clean.
25. Install the new gaskets on the cylinder heads. Hold the gaskets in place by extending the RTV bead up onto t he gasket ends. Certain GM intake
gaskets will have to be cut to be install behind the pushrods. Cut these
gaskets as required and only where necessary.
26. Install the intake m anifold along with the intake manifold bolts. Torque
bolts in sequence to 13-25 ft. lbs. ( 18-34 Nm) on 2.8L engines and 19 ft
lbs. (26 Nm) on 3.1L engines.
27. Install the center intake manifold with a new gasket. Tighten the bolts to
15 ft lbs. (21 Nm).
28. Connect the coolant switches.
29. Install the upper radiator hose.
30. Install the valve covers.
31. Install the heater inlet pipe.
32. Connect the emission canister hoses.
33. Install the distributor to the matc hmarks, hold down bolt, spark plug wires
and distributor cap.
34. Install the spark plug wires to th e spark plugs and connect the wires at
the coil.
35. Install the fuel rail.
36. Install the plenum with new gaskets . Tighten the bolts to 18 ft lbs. (25
Nm) on 2.8L engines or 15 ft lbs. (21 Nm) on 3.1L engines.
37. Install the A/C compressor-to-plenum bracket and attaching hardware.
38. Install the EGR transfer tube with a new gasket. Tighten the bolts to 19 ft
lbs. (26 Nm).
39. Install the throttle body.
40. Connect the vacuum harness and ai r inlet duct to the throttle body.
41. Install the transmission dipstick.
42. Connect and other rema ining hoses or wires.

GM – CAMARO 1982-1992 – Repair Guide (Checked by WxMax) 399
3. Unplug the oxygen sensor and disconnect the exhaust pipe from the
exhaust manifold.
4. Remove the engine oil level dipstick and tube.
5. Remove the exhaust manifold atta ching bolts and remove the manifold.
To install: 6. Position the exhaust manifold onto the engine with a new gasket. Torque
the bolts, following the correct sequenc e, to 44 ft lbs. (60 Nm).
7. Install the engine oil level dipstick tube and dipstick.
8. Connect the exhaust pipe to the exhaust manifold.
9. Engage the oxygen sensor connector.
10. Install the air cleaner assembly and connecting hoses.
11. Connect the negative battery cable at the battery.
RADIATOR
REMOVAL & INSTALLATION
Fig. 1: Removing radiator upper shield bolts

GM – CAMARO 1982-1992 – Repair Guide (Checked by WxMax) 411
1. Disconnect the negative battery cable.
2. Relieve the fuel system pressure
and drain the engine coolant from the
radiator into a suitable container.
3. Remove the intake manifold and the spark plugs.
4. Remove the dipstick tube and bra cket. Raise and support the vehicle
safely. Drain the oil and remove the oil filter. Lower the vehicle.
5. Remove the exhaust manifolds.
6. Remove the drive belt(s).
7. Remove the air conditioning compresso r and bracket, reposition it aside.
Do not disconnect the lines.
8. Remove the power steering pump and bracket, reposition it aside.
9. Remove the alternator and br acket, reposition it aside.
10. Remove the ground cable from the rear of the cylinder head and remove
the engine lift bracket.
11. Remove the rocker arm covers.
12. Loosen the rocker arms until the pushrods can be removed.
13. Remove the cylinder head bolts and remove the cylinder heads.
To install: 14. Clean the gasket mating surfaces of all components. Be careful not to
nick or scratch any surfaces as this will allow leak paths. Clean the bolt
threads in the cylinder bl ock and on the head bolts. Dirt will affect bolt
torque.
15. Place the head gaskets in pos ition over the dowel pins.
16. Install the cylinder heads.
17. Coat the cylinder head bolts th reads with GM sealer 1052080 or
equivalent, and install the bolts. Tight en the bolts in the proper sequence
to:
• 1982-1987 engines: 70 ft lbs. (90 Nm)
• 1988-1992 engines: 1st step: 40 ft lbs. (55 Nm); 2nd step: tighten
an additional 1/4 (90 degree) turn
18. Install the pushrods a nd loosely retain them wit h the rocker arms. Make
sure the lower ends of the pushrods ar e in the lifter seats. Refer to the
rocker arm procedures outlined ea rlier in this section.
19. Install the power steering pump br acket and pump. Do the same for the
air conditioning compressor bracket and compressor.
20. Install the ground cable to t he rear of the cylinder head.
21. Install the exhaust manifolds.
22. Install the dipstick tube and bracket.
23. Install the intake manifold.
24. Install the alternator bracket and alternator.
25. Install the drive belt(s).
26. Install the spark plugs.
27. Fill the cooling system with the proper type and quantity of coolant. Install
a new oil filter and fill the crankca se with the proper type and quantity of
oil.
28. Connect the negative battery cable, star t the vehicle and check for leaks.

GM – CAMARO 1982-1992 – Repair Guide (Checked by WxMax) 467
8. According to the tool manufacture
r's instructions, connect a remote
starting switch to the starting circuit.
9. With the ignition switch in the OFF position, use the remote starting
switch to crank the engine through at least five compression strokes
(approximately 5 seconds of cranking) and record the highest reading on
the gauge.
10. Repeat the test on each cylinder, cranking the engine approximately the
same number of compression stroke s and/or time as the first.
11. Compare the highest readi ngs from each cylinder to that of the others.
The indicated compression pre ssures are considered within
specifications if the lo west reading cylinder is within 75 percent of the
pressure recorded for the highest readi ng cylinder. For example, if your
highest reading cylinder pressure was 150 psi (1034 kPa), then 75
percent of that would be 113 psi (779 kPa). So the lowest reading
cylinder should be no less than 113 psi (779 kPa).
12. If a cylinder exhibits an unusually low compression reading, pour a
tablespoon of clean engine oil into the cylinder through the spark plug
hole and repeat the compression tes t. If the compression rises after
adding oil, it means that the cylinder's piston rings and/or cylinder bore
are damaged or worn. If the pressure re mains low, the valves may not be
seating properly (a valve job is needed), or the head gasket may be
blown near that cylinder. If compressi on in any two adjacent cylinders is
low, and if the addition of oil doesn' t help raise compression, there is
leakage past the head gasket. Oil and coolant in the combustion
chamber, combined with blue or const ant white smoke from the tail pipe,
are symptoms of this pr oblem. However, don't be alarmed by the normal
white smoke emitted from the tail pipe during engine warm-up or from
cold weather driving. There may be evidence of water droplets on the
engine dipstick and/or oil droplets in the cooling system if a head gasket
is blown.
OIL PRESSURE TEST
Check for proper oil pressu re at the sending unit passage with an externally
mounted mechanical oil pressure gauge (a s opposed to relying on a factory
installed dash-mounted gauge). A tachom eter may also be needed, as some
specifications may require running the engine at a specific rpm.
1. With the engine cold, locate and remo ve the oil pressure sending unit.
2. Following the manufacturer's inst ructions, connect a mechanical oil
pressure gauge and, if necessary, a tachometer to the engine.
3. Start the engine and allow it to idle.
4. Check the oil pressure reading when cold and record the number. You
may need to run the engine at a specified rpm, so check the
specifications chart located earlier in this section.
5. Run the engine until normal operati ng temperature is reached (upper
radiator hose will feel warm).
6. Check the oil pressure reading agai n with the engine hot and record the
number. Turn the engine OFF.

GM – CAMARO 1982-1992 – Repair Guide (Checked by WxMax) 776
Use only oil which has the API (Ameri
can Petroleum Institute) designation SG,
CC , CD , SG/CC or SG/CD .
Since fuel economy is effected by the viscosity (thickness) of the engine oil, it is
recommended to select an oil with reference to the outside temperature. For
satisfactory lubrication, us e a lower viscosity oil for colder temperatures and a
higher viscosity oil for warmer temperatures.
ENGINE
OIL LEVEL CHECK
Fig. 1: Wipe the dipstick clean and insert it into the dipstick tube, making sure it
is fully inserted