tires CHEVROLET CAMARO 1971 2.G Owners Manual

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine tongue load be maintained at ap­
proximately
10% of the loaded
trailer weight. Tongue loads can be
adjusted by proper distribution of
the load in the trailer, and can be
checked by weighing separately the
loaded trailer and then the tongue.
When towing trailers, tires should
be inflated to the standard pressure
shown
on the placard, affixed to
left front door. The allowable pas­
senger and cargo load also shown
on the same placard,
is reduced by
an amount equal to the trailer
tongue load on the trailer hitch.
Maintenance
More frequent vehicle mainte­
nance
is required when using your
car to pull a trailer. Change the:
1. Automatic transmission and rear axle
fluid each
12,000 miles.
2. Engine oil each
60 days or 3000
miles whichever occurs first,
3. Replace the positive crankcase
ventilation valve each 12 months
or 12,000 miles whichever oc­
curs first.
Break .. in Schedule
In addition to the new car break­
in instructions in the
Owners' Man­
ual,
it is recommended that your
new Camaro be operated for
500
miles before trailer towing. If it is
necessary to tow during this period,
avoid speeds over
50 MPH and
full throttle starts.
For cars already in use the above
precautions should be observed
whenever a new engine, transmis­
sion
or axle is installed.
10

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine SAFETY CHECKS
Your Camaro not only conforms to all U.S. Fed­
eral Motor Vehicle
Safety Standards applicable at
time of manufacture, but also incorporates other im­
portant General Motors safety features. Even with
these safety features, however, continued safe and
dependable operation depends greatly upon regular
vehicle maintenance.
This section discusses the various components and
systems of your vehicle that should be checked regu-
CHECK OFF EACH ITEM UNDER MIlEAGE AS SERVICE IS PERFORMED. Brakes and Power Steering -Check all lines and hoses. Check condition of brake linings and parking brake adjustment. Chassis lube and check all fluid levels,· Check condition of front and rear suspension and steerine system. Exhaust System -Check condition of system and underbody. Tires and Wheels-Check condition. (Check tire pressure at least monthly.) Engine -Change oil.· Check condition 01 all belts. -Replace oil filter (at 1st oil change and tllen every 2nd chanie). -Check air cleaner every 12,000 miles; replace every 24,000 miles. .-Replace PCV valve. -Service exhaust emission control systems (see Owner's Manual). -Change toolanl every Iwo years. Throttle linkage -Check operation and condition . Headlights -Aim. Transmission (Automatic)-Change fluid and service filter. 0 ,', III · 0
33
larly to help maintain continued safe and dependable
vehicle operation.
Some checks should be made by
your dealer or service station, and can be done con­
veniently while your vehicle
is in the shop for other
regular maintenance services.
Other checks can be
made easily by owners.
CHECKS TO BE PERFORMED BY YOUR
DEALER OR SERVICE STATION
As a service reminder to owners, all 1971 General
Motors passenger cars are equipped with a
"Vehicle
6000 12000 18000 24000 30000 36000 41000 48000 )4000
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Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Safety Maintenance Schedule" on the inside of the
glove box door
as illustrated.
The schedule lists the various safety checks to be
performed at regularly scheduled intervals,
as well
as some of the other important vehicle maintenance
requirements. You are urged to check
off each item
on the schedule after the operation has been per­
formed. Following are further details on the safety
check items:
Checks To Be Made At Oil Change Intervals
(4 months or 6,000 miles, whichever comes
first)
• Brake Lines and Hoses -Check for proper at­
tachments, leaks, cracks, chafing, deterioration,
etc. Any questionable parts noted should be re­
placed or repaired immediately.
• Fluid Levels-Check level of fluid in brake master
cylinder, power steering pump, radiator, engine,
axle and transmission. Any significant
loss could
mean that a malfunction
is developing in the sys­
tem and corrective action should be taken imme­
diately.
On cars with disc brakes, a low fluid level
in the front brake master cylinder reservoir could
34
also be an indicator that disc brake pads need
replacing.
• Front and Rear Suspension and Steering Sys­
tem-Check for damaged or missing parts, or parts
showing visible signs of excessive wear or lack of
lubrication. Questionable parts should be replaced
by a qualified mechanic without delay.
• Exhaust System -Check complete exhaust sys­
tem and nearby body areas and trunk lid for
broken, damaged, missing or mispositioned parts,
open seams, holes, loose connections
or other de­
terioration which could permit exhaust fumes to
seep into the trunk or passenger compartment. Any
defects should be corrected immediately. To help
insure continued integrity, exhaust system pipes
rearward of the
muffler must be replaced whenever
a new
muffler is installed.
• Tires and Wheels -Check tires for excessive
wear, nails, cuts or other damage. Make certain
wheels are not bent
~nd wheel nuts are tight. Un­
even or abnormal tire wear may indicate the need
for alignment service. Check tire inflation pressure
at least monthly, or more often
if daily visual
inspection indicates the need.

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine TREAD STILL GOOD
-
TREAD
WORN OUT
• The original equipment tires on your Camaro in­
corporate built-in tread wear indicators to assist
you in detennining when your tires have been worn
to the point of needing replacement. These indi­
cators will appear
as V2 inch wide bands when tire
tread depth
is 1;16 inch or less. When the indicators
appear in two or more adjacent grooves, tire re­
placement due to tread wear
is recommended.
35
• Drive Belts-Check fan and accessory drive belts
for cracks, wear and tension. Adjust or replace
as
necessary.
Checks To Be Made at 12 Months
or
12,000 Miles (Whichever occurs first)
• Brake Linings and Parking Brake-Check drum
brake linings or disc brake pads,
as well as the other
internal brake components at each wheel (drums,
rotors, wheel cylinders, etc.) . More frequent
checks should be made if driving conditions and
habits result in frequent brake application. Park­
ing brake adjustment should also be checked when­
ever brake linings are checked.
• Throttle Linkage-Check for damaged or missing
parts, interference or binding. Any deficiencies
should be corrected without delay by a competent
mechanic.
• Headlights -Check for proper aim. Correct as
necessary. More frequent checks should be made if
on-coming motorists signal when you are already
using your low beams, or if illumination of the road
ahead seems inadequate.

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine · Changing Tires
Remove hub cap or wheel cover
with fiat end of wheel
nut wrench
and loosen wheel nuts slightly.
Set
lever on jack to UP position.
Properly position load rest which
engages bumper by moving base of
jack slightly under car and engage
tang of bracket in bumper notch,
then bring jack base back toward
upright position. Check that load
rest is positioned before operating
jack.
NOTE: Base of jack column
should be slightly angled in toward
car since it will straighten as car
is
raised.
firmly
automatic rralrlSOIlSSlon
VERSE" lor manual transmission)
Jack Operation
After jack is positioned as noted
above, use wheel nut wrench
as
jack handle and raise car until tire
clears ground. Remove wheel nuts
and wheel, install spare and tighten
wheel nuts. Move jack lever to
DOWN and install hub cap or
wheel cover.
block the wheel diagonally opposite .. _.... .,.. __
40
FRONT POSITION LOAD REST BRACKET IN BUMPER NOTCH.
REAR POSITION LOAD REST BRACKET BETWEEN BUMPER BOLTS.
BUMPER BOlT

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine When using a tar and road oil re­
mover, be certain it
is safe for use
on acrylic painted surfaces.
Protection of Exterior
Bright
Metal Parts
Bright metal parts should be
cleaned regularly to maintain lus­
ter. Washing with water
is all that
is usually required. However, G.M.
Chrome Polish may be used on
CHROMEorSTAINLESS STEEL
trim
if necessary.
Use special care with ALU­
MINUM trim. Never use auto or
chrome polish, steam or any caustic
soap to clean aluminum.
A coating of wax, rubbed to a
high polish,
is recommended for all
bright metal parts.
Cleaning White Sidewall
Tires
Use a tire cleaner which will not
harm aluminum trim. A
stiff brush
may be used with the cleaner to
remove road grime and dirt from
white sidewall tires.
Cleaning the Optional
Vinyl
Top
The top should be washed fre­
quently with neutral soap suds,
lukewarm water and a brush with
soft bristles. Rinse top with
suffi­
cient quantities of clear water to re­
move all traces of soap.
If the top requires additional
cleaning after using soap and water,
a mild foaming cleanser can be
used. Rinse the whole top with
water; then apply a mild foaming
50
type cleanser on an area of approx­
imately two square feet. Scrub area
with a small soft bristle hand brush,
adding water
as necessary until the
cleanser foams
to a soapy consis­
tency. Remove the first accumu­
lated soilage with a cloth or sponge
before it can be ground into the top
material. Apply additional cleanser
to the area and scrub until the top
is clean. Care must be exercised to
keep the cleanser from running onto
body finish
as it may cause streaks
if allowed to run down and dry.
After the entire top has been
cleaned , rinse generously with clear
water to remove all traces of
cleanser. Do not use volatile cleaner
or household bleaching agents on
the top material.

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine • coolant meeting GM Specification
1899 M should be used.
NOTE: Alcohol or methanol base
coolants or plain water are not rec­
ommended for your Camaro at
any time.
Radiator Pressure Cap
The radiator cap, a 15 lb. pres­
sure type, must be installed tightly,
otherwise 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
thermostat
is designed for continu­
ous use through both winter and
summer and need not be changed
seasonally. When replacement
is
necessary, specify United Delco
parts.
Tires
The factory installed tires on
your car are selected to provide the
best all around tire performance
for all normal operation. When in­
lated
as recommended in the tire
inflation placard affixed to the left
door of your vehicle, they have the
load carrying capacity to operate
satisfactorily at all loads up to and
including the full rated load speci-
61
fied in that table at all normal high­
way speeds. In addition, for those
owners who prefer the utmost in
comfort, optional tire inflation
pressures may be used when loads
of four passengers or less are
carried.
For the added convenience of
owners, many Chevrolet dealers
are equipped to handle tire war­
rantyadjustments on certain makes
of tires provided on 1971 Chevro­
let 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.

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine 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 phenome­
non, known as hydroplaning, may
cause partial or complete loss of
traction, which adversely affects
vehicle control and stopping abil­
ity.
To reduce the possibility of
traction loss, the following pre­
cautions should be observed:
1. Slow down during rainstorms or
when roads are slushy.
ENGINE AND BODY
2. Slow down if road has standing
water or puddles.
3. Replace tires when tread wear
indicators are visible. (See
Safety Checks section.)
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.
Optional Tires
Only those tires of the size shown
STANDARD
on the following table are recom­
mended for use on your Camaro.
Use of any other size tire may seri­
ously affect ride, handling, ground
clearance, tire clearance and speed­
ometer calibration.
To achieve best
all around vehicle handling per­
formance, belted-bias tires and
bias ply tires should not be mixed
on the same car. Because of possi­
ble adverse effects
on vehicle han­
dling, do not mix radial ply tires
with other type tires on the same
vehicle.
OPTIONAL
ALL (Except SS or Z28 Models) I "ss" Z28
E78 x 14 F70 x 14 White Letters F60 x 15 White Letters Stripe or White Letters
I
F70 x 14 White
All
Standard and Optional Tires are Load Range B.
Inflation Pressure
The tire inflation pressures listed
on the tire placard affixed to the
left front door of your vehicle have been
selected to provide you with
the best tire life and riding comfort
over the full range of normal driv­
ing conditions.
62
The use of improper tire infla­
tion pressures can affect tire life
and load carrying capacity. Infla­
tion pressures should be checked at

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine least once a month (and preferably
more often) to insure that the right
amount of air
is contained in the
tires. With regard to tire life, too
little air pressure allows abnormal
deflection of the tire causing exces­
sive operating temperatures, while
too much air pressure prevents
normal deflection, making the cord
body more vulnerable to road im­
pacts.
Use of optional inflations
is al­
lowable only with a reduced load
(one to four passengers). When
operating at loads greater than the
optional reduced load, the inflation
pressure
must be increased to the
standard inflation for full rated
loads.
1. Tire inflation pressure may in­
crease
as much as 6 pounds per
square inch (psi) when hot.
2.
For continuous high speed oper- ation
(over 75 mph) increase
tire inflation pressure 4 pounds
per square inch over the recom­
mended pressures up to a maxi­
mum of 32 pounds per square
inch cold for load range B tires. Sustained
speeds above 75 mph
are not recommended when the
4 pounds per square inch adjust­
ment would require pressures
greater than the maximum
stated above.
TIRE PRESSURES (COOL) FRONT REAR STANDARD UP TO VEHICLE CAPACITY
REDUCED 1 TO 5 PASSENGERS (750 LBS.)
TIRE SIZES VEHICLE CAPACITY BENCH BUCKET
LOAD RANGE
63
OCCUPANTS
TRUNK LOAD
TOTAL
.&L~

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine 3. Cold tire inflation pressure:
after vehicle has been inopera­
tive for 3 hours
or more, or
driven less than 1 mile. Hot tire
inflation pressure:
after vehicle
has been driven
10 miles or at
speeds of more than
60 miles
per hour.
4. Vehicles with luggage racks do
not have a vehicle load limit
greater than specified.
5. When towing trailers, the allow­
able passenger and cargo load
must be reduced by
an amount
equal to the trailer tongue load
on the trailer hitch.
Tire Rotation
To equalize wear It IS recom­
mended that the tires be rotated
every
6,000 miles. Upon rotation, tire
pressure must be adjusted
(front
and rear) in accordance
tire inflation placard.
1IIII1 1IIII1
/
IIIIII IIIIIJ
1IIII1 111111
IXl
1IIII1 111111
5 WHEELS 4 WHEELS
Battery Care (Energizer)
Check fluid level monthly utiliz­
ing the level indicator cap marked
"Delco Eye". If the transparent eye
within the cap glows, fluid level
is
64
low. Add only colorless, odorless
drinking water
or distilled water to
bring level to split ring in filler
opening.
Battery-Gas Warning-Since nor­
mal battery
or Energizer chemical
action generates hydrogen gas
which
is explosive when mixed
with air, never expose the battery
to an open flame
or electric spark.
Also, avoid getting battery fluid,
which
is a sulfuric acid solution, on
skin, on clothing
or other fabric,
or on painted surfaces. Eye pro­
tection should be worn while
working on the battery for any rea­
son.
For maximum wattage re­
quirements, specify a Delco Ener­
gizer at replacement time.